Courtesy photos.
VENTURA — Ventura Land Trust (VLT) has been awarded a $1.3 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for fuel load reduction and erosion mitigation in Harmon Canyon Preserve. The funded proposal is designed to mitigate wildfire risk between Harmon Canyon Preserve and the residential neighborhood of Clearpoint.
While winter rains have resulted in robust growth of waist-high lupine, perennial bunchgrasses, California peony, and coast live oaks, invasive plant species have also had a record year.
VLT has until May 2024 to reduce fuel loads primarily made up of invasive annual grasses, thistles, tumbleweed, and mustards, while minding the structural integrity of erosive slopes and the ecological conservation of the Preserve.
Stewardship Director Dan Hulst says, “Fuel load reduction in Harmon Canyon Preserve is something that VLT tackles every year as a wildfire mitigation strategy. The grant award from FEMA gives us a huge boost in resources to reduce the dense, herbaceous cover and shore up eroded areas.”
VLT has contracted with Wildscape Restoration to line trim key areas of vegetation and manually remove invasive plants around desirable native species. Goats and sheep from Ventura Brush Goats will graze zones dominated by one specific species to both reduce fuel loads and create areas where native plants can take root.
Areas of erosion will may be outfitted with weed-free straw waddles, biodegradable jute netting, and deep-rooted shrub transplants.
“We have a short period of time to address what are sometimes contradictory variables,” says Conservation Director Laura Pavliscak. “Reducing fuel loads while protecting steep slopes can be challenging.”
“We want to leverage the ecological benefits of this once-in-a-decade native plant growth to support the goal of the project, and that takes a lot of detailed resource monitoring and strategy. We’re focusing on the removal of Mediterranean annual grasses, which are the most dangerous fuels, the least protective against erosion on slopes, and most prohibitive to native biodiversity.”
Heavy rains brought about significant damage in Harmon Canyon Preserve’s upper canyon, which has been closed since January of this year. Creek washouts, sinkholes, and major hillsides that completely covered sections of road still await repairs.
“In some cases, the roads are simply gone,” says Hulst. They’re buried under 20 feet of soil and vegetation. We have a lot of work ahead of us to restore the roadways, but we are hopeful that the upper canyon will be open by summertime.”
The $1.3 million FEMA grant award does not cover storm-related repairs. VLT is raising funds for repairs from the community through its Repair & Restore Fund. More information can be found at www.venturalandtrust.org.
About Ventura Land Trust — The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, VLT manages its lands in perpetuity with scientific integrity, and balances open space protection with public access. Three nature preserves permanently designated for conservation, Harmon Canyon Preserve, Big Rock Preserve, and Willoughby Preserve, are open daily to the public for free for hiking, biking, and exploring nature. Ventura Land Trust hosts public guided hikes, field-based educational excursions, and volunteer and community events to foster a connection to the natural world in individuals of all ages. Nature exploration program Ventura Wild reaches the next generation of land stewards, offering hands-on environmental education, restoration, and stewardship experiences in local wild places.