Santa Clara River Watershed

Existing conditions:

The Santa Clara River Watershed (approximately 1,200 square miles) contributes water to the Santa Clara River Estuary. Dams in the watershed of the Santa Clara River include Bouquet Reservoir (built in 1934), Lake Piru (built in 1955), and Pyramid and Castaic Lakes, which control about 37% of the watershed.

The Santa Clara River is the last unchannelized riparian and wildlife corridor in the region. Extensive patches of high quality riparian habitat are present along the length of the river and its tributaries. The endangered fish, the unarmored threespine stickleback, is resident in the river. One of the largest of the Santa Clara River's tributaries, Sespe Creek, is designated a wild trout stream by the state of California and supports significant spawning and rearing habitat. The Sespe Creek is also designated a wild and scenic river. Piru and Santa Paula Creeks, which are tributaries to the Santa Clara River, also support good habitats for steelhead.

The Vern Freeman Diversion Dam may impede the upstream migration of endangered southern steelhead trout. River flows below the dam may not be adequate to keep endangered southern steelhead trout in good condition at all times.

Description of Watershed Resources:

Area: 1032302.26 acres

Naturally Occurring Waterways: 2623.92 miles

Percentage of Free Flowing River Miles: 94 %

Percentage of River Miles in Protected Lands: 21 %

Protected Lands: 20 %

Number of Dams: 8

Number of Selected Watershed Projects: 8

Number of Stream Crossings: 2649

Near-Stream Roads: 1022.48 miles

Average Precipitation per Year: 19.42 inches

Percentage Area above 15% Slope: 35.58 %

Number of CalWater Units: 14

WBS TMDL Rivers 9

Number of Special Status Species: 26

Anadromous Fish:

Access to the upper river is limited by sandy substrate and low flows. The lower mainstem is primarily a migration corridor for steelhead and is less used as a spawning and rearing area, with the exception of the estuary. The Vern Freeman Diversion was equipped with a fish ladder and intake screens in 1989 and became operational in March 1991. A downstream migrant trap at the Diversion collects steelhead smolt data.

Status of Watershed Planning Efforts:

The purpose of the Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan is to resolve conflicts among competing uses in the Santa Clara River while protecting the natural resources of the river. The key issues and concerns under negotiation include: Agriculture, Erosion / Sedimentation, Fisheries, Fisheries-Freshwater, Flood Control, Mining, Recreation, Riparian Enhancement , Stream Bank Protection, Vegetation, Water Quality, Water-Surface Water, Water Quantity/Supply, Wetlands, and Habitat.

Restoration Goals and Objectives Related to Wetlands:

To protect and restore Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii ssp. Pusillus), Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) and Unarmored 3-spine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni).

List of Major Restoration Activities:

Friends of the Santa Clara River will be doing a restoration project on 220 acres of river terrace property 3 miles upstream of Santa Paula, a portion of the Valley View Ranch, starting in 2002. The Coastal Conservancy is purchasing the property and Friends of the Santa Clara River will manage it.