Thank you all for a successful conversation at our last Council Meeting about how we can all work together to improve our water resource management in the watershed. We had a GREAT turn out at our November meeting with over forty participants including many new faces and others we have not seen in many years.
Save the date for our next Council meeting on Thursday January 5th at 10:30am at the Bell Arts Factory in Ventura.
Wednesday December 7th Arundo-Free Watershed Campaign Meeting
It has been a while since we have had a campaign meeting and there has been a lot of work in Arundo eradication going on in our watershed. For those of you who would like to get into the weeds of the campaign, please join us on Wednesday December 7th from 9-10:30am at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, 370 W.Baldwin Road (the old Honor Farm), in Ojai. We will hear about all the work completed to date, talk about upcoming grant opportunities, ongoing coordination opportunities and more.
Grant Funding: Urban and Community Forestry Program Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
The CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry Program focuses on the use of trees to provide multiple benefit solutions and to mimic the functions of natural forests in neighborhoods. Although most of CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program initiatives involve tree planting, this year’s GGRF grants will also fund a variety of other urban-based projects.
Concept Proposals due December 16, 2016 by 3:00 pm
Grant guidelines, concept proposal forms, and the presentation from recent workshops are available on CAL FIRE’s website http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_urbanforestry_grants.
Questions regarding this grant opportunity can be directed to David Haas, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, david.haas@fire.ca.gov or (951) 320-6125.
More Grant Funding: Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant Program
The Natural Resources Agency has an Urban Greening Grant Program that may also be of interest. Currently draft guidelines are available for public comment. Eligible projects will convert existing built environments into community parks and green spaces that improve air and water quality, reduce energy consumption, and create healthier environments.
The program emphasizes, and gives priority to, projects that are proposed by and benefit disadvantaged communities. Public comments are due December 5, 2016. More information and draft guidelines can be found at http://resources.ca.gov/grants/urban-greening/.
Ocean Water Desalination Forum
Supervisor Steve Bennett is hosting an informational session to learn more about ocean water desalination (desal).
Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Ventura County Government Center
Board of Supervisors Chambers
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura
Presenters include:
Joshua Haggmark, City of Santa Barbara
Tom Luster, California Coastal Commission
Scott Maloni, Poseidon Water
Susan Mulligan, Calleguas Municipal Water District