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Santa Clara River Watershed

LA512: Methods + Applications Fall 2009
Ventura County, CA.
Design for Natural Hazards and Social Issues
Emily McKay Megan Dreger Sandy Angeles Timothy Barrett Inst: Weimin Li
 Contents

- Project Goals

- Examination of Methodologies

- Regional Analysis

- Local Analysis

- Conceptual Design Response

- Detailed Design Response

- Project Conclusion

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 Rehab Environmental Conditions

Constructed Wetlands
Wetland Filtration, sediment control, turbidity
Re-engineered
Native Riparian Revegetation
ecosystem
Habitat, Corridors, Shade, Carbon Sequestration
(river, wildlife,
humans,
environment) Re-engineered
Stream bank stabilization, silt deposition, debris catch-
Revegetate ment, levee set back
Renewal
Renewal
Groundwater recharge, soil renourishment, agricultural
reassessment, irrigation adjustments

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Connections People+Nature

Access
Trails- bike, hike, run
Interact
Education
Signage, events, parks,
ecosystem Access volunteering, school visits
(river, wildlife,
humans,
Respect environment) Interaction
Flood festival, competitions,
volunteer opportunities, access
Education
Respect
River, flooding, ecosystem,
water/human relationship

Awareness
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 Methodologies

McHarg Lewis Lyle BLM/USES

Regional Analysis
3 3 3 1

Natural Process 2 1
3 1

Environmental
Quality
2 2 3 1

Urbanization and
Agriculture
2 2 3 1

Connection to the
River
2 3 3 2

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 Why the Santa Clara River?

116 miles of unchannelized river

One of only two remaining unchannelized rivers

Urban development conflicting with flood risk areas

Riparian zones

Restoration potential

One of the world’s biodiversity hotspots

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 Regional Analysis

Opportunities
- Approximately 10,167 acres of open water, river wash and riparian vegetation
within the SCR floodplain
- Land acquisition to reestablish river system is in place
- Water filtration
- Habitat and corridor reestablishment
- Recreational benefits

Constraints
- Approximately 90% of the water use in the basin is for agricultural irrigation purposes
- Saltwater intrusion into groundwater aquifers
- Highly engineered water system
- Commercial and Residential development within the flood plain
- Non-point source pollution (groundwater, surface water)
- Inefficient irrigation practices
- Intense agricultural practices
- Inefficient crop choices (lima beans, sugar beets)
- Farmer and worker well being

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 Los Angeles County

Ventura County
SCRW

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 Akton

Fillmore H-126 Santa Clarita

Santa Paula
Ventura

I-5
Ventura Harbor
H-101

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 Elevation

Santa Clara River

High Elevation

Low Elevation

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 Vegetation

Santa Clara River

Water
Urban - Agriculture
Grasslands
Oaks
Pines

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 National Forest Land

Santa Clara River

Los Padres National Forest
Angeles National Forest

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 Hydrology

Santa Clara River

Tributary
Aqueduct
High Flood Risk

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 Saltwater Intrusion

Land

Groundwater Table
Sea Level

Groundwater (Fresh) Ocean

ce
e r fa
I nt Sea
Floo
r
Groundwater (Salt) EmbraceFlood
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 Average Annual Rainfall

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1810

1820 Years of Recorded Significant Flood Events

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000 EmbraceFlood
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 Land Use

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 Major crops of the Santa Clara River Valley

Livestock
Grains

Sugar beets

Lima beans

Citrus

Apricots

Walnuts

Avocado
1780

1790

1800

1810

1820

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010
Commercial agriculture

Large scale water diversion

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 Critical Habitat - Wildlife

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 Steelhead Barriers

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 Wildlife
Birds

Least tern Southwestern flycatcher Western snowy plover Least bells’ vireo Yellow-billed cuckoo

Fish/reptiles

Red-legged frog Arroyo toad Santa Ana sucker Arroyo chub Steelhead

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“...agoodstreamofwater...(its)bankswellgrownwith
cottonwoods,liveoaksandwillows...plentyofgrass...”
- Father Juan Crespi, 1769
observations of the Santa Clara River
Mural by Ann E. Thiermann, Santa Paula Library
http://www.santapaulamurals.org/mural2-chumash.htm
Riparian plants used by the Chumash andTataviam
Acorns - Quercus agrifolia and Q. lobata
Carisso grass - Phragmites communis
Tule - Scripus acautus var. occidentalis
Indian hemp - Apocynum
Milkweed - Asclepias
Wild Cherry - Prunus Ilicifolia
Cattail - Typha latifolia
Watercress - Rorippa naturium-aquatum
Soap plant - Chlorogalum
California Bay Laurel - Umbellularia californica
California Walnut - Juglans californica
 Local Analysis

Akton

Fillmore
Santa Clarita
Santa Paula

Ventura

Ventura Harbor

Santa Clara River

High Elevation

Low Elevation

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Project Area Santa Paula

Ventura

River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Project Area Santa Paula

Ventura

River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Land Use

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Agriculture

River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Flood Risk Santa Paula

Ventura
FEMA Flood Zone
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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 Santa Paula Airport

View Downstream View Upstream

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 Flash Flood
120,000

100,000

80,000
Instantaneous Discharge (cfs)

60,000
>100,000 cfs change
40,000

20,000

0
12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12
AM PM 1 cfs = 450 gallons/minute

Time 24 hour period

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 Land Use Change

1938 2005
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 Land Use Change

1938 2005
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Morphology

low flow Jun 2002

high flow Feb 2005

post flood Sep 2005

Morphology

low flow Jun 2002

high flow Feb 2005

post flood Sep 2005

 Vegetation - Lower Santa Clara River

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 Vegetation

Agriculture Herbaceous
Arundo donax Mixed riparian forest
Coastal sage scrub Mixed riparian scrub
Cottonwood-willow forest Mixed willow scrub
Desert riparian scrub Riverwash
Freshwater wetland High Flood Risk
Creeks, streams
County Boundary
SCR
SCR Watershed

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 C
B Sections

C
B

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 A

A
200

e
Flood Risk

ve
Le
100

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000

City of Ventura GW Recharge

Elevation

AA 1 2 3 Proposed
Distance SCR
 B

e
200 Flood Risk

ve
Le
100

0 6,000 12,000 18,000

Agricultural Land
Elevation

BB
Distance
2 1

SCR
3 Proposed
Diversion
Channel
 C

200
Flood Risk
100

0 6,000 12,000 18,000

Agricultural Land Use Industrial

Elevation

CC
Distance
3 1 Proposed
SCR
 Conceptual Design Response

Phase 1
0 - 15 Year

Phase 2
15 - 25 Year

Phase 3
25+ Year

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Project Area

River

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Phase 1 Santa Paula

Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam

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Phase 2 Santa Paula

Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam

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Phase 3

Phase 3
Phase 2
Phase 1
River

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 Design Objectives
Phase 1
- Land acquisition adjacent to river channel
- Levee setbacks
- Groundwater aquifer recharge
- Riparian Habitat
- invasive species removal
- native species revegetation
- wildlife corridor extension
- Constructed wetlands + water quality impact Assumptions for Success
- nutrient load reduction - Economic and political shifts
- sediment load reduction - Change in land use patterns
- water velocity reduction - Reduction in groundwater aquifer strain
- Social approval
- habitat progression
- Changes in agricultural practices
- Park land - Increased irrigation efficiency
- Public use - Appropriate crop choice
- Research use - Effective BMPs
- Real time flood data
- Real time water data
- Educational use
- Provide direct human connections
- Bike corridor
- Pedestrian Corridor EmbraceFlood
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Phase 1 - Levee System Santa Paula

Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 1 - Wetlands Santa Paula

Constructed Wetlands Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 1 - Park Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 1 - Wildlife Corridor Santa Paula

Wildlife Corridor
Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 1 - Bike Path Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee
Bike Path

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 Design Objectives
Phase 2
- Continued Land Acquisition
- Further Levee Setbacks
- Continued Groundwater Aquifer Recharge
- Extension of Constructed Wetlands
- Widen Riparian Habitat + Wildlife Corridors
- Extension of Park Land Use
- Expand Bike + Pedestrian Corridors
Assumptions for Success
- Economic and political shifts
- Change in land use patterns
- Reduction in groundwater aquifer strain
- Social approval
- Changes in agricultural practices
- Increased irrigation efficiency
- Appropriate crop choice
- Effective BMPs

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Phase 2 - Levee System Santa Paula

Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 2 - Wetlands

Constructed Wetlands
Phase 2
Phase 1
River
Levee

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Phase 2 - Park Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 2 - Wildlife Corridor Santa Paula

Wildlife Corridor
Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee

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Phase 2 - Bike Path Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee
Bike Path

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 Design Objectives
Phase 3
- Final Stage of Land Acquisition
- Final Levee Setbacks
- Removal of VFDD
- Continued Groundwater Aquifer Recharge
- Final expansion of Constructed Wetlands
- Extension of Riparian Habitat + Wildlife Corridors
- Final Expansion of Park Land Use
- Final Expansion of Bike + Pedestrian Corridors Assumptions for Success
- Incorporation of Diversion Channel + Spreading - Economic and political shifts
Grounds into Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Zones - Change in land use patterns
- Reduction in groundwater aquifer strain
- Social approval
- Changes in agricultural practices
- Increased irrigation efficiency
- Appropriate crop choice
- Effective BMPs

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Phase 3 - Levee System Santa Paula

Phase 3
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Levee

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Phase 3 - Wetlands

Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2
Phase 1
River
Levee

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Phase 3 - Park Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Levee

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Phase 3 - Wildlife Corridor Santa Paula

Wildlife Corridor
Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Levee

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Phase 3 - Bike Path Santa Paula

Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2 Ventura

Phase 1
River
Diversion Dam
Levee
Bike Path

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Phase 3 - Amenities

Wildlife Corridor
Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2
Phase 1
River
Levee
Bike Path
Observation Deck
Gliderport
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 Detailed Design Response
Constructed Wetlands
Data Station
Regional Park
Wildlife Corridor
Bike Path and Amenities

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Conceptual Wetland Site

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 Conceptual Wetland Site
D
VFD

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1969 Flood Event

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1969 Flood Event

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 Concept - Wetlands
D
VFD

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 Concept - Phase 1
D
VFD

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 Concept - Phase 2
D
VFD

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Concept - Phase 3

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 Concept - Park

New Access Road

Restrooms
Picnic Area

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 Concept - Phase
Section
3

Modular Data Station

Park Wetlands
Flood bank potential
Example SCR low flow EmbraceFlood
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 Concept - Phase
Section
3

Modular Data Station

. Real-time flood data
. Direct water data
. Track-mounted location per river morphology

Park
Flood bank potential
Example SCR low flow
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Wildlife Corridor Concept

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 Plant Palette

Trees

Cottonwood Sycamore CA Bay Laurel CA Black Walnut Valley Oak

Shrubs

Hollyleaf Cherry Bladderpod Arroyo willow Mugwort Mule fat

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 Plant Palette

Shrubs - coastal sage scrub

CA sagebrush CA buckwheat Black Sage Common Encelia CA Broom

Sub-Shrubs/vines/grass

Turkey Mullein Wild CA Grape Poison Oak Hoary Nettle Giant wildrye

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Signage

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 Slope Stabilizing

Levee

Pervious Trail

Gabion Baskets

Erosion Control
Sa
nt
Cl a
ar
aR
Santa Clara River
ive
r
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Levee + Trail
 Slope Stabilizing

Levee

Gabion Baskets

Erosion Control
Sa
nt
Cl a
ar
aR
Santa Clara River
ive
r
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Levee with Gabions
 Wooden Deck

Supporting Base

Gabion Baskets

Santa Clara River

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Observation Deck
Wildlife Corridor
Regional Park
Constructed Wetlands
Phase 3
Phase 2
Phase 1
River
Levee
Bike Path
Observation Deck
Gliderport
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References
California Department of Water Resources. Historical Data Selector. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/selectQuery.html

California Floodplain Management Task Force California Floodplain Management Report. 2002.
http://www.water.ca.gov/floodmgmt/lrafmo/fmb/fas/specialprojects/.http://www.water.ca.gov/floodmgmt/lrafmo/fmb/fas/specialprojects/taskforce.cfmcfm

California State Coastal Conservancy. The Santa Clara River Parkway Project. http://www.santaclarariverparkway.org/theriver

California State Coastal Conservancy. 2002. Santa Clara River Watershed Profile.

California State Coastal Conservancy. 2006. Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan Study: Biological Resources Volume 1.
http://www.santaclarariverparkway.org/wkb/scrbiblio/scrempbiov1/?searchterm=None. The Santa Clara River Parkway. November, 2009.

California State Coastal Conservancy. 2006. Santa Clara River Upper Watershed Conservation Plan. http://www.santaclarariverparkway.org/wkb/scrbiblio/tnc2006.
The Santa Clara River Parkway.

California State Coastal Conservancy. Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Information Station. http://wrpinfo.scc.ca.gov/

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Santa Clara River Parkway Public Access Plan.

City of Santa Paula website. http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/

City of Ventura website. http://www.cityofventura.net/

Diggory, Zooey and Stillwater Sciences. 2008. Santa Clara River Parkway Floodplain Restoration Feasibility Study: Final Report. Prepared for The California State
Coastal Conservancy.

Foley, Jonathan. 2009. The Other Inconvenient Truth: The Crises in Global Land Use. Posted in Policy & Politics Sustainability North America. Yale Environment
360.

Friends of the Santa Clara River. http://wwwfscr.org. Friends of the Santa Clara River.

Ventura County Watershed Protection District. http://portal.countyofventura.org

Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan (SCREMP)

Southern California Association of Governments. Land Use Data.

U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration. DFIRM.

U.S. Geological Survey. 2006. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.ca06.pdfWater-Supply Paper 2502

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. FWS Critical Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species. http://critical habitat.fws.gov/.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. River Corridor and Wetland Restoration. http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/. FloodEmbrace
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Santa Clara River Watershed

LA512: Methods + Applications Fall 2009 Design for Natural Hazards and Social Issues
Thank you
Ventura County, CA.
Emily McKay Megan Dreger Sandy Angeles Timothy Barrett Inst: Weimin Li