Watershed Coordinator Services Will Now Be Provided by
Ventura County Watershed Protection District.
Ventura County Watershed Protection District.
At their September 3, 2015 meeting, the Watershed Council approved the proposal by the Ventura County Watershed Protection District (VCWPD) to host the Council’s watershed coordinator staff services. The VCWPD has been providing staff to the Santa Clara River Watershed Committee since February of 2014: a half time position supported by partner funding from that watershed. Funding from partners in the Ventura River Watershed Council will support a quarter-time staff position.
Many thanks to VCWPD for providing this contribution to the Council. They are both contributing funding toward the position and covering considerable staff overhead costs.
Zoë Carlson, a VCWPD employee and the Santa Clara River watershed coordinator, will now also serve as the Ventura River watershed coordinator. Zoë officially starts as the Ventura River watershed coordinator today, and she and I will work closely over the next few weeks during this transition.
Please get in touch with either of us if you have any questions about the staffing transition, would like to offer assistance of any kind to Zoë, or would just like to introduce yourself. Zoë can be reached at 805/654-2032 or zoe.carlson@ventura.org.
Many thanks to VCWPD for providing this contribution to the Council. They are both contributing funding toward the position and covering considerable staff overhead costs.
Zoë Carlson, a VCWPD employee and the Santa Clara River watershed coordinator, will now also serve as the Ventura River watershed coordinator. Zoë officially starts as the Ventura River watershed coordinator today, and she and I will work closely over the next few weeks during this transition.
Please get in touch with either of us if you have any questions about the staffing transition, would like to offer assistance of any kind to Zoë, or would just like to introduce yourself. Zoë can be reached at 805/654-2032 or zoe.carlson@ventura.org.
Meet Zoë Carlson, the New Watershed Coordinator
You are in good hands! Zoë Carlson, the new Ventura River watershed coordinator, brings over 10 years of experience in natural resource management. She has worked for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District since July of 2010, and has been serving as the Santa Clara River watershed coordinator since February of 2014.
Zoë focused her education on watershed-scale environmental science and management, with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems Science and Policy with Watershed Science Concentration, a Masters of Environmental Science and Management, and a Graduate Program in Management Practices Certificate.
Her work for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District has included managing environmental compliance for up to 50 projects at a time, coordinating with local stakeholders on complex and controversial projects, training staff on environmental issues, and providing technical and CEQA compliance oversight.
Zoë has experience applying for and managing large grants with multiple stakeholders, including the $4 million Integrated Watershed Restoration Program grant that she managed while working for the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.
Please join me in welcoming Zoë as the Ventura River watershed coordinator! She can be reached at 805/654-2032 or zoe.carlson@ventura.org.
You are in good hands! Zoë Carlson, the new Ventura River watershed coordinator, brings over 10 years of experience in natural resource management. She has worked for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District since July of 2010, and has been serving as the Santa Clara River watershed coordinator since February of 2014.
Zoë focused her education on watershed-scale environmental science and management, with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems Science and Policy with Watershed Science Concentration, a Masters of Environmental Science and Management, and a Graduate Program in Management Practices Certificate.
Her work for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District has included managing environmental compliance for up to 50 projects at a time, coordinating with local stakeholders on complex and controversial projects, training staff on environmental issues, and providing technical and CEQA compliance oversight.
Zoë has experience applying for and managing large grants with multiple stakeholders, including the $4 million Integrated Watershed Restoration Program grant that she managed while working for the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.
Please join me in welcoming Zoë as the Ventura River watershed coordinator! She can be reached at 805/654-2032 or zoe.carlson@ventura.org.
Good-Bye from Lorraine Walter
I hope you all know how lucky I feel to have had the opportunity to work with you in support of the Ventura River watershed over the last four years. As a watershed coordinator, I could not have asked for a better watershed, or a better group of people to work with.
As I move on, and staff support transitions to Zoë Carlson and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, it is a good time to look back and take stock of the Council’s accomplishments. The Council had a list of things they wanted to accomplish in order to strengthen the position of the watershed. Grant funding was secured in 2011 and you made those things happen. You’ve accomplished a considerable amount in the last four years. If you remember, when I started, there was not even a mission statement, nor a governance structure or website. Look at you now! The group is more diverse and robust, the meetings are well-attended, people are engaged, your data is compiled and available, your website rocks, and you have a watershed management plan that is being used by many.
These accomplishments have not in and of themselves solved the watershed’s big challenges, but they have made stakeholders much smarter about the issues, facilitated the flow of data and information, established and strengthened relationships, and better positioned the watershed for grant funding – all things that bring us closer to solutions.
I am pretty proud of what has been accomplished, and I hope the assets that have been developed can continue to be leveraged to bring positive changes to the watershed.
I’m not certain where I will land next, but southern Oregon is tugging on me. They are in a drought too, but, look! they have water!
I thank you for the opportunity to serve the Ventura River Watershed Council.
- Lorraine Walter
Sep. 26 California Native Plant Society Waterwise Native Landscape Symposium
The Channel Islands Chapter of the California Native Plant Society is hosting a Waterwise Native Landscape Symposium on September 26, 2015, from 9 am to 4 pm, at California State University, Channel Islands. The program includes five guest speakers. See the symposium flier for more information.
Sep. 26 Graywater Workshop
The nonprofit Greywater Action and the irrigation supply company Aqua-Flo will be hosting a “Design Your Own Laundry-to-Landscape Greywater System” workshop on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Aqua-Flo’s Ventura location: 2471 Portola Road. See the workshop flier for more information.
Oct. 8 Special Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County
General Membership Meeting
General Membership Meeting
Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. for the Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County’s (WCVC) semi-annual General Membership meeting.
At this special meeting, County representatives will address the important and timely topic of County readiness for heavy El Nino rains. An overview of the County’s hydrology and flood alert system website upgrades and flooding preparations will be provided, the County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan will be discussed, and new resources for addressing climate change impacts will be described.
The meeting will be held at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Justice, in the Pacific Conference Room, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura.
At this special meeting, County representatives will address the important and timely topic of County readiness for heavy El Nino rains. An overview of the County’s hydrology and flood alert system website upgrades and flooding preparations will be provided, the County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan will be discussed, and new resources for addressing climate change impacts will be described.
The meeting will be held at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Justice, in the Pacific Conference Room, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura.
If you would like to get on the WCVC mailing list, which includes meeting announcements and regular water-related updates from the state, contact WCVC program manager Lynn Rodriguez at lynn.rodriguez@ventura.org or 805/654-2455.
Nov. 5 Next Council Meeting – No Meeting in October
It was previously announced that the next Watershed Council meeting would be on October 1, 2015, but we’ve decided to skip the October meeting so that we can tend to staff transition details. So the next meeting of the Council will be on Thursday, November 5, 2015. The meeting will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, in the Topping Room of the EP Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street. An agenda will be distributed closer to the meeting.
It was previously announced that the next Watershed Council meeting would be on October 1, 2015, but we’ve decided to skip the October meeting so that we can tend to staff transition details. So the next meeting of the Council will be on Thursday, November 5, 2015. The meeting will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, in the Topping Room of the EP Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street. An agenda will be distributed closer to the meeting.
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Seeks National Accreditation;
Support Letters Requested by Oct. 30
Support Letters Requested by Oct. 30
The following memo is from Brian Stark, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Executive Director.
Ventura River Watershed Council Members,
At our last meeting, I mentioned that the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is applying for national accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Accreditation is just one way that the OVLC can show that we are operating with the highest standards for a professional land trust. As part of the application process, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is seeking written comments on our compliance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices for Professional Land Trusts. More information can be found below. The OVLC values our partnerships with many of your organizations and agencies and your feedback would be honestly appreciated.Thank you,
Brian Stark
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
At our last meeting, I mentioned that the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is applying for national accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Accreditation is just one way that the OVLC can show that we are operating with the highest standards for a professional land trust. As part of the application process, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is seeking written comments on our compliance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices for Professional Land Trusts. More information can be found below. The OVLC values our partnerships with many of your organizations and agencies and your feedback would be honestly appreciated.Thank you,
Brian Stark
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is pleased to announce it is currently applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The accreditation program is one way to show that the OVLC conducts its business in a thorough and professional way, and that we strive for the highest possible standards in our work. To the OVLC, accreditation is important because it ensures that we will always have the policies, procedures, and practices to protect our conservation lands in perpetuity.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s application will be most useful if received by Friday, October 30th, 2015.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The accreditation program is one way to show that the OVLC conducts its business in a thorough and professional way, and that we strive for the highest possible standards in our work. To the OVLC, accreditation is important because it ensures that we will always have the policies, procedures, and practices to protect our conservation lands in perpetuity.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s application will be most useful if received by Friday, October 30th, 2015.