The Ojai Meadows Preserve is Open for Public Enjoyment - Guided Tours Offered
Reprinted in part from The Ojai Valley News, April 16, 2008 edition. Article by Nao Braverman.

After being fenced in for months, tantalizing outdoor enthusiasts and curious neighbors, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Meadows Preserve and wetlands restoration project is finally open to the public. The fencing around the 58-acre lot along Ojai Avenue next to the Nordhoff High School football field was taken down Friday. All the major grading and excavation has been completed.

Tiny California poppy, lupin, and vetch seedlings, along with countless other wildflowers are popping up across the meadow, and lazy streams meander through the property collecting in several vernal pools.

The project site had been surrounded by fencing since since November 2007, keeping the public out, while conservancy contractors have corrected the waterways, redirected a sewer line that was in the way, and established vernal pools, said Derek Poultney, the Land Conservancy’s project manager.

Already OVLC staff have seen a tremendous influx in wildlife. The swales are filled with tadpoles, a variety of new bird species have made their nests, and a newly spotted weasel is expected to provide much-needed rodent control in the area, said Poultney. Mallards, cattails, redwing blackbirds have thrived on the newly established waterways.

The restoration is expected to alleviate flooding on Highway 33 by redirecting stormwater onto the wetlands retention basin. Early spring rains have proved the flood mitigation aspects successful so far, said Poultney.

The Conservancy has already begun leading frequent nature walks along trails through the newly opened meadow. Volunteer docents have been offering tour participants a bit of the project site’s history and its future. The conservancy is also training volunteers docents who can sign up for a training by calling the conservancy at 649-6852.

To learn more, and see the project first hand, join us any Thursday or Saturday morning in May at 8:30am for a free guided tour. Please call ahead to confirm and to let us know you will be coming as tours may be cancelled due to inclement weather or for other reasons. Call 805 649-5852 or email info@ovlc.org. We look forward to seeing you.  [ Posted: 4/16/2008 ]

  Ojai Meadows Restoration Construction Phase is complete.
You may have seen some interesting things lately on the Ojai Meadows Preserve. We know that backhoes and other heavy equipment are not the usual scenery on our preserves. We are happy to report that the construction phase is complete. We thank you for your patience and support of the project.

The OVLC and the Ojai Unified School District were awarded a grant from the State of California to regrade the track and fields at Nordhoff and on the Ojai Meadows Preserve to restore the wetlands retention basin to alleviate flooding on Highway 33 during heavy rains. The Ojai Unified School District fulfilled its portion of the grant project by modifying surface drainage at Nordhoff so that runoff is now directed to the Ojai Meadows Preserve rather than Highway 33.
OVLC has prepared a conceptual master Habitat Restoration and Flood Control Plan which revises drainage patterns in the project area to avoid flooding of the highway and high school and to improve wetland hydrology for restored wetlands on the Ojai Meadows Preserve. The plan calls for the modification and enhancement of existing drainages on the Meadows Preserve; the creation of “filtering” swales and vernal pools; the restoration of native riparian, oak savannah, and coastal sage scrub habitats; trail improvements, and long-term maintenance.

Since November, the construction phase of correcting the waterways has been underway and recent storms gave reason for celebration of success when the Maricopa Highway was free of flooding and there were beautiful streams flowing on the meadow.

Where the current drainage ditch was, is a newly created a meandering stream, vernal pools and a natural riparian/wetland habitat which will be lined with thousands of newly planted native trees and a freshwater marsh. Already a walk in the Meadow will demonstrate the significant increase in the cattail marsh area where water is now being diverted from Nordhoff High School on to the preserve.

The goal of the restoration project is to re-establish natural, self-sustaining native habitat conditions and ecological processes, which are much preferred by the majority of local flora and fauna. Restoring proper hydrologic function will jump start the ecological processes and enable the meadow and stream courses to restore themselves over time.

If you would like to schedule a tour of the project (for 6 or more people), please call our office at 649-6852.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WETLANDS RESTORATION? Read on...

What is Wetlands Restoration?
By definition, wetlands function as sponges that trap, filter, and slowly release water, while also improving water quality and facilitating ground-water recharge. The roots of wetland trees, shrubs, and other wetland plants slow the speed of flood waters and thus reduce erosion. Wetlands within and downstream of urban areas are particularly valuable, counteracting the greatly increased rate and volume of surface-water runoff and pollutants from pavement and buildings.

The wetlands that originally existed on the Ojai Meadows property have been degraded for nearly a century as a result of clearing of oak woodlands for grazing in the early 1900’s and subsequent filling with sediment from neighboring residential development.

What groundwork will the project involve?
Currently, weeds and non-native grasses are being “solarized” on the meadow so that native grasses can be planted in their place. Recommended by highly regarded, experienced and successful restoration ecologists, solarization techniques using large plastic tarps to trap the sun’s heat are used to kill weeds thus avoiding the use of chemical herbicides near a water source.

In order to accomplish project goals, the existing drainage channel was re-countoured with grading to correct the water flow that was causing the flooding on the Maricopa Highway. The required grading for the project required removal of a number of eucalyptus trees along the creek that were within the grading footprint. The large grove of eucalyptus trees will be preserved with the exception of trees within the drainage channel swath. The first phase of the restoration project was the removal of several eucalyptus trees located along the bank of the drainage ditch to prepare for grading necessary to restore the marsh area and correct drainage flow. The removal was used by the Ventura County Fire Department (Wildland Fire Division) for a training program.

In addition to making the excavation of the freshwater marsh and stream courses possible, the removal of the eucalyptus within the water course will dramatically increase water levels and improve hydrologic balance in the wetland/marshland habitat. Eucalyptus trees are known to use 10 times the amount of water that their native counterparts will use. The newly available water will support the growth of thousands native plants and trees which will be planted as a part of the project and will result in the restoration of a once thriving wetlands.

The Conservancy received all necessary regulatory approvals to conduct this work, including a tree permit from the City of Ojai. Detour signs and partial area closures will be posted along preserve trails during project operations to ensure public safety.

What is a non-native plant species, and how does it affect wetlands?
Just as Bermuda grass can quickly take over a garden, or Arundo can consume river banks, certain tree species can invade and crowd out native tree and plant communities. Today’s grove of eucalyptus on the Ojai Meadows Preserve is the result of 31 different species of eucalyptus trees planted as an experiment by a Meiners Oaks Elementary school teacher in the 1960s—in an effort to bring trees back to an entire grove of native Valley oaks and Coast Live oaks which was removed.
Since eucalyptus trees consume a vast amount of water, it is not surprising how quickly those 31 eucalyptus trees turned into over 400 in the wetland environment by soaking up most of the water, leaving very little for the possibility of native tree re-colonization. When this occurs, native habitat disappears quickly and wildlife move to where they have needed food and water sources as well as cover against predation.

What about the birds?
Exciting times are ahead as the restoration of the wetlands progresses. Already great egrets and a number of other bird species have returned to the property after long absences. A 50 year Ojai resident who remembers seeing Canadian geese on the meadow in the 50s when the meadows had open water looks forward to the possibility of their return. The removal of non-native eucalyptus trees and resulting restoration of native plant communities would enhance habitat for birds and wildlife, with benefits increasing over time as habitat complexity and quality increase.

Jesse Grantham, a nationally respected USFWS bird biologist, key member of the Audubon Society, Taormina community resident monitors a population of 60+ bird species that are using the meadow. The goal of this project is to create self-sustaining native habitats, which are much preferred by the majority of local spieces, but currently not prevalent in the meadow. Trees were surveyed just prior to removal and no nesting birds were found. Specific trees that are known to provide habitat and/or nesting sites for birds/raptors are being protected and many more will be planted in the months to come.

Do Wetland and Riparian Habitats foster mosquito populations? Proposals for wetland restoration often raise concerns in communities about the potential for creating breeding habitat for mosquitoes, and thus the potential spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus. Indeed, mosquitoes can breed in small amounts of standing water, however, the difference between standing water in birdbaths, plastic containers, cans, discarded tires, bottle caps, pet dishes, rain barrels, irrigation ditches, road ditches, gutters, and septic systems, and the circulating water in natural wetlands, is the presence of mosquito-eating predators such as amphibians, bats, fish, insects, and birds. Wetlands are not ideal mosquito breeding sites because they are homes to hosts of mosquito-eating predacious diving beetles, backswimmers, water striders, dragonflies, damselflies, etc. In fact, of the forty species of mosquitoes that transmit the virus, the three species identified as the most common vectors are rarely found in healthy wetlands as they prefer artificial containers and nutrient-rich pools of standing water. For this reason, Culex pipiens, or the “house mosquito,” accounts for approximately 70% of the positive West Nile virus cases because they cannot fly more than ¼ mile (and rarely over 300 feet) from where they hatched. Healthy wetlands do not support these kinds of conditions and therefore, do not support the West Nile Virus
The Ventura County Mosquito Abatement Program will be regularly monitoring the Ojai Meadows Preserve for mosquito populations.

Please feel free to call the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy with any questions. If you would like to volunteer to help with plantings on the Meadow, let us know! 805 649-6852 or send an email to ovlc@ovlc.org.
  [ Posted: 4/7/2008 ]

  Invasive Plant Removal on the Ventura River Preserve
As part of the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project, five species of invasive non-native plants will be removed from the Ventura River Preserve and areas upstream through Matilija Canyon. The greater project involves the removal of the 60-year-old dam and restoration of habitat for native plants and animals in the watershed. The dam’s removal will return natural sediment moving processes to the river.

Invasive weeds destroy native habitat or areas in the watershed that native plants and animals use to obtain food and water, and for reproduction and predator evasion. The Ventura County Watershed Protection District is targeting "arundo", a giant reed, because it clogs riverbeds, poses a significant fire risk and chokes native plant growth in local habitats.

Crews will spray herbicide on dense thickets of arundo infesting 208 acres of floodplain along Matilija Creek and Ventura River.

The herbicide glyphosate, which breaks down quickly and is approved for use in water, will be used to kill the invasive plants, said Pam Lindsey, a watershed ecologist with the district. Glyphosate, which is sold under brand names Roundup and Aquamaster, blocks the plant’s ability to grow by disrupting production of a particular amino acid unique to plants. Plants close to water or homes will be cut by hand, then daubed with concentrated herbicide. Native plants will be avoided.

This massive eradication program will also remove other invasive species including tamarisk, the yellow-flowering Scotch broom, Peruvian pepper trees and castor bean.

Six water sampling sites within the project area are being monitored for contamination.

Spraying will not be conducted on windy days or before a forecasted rain event.

As required by state and federal regulations, the area was surveyed and determined to be clear of endangered California red-legged frogs. Monitoring is ongoing for steelhead trout.

Nature’s Image of Forest Lake was awarded a $3.5 million contract to spray and remove the weeds.

For the full story, please see articles in the Ventura County Star and a Press Release from the County listed on our "Projects" page.


  [ Posted: 2/28/2008 ]