About: Paul Jenkin

In March 2016, the Matilija Dam Design Oversight Group (DOG) reached consensus on an approach to dam removal that provides a cost-effective solution to sediment management.  Following this consensus, the Matilija Funding Subcommittee was formed with volunteers representing various stakeholder groups.  The Subcommittee has focused on developing a Funding Plan, while simultaneously pursuing funding opportunities…

April 18, 2017: the Ventura County Board of Supervisors recognized the Matilija Coalition for "Excellence in Environmental Stewardship" as part of their Earth Day awards. Matilija Coalition Earth Day Award L to R: Matt Stoecker, Diane Underhill, Kathy Bremer, Paul Jenkin, Supervisor Steve Bennett, Hans Cole, and Candice Meneghin

  The storm of Friday, February 17, 2017 delivered 9-10" of rain to the Matilija Canyon watershed. Flows in Matilja Creek peaked at 4pm with approximately 7500 cfs (cubic feet per second) flowing over the dam.  The Ventura River at Foster Park peaked over 20,000 cfs later that evening. The hydrograph below shows flows in…

Matilija Dam State Prop 1 grant   The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that it will award $3.3 million to the Matilija Dam project. The grant was part of $40 million in Proposition 1 funds awarded for "water quality, river and watershed protection, and restoration projects for vital waterways throughout California." Proposition 1…

Cui et al, 2016, Analyses of the Erosion of fine sediment deposit for a Large Dam Removal Project: Matilija Dam, An Empirical Approach This paper, published in the International Journal of River Basin Management, 2016, provides a scientific framework for natural erosion of fine sediments in dam removal projects like Matilija Dam. ABSTRACT Large quantities…

http://www.alohabeachfestival.us/   Many thanks to Chip and Kelly Bell for their generous donation of $10,000 raised by the annual Aloha Beach Festival! This year, in light of recent progress with the dam removal project, the Bell's designated the Matilija Coalition as their beneficiary of this annual event. Thanks Chipper Bro!

Matilija Dam made headline news in 2011 when a giant pair of scissors appeared overnight.  This image is now becoming a symbol of dam removal. Building on this theme the Matilija Coalition just designed and printed a short run of stickers. They proved very popular, and the first 500 are out in the community. More…

  "It is mostly silted up. It has out lived its usefulness. It no longer serves for flood control or water supply for the region and at the same time it blocks fish from coming up so this fits with the statewide priority of trying to deal with these old situations," said Secretary of California…

  Sept 8, 2016: Ventura County Reporter article on Matilija Dam: With a possible end in sight, all parties involved are optimistic for the future. “It’s a good feeling knowing that there actually is a solution to this. We’re working every day to try and make that happen,” said Jenkin. On Thursday, Oct. 6, the…

The Matilija Coalition has updated the poster describing the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration project.  The primary change is in the sediment management required for dam removal, which has been greatly simplified through using "natural transport" rather than expensive mechanical means to re-establish the stream bed upstream.