Watershed Event

Join water equity champions from across California for the triennial Lessons Learned Summit for the Disadvantaged Community and Tribal Involvement Program (DACTI). The Summit will share and celebrate successes in this program, share key lessons learned, and explore future efforts for engagement of communities and Tribes in water and climate resilience efforts. Register at the link below.

Successful Planting Event in Camarillo

VCRCD had their first planting event at the Sterling Hills Golf Course in Camarillo on Feb. 9th between rainstorms. We were fortunate to have volunteers from Ventura College and CSU Channel Islands – instructors and students. This site was in the middle of a golf green and all plants, equipment and people had to be shuttled in using golf carts while not disturbing active golfers! Fun and challenging day to add 200 more pollinator-friendly native plants into the ecosystem.

Protect Your Home From Wildfires

We are offering FREE wildfire home assessments to residents of Ventura County. Learn from trained inspectors on how to reduce wildfire risk on your property. Learn the most effective adjustments to make to your property and receive a customized report.

Monarch Habitat at Local Schools

VCRCD continued educating about and developing monarch and pollinator habitat from unused and weedy areas on the Oak Park School District high school campus.  We were joined by employees from Cabeau of Woodland Hills who enthusiastically planted 160 native flowers and shrubs on about a half-acre near and under ancient valley oaks.  We knew the cut-down weeds would return so used as much cardboard and heavy paper as we could get to create islands to smother weeds immediately surrounding our plants.  We added wood mulch around islands and are waiting for additional mulch deliveries. Nonnative grasses and mustards can really prove challenging to native plant survival and we continue to use nontoxic methods to control them.   

New Partnerships for Outdoor Education

VCRCD staff attended a 3 day training dedicated towards the creation of high school environmental programs. The training, hosted by the Center for Land Based Learning, will help VCRCD staff design field trips around restoration projects, exposing students to hands on learning opportunities.

State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP) $4M for Agricultural Operations

The State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is funding projects that BOTH conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Projects can receive up to $200,000 and may include strategies such as irrigation scheduling technologies, pump efficiency improvements, installation of renewable energy. 

VCRCD is the first Block Grant Recipient in California to open their SWEEP applications and the interest from growers has been overwhelming. We have 65 applications in process in the first month of opening requesting nearly $8M in SWEEP funds. The first round of completed applications will be ranked and submitted to CDFA at the end of March with approval and contracts to follow. If funding allows, round 2 of applications will be accepted starting April 1 and end June 1, 2024. 

 Find more SWEEP information here: https://vcrcd.org/sweep-bgr/

Gray Whales Migrate Along the California Coast

During summer, gray whales live in Arctic regions. As fall approaches, there is less sunlight and less food causing the whales travel to Baja California, Mexico, where they mate and give birth.

Gray whales can be seen passing by California in December and January during their southern migration, and again between March and early May on their journey north.

Mothers and their newborn calves travel together and are typically the last group to migrate north. You can likely see them traveling past California throughout April and into early May. As the mothers and calves tend to hug the coast to avoid predators, they are closer and typically easier to spot from shore.