Last week I volunteered to help NOAA Fisheries biologists conduct a steelhead spawning survey on the Ventura River. NOAA has been conducting these surveys every two weeks during the spring spawning season for the past two years. These field surveys help build the knowledge of which parts of the river system are important to steelhead…
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Natives face upstream battle
An article in Ojai Magazine investigates the plight of the Ventura River steelhead and the latest on the high court debate over Casitas Water District's claim against the federal government. "The principal question before this court is whether the government's permanent physical annual taking o f 3,492 acre- feet of Casitas' water is compensable under…
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DFG Grant proposal
On Monday Oct 19, I presented a proposal for steelhead monitoring to the Tri-county Fish Team and Department of Fish and Game (DFG) representatives. The Matilija Coalition would like to use a Fisheries Restoration Grant to support two years of comprehensive monitoring to compliment the studies that began in 2003 with habitat assessment for the…
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Tales of the Ventura River
Visit with the old-timers at Phil's Barber Shop as they reminisce about the "good old days" when the Ventura River ran free. Also see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d1Iu4Gd37Y&feature=share&list=UUiGQHRL2sASeYzgwr25d1zw This video is long, but contains some interesting insight into the history of the watershed, and how water supply and flood control altered the historic runs of steelhead and…
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Ojai Quarry Impacts the Ventura River
In March, 2006, rock mining operations at the Ojai Quarry on Highway 33 caused a landslide that blocked the North Fork of Matilija Creek with large boulders and debris. Despite newspaper articles and the involvement of numerous government agencies, the creek remains blocked as yet another winter steelhead migration season begins. As these photos show,…
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