Blog action day - Water

Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking a global discussion and driving collective action. This year's topic is water.

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

This Ventura River Ecosystem blog has been a means to communicate the complex issues that our community faces in stewardship of our watershed and coastal resources. It is increasingly clear that 'Ecosystem-based Management' is all about water. How we manage our fresh water directly impacts our coast and ocean. Water is the universal fluid that directly connects our actions on land with the sea that we all depend upon.



The Ventura River Watershed is a microcosm for water and watershed management. With an area of only 225 square miles, the Ventura River is small enough to provide an opportunity to develop a model of holistic management. Our watershed includes all the pieces of the puzzle: from highly urbanized areas to small rural communities; large dam removal to 'ocean friendly gardens;' a large surface reservoir to local aquifers. In this climate of flood and drought, we need to begin to coordinate our efforts in a sustainable manner. Because climate change adaptation is all about Water.

Although it seems we are currently stuck in the cycle of 'one step forward and two steps backward,' my hope is that this blog will help serve to raise the level of awareness in our community so that we may move forward with a common vision - one that will provide a sustainable future for our children and our children's children. Our lives depend on it.

Canada Larga moves forward

Regardless of the issues with annexing undeveloped Canada Larga canyon, it makes one wonder.

How did a developer con our decision-makers
into funding the EIR for his project,
while simultaneously providing a loophole
to our existing SOAR growth ordinance?

It makes for a good show - on Monday evening City Council was first serenaded by hundreds of their own employees protesting a request to 'chip in,' then over an hour of testimony on rezoning the failing auto mall to allow a poker club to move in. Then hours of testimony from concerned citizens destined to fall on deaf ears.

The mayor is concerned this may signal a return to the Bad Old Days "where developers engage in game-playing to try to get four votes, people on either side of an issue call each other names, and everything comes to a halt because it’s so contentious."

Too bad, because as a community, we aren't even asking the right questions yet. While our leaders use taxpayer funds to justify unlimited expansion, regional aquifers are failing and our 'wastewater' continues to be wasted.

Truly the Cycle of Insanity.

Surfers' Point project begins

On Friday, following a short delay, the heavy equipment began work clearing the project area at Surfers' Point. First to go were the trees along Shoreline Drive, followed by the concrete 'K-Rail' barriers that have delineated the bike path since it was damaged in 1992.

More about the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project here: http://surferspoint.org/

Canada Larga annexation

On Monday October 11 the Ventura City Council will vote on whether to study the Canada Larga Valley with the intention of annexing the area for construction of executive homes. The 800-acre rural valley is located four miles north of the current City boundary. This issue has been wrapped into the Westside & North Avenue planning process. The annexation issue will be re-considered on Monday night following a legal determination that will allow Councilman Monahan to vote (to break the 3-3 tie)

The map below is from the City of Ventura 2005 General Plan EIR, available for download on the City's website. It shows the current city limits (red line) and the potential expansion areas considered at that time.



Note that the City of Ventura has not pre-designated land use zoning for Canada Larga, which is currently zoned as 'open space' under Ventura County jurisdiction - this provides a 'loophole' in the SOAR ordinance in which voters would need to approve a land-use change. If the property was annexed to the city of Ventura it would be exempt from a SOAR vote.

Although the issue of expanding the city boundaries was discussed throughout the Comprehensive Plan Update process in the early 2000's, City Council at that time voted to concentrate city resources on infill development/redevelopment. Infill is widely recognized as 'smart growth' from a variety of viewpoints. From a watershed perspective it is always wise to concentrate urban development within existing neighborhoods rather than encourage 'suburban sprawl.' Urban/suburban development always has a negative impact on watershed processes, including water quantity and quality. Expansion of the city may also conflict with the City of Ventura's past support of the Ventura River Parkway plan to preserve the lower Ventura River.

The map below is provided courtesy of the property owner, and provides an overview of the areas that will be considered by City Council on Monday night. Note that the canyon had not been considered in the prior planning documents, but a yes vote on Monday night would result in city funds spent to perform analysis on its potential annexation.




A coalition of community groups has expressed their opposition including The Sierra Club,
SOAR, Surfrider Foundation, Wishtoyo Foundation, VCCool, Ventura Audubon Society, Ventura Coastkeeper, Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation

More info: http://vchp.org/blog/

Contact City Council: council@ci.ventura.ca.us

First Flush

It rained this week for the first time in months. Despite the parched ground, the urban areas were flowing. According to the news, "Southbound lanes of Sanjon Road near Harbor Boulevard in Ventura were closed at one point because of flooding"

Here are 'first flush' photos from SanBuenaventura State Beach, Sanjon Drain:

Here's a collection of shopping carts gathered from the Ventura River Estuary during Coastal Cleanup Day:

Ventura River Groundwater Management Plan

A draft report for the first time develops a water budget for aquifers along the main stem of the Ventura River and outlines an approach for the development of a Groundwater Management Plan.

At the August meeting of the Ventura River Watershed Council, a presentation was given on a draft report titled "Groundwater Budget and Approach to a Groundwater Management Plan - Upper and Lower Ventura River Basin."

This graphic illustrates the important role that groundwater plays in the water cycle. The study compiles data from several sources to quantify the inputs and outputs in the upper and lower Ventura River Basin.


The (draft) report indicates that the overdraft of water from these two groundwater basins in the Ventura River amounts to over 5,000 acre-feet per year. (Note that this study does not include the Ojai Groundwater Basin, for which separate studies are underway.)


The report goes on to make recommendations as to how to develop a groundwater management plan:

• Develop a groundwater model of the Subbasins to improve estimation of the groundwater budget
• Obtain data from VRWHM that is more specific to the areas of the Subbasins
• Obtain agricultural and industrial extraction rates from individual wells
• Identify wells within the Lower Subbasin for groundwater level monitoring
• Consider siting additional surface water gauges along the Ventura River and San Antonio Creek to better understand groundwater/surface water dynamics

Comments are being incorporated and the final report is due out next month.


More info:

Upper Lower Ventura River Basin Draft GW Bdgt_8-20-10

Upper and Lower VRB GW Budget and Management Presentation 05-25-2010



Related news:

Recent reports indicate that groundwater supplies in California and around the world are being unsustainably depleted. "...nearly 80 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where the fresh water supply isn’t secure. And while industrialized nations have made massive investments in infrastructure to keep the faucets flowing, those projects have taken a toll on the environment." "...governments should to invest in water management strategies that combine infrastructure with “natural” options such as safeguarding watersheds, wetlands and flood plains. [BBC News]"

Hwy 101 - CalTrans response

In response to our concerns that the access ramp would encroach onto the public beach, CalTrans simply redrew their right of way. Does this constitute a takings of public land, falsification of data, gross negligence, abuse of power, or all of the above?




September 27, 2010

Subject:US 101 High Occupancy Vehicle Project Ventura County Board of Supervisors Hearing Appeal of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) LU09-0085

This letter is in response to the comments received at the BOS Hearing from the Surfrider Foundation (Ventura Chapter) and our previous discussions with Mr. Larry Manson. The Surfrider Foundation's input was taken seriously, and modifications to the design were made in response. We have enclosed updated plans showing additional access points to be constructed within our right-of -way or within the prism of the rock revetment. These plans are consistent with the Ventura County Coastal Permit.

Caltrans believes that the proposed project provides safer beach access when compared to existing conditions. This is also true for the new bikeway, of course the project will change the classification of the highway to a freeway according to Caltrans Highway Design Standards and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Therefore, parking will no longer be allowed along the freeway shoulder pursuant to CA vehicle code, Division 11, Chapter 9, section 22505 and will be enforced by CHP. The emergency parking shoulder will be reduced from 19ft to 8-ft. Also, the highway between the Tank Farm and Mussel Shoals is the most constrained by the railroad and the ocean and there is no additional land to move the bikeway off the highway to provide additional parking.

Should the Surfrider Foundation propose additional access location, Caltrans would be emendable to collaborate with you and seek a grant for a separate project.



In the news: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/oct/01/surfrider-foundation-drops-opposition-to-highway/