Ojai Meadows Wetlands Restoration Project
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.   [ 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 the attached Press Release from the County.

Related Document: Arundo Removal Press Release DOC File (47,616 Bytes)
  [ Posted: 2/28/2008 ]

  Ventura River Preserve - Rice Creek Realignment and Restoration Project
Many of the natural ecosystem processes within the El Nido Ventura River Preserve (VRP) have been altered to some extent over the last 300 years thus impacting native vegetation communities. Cattle grazing, which ended approximately 7 years ago, was a stressor on much of the VRP. Fortunately, many habitats are recovering naturally now that cattle have been excluded from the property.

More significant stressors still exist in other areas of the VRP such as the abandoned orange grove. Landforms, hydrology and vegetation were altered for agricultural use in the early 1900s and, without intervention, these areas will likely take decades or even centuries to recover. Though most agricultural operations in the orange grove have ended, invasion of disturbed soils by invasive non-native plants has greatly limited recruitment of native species.

Additionally, the eastern reach of Rice Creek was diverted from its natural course in the early 1900’s. It was channelized when the orange grove was planted to allow full usage of the acreage for agricultural purposes then planted with Arundo donax to stabilize the channel banks. Today, the only native vegetation along the channelized portion of Rice Creek includes a few scattered coast live oaks and arroyo willows. Alteration of the natural flow of Rice Creek has eliminated 3,000 feet of riparian corridor and has provided the Ventura River system with a major source of Arundo propagules.

Restoration Project Action Plan:

Invasive non-native plant species will be controlled and eradicated not only to conserve intact native habitats, but also to allow for the establishment of native plant species in highly disturbed areas such as the orange grove. Non-native plant eradication is already being implemented. Arundo donax was targeted along the diverted channel of Rice Creek fall of 2006 and was removed from nearly the entire channel with the exception of a small portion at the mouth of the creek. New growth is monitored closely and will be controlled with regular herbicide application. With financial support from USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Grant Program, tamarisk will be removed from the Ventura River channel fall of 2007 and new growth will be controlled and maintained.

Removal of the orange grove from 64 acres of the VRP will allow for more aggressive pursuit of invasive non-native plant eradication followed by intensive re-vegetation with native plant species. Once existing surface irrigation has been removed, orange trees will be pushed and piled, then mulched using a tub grinder. The terrain will be smoothed and ripped then disked several times to rid the area of invasive non-native plants.

Upon completion of Arundo and orange tree removal, engineering surveys will be conducted to develop an engineering plan for the re-alignment of Rice Creek. Natural Resources Conservation Service has approved funding for this project through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and will conduct these surveys and provide engineered plans.

The re-alignment of Rice Creek to its historic or natural course will recreate 1,500 feet of riparian corridor and restore natural flows to an additional 1,500 feet of remnant riparian corridor between the orange grove and the Ventura River. The natural channel running through the orange grove will be re-graded using heavy equipment to connect flows coming from the upper watershed to the remnant strip of natural channel below the orange grove.

Full implementation of the Restoration Plan is expected to take five years with an additional five years of maintenance and monitoring. OVLC is committed to the restoration of the VRP and will manage and maintain the project for as long as necessary to establish native plant communities.
  [ Posted: 7/6/2007 ]

  Ventura River Preserve - Restoration Plan


Related Document: Ventura River Restoration Plan PDF File (14,752,337 Bytes)
  [ Posted: 7/6/2007 ]

  Confluence Preserve - OVLC Receives Grant to Restore Remove Invasive Non-native Vegetation
The Confluence Preserve is a vital part of the Conservancy’s efforts to protect and restore the Ventura River watershed. Acquired from the Wallevik family in 2003, the thirty-acre preserve encompasses more then a half mile of the Ventura River north of Casitas Springs. The Preserve includes a healthy remnant stand of old-growth cottonwood and sycamore woodland that once thrived along the entire Ventura River corridor.

Unfortunately, the Confluence Preserve has fallen prey to the same “green invaders” that now plague every watershed in Southern California. These non-native invasive plants include Arundo donax, or giant reed, vinca, cape ivy, fennel, and tamarisk, to name a few. They have become a major environmental problem by crowding out native species, consuming massive amounts of water and severely diminishing wildlife habitat.

In 2005, Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project awarded the Conservancy a generous grant of $29,915 to initiate removal of Arundo donax. Corpsmembers of the California Conservation Corps removed massive amounts of this giant reed to begin the process of restoring natural ecological processes on the preserve. Funds awarded in 2006 from Natural Resource Conservation Service's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program and California Coastal Conservancy will allow for removal of vinca and cape ivy, two highly invasive non-native plants that have effectively crowded out native understory plants from 11 acres of the preserve. Removal and control of these species will be followed by revegetation with native plants.   [ Posted: 7/6/2007 ]