Ventura River Cleanup short film

The "Big Ventura River Cleanup" was featured at this weekend's fourth annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival sponsored by the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.  The film was produced by CAPS community television and is currently showing on CAPS cable TV in Ventura.

The locally produced 'Watershed Revolution' film was featured in this film festival in 2009.  (And was aired nationwide in 2010 on PBS http://www.naturalheroestv.org/season5/watershedrevolution.html)

The Big Ventura River Cleanup is evidence that our local Watershed Revolution is underway!

Petrochem cleanup

According to a recent article in the VC Reporter, the EPA-ordered cleanup of the Petrochem site on Highway 33 is due for completion by February 28, 2013.  The abandoned oil refinery is a familiar site to anyone driving between Ojai and Ventura, and has always been one of the big questions for those interested in the health of the Ventura River.  Shell Oil operated it as a urea plant prior to it being converted to the USA Petroleum oil refinery.  According to the article two above-ground storage tanks contained a total of 2,500 barrels of crude oil; six other storage tanks contained a total of 4,800 barrels of fuel oil, oily substances and refinery chemicals.  All contaminated material, soil, drainages, and equipment were to be removed from the site, except refinery equipment designated for resale.  

The big question is what will become of the site once it has been cleaned up. There have been many proposals for development over the past two decades, ranging from dense housing development to eco-industrial parks.  The City of Ventura investigated the potential for annexing the entire upper Ventura Avenue area and Canada Larga, all of which is currently under Ventura County jurisdiction.   Of particular concern is the fact that Petrochem is situated within the 100-year floodplain of the Ventura River as well as being vulnerable to flooding from Canada Larga creek.

In the news: 

EPA orders cleanup at USA Petrochem site: Long-awaited action in the Ventura River corridor begins  

Ojai FLOW - local control of water supplies

On January 29, 2013, the Casitas Municipal Water District board held a public meeting and the board voted to support a plan to buy out the Golden State Water Company's operations in Ojai.  This action is the result of a local campaign to generate support for community control of the water supply.
Currently Golden State Water, a for-profit company, charges the highest water rates in the area.


The following update is from the Ojai FLOW organizers:

On January 29, 2013, the Casitas board did exactly as we asked by voting unanimously to approve the goals to establish a Community Facilities District and to levy taxes (bonds) to buy the Golden State operations in Ojai. The board also approved a resolution to reimburse Casitas, from the bond, for all costs associated with the buyout so that NO CURRENT CASITAS RATEPAYER will have to pay anything for the buyout. The Casitas plan can be found on their website under Casitas Board Agendas for January 29th.

As part of the buyout procedure, Casitas has announced a public hearing for

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 6 p.m. at Matilija auditorium.

This will be the only opportunity for public input for or against the buyout. After hearing what the public has to say, the Casitas board will vote at the meeting on whether or not to go forward with the buyout of the Golden State Water operations in Ojai. Golden State is mounting a massive PR campaign to get others outside the area to attend and say they want the board to vote no. They did this at the January meeting with very little advance notice, so we expect the non-Ojai attendees to be out in force at the March meeting. It’s very important for you to show up and let your voice be heard, and please also tell your neighbors to speak out at this crucial March 13 meeting.

Ojai FLOW is in the process of analyzing the Casitas buyout plan. So far, it looks very good, and our intention is to publish a position paper in the next couple of weeks. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s posted on our website.

With the generous cooperation of the Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai FLOW will be hosting an information meeting about the buyout plan on:

Thursday, March 7, 2013, 6 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Inn.

At this meeting, you and all other Ojai Golden State ratepayers can learn about the Casitas plan and ask questions in advance of the Casitas meeting. We anticipate that the Casitas General Manager will be there, too. Please pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors, as this is the community’s best opportunity to understand why it’s so important to Vote Yes to buy Golden State.  In the meantime, we encourage you to check out it our yourself as noted on our home page.

The Ojai Valley News has written several very balanced front-page articles about Golden State Water Company and the buyout effort. If you’re not already a subscriber, we encourage you to subscribe to get the most timely information and to show your support for their coverage. The latest issue of the Ojai & Ventura View also has a lot of good information about the buyout. Visit our news tab often to see fresh news items and the latest letters to the editors.

Keep your yard signs up, and pick up Vote Yes stickers to put on your mailbox door (it’s legal), your car window, your store window, the top right corner of your Ojai FLOW yard sign, or anywhere you feel it will show your support for the buyout of Golden State Water in Ojai.

We will see you at the March 13th Casitas meeting!


More info:  http://ojaiflow.com/

Surfers Point dunes

Friday December 14, 2012

Last Friday a small crew of volunteers from Patagonia worked hard to install cables and signs at Surfers Point.  The cables are intended to mark off the designated walkways in order to allow for revegetation of the dunes.  In these photos you can also see  the sterile 'rice straw' that was installed by City contractors.  

Thanks to the Surfrider crew, including Cynthia (signs etc), Morrie (finding the cables and hardware), Curt (pizza arrived on schedule), and Alec (hard labor)  - City of Ventura staff Joe McDermott and Rosie Ornelias.  Ventura rentals donated a bolt cutter and post pounder, and of course the Patagonia edit department who provided the 'miracle grant' that paid for the materials!

We look forward to watching the native plants sprout following the rainy winter weather!  Stay tuned for future work days!

Matilija Dam 2012 update

Matilija Design Oversight Group (DOG) Meeting - Dec 4 9am - noon

The Matilija Dam 'Design Oversight Group' met on December 4th.  Presentations updated the group on the Corps process and progress on elements of the final design.  this was followed by a discussion and approval of the Technical Advisory Committee work plan for 2013.

The main progress is the recent design study for the Santa Ana bridge. An assessment determined that an upstream alignment for a new bridge will be the best alternative for the Santa Ana Rd crossing in Oak View.

This presentation as well as a presentation on the giant reed removal may be downloaded from matilijadam.org


Next Steps:

Over the past year, the Matilija Dam Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has completed a draft work plan for the next steps in resolving the issues with removing Matilija Dam.  This report will be presented for approval by the DOG.  The final document will be used in a Request For Proposals (RFP) to go out to consultants early 2013.  The California Coastal Conservancy plans to sponsor additional studies recommended by the TAC as follows:

Task 1: Dam Removal Plans
The goal of this study will be to formulate feasible methods for the removal of Matilija Dam, located on Matilija Creek in Ventura County, California. The study will develop the engineering details associated with several different alternatives for mechanical sediment management and flow control during dam removal. This study would not evaluate the downstream slurry options, but would focus on the mechanical placement of sediment upstream of the dam and evaluate options for the control of flow and sediment during dam removal.  The study will be performed in two phases, with the first study done at primarily a conceptual level and the second study done in more detail on a fewer number of options to develop more reliable costs and impacts for those options.

The analyses will examine approaches for Full Dam Removal as well as an Interim Notch.  The Interim Notch would have the main purpose of preventing further deposition in the reservoir area, but could also have the additional purposes of inducing a small amount of erosion so that the sediment removal process could begin and providing data on the sediment processes that would occur upon dam removal.

Task 2: Sediment Analysis of interim and dam removal schemes
The goal of this study will be to simulate the sediment transport processes for the proposed interim notching and full removal schemes that will be evaluated in dam removal plans (Task 1).

Task 3: Robles Diversion Mitigation
The removal of Matilija Dam Removal has the potential to increase the sediment concentration within Matilija Creek and the Ventura River downstream of the dam during and after the removal process. This scope of work would develop methods to mitigate the impact to water supply through supplying water of acceptable quality during the period of impact. This study would be done in close collaboration with Task 1 and 2 (1: Dam Removal Plans 2: Erosion and Sediment Transport Modeling Analysis and). Task 2 will determine the potential for lost diversion opportunity at Robles as well as the magnitude and duration of lost diversion opportunity by computing the duration and seasonal timing when diversions will be precluded by high turbidities. The magnitude and duration of lost diversion opportunity will guide the water loss mitigation analysis

The completed TAC reports may also be downloaded at matilijadam.org

More on the recent history of the project on this blog:  Matilija Dam

Surfers' Point workdays

Saturday December 8, 2012

Over 70 volunteers plus a dozen organizers spent the morning working on the dune area at Surfers' Point.  The large crew made quick work of cleaning, seeding, and planting the 4 acre area.  The workday was coordinated by the City of Ventura in partnership with the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, and attracted Surfrider members and families from the community.  

The City of Ventura has been preparing the area for several months.  In April, sand was delivered to the project area from Pierpont Beach where the large accumulation was inundating beachfront homes.  (see Surfers Point - sand dunes)

A dune restoration plan was prepared by a consultant team to coordinate the multiple stakeholder interests and ensure ecological goals are met.  Sand that was initially delivered in longitudinal rows was re-graded with machinery over the past few weeks to form more natural 'hummock' dunes, create a buffer zone along the bike path, and provide designated 'recreation areas.'  

Because some of the imported sand contained unnatural concrete and other debris, the first crew of volunteers went to work cleaning the dunes with rakes and special mechanical 'sifters.'  It's amazing how much area a large crew can cover in an hour or two!

 As volunteers completed the debris removal, they were given tools to weed areas where non-native plants were beginning to sprout from the recent rains.  Catching these sprouts early will make a big difference later in the spring when we return to remove weeds.

While the cleanup and weeding was happening, another work group was systematically distributing native plant seeds under the direction of restoration consultant Dave Hubbard.  The seed was custom mixed for different areas of the project, mixed with some dry sand and scattered evenly within a designated area.  The area was then raked to further distribute and bury the seeds.  These seeds will be futher stabilized this week through the application of straw which will be 'crimped' into the dunes by a contractor.

Surf Brewery's Bill Riegler applies seed 

to the Surfers' Point dune restoration area.

Finally, hundreds of plants arrived from our local Surfrider Ocean Friendly Gardens 'plant parents' who have been caring for them since seeds were collected from the site last year (Surfers' Point workday.)    Volunteers spent another couple of hours planting these along the bike path and filling in areas in the bioswale.

picks were needed to break up the hard soil for planting in the bioswale

On Friday Patagonia volunteers will install barrier fencing and signs to help direct traffic through the dunes to allow for plants to establish and stabilize the new sand dunes.

Thanks to VolunteerVentura, the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and our sponsors!  The Surfrider Foundation purchased seed and refreshments for this restoration project with support from the Surf Brewery, Amgen, and Patagonia.  Please help support the Surf Brewery by asking for their local brews at your favorite eatery or visiting the tasting room on Market St in Ventura:  http://surfbrewery.com/




In the news: 

Volunteers to restore Surfers Point dunes this weekend in Ventura - VCStar

Unique Project To Deal With Erosion At Popular South Coast Beach At Halfway Point - KCLU

Our Ventura TV program included interviews at the workday event

Handcrafted sand dunes require community efforts to reach their full potential
Outdoor Observer -  VC Star


Related:

As the Oceans Rise Up, What Must Come Down? - KCRW

Ventura Curb Cut

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, the Ventura Ocean Friendly Gardens team returned to the recently completed garden to take it one step further: the first residential 'curb cut' in Ventura.

Ocean Friendly Gardens apply the concepts of Conservation, Permeability, and Retention to convert a residential landscape from one that sheds water and contributes to runoff and ocean pollution to a climate appropriate garden that captures and infiltrates rainwater on site.


What is a 'curb cut?'  and why?

In cases where a public 'parkway' exists between the sidewalk and the street, cutting a notch in the curb allows rainwater to enter the parkway where it can be absorbed and cleansed.  This captures urban runoff before it reaches the storm drain.


The curb cut design was created by the Green Gardens Group (G3), a watershed-friendly design group who have been working with Surfrider and the City of Ventura (as well as other municipalities in Southern California) to provide professional training and design/oversight for Ocean Friendly Gardens.




Volunteers worked to dig out the parkway and transform the hard-packed grass into a permeable bioswale.

A 'french drain' was laid in a bed of gravel to ensure drainage once the soil becomes saturated.

Once the curb was cut and drainage installed, the parkway was planted and mulched.  The end result is a beautiful native landscape that captures and absorbs runoff from the street.  If the 'upstream' neighbor is washing a car, it waters the plants rather than pollutes the ocean. In heavy rains, excess water will re-enter the street on the downstream end of each bioswale, which will have removed most of the pollutants (car oil, fertilizers, trash, etc)

A series of projects like these installed the length of the street would effectively capture the 'first flush' runoff, which contains the majority of pollutants, and reduce the total volume of water entering the storm drain system.  In order to make this possible, the City of Ventura will soon be offering a standard design, no-cost permit for all City residents, a first in the nation!

Many thanks to all those who made this demonstration project possible, including the City of Ventura, Green Gardens Group, Paul Herzog and all the Surfrider Foundation volunteers who donated their sweat to help lead the way in solving the urban runoff problem!

This residence is the site of the recent Ventura Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) retrofit, funded by a State grant (Whale Tail License Plate Program). Turf grass was removed and the site was sheet mulched (smothered with compost, paper and mulch). Rain gutter downspouts were redirected into the landscape, filtering and utilizing rainwater as a resource. Native and some non-native-but-climate-appropriate plants were installed, and the irrigation was converted to drip. (See this for more details: http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/ventura-chapter-teams-with-city-for-ocean-friendly-gardens-program-series).


In the news:  http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/volunteers-help-ventura-homeowners-rework/

More information:

surfrider.org coastal blog: taking-ofg-to-the-streets-parkway-curb-cut-bio-swale

Ventura OFG Campaign: http://ww2.surfrider.org/ventura/VenturaOFG.html

Surfrider's OFG page: http://www.surfrider.org/programs/entry/ocean-friendly-gardens

Solving the Urban Runoff Problem:  http://www.venturariver.org/2008/01/urban-watershed-planning-ventura-ca.html

Participant blog: http://www.lajohnny.com/404/green-streets-pilot-program-ventura-california/


Get involved:
Surfrider:             vcsrf.oceanfriendlygardens@gmail.com
City of Ventura:  Jill Sarick     jsarick@cityofventura.net     805-652-4501

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