OPEN SPACES The latest news from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Vol. 13 No. 3
Working to Protect The Ojai Valley’s Future - Today
acre Ventura T heRiver1,590 Preserve possesses superlative ecological and recreational values that made it a preservation priority for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy as far back as 1991. Cattle grazing and agriculture dominated the preto the Land serve prior Conservancy’s ownership and it was the subject of multiple commercial development battles over the last 30 years. The Land Conservancy finally purchased the preserve in 2001 with a $3.1 million grant from the State Coastal
Conservancy and generous donations from individuals, families and various organizations. Found within the boundaries of this ecological gem are three miles of the Ventura River, that’s 20 percent of the entire river, four tributaries including Rice and Wills Creeks and 230 species of native plants. Fifteen miles of public trails allow hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians to explore the preserve, enjoy Ojai’s scenic vistas, and catch glimpses of resident wildlife including black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote and mule deer. This year the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is embarking on a Restoration Plan for the Ventura River Preserve. The plan is being prepared by Coastal Restoration Consultants of Santa Barbara and is being funded by a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy. It will serve as a guide to the conservation, enhancement and restoration of ecological resources on the preserve. Specifically, the plan will identify areas that represent high conservation priorities such as the
Fall 2006
native bunchgrass grassland in El Nido Meadow and will address ecological restoration needs on the preserve. It will also detail the techniques that will be necessary for restoring natural ecosystem processes to degraded areas. The plan focuses considerable attention on the most disturbed area of the preserve, the 58 acre orange grove and the lower portion of Rice Creek. Restoration Consultants Matt James and Dave Hubbard propose removing most of the orange trees and restoring native plant communities and Coast live oak woodlands to the area that has been dominated by the grove and invasive, non-native plants for nearly a century. The consultants are also proposing to realign the lower stretch of Rice Creek so that it will once again flow along its historic course through the orange grove. When the orange trees are removed, riparian plants and trees such as willow, mulefat, sycamore and cottonwood will be reintroduced to the stream banks. The restoration plan will provide the Land Conservancy with the information and guidance necessary to seek funding and obtain permits for several ecological restoration and enhancement projects. The plan will also provide strong biological rationale, project goals, necessary actions and timelines for these multiple high-priority projects. The Ventura River Preserve Restoration Plan will be available for viewing and downloading from our website www.ovlc.org by Fall 2006.