MODA - It's back!

ISSUE: Slurry Disposal Site(s) for the Matilija Dam project

2 million cubic yards of fine sediments from Matilija reservoir are to be removed by slurry pipeline and deposited within the floodplain downstream. It was intended that these disposal sites would be temporary and would erode downstream into the ocean during future floods.

These sites were selected and presented to the public as the preferred alternative in the Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Report. This was an alternative approach to the plan originally proposed by the Corps of Engineers to deposit the fines below the trailhead to the recently acquired Ventura River Preserve. After months of rumors, this 'Plan A' has been reborn as MODA - Meiners Oaks Disposal Area. Originally estimated to be 90 acres, 15 feet deep, this has been reduced to 70 acres, over 35 feet deep. The Corps of Engineers cites cost savings of $5M as the reason for reverting back to this alternative.



This is a fundamental change from the several smaller temporary disposal sites presented in the Feasibility Report, to a single more permanent site. This site would require careful design and restoration to ensure revegetation, prevent flooding from upland tributaries, and integrate with the Meiners Oaks levee design. This site also has significant impacts to recreation, since it is below the primary trailhead for the Ventura River/El Nido Preserve, one of the only highly utilized public access points within the entire watershed.

What is a Watershed? - Ojai Green Coalition presentation

On Thursday evening, May 22, over 40 people attended the "What is a Watershed?" presentation in Ojai to learn about where our water comes from and how the health of the river is affected by our lifestyles and land use.

The presentation included discussion of Ecosystem-based management for the Ventura River, Water Supply, Land Use, Water Quality, Integrated Solutions, and What You Can Do.

Although most Ojai residents have some idea of where their water comes from, this presentation is intended to enhance community awareness of the interactions between land use and water quantity and quality. Hopefully those who attended will have a better understanding of the interconnections between everything we do on a daily basis and the health of the river and watershed.

Surfers Point restoration - funding update

The Final Design for the Surfers' Point Managed Retreat Project in Ventura, CA is almost complete, and construction could potentially begin in Fall 2008. Fundraising for construction is underway, but we are still looking at a $3.4 million shortfall. There may be opportunities to phase the project. Summary of the current status is below:

PROJECT FINANCING: (2008)
Coastal Conservancy (pending) $1,500,000
Fed SAFETEA-LU $1,500,000
City of Ventura $172,500
OPC (pending) $500,000
Other sources TBD $3,383,500
Total Project Cost $7,056,000


Coastal Conservancy June 5th meeting - funding request for $1.5M for Surfers Point project

Ventura City Council June 9th meeting - approval of the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Fair Board for the operations and maintenance of the project. According to city staff there were no concerns with the latest minor changes requested by the Fair Board. The MOU is in line with the deal points approved by the City Council in April 2007. City of Ventura will also be amending the project EIR and Coastal Development Permit to allow the City to begin bringing recycled asphalt from road work to the Fairground to begin covering up the dirt parking area as requested by the Fair Board in the MOU.

Ocean Protection Council meeting September 11 - Bay Area

more information at www.surferspoint.org

Ventura River Rats and Tortilla Flats mural

The "Tortilla Flats" mural is almost completed under the Hwy 101 bridge on Figueroa St in Ventura. Tortilla Flats is the name of the neighborhood that once existed by the fairgrounds and river - it was removed through emminent domain when the freeway went in 1969...

My favorite is this image of the Ventura River Rats. This video gives some of the history...

The "Tortilla Flats Archives" includes interviews from over 25 oral history subjects. Quotes from those 'old timers' include: "I don't know who tagged us, but we were 'River Rats' if we swam in the Ventura River... I got beautiful childhood memories of the Ventura River, the fairgrounds, Seaside Park... we used to go surf fishing at the foot of Figueroa... we looked forward to getting out of school to go to the river, and we'd be there for hours and hours..."

The freeway and levee changed things forever...

There will be a dedication ceremony and celebration for the Tortilla Flats mural from 11am to 2pm on May 31st, 2008

Land Conservancy hosts Matilija Dam lecture and tour

It's always fun to show people around and explain the complex project to remove Matilija Dam. This past weekend the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy hosted an evening presentation and morning field tour...




(video courtesy of Rich Reid)

Friday, April 25th at 7pm Healthy River, Healthy Community - Part I
Presentation by: Paul Jenkin of the Matilija Coalition, Nica Katherine Nite, Cal Trout Program Manager
The river runs through us, has so much to teach us as well. Learn more about the Ventura River watershed, including the Matilija Dam removal; steelhead trout in the Ventura River; how the OVLC is working to enhance the health of the Ventura River and how property owners on the river can help protect the river and their property.

Saturday, April 26th from 9am till noon Healthy River, Healthy Community - Part II
Vehicle tour : Take driving tour with Stevie Adams, OVLC restoration project manager, including stops at the Matilija Dam, the arundo removal project, and the OVLC’s Ventura River restoration projects. Meet at the Riverview trailhead of the VRP on Rice Road.

Surfrider Staff Meeting and Open House

April 22-24, 2008

Surfrider Foundation all-staff meeting included summary presentations from all the headquarters and field staff. Apart from getting a "heads up" on what's going on around the country, we did all get to spend some "quality time" at the beach (although the surf could have been better)

On April 24, I watched as the finishing touches to the new office's entry was installed, just before the first guests arrived to tour the LEED-certified "green" building.

Ventura LID Workshop "sells out"

Monday April 21 - Perhaps it was well advertised, or a timely topic, but over 190 people registered for the first large-scale Low Impact Development workshop in Ventura. Over 80% of the attendees were staff from local government agencies.

The agenda included a welcome from Brian Brennan, City of Ventura followed by:

Resource-Based Land Use Planning
The big picture: Linking land use to water quality, and how LID can help improve the health of our watersheds. - Jack Gregg, California Coastal Commission, Water Quality Unit

Low Impact Development – the How's and the Why's
Implementation of soil-based LID systems in stormwater management, and effect on flooding, in-stream erosion, maintaining the water balance, and pollutant removal.
- Timothy Lawrence, Center for Water and Land Use, UC Davis Extension
see presentation here: http://mapucde.ucdavis.edu/sheet/ReRain2.html

LID Retrofit of Existing Infrastructure
Taking a watershed approach to LID retrofit, using the San Jon Barranca as a model
- Paul Jenkin, Surfrider Foundation

A Perspective on Regulatory Approaches to LID in Southern California
History, evolution, and future directions for LID in the Southern California region.
- Xavier Swamikannu, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board

Sustainable Urbanism – Watershed-based Planning Strategies for Ventura County
Combining green infrastructure and community design to protect water resources.
- Clark Anderson, Local Government Commission


Afternoon sessions presented pervious paving technologies for infiltrating stormwater in parking lots and other paved areas.

All of the powerpoint presentations may be downloaded from the web here

Hopefully this information will sink in and become a part of land use planning in Ventura County.