Matilija Dam in the News

"It is mostly silted up. It has out lived its usefulness. It no longer serves for flood control or water supply for the region and at the same time it blocks fish from coming up so this fits with the statewide priority of trying to deal with these old situations," said Secretary of California Natural Resources Agency John Laird.


Friday Oct 7, 2016 - VC Star


Local, state and federal officials toured the dam Thursday as Peter Sheydayi, interim director of the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, talked about recent steps forward and the work that still needs to happen.  For years, there has been widespread support to tear down the dam above Ojai. The problem is what to do with the about 8 million cubic yards of sediment that has built up behind it over the past six or so decades.

The project to tear down the dam started in 1999, Sheydayi told the small crowd that included John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, county Supervisor Steve Bennett, U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, and Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Carpinteria.

"From 2007 until very recently, we were still trying to get Congress to fund this project. We just sort of met with obstacle after obstacle," Schuchat said. The Coastal Conservancy has funded much of the state's share up to now in the process.  Instead, local officials want to look at whether they could fund the project without the Corps of Engineers. For now, that's just something to explore.

After the tour, officials returned to the Watershed Protection District's Saticoy office to talk about funding possibilities.

In the meantime, the next step is to take the concept that the groups agreed to and turn it into engineering drawings. Officials have applied for a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to pay for that next phase of work.

October 6, 2016: Roundtable Discussion on Matilija Dam convened by Congresswoman Julia Brownley. Paul Jenkin presents the history of the project to federal, state, and local representatives.

KEYT: Matilija Dam one step closer to coming down

 

Surfers Point Phase 2

Local news story outlines effort to move forward with Phase 2 of the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project:

"Though recognized nationally for what it accomplished, returning the beach to its natural state rather than installing artificial and ultimately ineffective barriers, the project didn't face its first real test until Dec. 11.
It "reacted perfectly the way it was supposed to," said Paul Jenkin of the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, which was heavily involved in the first phase. "It means that the beach adapted to the large waves."  The dunes and vegetation absorbed the energy of the waves while trapping the sand.
"It's a dynamic beach that comes and goes with the seasons. The ocean is able to give and take," Jenkin said.

Last week, the fairgrounds board agreed to be part of a working group that includes the city, BEACON, Surfrider and others to discuss the second phase.  Fairgrounds Chief Executive Director Barbara Quaid said getting everyone at the table was a good idea and allowed for discussions including "what goes into it, where's the money coming from, how does that affect the city, how does it affect the fairgrounds."

It's too early to say what could happen, but Quaid said the area in the first phase did what it was supposed to do and more.  "That was a tough decision to change the usage of our property," said Quaid, referring to the fairgrounds' lost parking lot. "But we knew at the time the board made the right decision. It was the right thing to do for the community."

Surfers Point plan: phase 1 included relocation of bike path and the west end of fairgrounds parking  - phase 2 includes relocation of remaining bike path and parking area

 

Surfers Point plan: phase 2 includes relocation of bike path and remaining fairgrounds parking

In the news:  VC Star
On this blog: Surfers Point

Local Heroes - Keeper of the Coast

Local Heroes honored in the July 2, 2015 issue of the Ventura County Reporter include Paul Jenkin, "Keeper of the Coast."  The article highlights Paul's work as the "environmental guy" with the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation including Surfers' Point, Matilija Dam, and projects aimed at restoring the Ventura River watershed.

“As keepers of the coast, when you’re educated and aware of what’s going on,
 I think you have a duty to call attention to the issues that affect the coast"
"Think globally, act locally"
- Paul Jenkin

Read the full article here: http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/?id=13113

Paul Jenkin, the “environmental guy” in the Ventura County chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, grew up traveling, a citizen of the world. He began surfing in Florida during college, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ocean engineering.

In 1989, Jenkin, who currently resides in Oak View, moved to Ventura County to work for a Navy contractor but his concern about the environment only intensified.

“Believe it or not, in the ’80s and ’90s I was really concerned about climate change; and seeing what was going on, I was driving myself crazy,” he stated.

His wife advised him to take action and he adopted what has now become his mantra: Think locally, act locally.

“You can’t solve the world’s problems, but locally you can effect some positive change and that’s what I set my mind to do.”

The Surfrider Foundation was founded in 1984, and its global chapters are dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, beaches and waves. All chapters are run by volunteers. At the Ventura County chapter, Jenkin is the Ventura campaign coordinator, aiding in the management of existing campaigns and monitoring current issues.

Most notably, the Ventura chapter was involved in the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project, which tackled worsening coastal erosion and a crumbling bike path at Surfers Point.

According to Jenkin, one of Surfrider’s key functions is not only providing a voice for local activists who are concerned with coastal issues but also offering a way to create real change.

“As keepers of the coast, when you’re educated and aware of what’s going on, I think you have a duty to call attention to the issues that affect the coast,” he explained.

For example, the Matilija Coalition was founded in 2000 to enable collaboration between individuals and organizations regarding the removal of Ojai’s Matilija Dam. The structure promotes the erosion of beaches and decline of fish because it hinders flow of the Ventura River into the ocean. Matilija Dam is the biggest dam at over 200 feet to be considered for removal in the country.

Today, the dam still stands but Jenkin hopes removal will happen within the next decade. He’d also like to see more people become increasingly informed, stating that education programs intended to enhance public awareness on issues facing the coast are also a priority for Surfrider.

Consequently, he produced the film Watershed Revolution with National Geographic photographer Rich Reid. It aired nationally on PBS, on local cable and was not only screened locally but in several film festivals.

“We wanted to build awareness that our local watershed sustains us and there are many people in the community committed to protecting and restoring the Ventura River. We hoped to inspire people to get involved.”

Besides remarking that better water management is crucial. especially during a drought, he advises choosing a relatable cause, then moving forward and slowly making a difference.

“We are all environmentally conscious; it just depends whether we act on it or not,” Jenkin said.

At present, as a member of Friends of the Ventura River Coalition, he looks forward to further progress on the work focused on the Ventura River Parkway.

For more information, go to http://ventura.surfrider.org.

Running Dry

Cover article in the Oct 10, 2013 issue of the Ventura County Reporter is titled "Running Dry - Ventura County has a water problem."   Writer Art Van Kraft takes a high level overview of some of the issues affecting local water management, and says, "Conservation advocates warn of imminent depletion of water resources."  He profiles the efforts of the Surfrider Foundation to alert residents to the 'cycle of insanity'  and quotes Mike Solomon, general manager of United Water Conservation District; "We are taking 30,000 acre feet more water out of the ground than we're putting in and that's not sustainable."  United supplies water in the Oxnard Plain where this overdraft threatens aquifers with sea water intrusion.

The article examines water conservation and Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens partnership with the City of Ventura. 'Lawn killer' Lisa Burton describes how her garden designs eliminate water waste, saying "Lawns start to look really boring and sort of silly; so does the water bill." And Diane Underhill says straight out, "We need to stop approving future development projects."

Read more here:  Running Dry - VC Reporter

Eye on the Environment - Ocean Friendly Gardens & KYH2O

Eye on the Environment - How to Make Your Gardens Ocean Friendly

Published in the VC Star August 11, 2013
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/aug/10/how-to-make-your-gardens-ocean-friendly/


How would you like a big group of surfers to help you give CPR to your garden? The Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation can help you create an Ocean Friendly Garden by applying the principles of CPR, which stands for Conservation Permeability and Retention.

Today is the last day of the Ventura County Fair, where the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has an actual Ocean Friendly Garden on display in the Floriculture Pavilion. If you miss it today, you still have many more opportunities to learn these principles. These landscapes merit the Surfrider-trademarked term “Ocean Friendly Garden” because they conserve water, native habitat and energy with local and edible plants; create permeable soil and hard surfaces to absorb and filter polluted runoff; and retain rainwater to irrigate plants, replenish creeks and groundwater, and prevent flooding downstream.

Surfrider volunteers recently re-landscaped a yard in Ventura’s midtown area to make it an Ocean Friendly Garden. They removed the lawn, then “sheet mulched” (smothered) the remaining roots. Rainwater from the roof was redirected into dry streambeds planted with climate appropriate plants plus mulch to slow, spread and sink the rainwater.

The project also created cuts in the curbs of the parkway (area between street and sidewalk) to absorb street runoff. The City has created a no-cost curb-cutting permit that makes it possible to re-do our planted parkways to capture the majority of street runoff for a fraction of the cost of a more engineered solution.

OFG is part of Surfrider’s larger program to “Know Your H2O,” which is described in our video titled “Cycle of Insanity.” While new development must apply CPR-type requirements, existing developments do not. It seems insane to channel all rainfall into storm drains that deliver polluted runoff directly to our rivers and coasts, wasting water that could be directed into our over-pumped aquifers and waterways. It also seems insane to discharge millions of gallons of highly treated wastewater (from sinks, showers, washing machines and toilets) into the ocean every day. From the dry Ventura River to the flooded McGrath State Beach Park, to the east county cities that import water from northern California, Ventura County has many signs that our management of water can be improved.

For example, while about half the water consumed within the city of Ventura is used on landscapes, the rest is used just once in our homes before we send it to the ‘wastewater’ treatment plant.  There it is treated and pumped into the Santa Clara River estuary, contributing to the flooding problem at McGrath State Beach.  One solution may be recycling this wastewater, which could not only enhance water supply but also reduce impacts on our drying rivers.  Ventura and other facilities in the County, such as the Moorpark Wastewater Treatment Plant, already sell recycled water for use on golf courses.  In Orange County reclaimed water is pumped into the ground to counteract the saltwater intrusion that is also a problem in our aquifers. And as technologies advance, direct potable reuse (for drinking) will become the norm.

Although individual citizens have little control over infrastructure, the solution begins at home.  This is why Surfrider's “Ocean Friendly Gardens” program is catching on throughout the region. Surfrider, City staff and trained professionals have helped many local homeowners improve their gardens as well as assisted with several municipal projects in the City of Ventura.

Surfrider volunteers may not be able to help everyone. So keep your eye on the environment at free classes on Ocean Friendly Gardens, sponsored by the City of Ventura and Aqua-Flo irrigation supply store, starting in September. Check out Surfrider events and see if your local chapter is able to assist you. Also, look at the gardens on the Ocean Friendly Garden map, and start evaluating your garden and making changes – or hire a professional who applies CPR.

On the web:
Calendar - http://ofgvc.wordpress.com/
Video - http://surfrider.org/programs/entry/know-your-h2o
Map – www.oceanfriendlygardens.org
Chapter - http://www.venturariver.org
City - www.cityofventura.net/water/landscape

Also published in the VCReporter:  http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/?id=11195

Paul Jenkin is the Surfrider Foundation’sVentura Campaign Coordinator, and
Paul Herzog is the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Coordinator

Ventura River Parkway presentation

Wednesday July 18 - About 100 people attended an afternoon meeting at the Ventura County Government Center sponsored by Supervisor Steve Bennett and the Friends of the Ventura River.  Presentations described the Ventura River parkway vision plan, and the growing movement to rejuvenate the river.

In the news:

 Meeting presents vision for Ventura River  The 16-mile river, with one end at the Pacific Ocean and another near Matilija Dam, "remains one of the few wild rivers mostly untouched by concrete channels," she said. "The opportunities that you have are astonishing to make this a showpiece of Southern California."       - vcstar.com

Plans For Proposed New Park, Ventura River Parkway, To Be Unveiled Today - a project is underway to try to take some publicly owned land along the river, add to it, and develop recreational facilities like hiking trails to create a Ventura River Parkway. The efforts of a coalition of groups working on the parkway concept will be unveiled this afternoon at a public meeting in Ventura. - KCLU’s Lance Orozco has the story.

Ventura River Parkway - Members of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy say the seed has been planted to create a recreational area along the Ventura River - KEYT TV

Ventura River parkway plan aims to develop area - The Ventura River isn't much of a destination spot these days. Not only is it polluted and overgrown, it's a haven for the homeless. All of that may soon change. The Friends of the Ventura River organization detailed a plan Wednesday that promises to transform the area. VENTURA, Calif. (KABC TV)

Ventura's new water department

Ventura hires general manager to oversee new water department

She and another finalist were interviewed by a panel of city officials, environmentalists and business leaders, including representatives of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Surfrider Foundation, according to the city.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/14/ventura-hires-general-manager-to-oversee-new

Letter to the editor:

While it is misleading to suggest that Surfrider Foundation formally endorsed Ms. Epstein, we are reserving judgment until we see if she can succeed in integrating our water supply, stormwater and wastewater management.

... [Otherwise]...the ratepayers will merely be paying more money for more of the same, while jeopardizing our sustainable future.

And that will be much worse than just another missed opportunity.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/18/water-department-management/

Natives face upstream battle

An article in Ojai Magazine investigates the plight of the Ventura River steelhead and the latest on the high court debate over Casitas Water District's claim against the federal government.

"The principal question before this court is whether the government's permanent physical annual taking o f 3,492 acre- feet of Casitas' water is compensable under the Fifth Amendment and, if so, the amount of just compensation," according to a brief filed by Casitas in January, following an October trial in Washington. The judge's decision in the case, which is expected by the summer, could not only award Casitas tens of millions of dollars but, as a precedent, prompt other local agencies to sue for payment for water lost to help other endangered fish. In this case, Casitas wants the federal government to pay $87.3 million, plus interest and attorney fees, for rain runoff water Casitas diverts down a 100-yard , metal fish ladder to help save the Southern California steelhead, an ocean-going variety of the common rainbow trout.

...

"This is Casitas' water to use [but] Casitas does not have it any more," Washington attorney Roger Marzulla wrote in his brief on behalf of the water district. "The fish do."

Federal officials argue that Casitas has only limited rights under it s state water permit and has not lost a dime in sales by providing for the steelhead migration, ...and Casitas has not bought any replacement water.

The state of California, meanwhile, insists that it owns the water used for the steelhead and that Casitas is only a licensee to which it grants water rights for the public good.

...

Coultas, (former CMWD board member) in fact, testified that he never saw a steelhead in the Ventura River during his 20 years on the Casitas board and a lifetime as an Ojai area fisherman. "I've never seen one in person," Wickstrum said. Baggerly said he had seen just one, "and it was a big one."

...

Below the three dams in the Ventura River watershed, experts say, there are still scattered adult steelhead and many more juveniles. ...Paul Jenkin, founder of a coalition to remove the silt- filled Matilija Dam, said steelhead are often found in pools ... "Our count is very important when discussing an endangered species about which very little is known. There are people out there who say there are no steelhead left. And if no one is out there looking, you don't know if there are."

Jenkin insists that removal of the obsolete Matilija Dam would open a floodgate of steelhead migration up and down Matilija Creek to the Ventura River. The federal government has approved removal, but issues about what to do with sediment from behind the dam have stalled the project. Now, as the cost has grown past $160 million, there may not be enough money in the overdrawn federal budget for it.


The Spring issue of Ojai Magazine is available around town now, and contains other interesting stories about the Ojai Valley, it's history and people. Click here to download a pdf version of the complete article.

Casitas Municipal Water District website: http://www.casitaswater.org

Previous news and information on the Casitas case: http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Casitas%20Water

more on steelhead: http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/steelhead




..

The good, the bad and the ugly

Earth Day update in this week's VCReporter:

The good, the bad and the ugly

'Experts weigh in on the state of the environment in Ventura County'

The Good: “The good news is that we are on the verge of breaking ground on a Surfer’s Point restoration project,” he said. “It’s taken almost 20 years to get to this point. That’s a huge positive, and something to look forward to this year. The plan is to restore the beach at the mouth of the Ventura River in response to the damage that occurred almost 20 years ago with the bike path and parking lot, and to restore the beach. It’s at the mouth of the river, so the beach comes and goes depending on how wet a year we have, but this is a progressive solution. We are restoring the natural buffer zone.”

The Bad: “The process to remove Matilija Dam has run into major stumbling blocks, where many of the stakeholders have been left out of the decision-making process,” he said. “The current proposal to build a gigantic wall to retain the sediment in perpetuity behind the dam is contrary to the vision of many who have looked forward to the restoration of that watershed.”

The Ugly: “A recent river clean up by the Main Street Bridge near the Ventura River estuary netted over five and a half tons of debris. A similar clean-up last fall netted even more. This is the result of large populations of people living in the river bottom. I think this is a real sign of our society and its neglectful inability to address social problems has environmental ramifications.”

Urban Runoff in the News

Vince Kinsch, chairman of the Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation was interviewed today at the flooded Sanjon Rd.

Sanjon Rd is an iconic example of the urban runoff problem. Our chapter has been advocating for a wetland restoration and urban watershed program as a demonstration of Solving the Urban Runoff Problem.

In the news today on KCAL Channel 9




link to this blog post and video here: http://www.venturariver.org/2010/02/urban-runoff-in-news.html


Related news: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jan/24/storm-drains-push-debris-pollutants-into-the/

Watershed film in the news

Film highlights Ventura River watershed and how it affects people
By Zeke Barlow, Ventura County Star
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Before water makes it way through the labyrinth of pipes and canals and dribbles out your tap, do you know from which river it originated? Or where it goes when it disappears down your drain?

If not, you’re not alone...

also:

• Ojai Post
• VC Reporter

Listen to interviews online:

• KVTA am radio
• Sustainable World Radio
• Radio Ojai

Events:

Saturday, June 20: world premiere of the film as part of International Surfing Day sponsored by Surfrider Foundation.

• 10:00am: beach clean-up at Surfers’ Point in Ventura, All clean-up supplies will be provided.
• 12:00pm: followed by a paddle out. Bring your board.
• 7:00pm: doors open for the premiere of the independent film, Watershed Revolution, The Lodge, 11 S. Ash St., in Downtown Ventura. (formerly the Elks Lodge)
• 8:00pm: benefit concert will feature performances by Sunshine Brothers and John Cruz.

Tickets for the evening event are $20/$35 VIP, and are available at www.zoeyscafe.com. $25 tickets at the door.


Wednesday, June 24 will be the film's Ojai premiere sponsored by Ojai Valley Green Coalition.

• 7:00 p.m. at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue. Following the film there will be a discussion along with a question and answer period, featuring local watershed activists. Donation of $2.

VCReporter on Water

This week's edition of the VCReporter provides a local perspective on water. The feature article, H2O Redefined speaks of climate change and the growing threat of privatization of water supplies. It also includes a plug for Watershed Revolution.






Other headlines in this issue include:

Ventura_Eyes_State_Water_Sale

New_Ventura_County_Storm_Water_Permit_Good_for_Environment_Bad_for_Development

Thirsty_Street_Trees_Need_a_Drink_of_Water_and_Some_Love_from_Neighbors

Unfortunately, the writers failed to connect the dots on these issues. Interestingly, the most relevant analysis in this issue is embedded in the editor's note:

Rethinking Water Consumption

Here the editor makes a good case for greywater, and includes a link to www.graywater.org/

Although the future of cheap permitted gray water systems in the state of California appears to be a way’s away, for those who understand the importance of conservation and our severe drought situation, gray water is the future. We need to take it upon ourselves to start advocating for new ways to save our most precious natural resource.

Indeed, this was one of the most tangible actions outlined in the 2050-plan-for-post-peak-oil-ventura. Widespread implementation of greywater would reduce the burden on our wastewater treatment plant, offset overdraft of our river and aquifers, and temper the waste of once-used water that has been treated to drinking standards. It would also create hundreds of 'green collar' jobs that would directly address our need to adapt to climate change (almost 20% of California's energy demand is in transporting and treating water.) The only thing stopping us is bureacratic inertia and overzealous regulations combined with misdirected incentives that continue to focus on centralized infrastructure.

BREEZE interview

I sat down a couple of weeks ago with Tim Pompey, writer for the local paper, the BREEZE:

Preserving Ventura Beaches: An Interview with Paul Jenkin

by Tim Pompey

He talks quietly, but, when it comes to ocean and beach preservation, Paul Jenkin knows how to get things done. Active with the Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, Paul now serves full-time as the Ventura Campaign Coordinator. You can see him occasionally at City Council meetings reminding the City about coastline preservation. He sat down to update me on some of Surfrider’s recent work.

T: How long have you worked with Surfrider?

P: About fifteen years I started as a volunteer and eventually figured out how I could stay on and work full-time.

T: What are some of the things Surfrider has accomplished during this time?

P: Well, we’re finally ready to go, but need to pull together enough funding to help reconstruct Surfer’s Point. It’s been a long haul on that project. The other thing we’ve been involved with is the eventual removal of Matilija Dam. There’s tons of sediment buildup behind the dam, enough that, in heavy rains, the water just runs right over the top. Once it’s removed, it will open up lots of habitat and allow sediment to naturally flow and replenish the Ventura River Delta.

T: Anything immediate on the horizon?

P: Yeah, we’ve produced a film called “Watershed Revolution”. It deals with some of our more pressing issues re: water and water management. There’s going to be a premiere public showing June 20 at the Elks Lodge and June 24 in Ojai at the Chaparral Auditorium.

T: What do you see as most pressing today in terms of Ventura water management?

P: Well, the question of urban runoff is really affecting Ventura beaches, particularly down along Sanjon and Harbor. For the most part, Ventura has cut off its natural water flow and channeled everything out through the Sanjon pipeline. We’ve put together a plan that helps Ventura solve some of its water management issues. (See www.surfrider.org/ventura)

T: What’s basic to this plan?

P: Restoring the natural runoff that we’ve siphoned into the storm channel. Rather than sending all runoff toward the beach, we’d like to create some demonstration projects where water gets channeled higher up into places where it can naturally be absorbed back into the earth. For instance, Ventura has a dozen or so natural creeks that have all been run underground by the City. We could practice what’s called “daylighting”, that is, disconnecting those creeks from storm drains and letting them reabsorb naturally back into the soil. An example of this would be to create ocean friendly gardens, i.e., using that water to naturally replenish the City’s landscaping.

T: What’s the key to helping the City reach their goal of being a “model for other communities of environmental responsibility? (Quote from the City of Ventura’s General Plan in 2005)

P: We need to create a “green” infrastructure. Right now City departments have been isolated from each other and are simply doing their own thing. A coordinated plan by these departments would help them put together a more integrated plan where everyone is on the same page. That’s what Surfrider is trying to encourage. What we’d like to do now is secure funding for smaller demonstration projects. Start small and chip away at this problem until lots of little things start to add up.

T: Do you foresee this actually happening?

P: We’ve managed to get the city to address it in their capital improvement plan. What we’re working toward now are grant monies to get these projects going.

T: When do they begin work on Surfer’s Point?

P: Soon. We’re just waiting for funding so that we can begin as soon as this fall.

Ventura Stormwater Hearing

Thursday May 7, 2009

Pure theater.

A crowd packed the Board of Supervisors hearing room today as the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) heard testimony and comments on a long overdue 'stormwater permit.' At stake is how runoff from our homes, businesses, streets and parking lots will be regulated over the next 5 years.

Following an opening presentation by RWQCB staff, the 'permittees' (local government) and NGO's (NRDC and Heal the Bay) presented their case for a 'deal' they had brokered amongst themselves. The agreement basically would modify the permit to require 'Low Impact Development' (LID) for new development in exchange for the elimination of 'Municipal Action Levels' (MALs). Ventura City Manager, Rick Cole, pitched a good angle on this 'cooperative agreement.'

Ventura County presented their current stormwater program, and the expected fiscal impacts of increased monitoring, with the overriding message that they are award winning leaders in watershed management. "Second to none," said Jeff Pratt, director of Public Works.

Then, in a surprise move, the NRDC petitioned the board to allow an opportunity to 'cross examine' RWQCB senior staff, Sam Unger. NRDC lawyer, David Beckman, proceeded to expose the fact that Mr Unger was unfamiliar with other permits around the country, and was biased against requiring infiltration and filtration techniques to control pollution. The remainder of NRDC testimony clearly highlighted the loopholes and weaknesses of the LID provisions in the Tentative Draft permit. Heal the Bay also had time to highlight the lack of details in the monitoring requirements and alternative regional solutions, among other issues.

Over the past 3 years, several workshops have been held in Ventura County to discuss this permit, often touted as a precedent for a 'next generation' regulations. While the municipalities and building industry have consistently cited economic reasons against more stringent requirements, my message has remained the same: new development is only one part of the problem. Existing infrastructure is a root cause of the current poor water quality. Moreover, existing development has also increased flooding, which in turn has resulted in increased flood control. And for the most part, 'flood control' has meant turning the natural waterways into concrete channels that convey even the lowest flows directly to the creeks and ocean.

My turn to speak finally came up shortly before 5pm. My testimony (paraphrased):

Good afternoon members of the board. I'm sure some of you saw the recent PBS documentary titled 'Poisoned Waters.' This TV show documented how we have completely failed to protect water quality over the past 40 years. I am afraid that this permit will not solve our problems. It is a small step in the right direction, but misses some critical pieces.
Did you all read this permit? It's huge. And it's very hard to understand. This document is unclear and needs more work, so we do not support the permit as currently written.
In "stormwater" we really are talking about two problems within the bigger picture of water management. The existing built environment and future development. The LID requirements are the bare minimum to address future development. Local government claims to be 'stewards' of our water resources, yet they continue to permit bad development. Because all CEQA documents use the RWQCB requirements, this has to become the minimum legal requirement to ensure we don't make the existing problem worse.
Did you know that 80% of the impervious area in our watershed is transportation related? There must be hundreds of acres of impervious parking lots constructed since the stormwater permit started in 1992. So while LID would be required of developers, the cities and county are not held to the same standards. They need to be required to install BMPs to treat low flows when streets or storm drains are maintained.
The city of Ventura has a proposal to begin to do this, and Surfrider is working with them. But there needs to be funding for this type of project. For instance SEP (supplemental environmental project) money should be applicable to planning this type of retrofit. Thank you.

After 11 hours of presentations and testimony, the board passed the new permit, with the 'city/NGO deal'. So we get LID requiremtne for new development, but the municipalities are off the hook forthe existing problems (for now.) This headline is unfortunate, as the 'taxpayers' are also subsidizing the bad practices that create stormwater pollution (i.e. flood control.) The irony is that while a change in actual water management would save the taxpayer, the municipalities have invested the majority of their staff time for four years working to de-fuse the permit. Imagine the projects that would be 'shovel ready' if that kind of energy would have gone into solving the problem.


http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/08/water-board-sets-tougher-regulations-on/

Project 70266

"We know this is a long term project...
We'd like to get some seed money to get started..."

- Richard Bradley

#70266 refers to the City of Ventura Capital Improvement Plan

This week's Breeze includes an interview with Richard Bradley, Environmental Services Supervisor for the city's Public Works Department. The article highlight's Richard's 'green dream' for the city, which is seeking $300k in grant funds to begin planning for the Sanjon project.

Let's hope there is some 'green infrastructure' funding out there somewhere...

Ocean Friendly Gardens catch on

Local news:

Sustainable landscapes let soil absorb runoff

Ripping out the water-guzzling grass was an easy decision for Ventura homeowners Sherri and Thurop Van Orman, who wanted a back yard both eco-friendly and still inviting to their young children.

“We wanted a place of exploration and natural wonder,” Sherri said.

Instead of the patchy lawn there now sits a meandering arroyo and a sustainable landscape of flowering, drought-tolerant native or Mediterranean plants, all fed by a drip irrigation system. Pipes with tiny holes capture runoff from the house’s roof and hardscape, funneling it to areas where it can be absorbed into the ground.

As localities grapple with tough new rules governing runoff, these kinds of low-water, self-containing gardens and landscapes are being encouraged for homes and commercial properties to minimize the volume of runoff reaching the ocean and protected waterways.

“Every resident can take simple precautions to ensure water remains clean,” said Arne Anselm, water quality monitoring manager for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District.

A self-contained landscape or rain garden is an anti-Army Corps of Engineers, old-style approach. When creeks got channelized and concrete dikes raised along riverbeds, the idea was to move water away as fast as possible. The problem locally is that it finds its way into the Ventura and Santa Clara rivers, Malibu and Calleguas creeks and bays and estuaries, and eventually empties into the ocean.

Sustainable landscapes make moving water slow down, absorb, nurture.

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Local news - removing Matilija Dam

Our local weekly, VC Reporter, published a story on Matilija Dam and the Ventura River project.


Environmentalists finally see progress in removing Matilija Dam

Federal funds released through spending bills this year set to spur activity for projects around the county


$965,000 of the spending bill has been designated to restore the Ventura River, long the goal of environmentalists and subject of bureaucratic infighting.

“Without dam removal, we’re going to see continued decline of the steelhead population,” said Jenkin, who said efforts to get the 60-year-old dam torn down began in the 1960s, but gained momentum in the 1990s when the Surfrider Foundation took up the cause.

Meanwhile, Jenkin is hoping some money from the federal economic stimulus package passed in January will be used to complete funding for a project to restore the beach at Surfer’s Point.

“That one’s shovel ready,” said Jenkin, explaining that the plan to move the popular bicycle path further back from shore is an alternative to building a sea wall.

“That will provide natural shoreline protection for the path and parking lot,” said Jenkin, “a natural buffer more able to respond to high tide.”

Federal government must pay Casitas Muncipal Water District

In Casitas Municipal Water District v. United States, the Federal Circuit recently decided that the United States physically may have taken Plaintiff's water rights without just compensation by requiring the Water District to re-route water for an endangered species of trout. This decision may significantly affect the outcome of other Fifth Amendment takings cases as well as future implementation of the Endangered Species Act.

This Fifth Amendment private property rights claim in Federal Claims Court against the U.S. Government for allegedly physically taking water asserted to be the private property of Casitas Municipal Water District (Ventura River) will have broad water and private property policy implications, no matter which way it eventually is decided.

The suit was engendered as a result of the National Marine Fisheries Service (and CalTrout) interest in providing for fish passage across the Robles Diversion Structure (a dam, essentially) that blocked endangered southern steelhead migration upstream to spawning and rearing habitat. When the water district built a fish ladder to accommodate the anadromous steelhead, they also filed for compensation for the taking of water required to operate the fish ladder. Upon appeal to a 3-judge review panel from the original Claims Court decision, the panel majority ruled (2-1) that because water used to operate the fish ladder came from a canal labelled "Robles - Casitas Canal," the Federal Government has "taken" physical property belonging to the water district. A subsequent request to the Federal Claims Court for review en banc was rejected. The State of California holds that the water rights diversion permit issued to the water district does not confer title to the water, instead the permit gives the district simply the right to divert a specified volume of water annually.

VC Star article: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/18/casistas-water-district-closer-to-being-for-fish/

The Federal Circuit's Decision in Casitas Municipal Water District:
https://www.fedcirbar.org/olc/pub/LVFC/events/LVFC2222951.html

Battle of Western water law vs. ESA may head to Supreme Court:

http://www.esablawg.com/esalaw/ESBlawg.nsf/d6plinks/KRII-7PG5YA

http://aquafornia.com/archives/7441

http://www.inversecondemnation.com/inversecondemnation/2009/03/federal-circuit-denies-en-banc-review-in-casitas.html

Church Says No to Silt

Project managers were scheduled to reveal their decision on the slurry disposal at the next Design Oversight Group meeting on February 5th - that meeting has been postponed until March 5th, 2009.

"Church Says No To Silt Lease - County left without site to put slurry for Matilija Dam demolition"
Ojai Valley News, Friday, January 23, 2009.

I submitted the following letter to the editor:

As one of the participants in the many studies and processes that have taken place over the past decade, I would like to clarify some of the issues with the slurry disposal component of the Matilija Dam project.

First, the Meiners Oaks Disposal Area (MODA) should be a surprise to those who attended the public meetings during the Feasibility Study and CEQA/NEPA environmental review in 2004. At that time the project description indicated the use of downstream slurry disposal sites near Baldwin Road (now known as BRDA.) During the feasibility phase, the technical study team agreed that the aim of the site selection was to provide temporary storage and allow future floods to flush the silt downstream. This would nourish the floodplain and naturally transport silt to the ocean. The use of the Meiners Oaks site represents a fundamental change in that approach, since the fine sediments would become a permanent feature of the landscape. This presents significant issues, not the least of which is that it will bury the primary trailhead for the Ventura River/El Nido Preserve, one of the only highly utilized public access points within the entire watershed.

Secondly, the subheading, “County left without site to put slurry for Matilija Dam demolition,” is misleading. The use of the original (BRDA) disposal area would simply require extending the slurry pipe a mile-and-a-half at most, not trucking as the article suggests. And if you believe the Corps of Engineers preliminary cost estimates, the $5 million price difference is only 4% of the $140 million project. (The difference may be much less if the true cost of revegetation and restoration at MODA is included.) Most importantly, the temporary sediment disposal alternative that stakeholders had supported in the Feasibility Report would provide far greater long-term benefits by providing for the natural restoration of the ecosystem.

The Matilija Coalition was formed in 2000, shortly before outgoing Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt visited Matilija Dam as part of a nationwide ‘dam-busting’ tour. We have consistently advocated for the ecosystem objectives of the project, which include restoration of native steelhead, riparian/floodplain habitat, and natural river processes. More information is online at www.matilija-coalition.org and http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com

Paul Jenkin
Matilija Coalition