Ventura River Basin Watershed Management Plan, Flood Mitigation and Flood Management Projects, Funding Sources and the CIP Process

To support ongoing watershed protection and planning efforts, the Ventura County Watershed Protection District (VCWPD) recently completed a watershed management plan report for the Ventura River Basin. VCWPD has also developed the Integrated Watershed Protection Plan (IWPP) as the culmination of a series of long-range planning efforts. The objectives of the IWPP include the provision of a systematic process for the inclusion of projects into the VCWPD's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and improving the long-range planning process. The IWPP process achieves these objectives by gathering information about existing flooding, operations and maintenance (O&M) practices, drainage facility deficiencies, access, and environmental concerns in the VCWPD's jurisdictional areas. From this information, a prioritized project list is developed for inclusion in the CIP. Projects are proposed to address identified issues and are ranked relative to each other using a scoring matrix. The highest priority projects are then the subject of further study using a multistep planning and evaluation, predesign, and final design process if the recommended project is found to be cost effective and environmentally viable. Most of the Ventura River watershed is undeveloped open space, with more than 75 percent of the watershed classified as rangeland and forest. Development is focused in lower portions of the basin along the Ventura River and tributary streams in the relatively flat areas, including floodplains, and the Ojai Valley. The limited extent of existing and new developments results in limited revenue for flood management improvements in the Ventura River watershed. Because traditional structural measures such as levees are very costly, VCWPD also works to identify and implement other flood management practices that can reduce hazards in flood-prone areas. It is also important to note that some areas in the Ventura River watershed subject to flooding are located on alluvial fans. For example, in the San Antonio Creek Watershed, floods in alluvial fans are highly unpredictable, and the VCWPD cannot provide cost-effective structural improvements in this watershed. In these areas, individual property owners need to be proactive to identify flood hazards and implement measures to reduce flood hazard risks. This paper will discuss watershed management and related efforts conducted in this watershed in the past few years to improve water supply, enhance habitat, and reduce flood risk.