Ventura River Estuary Enhance'ment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
· . ! VENTURA RIVER ESTUARY ENHANCE'MENT Enhancement & Management Final Plan City of San Buenavemufa California Department of Parks and Recreation California State Coastal Conserv3ncv Prepared By: \'(.etland,; I~csearch :\ssociates, Inc VENTURA RIVER ESTUARY ENHANCEMENT ENHANCEMENT AND MANAGEMENT FINAL PLAN Prepared for: City of San Buenaventura 501 Poli Street Ventura, CA 93002 California Department of Parks and Recreation 1933 Cliff Drive, Suite 27 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 California State Coastal Conservancy 1330 Broadway, Suite 1100 Oakland, CA 94612 Prepared by: Wetlands Research Associates, Inc. 2169 East Francisco Blvd., Suite G San Rafael, CA 94901 and Philip Williams and Associates, Ltd., San Francisco Hyden Associates, Sacramento Lawrence Hunt, Santa Barbara Paul Lehman, Santa Barbara March 1994 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTR.ODUCTION ..••......................•........... .. 1 2.0 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 1 2.1 ENHANCEME:NT GOAL 1 2.2 ENHANCEMENT OBJECTIVES ....................... .. 2 3.0 HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEME:NT 4 3.1 SECOND MOUTH RESTORATION AND ENHANCEME:NT ..... .. 10 3.2 RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENTIRESTORATION .............. .. 16 3.3 DUNE STRAND RESTORATION ...................... .. 18 3.4 RESTORATION OF SEASIDE WILDERNESS PARK .......... .. 20 3.5 LOWER ESTUARY ............................... .. 21 3.6 RIVER CHANNEL HABITAT MANAGEME:NT ............. .. 24 4.0 PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION ..................... .. 26 4.1 SECOND MOUTH VIEWING STATION 26 4.2 RIPARIAN TRAIL 26 4.3 DUNE STRAND/BEACH ACCESS 29 4.4 SEASIDE WILDERNESS PARK TRAIL .................. .. 30 4.5 LOWER ESTUARY 31 4.6 RIVER CHANNEL 31 4.7 INTERPRETIVFJEDUCATIONAL FACILITY 33 4.8 SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD BRIDGE/BIKE PATH. ...... .. 33 4.9 MITIGATING IMPACTS OF FLOODPLAIN INHABITANTS. .... .. 38 4.10 PUBLIC ACCESS AND FACILmES SUMMARY. ........... .. 38 5.0 MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT. ........................ .. 40 5.1 SECOND MOUTH 41 5.2 RIPARIAN HABITAT 45 5.3 DUNE STRAND ................................. .. 45 5.4 SEASIDE WILDERNESS PARK ....................... .. 46 5.5 LOWER ESTUARY ............................... .. 46 5.6 RIVER CHANNEL/FLOODPLAIN 46 5.7 INTERPRETIVE CENTER!AMPHITHEATER ................... .. 48 5.8 VOLUNTEER DOCENT PROGRAM .................... .. 48 6.0 PHASING PLAN FOR-PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ............... .. 48 6.1 PHASE 1 49 6.2 PHASE 2 51 6.3 PHASE 3 52 6.4 PHASE 1 IMPLEMENTATION COST ESTIMATE 54 7.0 MANAGEMENT OF THE ESTUARY AS A UNIT 57. 8.0 COOPERATIVE OPPORTUNITIES .. .....................••.. .. 59 9.0 POTENTIAL PROJECT FUNDING SOURCES·. ......•............ .. 61 List of Figures Figure 1. Location map of project area …………………………………………………… 3 Figure 2. Enhancement and management areas ……………………………………… 11 Figure 3. Second Mouth conceptual grading plan ……………………………………. 14 Figure 4. Public access features ……………………………………………………………... 27 Figure 5. Interpretive and boardwalk trail views …………………………………….. 29 Figure 6. Conceptual views of river mouth and Main Street kiosks ……………. 32 Figure 7. Interpretive Center conceptual site plan ……………………………………. 34 Figure 8. Interpretive Center elevation views …………………………………………... 35 Figure 9. Interpretive Center conceptual floor plan …………………………………... 36 Figure 10. Interpretive Center conceptual grading plan …………………………….. 37 List of Tables Table 1. Enhancement and restoration elements …………………………………… 5 – 9 Table 2. Plant list for Second Mouth restoration area ……………………………... 15 Table 3. Monitoring and management elements ………………………………… 43 – 45 Table 4. Phase I Cost Estimates ……………………………………………………………… 56 Appendices References …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 64 Appendix A. Invasive, non-native plants ……………………………………………… 65 - 67 1 VENTURA RIVER ESTUARY ENHANCEMENT PLAN 1.0 INTRODUcnON The Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Project study area is located at the western end of the City of San Buenaventura and approximately 60 miles west of Los Angeles. The study area covers approximately 110 acres and is comprised of two publicly owned parcels, the Emma Wood State Beach-Ventura River Group Campground (California Department of State Parks) and the Seaside Wilderness Park (City of San Buenaventura) and one privately owned parcel, the Hubbard property. The enhancement project study area and approximate parcel boundaries are shown in Figure 1.. A study of the existing conditions and an analysis of site opportunities and constraints ofthe study area was completed and submitted in the first phase of the planning effort. A draft plan was then prepared which discussed various optional elements for enhancement and management. The present document outlines the final or preferred enhancement and management plan recommended for implementation at the Ventura River Estuary. It is based on public and agency comments on the draft options plan. These elements also reflect the goal and objectives set forth by the Ventura River Enhancement Project Management Committee to enhance biotic resources and provide appropriate public access for recreational and educational benefits. 2.0 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES The initial goal and site specific objectives for the Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Plan were developed by the Project Management Committee. These were presented at a public meeting and, following public input, were revised into the final overall goal and objectives. II ENHANCEMENT GOAL The Project Management Committee approved an overall goal for the Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Project: Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Plan Develop an implementationplan thatprovidesphased restoration andmanagement ofhabitats within the lower Ventura River basin and allows pubUc access and interpretation to be compatible with sensitive habitat areas. The plan will establish the basis for and guide site policy, financing, operational and management decisions. U ENHANCEMENT OBJECTIVES The objectives for the Ventura River Estuary were established to implement the overall goal and include recommendations for the river mouth lagoon, the Second Mouth, wetlands, riparian, and dune areas that reflect the existing habitat characteristics of the site and its historic, current and projected physical conditions. The enhancement objectives are: • Derme alternative flood control measures to protect the long-term integrity of the physical and biological systems of the study/project area. • Derme and prioritize both eradication and re-establishment programs for biological resources in each habitat area. In addition to identifying species, specific optimal conditions and related management requirements should be outlined. • Describe monitoring programs for each habitat area. • Identify water quality parameters appropriate to meet the needs ofhabitat areas. This includes nutrient loading, freshwater input, river flow and other quantitative physical condition limits that can be tolerated by each habitat area. Possible management processes/techniques that could be employed to enhance the quality ofwater entering the estuary should be proposed. • Define appropriate public access that is compatible with each habitat area, such as active and passive recreation or nature study. Trails, interpretive themes, and special focus areas should be delineated. Siting and a conceptual floor plan for a small interpretive facility should be included in the overall public access plan. • Develop a phased implementation program and an interim operational/land management program for periods between phases. Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Plan _1-1_1. -APPROXIMATE PROPERTY BOUNDARY O......,Sukr ... 0 PLANNfNG TEAM WeIlalll1<..Rtlufdl A=ldal~ \lie. Ventura River Estuary PMip 'N'iUW:lls llld Associ_'U. Ll" Hydeft Als ocillel1 l-n'Ttnct HlI/It Enhancement Plan Poul Ltllmlll Figure 1. Location map of the Ventura River Estuary Enhancement Project Wetlands ResearchAssoclates, Inc. 4 Physical constraints, such as natural flooding, related erosion and sediment deposition, and existing development limit the alternatives that can be implemented within the study area. In light of these constraints, various areas within the project site have been identified that have habitat or recreational values that can be better managed and/or enhanced. The components ofthe enhancement plan are grouped into three main sections: (1) habitat restoration and enhancement; (2) public access and interpretation; (3) monitoring and management. The preferred elements and corresponding activities are described in each section. The rationale and benefit of each element and interdependency between elements are also discussed. The general location ofproposed elements are shown in Figure 2. 3.0 HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT The Ventura River Estuary is a dynamic environment and subject to dramatic change as illustrated by the 1992 flood. Nevertheless, it supports a diverse wildlife resource and can be enhanced to improve wildlife habitat for critical species that are wholly dependent upon the unique characteristics of this site. Human activities have severely impacted the estuary through reduction of water quality and quantity, filling of wetlands and riparian habitats, construction of roads and right-of-ways, trampling and destruction ofvegetation, planting or spread ofnon-native plant species, and introduction ,of feral animals. The primary purpose ofthe enhancement program is to preserve and expand existing habitat values, especially for species facing critically scarce habitat in the region. The means for achieving this primary purpose include restoring habitats by improving water quality,