Last year a local kid was successful in enhancing awareness about climate change and sea level rise.
Alec also became the youngest person certified to present Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth." He continues spreading his message and empowering folks all around the country.
local press: ventura-teen-delivers-global-warming-message
http://kids-vs-global-warming.com
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
SOS: California's Native Fish Crisis
Report Shows California Fish in Crisis Trends indicate 65% of native salmon, steelhead, and trout species may be extinct within 100 years
CalTrout released the first-ever comprehensive report chronicling the status of each of California’s native fish species (salmon, steelhead, and trout). SOS: California’s Native Fish Crisis was written and researched by Dr. Peter Moyle, UC Davis professor and renowned expert on California’s water systems and the fish that inhabit them.
The report’s findings indicate that the state’s native salmonids are in unprecedented decline and are teetering towards the brink of extinction – an alarm bell that signals the deteriorating health of the state’s rivers and streams that provide drinking water to millions of Californians.
All indications show that California’s native fish are in crisis:
• If present trends continue, 65% of native salmon, steelhead, and trout species will be extinct within 100 years.
• Sixty-five percent of the species headed towards extinction are found only in California.
• Of the state’s 22 anadromous fish species (which spawn in freshwater and live most of their adult lives in the ocean), 59% are in danger of extinction.
• Of the state’s nine living native inland fish, 78% are in danger of extinction.
“The fish don’t lie,” said report author Peter Moyle, PhD. “The story they tell is that California’s environment is unraveling. Their demise is symptomatic of a much larger water crisis that, unless addressed, will severely impact every Californian.”
On Southern Steelhead:
Conservation Recommendations: Conservation
of southern steelhead will require the immediate protection
and expansion of their habitat and the reestablishment of
runs that were historically highly productive, including the
Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers.
Changes in water management to ensure adequate flows and
passage to spawning and rearing areas are critically needed.
of southern steelhead will require the immediate protection
and expansion of their habitat and the reestablishment of
runs that were historically highly productive, including the
Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers.
Changes in water management to ensure adequate flows and
passage to spawning and rearing areas are critically needed.
Ongoing research and restoration efforts have shown that when flows are reinstated, migration barriers removed, and cool, clean, abundant water provided, our native fish show signs of recovery.
Download the complete report here: http://www.caltrout.org/article.asp?id=359&bc=1
Ojai Meadows Preserve
For the past several years, a collabarative effort led by the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy has been slowly restoring a historic wetland in the heart of the Ojai Valley. Many of you have seen and perhaps participated in the activities on the Ojai Meadows Preserve. Earthmoving & construction were completed in April 2008 and major planting efforts will continue for several years. Ecological benefits include increased wildlife habitat, improved water & habitat quality, and increased aesthetic beauty. This little publicized effort is making a real difference in our watershed.
Restoration efforts have so far:
- Alleviated HWY 33 flooding by transforming Maricopa Drain from a straight, undersized man-made ditch into “Maricopa Creek,” a wider/deeper natural meandering stream with gently-sloped streambanks conducive to riparian vegetation establishment. Widening and meandering the stream required the removal of up to 90 eucalyptus trees.
- Re-created freshwater marsh/wetland/riparian habitat to recapture likely historic conditions
- Created 2 vernal pools
- Created an additional meandering (Taormina) streamcourse, lined with 50 sycamores, 50 black cottonwoods, and native understory.
- Allowed braided streams to naturally re-occur (from Nordhoff campus storm flow)
- Significantly decreased the non-native plant cover and increased the percent-cover of native riparian, wetland, oak woodland, savannah grassland, and sage scrub habitats, the bulk of which are now protected within a newly-erected wooden post & rail fence. Approximately one-third of the preserve is undergoing varying levels of restoration.
- The overall “Ojai Meadows Preserve Habitat Restoration & Flood Control Plan,” prepared by Condor Environmental Planning Services, Inc., is being managed and implemented by OVLC staff, Coastal (ecological) Restoration Consultants, public and private schools, and volunteers of all ages.
- State Department of Water Resources
- Nordhoff High School
- State Water Board
- Army Corps of Engineers Mitigation Program
- Oak Grove School “Once Upon a Wetland”
- Taormina Community Tree Fund
- Southern California Wetland Recovery Project
- Kaddis Oak Tree Fund
- Patagonia
Future restoration plans include more of all-the-above on more acreage, focusing more on the County portion of the preserve. Contact OVLC for more information: 805-649-6852
Point surf
C-street on a fine winter morning...
It's often hard to imagine that this long period groundswell originated with winter storms blowing off Siberia, over Japan, and into the North Pacific Ocean.
What is a bioswale?
According to Wikipedia,
This is a key concept in restoring the landscape to not only reduce 'nonpoint source pollution,' but also to enhance groundwater recharge:
- "Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff
This is a key concept in restoring the landscape to not only reduce 'nonpoint source pollution,' but also to enhance groundwater recharge:
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ventura River Parkway Land Donation
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Accepts Ventura River Land Donation
Press Release: Ventura , CA (February 17, 2009). The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is the recipient of a second donation of land to add to its conservation holdings. The gift came from the Gene Wave Waldo Trust. The two contiguous parcels comprising the gift measure just under one acre, and are located along the Ventura River just west of the Ventura River Trail. The
property is south of Foster Park .
The children of Gene Waldo, Wave Lee Stonerock, Nipomo; Jennifer Tidwell Kennedy, Casitas Springs; Robert Waldo of Medford , Oregon ; and Sue Brax of Lancaster donated the scenic riverside property in honor of their mother. The family chose to give the acreage to the local land trust to ensure that it would remain as open space in perpetuity. “We wanted to be certain that nothing would be built there” said Stonerock. Kennedy added that she was pleased to give the lush riparian area to the Conservancy because “now the land has a purpose.” Pursuant to wishes of the donors, the grant deed carries a restriction limiting use to conservation objectives.
“This generous donation is significant in a number of ways” says Executive Director Barbara Harison . “It is the first land conservation conveyance recorded since the Ventura River Parkway project was announced by Trust for Public Land and the State Coastal Conservancy a few years ago.” The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy serves as a key facilitator of the Parkway project, and is the only entity willing to hold land for conservation purposes in the lower Ventura River valley. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy holds several properties along the river north of Foster Park . “These parcels are in a relatively undisturbed riparian state” says Jamie King, Conservancy Trustee and professional biologist. “Only minor restoration work is needed. As riparian habitat supportive of river-dependent species, it is quite high quality.”
The two parcels are remnants of larger lots that once fronted Ventura Avenue , and were created from the old Rancho Santa Ana subdivision. As children, the sisters recall coming up from the Los Angeles area on weekends to visit their Grandparents, Charles and Wave Hoffman. Charlie was known for many years as the sage of Foster Park . He owned an antique store on one of the parcels. Later, their mother owned The Green Door antique shop on the adjacent parcel. The children have fond memories of the playing in the river and the watching the train that ran behind their grandfather’s property. The train track is now removed and replaced with the Ventura River Trail. When the state built the Ojai 33 Freeway in the 1960s, much of the Waldo property and adjacent properties were taken through eminent domain, leaving a string of remnant parcels along the riverside west of the Caltrans right of way. The two remnant parcels
remained in the family’s ownership since that time.
The Conservancy hopes the Waldo Trust donation will inspire other landowners along the river to participate in the vision for the parkway. “Often what is considered remnant land in difficult floodplain setting actually has high conservation value and positive benefits as conserved land for habitat protection and public access to the river” says King.
About the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to permanently preserving the hillsides, canyons and open space that contribute to the unique character and natural environment of the Ventura region. VHC works with landowners to help identify a property’s conservation value. Landowners can then work with their advisors to evaluate conservation scenarios and potential incentives that fit the property and the family’s needs. Donations to the Conservancy are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Further information about the Conservancy log is available on the web site at www.venturahillsides.org, or by calling 805 643-8044.
local press: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/20/land-along-ventura-river-donated-to-public-trust/
Press Release: Ventura , CA (February 17, 2009). The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is the recipient of a second donation of land to add to its conservation holdings. The gift came from the Gene Wave Waldo Trust. The two contiguous parcels comprising the gift measure just under one acre, and are located along the Ventura River just west of the Ventura River Trail. The
property is south of Foster Park .The children of Gene Waldo, Wave Lee Stonerock, Nipomo; Jennifer Tidwell Kennedy, Casitas Springs; Robert Waldo of Medford , Oregon ; and Sue Brax of Lancaster donated the scenic riverside property in honor of their mother. The family chose to give the acreage to the local land trust to ensure that it would remain as open space in perpetuity. “We wanted to be certain that nothing would be built there” said Stonerock. Kennedy added that she was pleased to give the lush riparian area to the Conservancy because “now the land has a purpose.” Pursuant to wishes of the donors, the grant deed carries a restriction limiting use to conservation objectives.
“This generous donation is significant in a number of ways” says Executive Director Barbara Harison . “It is the first land conservation conveyance recorded since the Ventura River Parkway project was announced by Trust for Public Land and the State Coastal Conservancy a few years ago.” The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy serves as a key facilitator of the Parkway project, and is the only entity willing to hold land for conservation purposes in the lower Ventura River valley. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy holds several properties along the river north of Foster Park . “These parcels are in a relatively undisturbed riparian state” says Jamie King, Conservancy Trustee and professional biologist. “Only minor restoration work is needed. As riparian habitat supportive of river-dependent species, it is quite high quality.”
The two parcels are remnants of larger lots that once fronted Ventura Avenue , and were created from the old Rancho Santa Ana subdivision. As children, the sisters recall coming up from the Los Angeles area on weekends to visit their Grandparents, Charles and Wave Hoffman. Charlie was known for many years as the sage of Foster Park . He owned an antique store on one of the parcels. Later, their mother owned The Green Door antique shop on the adjacent parcel. The children have fond memories of the playing in the river and the watching the train that ran behind their grandfather’s property. The train track is now removed and replaced with the Ventura River Trail. When the state built the Ojai 33 Freeway in the 1960s, much of the Waldo property and adjacent properties were taken through eminent domain, leaving a string of remnant parcels along the riverside west of the Caltrans right of way. The two remnant parcels
remained in the family’s ownership since that time.The Conservancy hopes the Waldo Trust donation will inspire other landowners along the river to participate in the vision for the parkway. “Often what is considered remnant land in difficult floodplain setting actually has high conservation value and positive benefits as conserved land for habitat protection and public access to the river” says King.
About the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to permanently preserving the hillsides, canyons and open space that contribute to the unique character and natural environment of the Ventura region. VHC works with landowners to help identify a property’s conservation value. Landowners can then work with their advisors to evaluate conservation scenarios and potential incentives that fit the property and the family’s needs. Donations to the Conservancy are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Further information about the Conservancy log is available on the web site at www.venturahillsides.org, or by calling 805 643-8044.
local press: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/20/land-along-ventura-river-donated-to-public-trust/
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