WCVC Stakeholders Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County General Purpose Agencies City of Camarillo WCVC Plan Objectives include: Watersheds Coalition of City of Fillmore Watersheds Coalition of City of Ojai City of Oxnard • Reduce dependence on imported water and protect, conserve and City of Port Hueneme City of Santa Paula augment water supplies VenturaVentura CountyCounty City of Simi Valley City of Thousand Oaks • Protect and improve water quality Volume 1, Issue 1 City of Ventura Ventura County Executive Office • Protect people, property and the environment from adverse Ventura County General Services Agency Promoting & Implementing Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Ventura County Resource Management Agency flooding impacts Inside this issue: September 2006 Water Suppliers/Wastewater Management/ • Protect and restore habitat and ecosystems in watersheds Special Districts The Watersheds of 2 Calleguas Municipal Water District Camarillo Sanitary District • Provide water-related recreational, public access and educational Ventura County Integrated Regional Water Management Planning in Ventura County Camrosa Water District opportunities The 2 Casitas Municipal Water District Early in 2002, in was formed in 1996 to Ventura Countywide IRWMP Fillmore Irrigation Company Watershed Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency anticipation of the approval develop a management plan Group agreed to consolidate Golden State Water Company The Calleguas Creek 3 of a statewide water bond for the Calleguas Creek the two IRWM Plans into Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency Benefits of Plan Adoption Watershed with grant funds for Watershed, and on June 15, one planning region and Ojai Valley Sanitary District Integrated Regional Water 2005 the Calleguas Creek submit a single application Ojai Valley Water Conservation District Management, a “coalition” of Steering Committee for Step 2 grant funding. Pleasant Valley County Water District The Santa Clara River 3 water-related agencies in successfully adopted the Saticoy Sanitary District • Ensures multi-agency participation in current and future water Watershed This newly formed group, Triunfo Sanitation District Ventura County began to Calleguas Creek Watershed known as the Watersheds United Water Conservation District management planning efforts Plan Objectives and 4 meet and identify priority Management Plan. Coalition of Ventura County Ventura County Watershed Protection District Benefits of Adoption projects for these grant Ventura County Waterworks Districts • Encourages the participation of non-governmental funds that would address In July 2005, the Ventura (WCVC), applied for a $25 Ventura Regional Sanitation District Countywide IRWMP Group million Step 2 grant and is Zone Mutual Water Company organizations in the development of a roadmap for both water key water problems facing the county. and the Calleguas Creek currently overseeing the Business Organizations management and watershed restoration in the region Steering Committee each preparation of a single Building Industry Association This coalition, known as the submitted an application for IRWMP encompassing the Farm Bureau of Ventura County • Guarantees equity across all watersheds—large and small—in Ventura Countywide a Proposition 50, Chapter 8 three main watersheds in Ventura County Economic Development Integrated Regional Water IRWMP Step 1 grant. Ventura County. Through Association Ventura County Management Plan (IRWMP) Subsequently, the the WCVC, local agencies Recreational and Open Space Entities • Signals your agency’s leadership role in seeking solutions to Group, consisting of 20-plus Department of Water continue to work together, California Department of Parks and Recreation agencies, was formed to Resources – as one of the in conjunction with State Conejo Recreation and Park District water-related issues facing the region address water supply, water agencies authorized to and Federal regulatory Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District quality, environmental and oversee Proposition 50 agencies, to identify water- Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Recreation & • Meets the requirements of Proposition 50, Chapter 8, habitat protection, and flood grants – requested the related issues facing the Conservation Authority control and stormwater voluntary consolidation of region and to seek Integrated Regional Water Management Planning issues in the Ventura and IRWM planning efforts solutions. Regulatory Agencies Santa Clara River Water- among regions throughout California Coastal Commission sheds. The Calleguas Creek California. In response to California Department of Fish and Game • Assures future funding opportunities for the region Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Photo Courtesy of Trust for Public Land Steering Committee, this request, in the fall of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers consisting of a broad 2005, the Calleguas Creek U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Engages the community in current and future water Schedule at a Glance: coalition of stakeholders, Steering Committee and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service management planning efforts Other Agencies/Organizations Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County August - October 2006 Planning with a Purpose California Coastal Conservancy • Continues the long history of California Department of Transportation The purpose of the provide ongoing guidance and better integrate planning California Department of Water Resources regional cooperation between Presentations of IRWMP For more information, please contact: Watersheds Coalition of prioritization regarding efforts and utilize the California Native Plant Society agencies and organizations in California Wildlife Conservation Board Sue Hughes, Legislative Analyst October - November 2006 Ventura County Integrated implementation projects for findings of existing plans, Environmental Defense Center Ventura County to address our County of Ventura, CEO Government Affairs Regional Water Management both Proposition 50 which will allow us to Friends of the Santa Clara River 800 South Victoria Avenue #1940 Adoption of IRWMP Group is to integrate Implementation grants and submit funding requests for Hansen Trust water resources issues Ventura, California 93009-1940 planning and future funding sources. priority projects. Matilija Coalition November 2006 Natural Resources Conservation Service Phone: (805) 654-3836 implementation efforts and Nature Conservancy E-mail: [email protected] facilitate regional An objective of the Plan is to Draft Funding List Announced Ojai Valley Land Conservancy cooperation, with the goal of develop a countywide Naval Base Dee Zinke improving water supply integrated water management Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy January 1, 2007 Surfrider Foundation Manager of Governmental & Legislative Affairs reliability, water recycling, plan that addresses all Trust for Public Land Calleguas Municipal Water District Final Adoption Required water conservation, watersheds—large and small— U.S. Forest Service 2100 Olsen Road recreation and access, in Ventura County and to Ventura County Resource Conservation District Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 wetlands enhancement and coordinate efforts with Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Phone: (805) 579-7184 creation, and environmental adjacent regions that share Wetlands Recovery Project E-mail: [email protected] and habitat protection. our watersheds. Specifically, the Plan will The Group’s objective is to Visit us on the web at www.watershedscoalition.org Page 2 Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County Page 3

The Watersheds of Ventura County Santa Clara River Watershed

Ventura County is located to 10 cities, 3 wholesale north and west of Los water agencies, 170 retail Angeles County, east of water purveyors, 5 sanitary The Santa Clara River is the largest river Santa Barbara County, and districts, 2 groundwater system in Southern California remaining south of Kern County. The management agencies, and a in a relatively natural state. Originating county covers 1,873 square watershed protection district. in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los An- miles, with 43 miles of geles County, the river flows west ap- coastline, 3 major proximately 84 miles through Ventura watersheds, 6 smaller County before reaching the Pacific Ocean watersheds, and 26 between the cities of Ventura and Ox- groundwater basins. nard. The Santa Clara River and tribu- tary system has an area of about 1634 Virtually the entire north square miles with approximately 60 per- half of the county is within cent of the watershed located in Ventura the Los Padres National Forest. County and 40 percent in Los Angeles County. Santa Paula Creek

The Santa Clara River Watershed is partially dependent on im- With more than 800,000 ported water from Calleguas Municipal Water DistrictFish Ladder and heav- people, Ventura County is ily dependent on local groundwater sources. currently the 12th most populous county in the The Santa Clara River supports a variety of vegetation com- state of California and home munities, providing habitat to over 35 sensitive animal and plant species, 14 of which are considered endangered and/or threatened. The Santa Clara River Estuary, a natural preserve, is one of the richest habitat areas along the California coast. Ventura River Watershed

The Ventura River Watershed This self-sufficient watershed encompasses 225 square miles imports no outside water and is Calleguas Creek Watershed and is the rainiest watershed in home to 75,000 people. Ventura County, receiving as Currently under design are much as 24 inches of rain in a The Calleguas Creek plans to remove Matilija Dam, a 24-hour period. Watershed encompasses 198-high concrete arch dam, approximately 341 square miles With its headwaters originating located approximately 16 miles and the Cities of Camarillo, within the Los Padres National upstream of Surfers’ Point. Once Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Forest, the river flows intended to provide a local water Thousand Oaks. Overall, the approximately 32 miles through supply, while offering flood watershed is about 25% sedimentation of the Oxnard the cities of Ojai and Ventura protection for downstream urbanized with projections up to Plain and , one of before reaching the Pacific Ocean communities, the build-up of 50% in the next ten years. the few remaining significant at Surfers’ Point. sediment behind the dam wall Accelerated erosion rates in the natural saltwater lagoons in has undermined both of those Calleguas Creek Watershed have California and home to numerous Calleguas Creek Watershed. The original functions. contributed to flooding and threatened and endangered Calleguas Creek Watershed The Ventura River is home species. Management Plan, with broad to 26 special status species, Beginning in 1996, a broad stakeholder participation and including the endangered coalition of local property support, addresses long range, steelhead trout.. owners, water and comprehensive water resources; land use; economic development; wastewater agencies, environmental groups, open space preservation, agricultural parties, enhancement and management; governmental entities, and and public facility provision other private interests joined strategy which is cost-effective and Photo Courtesy of Trust for Public Land together to develop a provides benefits for all management plan for the participants.