Summer Newsletter 2011 Volume 18, Number 2
O S New Ventura River Steelhead Preserve! pen
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On June 17th, the OVLC (See “Steelhead Lifecycle” box on purchased a 1.3 river mile stretch page 4.) July 22, 2011 of the Ventura River which In addition to steelhead, this provides perhaps the best refuge preserve offers a home to 31 other STEELHEAD for the endangered Southern state or federal level special status PRESERVE PARTY. California Steelhead on the entire species. This list includes the California river. This section of the river Red-legged Frog, Least Bell’s Vireo, Details on page 2. near its confluence with San Great Egret, White-faced Ibis, and Antonio Creek has deep, cool, Southwestern Pond Turtle. shaded pools that don’t dry up With the goal of protecting in the hot Ojai summers. As a Ojai Valley’s views, trails, water and result, this 65 acre Steelhead wildlife, this scenic place which offers Preserve provides a refuge outstanding opportunities for public for the endangered Southern enjoyment and educating children California Steelhead as they “checks all the boxes”, and is a await flow conditions which allow marvelous new natural amenity in the them to continue their migration. Ojai Valley. Our Ojai Valley community Southern California Steelhead population down by 90%. has been and will continue to be defined not by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy. With this purchase, the OVLC has taken a huge step torward protecting the entire 15 mile long Ventura River. Changing hands only once in the last Ojai Valley Land Conservancy 100 years, protection opportunites for P.O. Box 1092 • Ojai, CA 93024 this keystone preserve were rarer than 370 W. Baldwin Rd. A-4 the endangered species it hosts. After Tel. 805.649.6852 • Fax 649.8913 investing years building relationships info@ovlc.org with the former owners of the property, and with $2 million in grants from the State Coastal Conservancy (restricted to acquisition costs only) and the California Department of Fish & Game’s Board of Directors Roger Essick, President “Fisheries Restoration Grant Program,” Larry Rose, Vice President the OVLC is proud to have purchased this preserve for future generations of Stefanie Coeler, Secretary Cari Guerrero, Treasurer wildlife and Ojai Valley residents. The financial support of our Mary Bergen Jesse Grantham members enabled staff to secure Margot Griswold Brian Holly the funding to purchase the Ventura Allan Jacobs Don Reed River Steelhead Preserve, and we Cricket Twichell Nathan Wallace are thankful. An additional $250,000 Barbara Washburn Deborah Whorf is necessary to prepare the Steelhead Preserve for public visitation. We hope Staff that our members, new members, Greg Gamble, Executive Director and others feel that this protection effort is worth their additional support. Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager Darcy Gamble, Development Director Join us on July 22nd at the Marti Reid, Office Manager new Steelhead Preserve for a free Brian Stark, Conservation Director celebration. Members are welcome to Todd Bertola, Restoration Technician bring guests. Join us in celebrating yet another sacred place in the Ojai Valley. Trevor Marshall, Restoration Technician
www.ovlc.org
Photo left: Deep perennial pool on the Ventura River.