Ventura River Confluence Preserve

The Ventura River-Confluence Preserve was established in April 2004. Named for the merging of the Ojai Valley’s two major year-round streams, it is a 30 acre parcel that the conservation-minded owners have worked to protect in partnership with the Land Conservancy and the State Coastal Conservancy.  The conservation effort was funded through a grant from the Coastal Conservancy and Proposition 50 Bond Funds. The property owners also made a $10,000 contribution toward the long-term stewardship of the Preserve. The Land Conservancy owns 14-acres and holds a conservation easement on the remaining 16-acres of the Preserve.

Old Growth Cottonwood and Sycamores tower over lush under-growth providing one of the only remaining examples of these vanishing Ventura River forests. The River and San Antonio Creek come together in a deep willow forest just a few hundred yards from where thousands of commuters rush by every day. The rich riparian habitat is home to a wide variety of wildlife including several endangered animal species.

This open space bounds both sides of Highway 33 just south of the San Antonio Creek Bridge at the base of the Arnaz Grade near Oak View. Bicyclists and equestrians will recognize the parcel because the Ojai Valley Bike and Equestrian Path passes through the center of it.

Lands within the river bottom will be open for special tours only and are still owned by the donor of the conservation easement, while the land lying between the Ojai Valley Bicycle Path and Highway 33 is open for public enjoyment.

The Land Conservancy has been working with the property owner of the conservation easement to enhance and restore habitat throughout the Preserve.  A streambank stabilization pilot program was also conducted on this property demonstrating how the use of natural rock and native plants could act as a natural diversion to protect property while maintaining a natural flow for the river.

Open space advocates and conservationists are optimistic that this Preserve, along with another recently acquired 58 acre Preserve just upstream of it, will become the cornerstone of a larger strategy to work with landowners to safeguard more than three miles of the middle reach of the Ventura River and lower San Antonio Creek. Long term, the Land Conservancy hopes to link mile of riparian habitat with the Ventura River Preserve, four miles to the north.