Salmon Run focuses on trash issue

This year's Salmon Run, the 18th annual event organized by Patagonia, sold out at 400 registered runners.  This is the one time every year when the lower Ventura River is open to the public for this fundraiser event.  (One reason why you should sign our petition for the Ventura River Parkway)

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper placed signs along the course to tell the story of trash and human waste in the lower Ventura River.  "It is estimated that 150-200 people live in the riverbottom throughout the year without garbage or sanitary services" 

 

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper has been working to address this problem,  currently one of the most serious threats to water quality in the Ventura River watershed.  Last year Stream Team volunteers mapped the extent of camping in the estuary area: http://www.venturariver.org/2011/04/stream-team-trash-survey.html

Watch this video as ChannelKeeper's Ben Pitterle documents the extent of the problem:

More photos from the Salmon Run:

Watching the Dams Come Down- Elwha

The Elwha dam removal project is moving ahead rapidly.

Here a timelapse video shows the process of removing Glines Canyon Dam by 'notching':




Elwha Dam, the lower of the two dams on the Elwha River, is being removed by diverting the river and deconstructing one side at a time:




This video shows the spillway being blasted






Elwha Dam from the air:

The sediment built up in the upper reservoir is being exposed and eroded by the river as the water level in the reservoir is drawn down:

(aerial photos courtesy Brian Cluer)

Watching the Dams Come Down - Condit

Today a hole was blasted in the base of Condit Dam, allowing sediment to flush out as the reservoir drains.  These images are frame grabs from the real-time streaming video http://www.msilive.net/condit.html:

Condit Dam shortly after a hole was blasted in its base 

The view from downstream of Condit Dam
shortly after a hole was blasted in the base

River cutting through sediment upstream of Condit Dam

Sediment-laden water flushing downstream shortly after Condit Dam blast

Condit Dam after the blast - note the hole at the base of the dam

More info on Condit Dam Removal project:
http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/year-of-the-river.html
http://www.pacificorp.com/es/hydro/hl/condit.html

In the News:



National Geographic:

UPDATE 2023: Removing Condit Dam spurred hopes, but it also begged questions the White Salmon River is slowly answering

A great recounting of the entire process by Steve Stampfli: https://whitesalmontimelapse.wordpress.com/

Surfers' Point time-lapse video

Time lapse video is a great way to view change over time.  We were able to capture a lot of the work that has been completed at Surfers' Point by using simple time lapse cameras.  Rich Reid explains how he does it:

Surfers' Point - Managed Shoreline Retreat - time-lapses from Rich Reid on Vimeo.

Watch dogs

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper's "Watchdog Diaries"

These videos show ChannelKeeper's ongoing efforts to document sources of water pollution in the Ventura River:



YouTube: http://youtu.be/GeIUD5VyrCo



YouTube: http://youtu.be/oBFHrS1nKOI


About Santa barbara ChannelKeeper:  http://sbck.org/

Ventura River Parkway

In California and across the nation, cities are reclaiming their rivers to create vital recreational and gathering spaces.

The Ventura River Parkway: a new vision for  a lost treasure

The Ventura River, one of the last self-sustaining rivers in Southern California, sustains one of the greatest diversities of plants and animals in the region. Since the first settlers arrived at its banks, the river has been an invaluable water source and gathering place for people.

But today many residents and visitors are hardly aware the river exists. Incompatible land uses, especially along the river’s lower reaches, have created a visual and physical barrier, rendering the river largely invisible. People have few places where they can access and enjoy it.

A coalition of local groups, state agencies, and a national conservation organization are working together to reclaim the river and reconnect the community to its greatest resource. Their vision—The Ventura River Parkway—would create a continuous network of parks, trails and natural areas along the lower 16 miles of the river from Ojai to the estuary.

Not only will the plan preserve this historic waterway, it will do so much more: protect water quality, conserve streamside and aquatic habitat, and restore sensitive floodplains.  It will link neighborhoods to nature, and enhance our sense of place.

Now is the time to rediscover this valuable resource, to nurture public awareness and appreciation for the river, and offer more of the river’s benefits to the people, communities and businesses along its banks.

more info: Friends of the Ventura River

Earth Charter award

Every year Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions presents Earth Charter Awards to those community activists who best embody the Earth Charter's core values.This year we honor:

Social and Economic Justice (Richard Weinstock Memorial Award)
Tanya Cole

Ecological Integrity

Paul Jenkin 

Read his blog at:  http://www.blogger.com/profile/13378750920100329693

Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace  (In Memory of Betty Eagle and Bill Hammaker) 
David Krieger
Executive Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Respect and Care for the Community of Life
“Lift Up Your Voice” 
Accepted on behalf of various homeless advocates by Rev. Jan Christian

Earth Charter and the Arts
James Menzel-Joseph
http://www.artandsurvival.org/



Youth Education and Outreach
Julie Medina

About Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions
About Earth Charter
In the News: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/01/dodge-honoring-those-who-work-to-sustain-the/