Earthquakes in the Ojai Valley

 

according to the Ojai Valley News;

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck 7 kilometers southeast of Ojai  in the Upper Ojai area near Sulphur Mountain Road at 2:41 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, in a huge jolt that shook houses, knocked pictures off walls and sent unsecured household items flying in the Upper Ojai area.

The largest 5.1-magnitude jolt was followed by multiple aftershocks, ranging from 3.7-magnitude to 2.5-magnitude.

At 4:52 p.m. Aug. 20, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services reported online that the 5.1-magnitude quake occurred on the Sisar fault line southeast of Ojai.

Westridge Market Midtown was closed for about two hours as workers mopped up after bottles broke and spilled all over the floor.

The Sheriff's Office also reported:

— "Casitas and Matilija Dam have been visually inspected by the VC Aviation Unit, with no issues to report. Ongoing inspections by the respective dam operators are underway and will take some time to complete."

earthquake.usgs.gov

Aftershocks from the August 20 quake continued through August 24.  Another cluster occurred north of Ojai along Sespe Creek on October 15 with the initial shock measured at magnitude 3.7.

Another article published on March 4, 2022 provides more information:

The Feb. 28 and March 1 quakes followed a series of temblors that shook the Upper Ojai area Feb. 26, including a 4.0-magnitude jolt and 21 other small quakes that occurred in the same area Feb. 10 to 16. “Part of the reason that we see so many events now is we have a much better network of sensors out there,”

According to Cochran, there’s nothing to suggest the quakes are related to oil and gas activity in the area. “We would tend to see those be a lot shallower,” she said. USGS recorded the depths of the larger quakes at approximately 15 kilometers, or just over 9 miles. “Those are actually quite deep. They’re the deepest events we typically see in Southern California, in this region,”

The quakes are occurring along the Arroyo Parida Fault, an extension of the Mission Ridge Fault system, said Ed Keller, professor of geology at UC Santa Barbara. It’s uplift along this fault that divided the Ojai Valley into two sections. “The upper and lower Ojai valleys, probably 40,000 years ago, were one valley, and they’ve been separated by the Arroyo Parida Fault, which runs all the way to Santa Barbara,” he said. In the 1980s, Keller did extensive research on the geologic structure of the Ojai Valley. “The Ojai Valley is one of the most seismically active places in California,” he said, due to a high rate of uplift. “The rate of uplift in the mountains is greater here than almost anyplace else I know.” Keller said quakes in the 1.0 to 2.0 range happen fairly frequently, but when they occur in swarms it’s time to be wary. 

Edward Keller Ojai Valley faults map

References:

5.1-magnitude earthquake, followed by more, hit Ojai area at 2:41 p.m. Ojai Valley News, Aug 20, 2023 Updated Aug 22, 2023  

Quakes rattle Ojai Valley, Ojai Valley News  Mar 4, 2022

Elwha, Dam Removal Success Story

A decade after the removal of two high dams on the Elwha River, scientists are documenting the recovery of an entire ecosystem.  The science bodes well for the recovery of the Ventura River ecosystem with the removal of Matilija Dam.

This PBS documentary tells the story: 

Undamming a river, rebuilding a forest | WILD HOPE

"Ten years after the largest dam removal in history—on the Elwha River, in Washington State—scientists are chronicling an inspiring story of ecological rebirth. Recovering salmon populations are transferring critical nutrients from the ocean into the forests along the Elwha’s banks, enriching the entire ecosystem. The Elwha’s revival is encouraging advocates to push for the removal of many larger dams in the region, and in the rest of the world."

More on this blog:  Elwha

Surfers' Point Nature Based Solutions video

"Fighting Climate Change with Nature," a video produced by the Surfrider Foundation featuring the Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project:

Short version (60 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fpbvWNfW3k

 

More at https://www.surfrider.org/fighting-climate-change-with-nature

Surfers' Point funding ok'd

 At the June 1st meeting of the California Coastal Conservancy the board approved $16,200,000 to the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) to construct Phase 2 of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project, a sea level rise adaptation project that relocates existing infrastructure landward and restores beach dune habitat, in Ventura. 

Surfrider submitted a support letter saying:

Surfers’ Point has been the flagship campaign of the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation since its inception in 1991.  For more than 30 years our members have advocated for the community-based solution to coastal erosion offered by this project.  The construction of the first phase in 2011 has proven the efficacy of this approach and we look forward to completing the project.  In recent years the rapid loss of the remaining bike path and parking lot has increased the urgency to relocate this visitor serving infrastructure out of harms way.  Implementation of the proven buried cobble berm and sand dunes will restore nature-based resiliency to this extremely popular stretch of coast.

Construction will begin after Labor Day, 2024

On this blog: Surfers Point

Reference:

COASTAL CONSERVANCY Project No. 08-057-02 Staff Recommendation June 1, 2023

 In the News:

Ventura gets $16M to move crumbling path, parking lot farther from crashing waves

Klamath River dam removal begins

After nearly two decades of planning, construction recently began on the estimated $450 million Klamath River Renewal Project.  The project involves the simultaneous removal of four dams to restore the second largest river in California.  The project is overseen by the independent nonprofit Klamath River Renewal Corporation formed in 2016 to navigate the complex regulatory and legal issues associated with dam removal.

ASCE provides a good technical summary of the project here:  Construction begins on removal of 4 Klamath River dams.  In 2009 we noted that Klamath Dam removal study supports sediment releases, and each of the four dams will utilize natural transport for disposal of the majority of the fine sediment that has accumulated in the reservoirs.  Most of the concrete and other materials will be disposed at or near each of the dam sites.  

The Klamath River suffered a dramatic and notorious fish kill in 2002 when over 34,000 fish, mostly adult fall Chinook salmon, were found dead in the Lower Klamath River. This fish kill was unprecedented for returning adult salmon on the Klamath River, profoundly affecting the Yurok People and other local residents both economically and spiritually.  The river suffered another fish kill following the fires of 2022.  The major contributing factor to unhealthy fisheries in the Lower Klamath River has been the presence of the large reservoirs which accumulate agricultural runoff and fertilizers which heat up in the hot summer months and fuel toxic algae.  Removal of these dams will eliminate the release of this toxic hot water into critical salmon habitat.  Most importantly this project will restore one of the most productive salmon runs in California to benefit the Native American communities who have depended on fisheries for their livelihood, health, and cultural practices since time immemorial. 

Also of interest is the The Klamath Mitigation Fund which "is a voluntary claims-based compensation program in which impacted property owners can participate.  The Fund is designed to provide compensation for specified physical impacts to private properties caused by the Klamath dam removal project. The Fund will be administered by independent Fund Administrators based on criteria established from extensive technical analysis. The Fund Administrators will organize information sessions by potential claim (slope stability, flood risk, and groundwater well impacts) to explain the analysis and approach. They will ultimately make independent compensation decisions and manage settlements with individual property owners for physical damages demonstrated to be caused by dam removal. Such payments (which will settle claims) will avoid the need for litigation to resolve such damages.”

In the news:   

First Klamath River dam to be removed by end of summer  

The massive dam removal on the Klamath may save salmon but can’t solve the West’s water crisis

With one down, Klamath dam removal proceeds on schedule

An Important Milestone on the Klamath – Removal of the Copco 2 Dam Complete! American Whitewater11/09/2023

On this blog:

Klamath Dam removal study supports sediment releases

Reference:

Klamath River Renewal Corporation

Klamath Mitigation Fund

Construction begins on removal of 4 Klamath River dams, ASCE 5/11/2023

The Klamath River Fish Kill of 2002 CA.gov 

Klamath River Fish Kill 2002 (Earthjustice) - YouTube video

Ventura Water Pure Ocean Outfall

The City of Ventura is planning to construct an ocean outfall extending approximately 6,800 feet offshore from Marina Park near the Ventura Harbor.  The outfall and associated pipeline will ultimately serve to dispose of concentrated "brine" from the planned "Ventura Water Pure" wastewater recycling facility.    A new underground pipeline will connect the existing Ventura Water Reclamation Facility to the outfall.  

Initially the City will discharge up to 4.7 million gallons per day (MGD) of tertiary-treated water through the ocean outfall. The Ventura Water Reclamation Facility currently discharges tertiary-treated wastewater into the Santa Clara River Estuary (SCRE) near its connection to the Pacific Ocean.  In March 2010, the Ventura Coastkeeper and Heal the Bay filed a lawsuit alleging that the discharges of the tertiary-treated effluent into the estuary violated State and Federal law.  The City settled and entered into a consent decree requiring the City to develop alternatives that would improve conditions for the habitats and species within the estuary.  The first phase would discharge up to 90% of the City's treated wastewater offshore by 2030.  

The City is also currently planning for the Ventura Water Pure reclamation facility which would further process the tertiary wastewater using reverse osmosis and other treatments to allow injection into local aquifers.  This would provide a new source of water through Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) to help accommodate the City's growth.  The byproduct of this process is a concentrated "brine" which will be disposed offshore through the ocean outfall.  

Construction will mainly impact Marina Park and the harbor area to install the plumbing necessary to disharge offshore as shown in the illustration below. A 20-inch diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Conveyance Pipeline will connect from the wastewater treatment plant at Harbor Boulevard and Olivas Park Drive, extending north along Harbor Boulevard, then west on Schooner Drive, and northwest along Anchors Way where it would connect to the Harbor Crossing. The 20-inch pipe will be bundled with two 8-inch sewer pipes in a 36" pipe to be drilled 30 feet below the harbor bottom to connect with the Ocean Outfall at Marina Park.  

The City completed their environmental analysis of this project in 2019 with an addendum in 2022.  

BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:

Surfrider has advocated for water recycling over the past decades, and this ocean outfall is a necessary component of this.  Recycling is accomplished by reverse osmosis which generates a “brine” that has to be disposed of.  Once the WaterPure facility is operating this outfall will be primarily for brine disposal.  In the interim, while the facility is being constructed, the outfall will be used for offshore disposal of tertiary treated wastewater.  This would effectively relocate the disharge from the estuary/nearshore to a mile offshore in Pierpont Bay to comply with a court order resulting from Wishtoyo/HealtheBay lawsuit.
Some of Surfrider's prior comments on this issue are here: https://www.venturariver.org/search?q=scre

There are some unavoidable impacts with this project, but in the long term it should lead to improvements in our regional water supply and water quality as well as eliminating the impacts to the Santa Clara River Estuary.  Concerns include whether offshore currents could bring the effluent back onshore and of course the implications of sea level rise.   Coastal Commission Staff recognized the sea level rise concerns by reducing the permit from 50 yr to 30 yr at which point they would revisit it.

A big concern is the City's ambition that this outfall could one day be used for an intake of ocean water for desalination.  Surfrider and others have concerns about ocean desalination due to the impacts on the marine ecosystem and the carbon footprint of this energy intensive process.  

IN THE NEWS:

California's Ventura Gets $173M in EPA Loans for More Resilient Water Supply, ENR, May 24, 2023

Key funding comes through from EPA to boost water supply in Ventura, VC Star, May 24, 2023

Ventura has been awarded federal loans covering half the costs for a program to convert treated wastewater into safe drinking water and reduce discharges of effluent into the Santa Clara River estuary.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday at the city's water reclamation plant, officials said the venture will benefit the environment, boost water supplies by up to 20% and protect the community against drought.

The financial award is a "monumental milestone," Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder said at the invitational event where federal, state and city officials celebrated the nearly $174 million in funding and promoted the benefits of the project called VenturaWaterPure.

The loans will pay for half of the $354 million to be spent on an initial phase, program Director Linda Sumansky said. Around 60% of the roughly 5.5 million gallons of treated effluent going into the estuary daily will be diverted and an advanced purification plant built. A second phase allowing all the effluent to be diverted will cost another $80 million.

REFERENCE:

Ventura Water Pure: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1646/VenturaWaterPure
Library of Documents: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1685/Library-of-Reports

Pending permit applications include:

California Coastal Commission: Staff Report, Exhibits
State Lands Commission:  Staff Report

More on this Blog:  https://www.venturariver.org/search/label/wastewater

Santa Ana Bridge Replacement

On October 17, 2022 Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the new Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge.  This bridge is the first major infrastructure component of the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project, and was deemed necessary due to existing deficiencies in the height and length of the bridge.  The new bridge is 50 percent longer than the old bridge, an increase that will partially restore the Ventura River’s natural channel capacity. 

The bridge was replaced to widen the river and eliminate the "bottleneck" at this location to better pass flood flows.  Widening the river at this location will improve natural sediment transport and migration habitat for the federally-endangered southern California steelhead and other species. 

The first test soon came with the flood of January 9, 2023.  Flood waters passed freely beneath the new bridge, while the old bridge may have backed up flows and potentially sustained damage.  

Santa Ana Bridge - the recently replaced bridge during the flood of Jan 9 2023
photo: Rich Reid

Santa Ana Bridge - the recently replaced bridge during the flood of Jan 9 2023
Photo: Ventura County

Diagram illustrates how the replacement Santa Ana Bridge widens the Ventura River

Overhead view of the new Santa Ana Bridge, Jan 2023

Aerial view looking upstream at Santa Ana Bridge during construction 10-9-21

The bridge replacement was planned to minimize disruption to local traffic by constructing the new bridge upstream before switching traffic and demolishing the old bridge.  Funding was provided through a grant from the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and construction was completed on schedule before this historic wet winter.

The new Santa Ana Bridge following the flood of Jan 9, 2023

Timelapse of construction by Rich Reid

More: https://matilijadam.org/santa-ana-boulevard-bridge/

In the news:

Santa Ana Bridge expansion will help with dam removal, Ojai Valley News June 14, 2019

New Ventura River bridge could help endangered trout, VCStar.com June 5, 2021

New bridge is one more step toward goal of dam removal, Ojai Valley News Oct 13, 2022


Aerial photos courtesy Rich Reid rich@richreidphoto.com