2016 Spring VLT Outlook

Vol. 12 No. 1

Spring 2016

TREES TAKE ROOT AT BIG ROCK PRESERVE

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Photo: Jennifer Rieneke

oodbye arundo, hello native trees and shrubs! Over the past three months, extensive invasive plant removal has taken place at the Conservancy’s Big Rock Preserve in an attempt to eradicate the nonnative plants, primarily the bamboolike Arundo donax, and re-populate the riparian areas with native tree species.

Over 400 young trees and shrubs representing six native plant species are now taking root in the area between the river and the bike path thanks to

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Tuftin Wagner digs deep.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

By Adrienne Stephens and Jess Nikolai VHC’s amazing corps of volunteers.

Our tree planting parties kicked off on November 14th when over 100 volunteers of all ages planted 150 trees in honor of the City of Ventura’s 150th birthday. Three additional work days held in December and January brought together a total of 400 enthusiastic tree-planting volunteers who got down and dirty while digging holes, planting trees, and watering saplings.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work and dedication there are now hundreds of new trees and shrubs growing along the Ventura River Parkway.

The young plantings include coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), valley oak (Quercus lobata), sycamore (Platanus racemosa), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), black walnut (Juglans californica), and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)—which actually is a shrub, not a tree.

We will host two final tree planting events, on February 20th and March 19th. The last 145 trees are ready to be planted in a newly “masticated” area of Big Rock. (A masticating machine is chewing up the remaining arundo thickets.) In the end, thanks to longtime donor Marcia Wright, grant funding awarded by the County of Ventura Resource Management Agency Continued on page 3

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is COMING!

he 2016 Wild & Scenic Film Festival (WSFF) will wow Ventura audiences on Friday and Saturday, March 4th and 5th, at Poinsettia Pavilion. This very popular annual festival presents a national tour of award-winning independent short films that celebrate the beauty and bounty of our natural world and man’s interactions with it. The film line-up, which differs from night to night, is beautiful and inspirational and helps connect the Conservancy’s work to similar environmental efforts around the globe.

In addition to being one of Ventura County’s most popular film events, WSFF also serves as the Conservancy’s spring membership drive, providing current VHC members with ticket discounts.

Continued on pages 4-5 Pacific Ironworks.

Inside This Issue — President’s Message..............................................2 River Parkway Kiosk..............................................2 Wild & Scenic Film Festival...............................4 - 5 Meet your VHC Team.............................................6 Meshing SOAR’s Ag Land Protection......................6 VHC Membership Programs..................................7 Denizens of the Ventura River...............................8

SEE PAGES 4 & 5 FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF FILMS SCHEDULED FOR THE WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL

New Kiosk Tells the River Parkway Story

President’s Message

By Derek Poultney DEAR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS: I am pleased to report to you that a number of wonderful things have happened since the last issue of the Outlook.

First, we have hired and promoted staff to help VHC keep pace with the opportunities we have before us. As noted elsewhere in this issue, the VHC Board of Trustees promoted Derek Poultney to the position of Executive Director.

Adrienne Stephens joined VHC as Development Coordinator. Jessica Nikolai joined the Conservancy as Stewardship Coordinator and student volunteer Brittany Glass was hired as Administrative Assistant. Together this dynamic team led by our Executive Director will achieve great things in the future.

Besides these personnel developments, your Conservancy has been busy over the last six months.

• Our annual Cal Lutheran University You Got Served fall service project brought 600 freshmen to help us with habitat restoration on our Willoughby Preserve; • Our first large scale tree planting on the Big Rock Preserve portion of the Ventura River Parkway took place in November, with 150 trees planted to commemorate the City of Ventura’s sesquicentennial; • The first of our interpretive kiosks was installed at our Willoughby Preserve along the Ventura River Parkway bike path in collaboration with the Friends of the Ventura River and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, among many community partners; • State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and staff from the California Wildlife Conservation Board accompanied VHC representatives on a tour of the Walker-Hearne Ranch to learn more about the conservation opportunities the property presents; and, • We have continued developing closer relationships with our members, donors and local business partners whose participation is critical to our success.

As we enter 2016, your conservancy has a full slate of objectives and we are excited and focused to achieve even more in the New Year.

As always, we encourage you to get involved in ways large and small and to tell others of our work, too. We are available and excited to talk to you or a group anytime about the Conservancy’s achievements and plans for the future.

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he Ventura Hillsides Conservancy in partnership with Friends of the Ventura River (FOVR) and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) installed a new interpretive sign near the Main Street Bridge overlooking VHC’s Willoughby Preserve. The threepanel kiosk informs visitors about the Ventura River Parkway.

The Ventura River Parkway is a growing network of trails and parks that reconnects the community with the river, transforming it into an asset for all to enjoy. The Parkway is a longterm solution to ongoing threats to water quality and habitat in our local watershed, especially since the City of Ventura relies in part on wells that draw from the river.

The kiosk’s three panels map the parkway from Matilija Canyon downstream to Surfer’s Point and Emma Wood State Beach, highlighting the lands in the parkway that have already been conserved. Visitors can learn about some of the wildlife found along the parkway, too. One of the animals shown on the kiosk, the southwestern pond turtle, is featured on page 8 in this newsletter. A QR code on the kiosk Continued on next page

— David Comden, President Ventura Hillsides Conservancy

email: president@venturahillsides.org

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

Tel: 805-643-8044 • P.O. Box 1284, Ventura, CA 93002 www.venturahillsides.org Brooke Ashworth, Editor / email: bcfa@aol.com Contributors: Karen Bednorz, David Comden, Richard Francis Dr. Anthony J. Giordano, Jess Nikolai, Derek Poultney, Adrienne Stephens Layout/Design, Frank Boross Media Services

q Outlook is published semi-annually by the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, a 501 (c) (3) California nonprofit organization.

Story submissions and ideas welcomed.

Copyright ©2016 Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. All rights reserved.

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Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

One panel of the kiosk.

Spring 2016

Continued from page 2 … New Kiosk

directs Spanish speakers to a translation on the VHC website.

OVLC’s Stewardship Director, Rick Bisaccia, installed the kiosk with the help of VHC staff and volunteers Tom Leasure and Paul Meehan. Look for the kiosk where the bike path intersects the Main Street bridge, near the parking lot opposite Peking Street.

This project showcases a very rewarding community collaboration.

In addition to input from VHC and OVLC, significant design and content contributions were made by Paul Jenkin (Surfrider Foundation), Diane Underhill (FOVR), Kathy Bremer and Ed Wehan (Ventura Parks & Recreation Commission), Theresa Lubin (Ventura County Parks Department), Patrick Johnston and Cynthia Hartley (VHC volunteers). Rich Reid, Chad Ress and Rick Wilborn generously provided photographs used on the interpretive kiosk.

This project was made possible with funding from the Earth Island Institute and VHC’s good friend Tracey Warriner, with support from the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, California Coastal Conservancy, and the California Wildlife Conservation Board.

Friends of the Ventura River sponsored the design and photography with support from Patagonia Inc. That kind of community effort is a hallmark of the widespread interest in and excitement about the Ventura River Parkway.

Spring 2016

— Photo: Adrienne Stephens

Long-time VHC donor Marcia Wright (pictured here with son Roger Wright and daughter Lynn Bartosh) contributed both funding and sweat equity to the tree planting project.

Trees Take Root (continued from page 1) and masticating services provided by Mariposa Landscapes, Inc., VHC’s volunteers will have planted a total of 500 trees in the Big Rock Preserve.

The trees have been monitored and watered with help from the City of Ventura and VHC staff, and thanks to the recent rains, Mother Nature has pitched in too! We are very grateful to the many volunteers who have contributed to this important project and look forward to watching the trees thrive and grow into a beautiful riparian habitat.

— Photos: Adrienne Stephens

Job well done! L to R: Rick Bisaccia (OVLC Stewardship Director), Derek Poultney (VHC Executive Director), Jess Nikolai (VHC Stewardship Coordinator), Adrienne Stephens (VHC Development Coordinator) and Tom Leasure (VHC volunteer).

There’s no shortage of enthusiasm among the tree planting crews.

Stay in the VHC Loop To keep everyone in the loop about the good things happening at VHC, we periodically use email to notify our supporters about news, special events or member discounts. Email correspondence is faster, easier and greener. If you haven’t been receiving our emails, please send your email address to info@venturahillsides. org and we will add your name to the distribution list. Thank you for helping us stay in touch!

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

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Wild & Scenic Film Festival continued from page 1

For VHC members, tickets are $15 for General Admission and $25 for Silver Circle seats. Nonmember ticket prices are $20 for General Admission and $30 for Silver Circle seats. Silver Circle tickets include reserved seating and one drink ticket for a glass of beer or wine. Tickets are available online on the Events page at www.venturahillsides.org and at Great Pacific Ironworks.

BECOME A VHC MEMBER BY FEBRUARY 29TH TO RECEIVE TICKET DISCOUNTS! There’s more to the Wild and Scenic Film Festival than just movies.

FOOD - A delicious array of finger-friendly appetizers, homemade deserts and, of course, popcorn will be available for purchase!

DRINK - Handcrafted beer, delicious California wines as well as non-alcoholic options!

RAFFLE - Dozens of high-end raffle items that include original artwork, outdoor gear, plants and flowers, dining out gift certificates and so much more!

MUSIC - Live music will be provided by J. Peter Boles, Chris Smith and Bill Jones, a dynamic trio of professional singer-songwriter-musicians who have performed extensively apart but are coming together at the WSFF to provide a unique sound never before heard in Ventura County.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is made possible in part by donations from our generous sponsors, including our 2016 presenting sponsor, Ventura County Credit Union. Other sponsors include Castoro Cellars, City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division, For Your Home Furniture, Great Pacific Ironworks/ Patagonia Inc., Iron & Resin, the Law Offices of Richard L. Francis & Associates, Poseidon Brewing Company, Rabobank, REI, Steve Cook Fine Art, Two Trees Brewing Co., Ventura Water, and Whole Foods.

Media Sponsors are VC Reporter and Ventura Breeze.

“The Wild and Scenic is always a huge success,” said Karen Bednorz, VHC Trustee and film festival committee co-chair. “The festival sells out because the films are inspiring, illuminating and help connect our audience with each other while they celebrate our beautiful planet.”

For more about the WSFF or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Adrienne Stephens: 805-643-8044 or adrienne@venturahillsides.org.

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FRIDAY PROGRAM, MARCH 4TH Parker’s Top 50 Favorite Things About Northwest Rivers — Skip Armstrong, American Rivers This fun film celebrates the best things about Northwest rivers from a kid’s perspective. From sun to rain, to waterfalls, to wild salmon, to time with mom, it’s the rivers that make the Northwest such a special place. (US, 2015, 3min) In Current — Ryan Heffernan, Grayson Schaffer, Ben Knight, Talweg Creative Rowing a dory in the Grand Canyon is considered by some as the most coveted job in the world. It can take 20 years of paying your dues to earn a seat on one of these legendary wooden boats. Amber Shannon has been boating the Grand Canyon nine years, trying to work her way from the baggage boat to a dory, while spending as many days possible in current. (US, 2015, 5min) Mile for Mile — James Q Martin Ultrarunners Krissy Moehl, Jeff Browning and Luke Nelson run 106 miles through the newly opened Patagonia Park in Chile, to celebrate and highlight Conservacion Patagonica’s efforts to rewild and protect this vast landscape. 2nd Place, Aysen Mountain FF. (Chile/US, 2015, 15min) Avaatara: The First Route Out — Red Bull ASP in association with Novus Select “If you travel roads that have already been discovered, you are basically always just following. But if you go somewhere where no one’s ever been and do something no one’s ever done, you’re on the lead and that’s one thing that I really like.” David Lama’s guiding philosophy has already taken him to the most impressive mountain ranges of the world and, more recently, to the Baartara gorge in Lebanon. A surreal ‘Avatar’-like landscape, unexploited and untouched. (Lebanon, 2015, 6min)

INTERMISSION Comes with Baggage: A Short History of Bicycle - Travel from Boneshakers to Bikepackers — Dominic Gill, Nadia Boctor This lighthearted history of bicycle travel in the Americas makes you want to sell all your possessions, quit your job and escape on a bike. Past and current footage, along with interviews of bike pioneers, makers and historians are combined to give a unique perspective on where bicycles can take you both physically and spiritually. (US, 2015, 18min)

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

An Education, A Father-Daughter Trip of Discovery — Mike Libecki, Mike Schirf, Fitz Cahall National Geographic Explorer Mike Libecki tackles his 58th expedition with his 11 year old daughter, Lilliana, for her first skiing expedition to Antarctica.

Neither had any idea of the magic, power and beauty they would encounter that would change their lives forever. (US/Antarctica, 2014, 9min)

“People ask me to be rea to do that? Reasonable p done.”

Spring 2016 — Mar

Denali — Ben Knight, Ben Moon, Skip Armstrong There’s no easy way to say goodbye to a friend, especially when they’ve supported you through your darkest times. Denali is the story of the relationship between photographer Ben Moon and his beloved dog, Denali. This short film is about friendship, loss and the beautiful fight for life. (US, 2015, 8min)

Black Bears - Yosemite Nature Notes — Steven M. Bumgardner Hundreds of black bears make their home in Yosemite National Park and seeing a wild bear is a highlight of any trip to the park. Bears often remind us of ourselves, and the relationship between bears and humans is complex and changing as visitors and park managers strive to keep bears wild. (US, 2015, 9min)

INTERMISSION

Rabbit Island — Ben Moon One man’s quest to protect an island he loves leads him to ponder great questions: Is there an opposite to development? An antonym to subdivision? This film is a brief study of an island set on the majestic Lake Superior, and the artists who gather there for inspiration. (US, 2015, 6min)

Filtering a Plastic Ocean — Rory Banyard

Microplastics researcher Marc Ward invented of a low-cost tool to tackle marine microplastic pollution. The film highlights the problem of toxic microplastics and their effects on marine wildlife and human health while also showing how easily we can all participate in cleaning up our local beaches, and by extension, the ocean. (US, 2014, 6min)

Flying Doors Off Over Baja California — Jeff Litton Take the doors off your airplane, and join National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins on an aerial photography expedition to capture the unparalleled beauty of Baja California. Conservation groups are using the images to help preserve the region for future generations. (Mexico, 2014, 8min)

SATURDAY PROGRAM, MARCH 5TH Nature Rx — Justin Bogardus, Jed Lazar, Joe Victorine This award-winning comedy series is about a struggle affecting many of us today. Set in the world of a spoofed prescription drug commercial, Nature Rx offers a hearty dose of laughs and the outdoors - two timeless prescriptions for whatever ails you. Side effects may include confidence, authenticity, remembering you have a body, and being in a good mood for no apparent reason. (US, 2014, 1min) The Thousand Year Journey: Oregon to Patagonia — Kenny Laubbacher Jedidiah Jenkins quit a job that he loved to ride his bicycle from Oregon to the southern tip of Patagonia. Friend and filmmaker Kenny Laubbacher joined him for a month and a half to pose the question “why?” Jenkins’ poignant answers are woven together with sun-soaked travel footage and shots of life on the move in this short film about shattering routines, staying open-hearted and keeping the flames of inspiration not just burning, but raging. The Thousand Year Journey is a paean to travel, adventure and, as Jenkins puts it, “turning your 100 years on this planet into 1,000.” (Peru/Bolivia, 2015, 4min)

Martin’s Boat — Peter McBride Honoring the legacy of Martin Litton, this film follows the newest boat in the Grand Canyon Dories fleet, the Marble Canyon, on its maiden voyage down the legendary Colorado River through the grandest canyon on Earth. Martin pioneered whitewater dories on the Colorado River in the 1960s and started a proud tradition of naming the boats after wild places that had been lost or compromised by the hand of man. (US, 2015, 24min)

To Slow Down and Breathe — Grant Thompson “I went for a walk... and found going out was going in,” once said a hairy Scotsman. The beauty of slacklining is that it can be as introspective as it is explorative. When we’re not moving to run awayfrom our selves, going out in to the wild places of this world can be a movement into our own souls.

(US, 2014, 3min)

Joe — Andy Maser, Hayden Peters National Geographic wildlife photographer Joe Riis reminds us that even those who have achieved it all still face many of the struggles that we all do. Joe celebrates how a man’s love for the wilderness has helped to further curiosity, respect and protection for the natural world around us. (US, 2015, 7min)

NOATAK: Return to the Arctic — Jason Fitzpatrick, Jen Serena, Ric Serena, Durand Trench, The Muir Project 35 years after their first visit to the Noatak River in Alaska’s wild and spectacular Brooks Range, two adventurers in their 70’s reflect on a lifetime of outdoor experiences and what still awaits them. Finalist, Banff Mountain Film Competition. (US, 2015, 14min)

asonable.Why would I want people never get anything

rtin Litton, Mile for Mile Spring 2016

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

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Meshing SOAR’s Ag Land Protection with Hillside Safeguards in Ventura

Meet your VHC Team

By Richard Francis

I

n 1995, voters in the City of Ventura adopted the “Save Our Agricultural Resources” (SOAR) initiative, proving that committed citizens could effectuate long-term protection of important agricultural and grazing lands, slowing their conversion to development through a voter-driven process. The initiative’s protection lasts until 2030.

By 1998 (in some places it took a little longer) that concept had taken hold via other initiatives throughout the county, with a slight name change to “Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources.” The initiatives established a “City Urban Restriction Boundary” (CURB), for each city precluding sprawl beyond those boundaries without a vote of that city’s citizens.

In a natural symbiosis, a SOAR initiative for the unincorporated area of the County was adopted that also precluded development of agricultural lands into more urban developments without a vote of the entire county citizenry. Many cities and the county opted for those measures to sunset in 2020.

Then, in about 2000, several far-sighted individuals in the City of Ventura began meeting to determine if they could extend the SOAR voter protections to Ventura’s hillsides.

Those meetings culminated in the City Council placing “Measure P” on the ballot; Measure P passed by Ventura voters in 2001 with a whopping 77% approval. Its sunset clause tracks the City of Ventura’s SOAR measure, also expiring in 2030. Measure P established a 9,000-acre Hillside Voter Participation Area and requires voter (continued on page 9) 6

VHC Team L-R Brittany Glass, Adrienne Stephens, Derek Poultney, and Jessica Nikolai.

Derek Poultney, Executive Director In November Derek Poultney was named VHC Executive Director. Derek, who served as VHC’s Conservation Manager for the six years prior to becoming Executive Director, has a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies from CSUFullerton and brings nearly15 years of land trust experience to the position.

Derek joined VHC in 2010 after working for five years as the Project Manager and Conservation Director at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) and spending five prior years in environmental consulting and field biology work.

Derek, who lives with his wife and two young children, says, “It is inspiring to work with such a dedicated board, staff, team of volunteers and community partners.”

Adrienne Stephens, Development Coordinator Adrienne Stephens, a UCSB graduate and 25-year Ventura resident, joined VHC in August and oversees member, business and media relations, fundraising activities, social media, special event planning and community outreach.

Adrienne brings a strong background in fundraising, marketing and public relations to VHC. She and her husband have raised three kids in Ventura and she is “thrilled to help preserve the natural beauty of a place that I love for my children and (someday) my children’s children.”

Jessica Nikolai, Stewardship Coordinator Jessica “Jess” Nikolai became VHC’s Stewardship Coordinator in November.

Jess, who earned her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from CSU-Humboldt, also has a certificate of completion in Exotic Animal Training and Management from Moorpark College’s EATM program. She is experienced delivering educational programming in California State Parks and other natural settings, caring for wildlife, leading volunteer programs and managing wildlife.

A self described avid hiker and outdoorsy-gal, Jess “loves to work outdoors while making a difference for the local ecosystem and community.”

Brittany Glass, Administrative Assistant Brittany Glass, a senior at CSU-Channel Islands, will graduate in May with a double major in Communication and Anthropology. To fulfill her Service Learning requirement, Brittany began a 5-month internship assignment with VHC last August. She did such a terrific job that in December she was hired as a part-time administrative assistant.

Brittany says she likes working at VHC because “the organization is full of awesome people who are making a real difference in the community and for the environment.”

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

Spring 2016

VHC Membership Counts!

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BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

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he Conservancy is working hard to expand our reach. In 2016, our goals are to increase VHC’s membership and recruit at least two dozen more local businesses to join our Business Sponsorship Program. This translates to recruiting one new member every day and at least two new businesses per month over the next year.

While this might sound ambitious, with your help we can easily meet and even surpass these goals. If you are a current VHC member, please spread the good word about the Conservancy’s work to your family and friends. Tell them why you support us and encourage them to visit our website (venturahillsides.org) to learn more about our mission and projects. Better yet, invite them to join you at an upcoming VHC event like the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and, most importantly, ask them to join us as members. Right now new members receive discounted tickets to the film festival! (See W&SFF article in this issue.)

If you are a local business owner, please consider joining our newly launched VHC Business Sponsorship Program. VHC business sponsors are a network of forward-thinking leaders who share our passion and help us accomplish our goals.

The benefits of becoming a VHC Business Sponsor are big! Interested in a private guided property tour or your logo in this newsletter? Check out all the benefits associated with our various sponsor levels through the “Join or Donate” tab on our website, venturahillsides.org, click “Become a Business Sponsor.”

When you become a member or a business sponsor of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, you take an important step toward protecting and preserving the natural beauty and unique character of Ventura and the surrounding region.

Adrienne Stephens, VHC Development Coordinator, would love to chat with you on the phone or stop by your office and tell you more about the benefits of joining VHC as a business sponsor or individual! You can reach her at (805) 643-8044 or adrienne@venturahillsides.org.

Special Acknowledgements Thank you to: • Lynn Bartosh, for sharing her wisdom, guidance and enthusiasm with VHC – both as a trustee and dedicated volunteer – for the past 13 years • Stephen Bryne, Anthony Giordano, Paul Meehan & Ken Meridith for joining Jess Nikolai, VHC’s Stewardship Coordinator, on patrols of our river properties (If you are interested in joining the VHC Volunteer Patrol Team, email info@venturahillsides.org and we will add you to the schedule.)

• Tom Weisel at ArchDay Design and Stephen Svete at Rincon Consultants for their donations of laptop and desktop computers • Dr. Robert Arce for Spanish translation of the new Ventura River Parkway kiosk • Members of the 2016 Wild and Scenic Film Festival (WSFF) Committee—Gary & Karen Bednorz, Tina Comden, Richard & Nancy Francis, Anthony Giordano, Adrienne Stephens, Lindsey Svete & Jackie Worden—for volunteering many hours of prep and planning for what will surely be our biggest and best WSFF yet • John, Theresa, James and Tinker Darling for giving time, energy and money to VHC and faithfully attending nearly every volunteer work event that VHC hosts throughout the year, including leadership at river clean-up events!

• Farewell to: Generous VHC supporter Tracey Warriner, as she embarks on adventures beyond Ventura Spring 2016

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

VHC’s Business Sponsors We urge you to patronize these local businesses, and when you do, please thank them for their support of VHC! Two Trees Sponsors ($10,000+)

River Estuary Sponsors ($2,500)

Barranca Sponsor ($1,000)

Acorn Sponsor ($250) The Refill Shoppe* In-Kind Sponsors VC Reporter The Ventura Water Store *Sponsorship through 1% for the Planet, onepercentfortheplanet.org

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Photo ©2012 Andreas Kettenburg

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By Anthony J. Giordano

ast year, the number of freshwater turtle species native to California doubled to an impressive two, not because a new rare species was discovered tucked away in some hidden corner of the state. Rather, new research showed that what was previously believed to be a single species, the western pond turtle, was in fact two distinct species that in California are largely separated by the San Joaquin Valley. The “new” species, the southwestern pond turtle, ranges along coastal California from south of the Bay Area down to Baja. Its range therefore encompasses the Ventura River watershed, and a good thing that it does too.

Across much of its coastal range, particularly near Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area, expanding development is destroying suitable habitat for the turtle.

Formerly widespread from British Columbia south through Baja California, overhunting and habitat transformation began driving the decline of “western” pond turtles the moment settlers reached western shores. Most recently, a more insidious indirect threat has reared its red-eared head: the slider, a turtle species native to the Mississippi River drainage that is being dumped into North America’s native freshwater ecosystems by irresponsible pet owners. Other threats include the state’s drought, water diversion and flood control projects, siltation resulting from mining and grazing, off-road vehicles, nonnative bullfrogs and fish – which eat young turtles—and the egg-minded raccoon.

The good news? The US Fish & Wildlife Service A southwestern pond turtle (Emys pallida) (USFWS) is now claiming its spot in the sun. considering the southwestern pond turtle for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, and the Ventura River watershed may be among the best habitat for them along the southern Central Coast. The southwestern pond turtle is a tough turtle that is not above shoving and biting others of its kind to secure the best basking sites, usually on rocks, logs, or thick mats of floating vegetation. Look for them year round, 8

Photo by California National Guard

Herpetological Denizens of the Ventura River The California red-legged frog (Rana daytonii) is officially classified as “threatened.”

but in particular between early spring and mid-fall. Then they are likely to be most active and in search of crustaceans and insects and their larvae, including midges, dragonflies, stoneflies, blackflies, and beetles.

Another resident of the Ventura River system, the threatened California red-legged frog, is the largest native frog of the western United States, up to 5 ½ inches long.

Once considered a subspecies of the more familiar northern red-legged frog, the California RLF was elevated to full species status following research in 2004; the differences between the two can be subtle, even behavioral. Unlike the eggs of the former for example, which are typically submerged, those of the latter generally stay in contact with the water’s surface, often in permanent pools with emergent vegetation. Largely restricted to the state’s coastal ranges below 1200m, the California RLF has been eliminated from more than 70% of its historical range. South of Ventura County they are completely gone, and populations along Santa Barbara’s south coast are dwindling. California’s drought impedes the frog’s recolonization of new areas, while agricultural and urban expansion, invasive predatory bullfrogs, and the all-too pervasive chytrid fungus, a skin disease plaguing the world’s frog species, also pose a direct threat to its survival. In 2002 however, the USFWS began frog surveys in key areas, and more widely implemented threat reduction measures; in 2010, they finally designated critical habitat for the species, including the Matilija and Piru Creek drainages of the Los Padres National Forest, which today represent an important stronghold for the species at this southernmost end of their current range. Monitoring efforts continue to assess the frog’s population trends in a number of areas and in some of them frog numbers have begun to stabilize. Today, places like the Ventura River Preserve in Ojai and Lake Casitas may be among the best habitats in the watershed to find California red-legged frogs with some regularity. Less active during the fall and winter months, look for them during expected El Niño spring rains along the Ventura River Parkway as they search for insects, other frogs, and even mice to eat!

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

Spring 2016

Who’s Who —

VHC and VCHP

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC, the publisher of this newsletter, venturahillsides.org) works cooperatively with landowners to acquire land for the public’s use and enjoyment and to protect and restore native habitat. Thus far VHC is restoring and managing nearly 85 acres of land donated to the organization in the Ventura River watershed or managed on behalf of other public and private owners under cooperative agreements.

Submitting the combined SOAR-Measure P initiative are Richard Francis (VHC Trustee and SOAR board member), County Supervisor Steve Bennett (president of the SOAR Board) and Diane Underhill (President of Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation).

Meshing SOAR’s Ag Land Protection (continued from page 6)

approval for any development proposal in the Measure P area requiring City water or sewer service. A subsequent attempt in 2002 by a group of hillside landowners to obtain voter approval for development of 1,200 hillside homes, Measure A, was decisively defeated by close to 72% of the voters.

Out of those efforts to protect open space and agricultural land in and around the city of Ventura, two groups emerged, each dedicated in its own way to the preservation of the Ventura hillsides. And because the two organizations have similar names there is often confusion about their separate roles in hillside preservation. (See the box above right for descriptions of each organization.)

Beginning in late 2013, the SOAR movement began thinking that the expiration of many of the City SOARs and the County SOAR in 2020 was just too soon. In a move to put all of the SOAR measures on the same temporal platform and have a meaningful extension, the SOAR organization began planning renewal of the SOAR initiatives with all SOAR measures to expire in 2050. Recognizing that the City of Ventura’s Measure P could be left behind, the SOAR organization and Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation (not to be confused with the Conservancy) partnered to extend together in one initiative both the City of Ventura SOAR and the terms of Measure P. That initiative was submitted to the City Clerk in the City of Ventura in November 2014. It will be on the ballot in this presidential election year, on November 8, 2016.

Spring 2016

Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation (VCHP) is focused on hillside protection by ensuring Measure P is safeguarded and followed, engaging in the political process and making candidate endorsements. (More information is available on VCHP’s website, vchp.org).

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Board of Trustees David Comden, President Paul Meehan Vice-President Jennifer Montoya, Secretary Karen Bednorz Richard Francis Gerhardt Hubner Jens Redemann Nikos Valance — OUR MISSION — Our mission is to preserve the hillsides, canyons, and open space that contribute to the unique character and natural environment of the City of Ventura and the surrounding region for the benefit of present and future generations

VHC is a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance — www.lta.org and the California Council of Land Trusts — www.callandtrusts.org

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #602 OXNARD, CA

www.venturahillsides.org • Printed on recycled paper.

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy PO Box 1284 • Ventura, CA 93002 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Did We Miss Your Membership Listing?

In the fall issue of Outlook we print a list of VHC members.

Occasionally we make a mistake, especially since we recently converted to a new data base system. If your name was inadvertently omitted or misspelled, please let us know! Your membership and support are very important to us!

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE — for up to the minute information facebook/venturahills

www.venturahillsides.org

Wish List: Donation of the following items or the funds to purchase them would be most appreciated! n n n n n n n

Join Us!

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at our 7th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival Friday and Saturday March 4th & 5th

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Commercial grade laminator and supplies ($100) VHC branded tablecloth & pop-up canopy ($250) Projector for community presentations ($500) Water tank and water pump to water newly-planted trees ($500) Copy machine ($500) Desktop computer ($500) Fire-proof safe for records retention ($750) Updated computer software ($750) Laptop computer ($1,000) Office desk ($1,000) Signage at Big Rock Preserve ($1,000) Work trailer and trailer hitch ($2,000) Informational kiosk at Big Rock Preserve ($3,000) Informational kiosk at Surfer’s Point ($3,000) Donated office space for VHC headquarters

Contributions, donated goods and in-kind donations are tax deductible.

Call us at (805) 643-8044 or email: adrienne@venturahillsides.org.

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Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook

Spring 2016