None The Nature Conservancy in California Press Releases Search All Press Releases Misty Herrin Phone: (213) 327-0405 E-mail: mherrin@tnc.org

Nature Conservancy Acquires 1,000 acres along Santa Clara River

Purchase protects another mile of one of Southern California’s last free-flowing rivers

Ventura, Calif.—March 14, 2005—The Nature Conservancy announced today the acquisition of 1,003 acres in Ventura County as part of an ongoing effort to establish a 20-mile conservation zone along the Santa Clara River. Two adjoining properties—a 770-acre tract and a 233-acre tract—were purchased with $1.28 million in funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy, a state agency funded by general obligation bonds and the state’s general fund. The deals protect approximately 1.3 miles of river channel habitat that supports several diminishing species, including the endangered southern steelhead trout and least Bell’s vireo.

“This is one of the last great rivers in Southern California that still behaves like a river,” said Nature Conservancy ecologist Scott Morrison. “These acquisitions will help protect the natural river system and the species that depend on it.”

“The people of Ventura County also benefit from these deals,” said E.J. Remson, senior project director with The Nature Conservancy. “Because the lands include a large portion of a tributary’s watershed, safeguarding them will protect the water quality flowing into the river.”

The Santa Clara River’s braided channels and riparian forests provide crucial habitat for many species of wildlife, including herons, egrets, coyotes and bobcats as well as many threatened or endangered species such as the southwestern willow flycatcher. Working with local partners, most notably the California State Coastal Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy has acquired 1,840 acres—about six and half linear miles—of the Santa Clara River system with plans to acquire at least another 4,200 acres. The larger of the two recent acquisitions was purchased from the Villanueva Living Trust and the smaller parcel was purchased from Hanson Aggregates.

“We are very proud of what we have been able to achieve in a few short years with our partner, The Nature Conservancy,” said Peter Brand, senior project manager for the California State Coastal Conservancy. “These properties fit one of our goals to provide ecological connections between the river and South Mountain. The Santa Clara River Parkway when fully implemented will provide not only habitat restoration but flood reduction as well. A lot of the flood damage that has happened recently is unnecessary.”

The Nature Conservancy’s work on the river is part of a multi-pronged conservation effort in Ventura County and Los Angeles County. Using science as a guide, the Conservancy has identified key areas along the Santa Clara River, at Ormond Beach and in the Santa Susana Mountains that must be safeguarded, linked to each other and connected to already protected lands such as Los Padres National Forest. Creating a network of preserves and wildlife corridors will give plants and animals the room they need to find food, reproduce and re-establish themselves following disturbance events like fire.

The Conservancy is currently expanding its conservation plan to encompass major tributaries of the Santa Clara River and reach eastward toward the headwaters. Conservancy scientists are also conducting studies to help guide the recovery of the endangered southern steelhead trout.