SURFRIDER FOUNDATION OPPOSES GOVERNOR’S PLAN TO CLOSE CALIFORNIA STATE BEACHES

The Surfrider Foundation announced today that it is formally opposing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent proposal to close 48 California State Parks, including several popular State Beach Parks. The Governor also plans on cutting the number of lifeguards at beaches throughout the state.

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Saving the dammed - Ventura County Reporter
Since its construction in 1947, the Matilija Dam has blocked the passage of spawning salmon up the Ventura River, interfering with the Ojai Valley ecosystem.

http://www.vcreporter.com/article.php?id=5404&IssueNum=150

Posted by: "Paul Jenkin" pjenkin@sbcglobal.net   pjenkin63
Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:47 am (PST)

Surfer's Point
For the past decade, the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has been working with local and state government agencies to solve beach erosion problems at Ventura County's most popular coastal recreation area - Surfers' Point.

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Surfers Point update
Mon Dec 10, 2007

On Friday, November 30, 2007, the Surfers' Point Working Group met to discuss the project status and schedule. Surfrider was represented by Larry Manson, Vince Kisch, and Paul Jenkin.

See also http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2007/12/surfers-point-
restoration.html

The 70% Design is complete, with Final Design to be completed within 6 weeks (Feb 2008). An updated estimate now places total construction costs at $8.1M. Increases are result of general inflation in construction costs.

A significant portion of the cost is cobble to rebuild and protect the shoreline. A cobble source has been found from a County Flood Control project, but sorting and transportation is costly. A discussion identified approximately $1M in possible cost-cutting measures by leaving abandoned pipes in place, reducing landscaping
costs, and limiting grass-pave to high use areas. General consensus was that these should be included in the final plans, although preference was to find full funding.

The coastal consultant is working on a beach management plan, including “trigger points” for future renourishment as required by the Coastal Commission. The final MOU with Fairgrounds and City needs ratification.

Funding is going to be the big hurdle for this project. The City of Ventura has a federal transportation grant of $1.5M for the bike path that needs to be used in the next 2 years. Other grant applications have not been successful. The Ocean Protection Council OPC will be meeting in Ventura on February 28, and this will provide an opportunity for field tour of Surfers’ Point as well as Matilija Dam

Posted by: Paul Jenkin - pjenkin@sbcglobal.net

Ventura Wastewater policies scrutinized

Dec 18, 2007

Last week the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) heard comments on a proposal to slowly phase out the discharge of treated sewage into the Santa Clara River estuary. According to Heal the Bay, the Board is backing down from their initial recommendation that the discharge should be reduced by 1 million gallons per day each year...

Check out the VenturaRiver Ecosystem Blog for more great info: http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com

"Tales of the Ventura River" video now online

Visit with the old-timers at Phil's Barber Shop as they reminisce about the "good old days" when the Ventura River ran free.

This video is long, but contains some interesting insight into the history of the watershed, and how water supply and flood control altered the historic runs of steelhead and the natural public trust assets that today, sadly, balance on the brink of extinction.

The video was produced by Robin Chilton several years ago, and has been playing in local cable Channel 6 in Ventura.

http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2007/12/tales-of-ventura-river.html

Surfrider Foundation - 62 Victories Since January 2006
The global network of the Surfrider Foundation has had 62 victories since January 2006. Here is a list of all 62, a map of the victories and here is a definition of "victory". Let me share background and logic behind this number....

Surfrider Foundation's CEO, Jim Moriarty, has his very own Blog to share his updates, comments, and thoughts about who we are and what we do here:

Oceans Waves Beaches - http://oceanswavesbeaches.blogspot.com/