Seek the Creek Vision Plan

Restoring the River

Matilija Dam was built in 1947 to control floods and supply water to upper Ventura County. Due to sediment buildup and structural issues, the dam’s removal has been planned since 1999. The removal will trigger hydrological changes with a major impact on the watershed’s ecology: restored sediment flows are expected to rebuild the creek channel, and migratory steelhead will once again be able to access upstream spawning grounds.

SALT’s vision draws on community feedback to imagine new ways to hike, swim, cycle, picnic, and explore along the river, all while leaving a light footprint to maintain its wild character. The plan also identifies next steps for funding, implementation, and governance.

Low-Impact Access

The exact future hydrology of the watershed is unknown; it will be subject to unpredictable forces of weather and rainfall, and remains many years in the future. SALT investigated ways to draw people to the riverfront in the interim and inform them of the project’s evolution. Proposed projects include an educational amphitheater, tours and volunteer events, an interpretive trail, shuttle service, a levee trail, and a rehabilitated delta habitat where the river meets the beach.

The Conservancy has been awarded a grant to move forward with one of SALT’s proposed projects, the Ventura Parkway Preserve. SALT is developing a design concept for the 22-acre former industrial parcel, restoring a floodplain meadow habitat that will capture and filter rainwater.