New Ventura River Steelhead
On June 17th, the OVLC purchased a 1.3 river mile stretch of the Ventura River which provides perhaps the best refuge for the endangered Southern California Steelhead on the entire river. This section of the river near its confluence with San Antonio Creek has deep, cool, shaded pools that don’t dry up in the hot Ojai summers. As a result, this 65 acre Steelhead Preserve provides a refuge for the endangered Southern California Steelhead as they await flow conditions which allow them to continue their migration.
(See “Steelhead Lifecycle” box on page 4.)
In addition to steelhead, this preserve offers a home to 31 other state or federal level special status species. This list includes the California Red-legged Frog, Least Bell’s Vireo, Great Egret, White-faced Ibis, and Southwestern Pond Turtle.
With the goal of protecting Ojai Valley’s views, trails, water and wildlife, this scenic place which offers outstanding opportunities for public enjoyment and educating children “checks all the boxes”, and is a marvelous new natural amenity in the Ojai Valley.
Our Ojai Valley community 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 100 years, protection opportunites for this keystone preserve were rarer than the endangered species it hosts. After investing years building relationships 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 “Fisheries Restoration Grant Program,” the OVLC is proud to have purchased this preserve for future generations of wildlife and Ojai Valley residents.
The financial support of our members enabled staff to secure the funding to purchase the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve, and we are thankful. An additional $250,000 is necessary to prepare the Steelhead Preserve for public visitation. We hope that our members, new members, and others feel that this protection effort is worth their additional support. Join us on July 22nd at the new Steelhead Preserve for a free celebration. Members are welcome to bring guests. Join us in celebrating yet another sacred place in the Ojai Valley.
info@ovlc.org www.ovlc.org
BOard Of direCtOrs
Roger Essick, President
Larry Rose, Vice President
Stefanie Coeler, Secretary
Cari Guerrero, Treasurer
Mary Bergen
Margot Griswold
Jesse Grantham
Brian Holly
Allan Jacobs Don Reed
Cricket Twichell
Barbara Washburn
Nathan Wallace
Deborah Whorf staff
Greg Gamble, Executive Director
Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager
Darcy Gamble, Development Director
Marti Reid, Office Manager
Brian Stark, Conservation Director
Todd Bertola, Restoration Technician
Trevor Marshall, Restoration Technician
Photo left: Deep perennial pool on the Ventura River.
Southern California Steelhead population down by 90%.
new steelhead preserVe
Future Steelhead Preserve Conservation Center: Possible environmental education hub, meeting place, collaborative science center. Plans to be finalized based on the results of the conditional use permitting process and fundraising efforts.
POTLUCK & BARBEQUE AT THE NEW PRESERVE
OVLC members and their guests are invited to a Ventura River Steelhead Preserve celebration. Share this event with your non-OVLC member friends.
When: Friday, July 22nd at 4:00 PM, until the party ends Where: Ventura River Steelhead Preserve at 9458 Santa Ana Road
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
4: 00 PM IT’S WONDERFUL! Join us as we acknowledge the im- portant role the State Coastal Conservancy and the California Department of Fish & Game played in purchasing this Preserve.
4:30 PM CHECK IT OUT! Take a self-guided exploration of the Preserve to see what all this excitement is about.
5:00 PM MIX IT UP! Mingle while munching on hors d’oeuvres at the future Steelhead Preserve Conservation Cen- ter. There will be a no host bar. Bring some cash.
6:00 PM COME AND GET IT! The OVLC provides barbeque and non-alcoholic drinks. Those whose last names begin with A-O bring a side dish or salad while those with last names beginning with P-Z bring a dessert. If you have other potluck preferences, just let us know.
6:30 PM IT’S HAPPENIN’! Hear Greg Gamble, the executive director of the OVLC, talk briefly about the significance and future of the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve.
7:00 pm SHAKE IT, BABY, SHAKE! Let the music begin and let it end when it ends.
directions
From Ojai: Take Highway 33 to Oak View. Turn right at Santa Ana Blvd. Continue until it ends at Santa Ana Road, turn left. Continue for about 1.7 miles. You’ll come to a curve in the road and go down a hill. You’ll then see the driveway on your left, marked by an Ojai Valley Land Conservancy sign.
From Ventura: Take Highway 33 towards Ojai and exit at Casitas Vista Road. Turn right twice, go under the freeway and continue on to Santa Ana Road. Turn right at Santa Ana Rd., and continue for 1.4 miles. You’ll see the driveway on your right, marked by an Ojai Valley Land Conservancy sign.
For a map and additional details go to www.ovlc.org/2011/06/steelhead-partytime/
ENTERTAINMENT
The Zen Cats
The Zen Cats’ sound takes you away to a smooth and peaceful place. 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Three Rivers Band
The Three Rivers Band plays classic rock that will rip you out of your peaceful place and get you moving. OVLC’s own Brian Stark is the bassist! 7:01 PM to 9:00 PM
THE
OJAI VINEYARD Generously Donated Wine
For The July 22nd Party!
BECOME an OVLC business sponsor and get recognized at the new Steelhead Preserve party on July 22nd. Call for details.
VOLUNTEER: Help plan this fabulous party? Call Marti at 649-6852 ext 2 today. We need help with set up, take down, food, and parking.
Wildlife and Plants Offer Outstanding Nature Study
Because of all the water there is more food for animals and plant growth and so there are many more opportunities for nature study. Being out and about as much as I am, I get to see a lot. In April, I came across four Sandhill Cranes with their signature red caps feeding in a field right next to the Ventura River Preserve. This was the first sighting in the Ojai Valley. People are reporting that several pairs of Whitetailed Kites are living happily along the river too. Birdlife on the Ojai Meadows Preserve and Confluence Preserves is especially rich with many species of ducks and other waterbirds including Green Herons, Sora’s and Great Egrets. One day I saw a flock of 14 Whitefaced Ibis at the Meadow pond. With their long white bills and iridescent brown,purple and green feathers it made for an astounding site. It’s gratifying to know that more and more life is returning to the Meadow due to OVLC restoration efforts. If you have never seen Turkey Vultures and Egrets hanging out in the branches of our Valley Oaks on the Ojai Meadows Preserve, then you’re in for a treat!
PRESERVE MANAGER’S JOURNAL
New Trails Continue to Wow
Opening the new Old Baldwin Trailhead with its 2.5 new miles of trail had us hopping this spring. If you haven’t been to check it out yet you should go! You might see grazing deer and White-tailed Kites and certainly Great Blue Herons hunting for gophers. This summer there will be a new entry gate which will enable preserve users daily access into the evening. We are still working on the OVLC portion of Kennedy Ridge Trail and there will be more trailcrew opportunities on OVLC’s new Ventura River Steelhead Preserve.
Work With Rick Bisaccia
serve-managers-journal/
ALERT: At the new Old Baldwin Trailhead the OVLC will install an automatic gate that will allow entrance to the Ventura River Preserve from 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM 7 days a week. Until the permits are granted for the gate (hopefully very soon) the Preserve entrance will open and close according to the existing gate hours: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM M-F, 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM Sat. and closed Sun. You can walk in even though the gate is closed.
Hike with Rick at the new Old Baldwin Trailhead on July 28 at 8:30 AM. Details on pg. 5.
Working on OVLC’s volunteer trail crew is not for everyone. If you like wind in your hair, bugs in your teeth, and sun on your bug bitten neck, and have an overwhelming desire to cut and move brush, then we need you!
As a trail crew volunteer you get to work with like-minded souls led by the Preserve Manager, who is pretty cool. You get to benefit from a workout, a hike, and the satisfaction of helping keep OVLC’s trails open to the public. Old-timers especially appreciate the iced drinks. It’s not a sexy job, the pay is nonexistent, but the people are great and we do real work!
Volunteer, Mike Gourley sums it up best, “Personally, I thrive on having clouds of no see-ums swarming around my sweat covered head; it makes me tougher and somehow, quite frankly a better person….” Nuf said? Sign up with rick@ovlc.org or Darcy at 649-6852 ext 6.
Photo documentation of Rick Bisaccia by Brooks Institute student Doriane Raiman.
Gopher snake on Oso Ridge Trail, Ventura River Preserve.
Leon Pahle, Jamie Weil, Mike Gourley and Neil Knight after working at the Ilvento Preserve.
conserVation corner
The Power of One…or Maybe Five
For this season’s newsletter, I want to talk a bit about how important the efforts of a single person, or a small group, can be to the process of habitat restoration. Over my years in the restoration field, I have witnessed small miracles that were brought about simply by the dedication of one person or a small group of people. I’ll call these “micro-miracles”. If all volunteers could see the results of these projects they would feel much more confident in the value they bring. One of these small projects was done this year on the Ojai Meadows Preserve.
Those that have seen the restoration of the Ojai Meadows Preserve from the beginning will remember the first big restoration area between Nordhoff High School and the big pond. Most of this restoration area has established very well and created a great deal of habitat. Nestled among all the new natives, however, were several areas that just didn’t take. To meet our project goals, we needed to turn these places around but we didn’t have a budget for the work.
This is when the Girl Scouts stepped in to make a big difference! Last fall we partnered with Bonnie Walters, her daughter Crista, and 4 others in Camarillo Troop 107 to focus on 2 weedy areas which would earn them their Silver award. The girls spent 8 half-days over the course of 4 months keeping the weeds at bay and planting native grases. The project
was a great success and the area is now all native grasses. The secret of their success was their geographic focus and consistent efforts applied over time. Even if just one person works on a small area consistently, there will be success. These successes last a long time, maybe forever, and provide very tangible benefits to wildlife. I am no longer amazed that one person’s effort can have a lasting impact on the ground. Here’s to micro-miracles!
Steelhead
Lifecycle
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are the anadromous form of coastal rainbow trout, spending part of their life in the ocean and part in fresh water. Steelhead spend 1-2 years in the ocean before returning to spawn in southern California streams. Unlike other anadromous Pacific salmonids, steelhead may survive spawning, return to the ocean, and spawn again in a later year. Steelhead typically migrate upstream when stream flows rise during a storm event, typically between January and March, but potentially even later in the Ventura River. In the upper reaches of streams in the Ventura River basin, females dig pits in the gravel and deposit their eggs which are fertilized by males, and then covered with gravel by the female creating a “redd.” Juveniles emerge a handful of weeks later and spend 1 to 3 years in freshwater before migrating to the ocean usually between March and June. Adapting to the unpredictable flow conditions of the Ventura River, some steelhead remain landlocked, for years or generations, awaiting flow conditions which allow their return to the ocean. Steelhead were listed as federally endangered in southern California in 1997 because barriers such as dams blocked steelhead migration necessary for spawning. It is said that the steelhead population has declined more than 90 percent in the Ventura River.
A New Cutting Edge Bird Checklist For The Ojai Meadows Preserve Go To...
www.ovlc.org/2011/06/new-ojaimeadows-preserve-bird-checklist/
Online Presentation Of The Grand Opening Of The New Trailhead Go To...
www.ovlc.org/2011/06/the-newtrailhead-celebration/
Latest Ventura River Preserve Trailmap Available Go To.. www.ovlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/VRPmap.pdf
Field trip at the Meadows included contemplation and fun!
A good looking group of trail volunteers. Thanks!
Ben, age 7; a young scientist at the Meadow, and his younger sister Plum, age 4; taking a run.
t OO ls t O M ini M ize y O ur t axes
Minimizing Taxation Using Charitable Bequests
July 12, Tuesday, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Charitable remainder trusts can allow you to sell appreciated assets tax free, receive a charitable giving tax deduction, and provide you with income for life. Charitable lead trusts, gift annuities, and other tools also provide options for tax wise estate planning. Come to this session to understand your options. Speakers: Howard Smith and Vicki Breen
Minimizing Taxation Using Life Insurance
July 14, Thursday, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Whether you currently own life insurance or not, this is an important session. Life insurance can be used to add liquidity to your estate, pay estate taxes with discounted dollars, and to make charitable bequests. Come learn about the significant benefits of an irrevocable life insurance trust and more. Speakers: Vicki Breen and Howard Smith.
RSVP by July 8th for one or both of the estate planning events. Held at the OVLC headquarters located at the old honor farm off Hwy. 150.
Howard J. Smith is a vice president & wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He focuses on asset management for risk adverse and high net worth individuals, foundations, and non-profit organizations. He served for 3 years as board chair of the Ventura County Economic Development Association, and has been honored multiple times for community service. Smith is an active member of the Estate Planning Council of Ventura County as well as the Planned Giving Advisory Council at California State University Channel Islands.
OVLC Calendar of Events
Victoria Breen is owner and president of Derby & Derby, Inc., a California Registered Investment Advisor since 1986, located in Ojai. Since 1992 Victoria has served on the board of directors of Pacific Global Investment Management Company. She served on the board of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy for 4 years and the Rotary Club of Ojai for 8 years. Derby & Derby, Inc. specializes in wealth management, retirement planning, estate preservation, and legacy planning.
July 12 MinimizeTaxation Using Charitable Bequests, RSVP
July 14 Minimize Taxation Using Life Insurance, RSVP
July 22 New Steelhead Preserve Party, 4:00 pm, RSVP
July 28 Hike w/ OVLC’s R. Bisaccia, 8:30 AM, RSVP by 7.21
July 30 Wild About Ojai, Healing Our Watershed,10:00 AM, RSVP
August 6 Ojai Meadows Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
August 6 Ventura River Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
August 11 Ventura River Preserve Docent Training,8:30AM, RSVP
August 27 Ojai Meadows Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
September 3 Ojai Meadows Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
September 3 Ventura River Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
October 1 Ojai Meadows Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
October 1 Ventura River Preserve Tour, 8:30 AM
Wild About Ojai Environmental Learning Series
Healing Our Watershed July 30, 2011, Saturday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
In 2000, American Rivers named the Ventura River the 3rd most endangered river in America. Today, the river is on its way to recovery, and the prospects for the future of the entire watershed, the Ojai Valley’s only source of water, are positive. Join us for an informative panel discussion about protected areas, dam removal, steelhead restoration efforts, and more. OVLC Conservation Director, Brian Stark, will be joined by other Ventura River watershed experts. The panel will be held at our new Ventura River Steelhead Preserve and will be followed by a hike. Don’t miss this chance to learn about current Ventura River protection efforts. This event is the first time that the Steelhead Preserve will be open to the general public!
Wild About Ojai events are free for OVLC Members and $10 for non-members.
Become a member today!
Please RSVP to Marti at 6496852 ext 2 or marti@ovlc.org.
Ventura River watershed is Ojai Valley’s only source of water!
Howard Smith
Victoria Breen
What do the Local plants and animals have to say about the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s new Ventura River Steelhead Preserve?
“We have been waiting for this day since human settlement!” - Anonymous Threatened and Endangered Animal Activists
“We’re so excited; we can taste the pollen already!”
- Ojai Butterflies Local 33
“The acorns are the future.” - Val E. Oak-Tree
“I love the smell of wildflowers in the morning; it’s almost as sweet as carrion.” - Turk E. Vulture
“You’re going to do WHAT?” - Invasive Mustard and Wild Radish Coalition
MEADOW BRIDGE!
Match of $10,000: Making The Meadow Accessible To All
Two anonymous Ojai angels will match any gifts made up to $10,000. This Meadow fund will enable the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy to build and maintain the long awaited bridge across the outlet of the pond on the Ojai Meadows Preserve. The absence of a bridge has made it difficult, and often impossible, for people to complete the beautiful interpretive loop trail at the Preserve. If you want to help make access to all a reality on the Ojai Meadows Preserve, simply send in a check with the word “bridge” on it or submit a gift online and in the comments write “bridge.” Some people have been waiting for more than 5 years to more safely access the entire Ojai Meadows Preserve which is teaming with wildlife!
Individuals, clubs, and other organizations are encouraged to make a contribution. The bridge’s project budget includes the cost of building the bridge and a maintenance reserve to ensure the bridge is maintained in good condition. To meet the budget, service club contributions and in kind contributions will be necessary beyond this $10,000 match.
Now that the Meadow has benches, interpretive panels, and healthy natural areas, it is time to build a bridge so that everyone can enjoy this jewel of Ojai. The bridge project on the Ojai Meadows Preserve has been given new life thanks to these anonymous donors. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy wants to make its preserves as accessible as possible to everyone in the Ojai Valley. The new bridge will be crossable by wheelchairs.
Contribute to the bridge project and you will be thanked at a celebration on the Meadow when the bridge is unveiled. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy staff is committed to making sure that everyone who wants to attend, no matter what their physical challenges, can attend.
Thank You!
Membership renewals and giving levels will be acknowledged at the end of 2011 and will be based on cumulative giving. New members and gifts in honor or in memory will be listed quarterly.
New Members
Lucila E Arango
Sunny Cross
Robin & Dominique Daniels
Roy Hooper
Amber Kramer
Lisa S Marshall
Trevor D Marshall
Karen Palm & Michael McLenaghan
Judy Mize
The Ojai Valley School - 100th Birthday
Douglas Reed
Marti & Dan Reid
Susie & Patrick Williams
Gifts in Honor or Memory
From Joann Moses In honor of Harry Oppenheimer’s Birthday
From Susan Bee in Memory of John G. Bee, DVM
SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OVLC
Today’s trip was AMAZING! The kids loved (OVLC docent) Bill (Fox) and said, “It was the best field trip of the year!” They want to hike again. Let me know when you have an opening for a trip to the Meadows sometime after the first week of May. We would love to go with Bill again. Thank you again!
Bill was GREAT - so patient and open minded. He developed a great relationship with the kids and his knowledge on the biome was incredible and inspiring. Thank you again!
Best, Terri Hooson and the Kids in Room 7.Ventura Charter School
These are the birds and other animals that my grandson...saw at the Ojai Meadows Preserve today...We enjoyed ourselves and will no doubt visit there again! Judy Mize
Well, I became a member because I moved to the area from Maine a year and a half ago. My favorite places to run are Sulphur Mtn and the Ventura River Preserve. I am thankful to have such a well maintained and special place to run and enjoy. I spend a lot of time in areas that are protected and I wanted to be a part of that. I love the Ojai Valley. Anonymous
Dad and I finally experienced your ADA trail. It was BEAUTIFUL and you should be so very proud of all the work and thought that went into it. Dad, being a wonderful handyman, really admired all the wood bracings along the concrete path.
It’s a little taste of heaven out there and we lucked out on a beautiful day! Thanks for a lovely time! Carrie & Don from T.O.
I am an avid hiker and mountain biker. Your Conservation efforts improve the quality of life for all of us that live in the outdoors. I have done some trail maintenance with Rick. He is a wonderful asset to the conservancy. However, his job is too big for one man and the trails are in great need. Thank you for preserving this land for all of our enjoyment. Anonymous
OVLC member for 20 years, Barbara McClay Rambo Watson , October 16, 1915 - September 19, 2010
New Board Members And Staff
Don is a retired teacher and headmaster. Don initially taught in New England, but he moved to Ojai in 1970 to work at the Thacher School. At Thacher he taught physics and astronomy, served in several administrative positions, coached gymkhana, and led trips in the Sespe backcountry. Don left Thacher in 1985 and for 21 years worked as headmaster at four independent schools located in Illinois, California, Colorado and Virginia. In 2008 he and his wife Susan fulfilled their life long dream of retiring in Ojai. Don maintains his interest in education and board governance by serving as treasurer of the Monica Ros School and chair of the scholarship committee of the board of directors for the Rotary Club of Ojai’s Educational Foundation.
We welcome Barbara Washburn back to the board of directors. A New England transplant, Barbara moved to Los Angeles 22 years ago. As she became aware of the rapid development up and down the California coast, she developed a passion for land preservation. Drawn by the unspoiled beauty of the Ojai Valley she and her husband Deric moved to Ojai in 1998. Barbara immediately became
involved with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy as a volunteer and joined the board of directors the first time in 2004. Barbara is the chair of the docent group and can often be spotted walking her leashed standard poodle, Charley, on the Ojai Meadows Preserve.
Todd has worked at his father’s orchards and for Churchill Orchards in Ojai. He also worked for twenty years as a social worker with at risk teenagers. He likes creating art and visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History with his children ages 18, 14 and 9.
Trevor has worked as a volunteer for OVLC once a week for the past 8 months. He has helped out substantially with trail maintenance, plantings, and other physical projects. Trevor will be working with Todd Bertola on the Ventura River Confluence Preserve and the Ventura River Preserve. He is an environmental studies student preparing to transfer into the university system. He worked for 10 years as a heavy equipment operator at Damar Construction, and is married to Monica who is the daughter of Lynn Hebenstreit and Suza Francina of Ojai.
OJAI MEADOWS LEVEL
Old Creek Ranch Winery www.oldcreekranch.com
Rabobank www.rabobank.com
SAN ANTONIO LEVEL
Euterpe Farms 667 South Rice Road
Channel Islands Sportfishing channelislandssportfishing.com
Law Office of Thomas E. Malley www.thomasmalley.com
The Oaks at Ojai www.oaksspa.com
Riverview Ranch (805) 290-5724
Shanbrom, Casey and Associates www.shanbrom.com
Vintage Production California www.oxy.com
SULPHUR MOUNTAIN LEVEL
Barnhart & Barnhart Insuance Services, Inc.
Grove Care, Inc.
Index Fresh
Meiners Oaks Ace Hardware
Oso Ranch
Rains
Rogers, Sheffield, & Campbell LLP (Phil Moncharsh)
Waite, Jacobs & Atkinson, Attorneys Wildland Fire Specialists, LLC
FOLLOW
THE
OJAI
VINEYARD’S LEAD: BECOME A SPONSOR FOR THE BIG EVENT!
IN-KIND SPONSORS
bitVision
Ojai Phone Book
Ojai Valley Directory
Bostrom & Associates
The Ojai Vineyard
New Restoration Tech.,Todd Bertola
New Restoration Tech.,Trevor Marshall
Don Reed, New to Board
Barbara Washburn, Returning to Board
PO Box 1092 Ojai, CA 93024
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Become an OVLC docent! Docent training for the Ventura River Preserve takes place August 11, 2011 at 8:30 AM at the Riverview Trailhead off Rice Road just south of El Roblar. Call Marti at 649-6852 ext 2 to save your place today. See docent praise for Bill Fox on page 6 of this newsletter.
OVLC needs a late model pickup truck for work on Preserves. Please email Brian Stark at brian@ovlc.org if you have one that you would like to donate or sell for a great price.
Please do not forget to RSVP for the Steelhead Preserve party on July 22nd.
Partner of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and Arts Alive grant recipient, Dianne Bennett sells her lovely Meadow inspired art. Some of the proceeds go to OVLC. www.diannebennett.net
A holding pool on the Ventura River like the ones at the new Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. These pools provide a sanctuary for the steelhead when other parts of the river are dry. When the river fills the fish continue upstream to propagate.