Lower Santa Paula Creek 2024 Emergency Sediment Removal Project

Lower Santa Paula Creek 2024 Emergency Sediment Removal Project

Excessive sediments accumulated within the downstream portion of the Santa Paula Creek Flood Risk Management Facility (Facility), maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District (VCWPD), due to the significant rainstorms that occurred between January and March 2024. The Governor of California issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency on February 4, 2024. The President of the United States declared a major disaster for the State of California on April 13, 2024, resulting from severe winter storms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued DR-4769-CA Major Disaster Declaration Public Notice on April 23, 2024. VCWPD applied for FEMA disaster assistance to help fund removal of the sediments deposited in the Facility "as a result of severe winter storms...that began on January 31, 2024, and ended on February 9, 2024." In order to address this sedimentation, VCWPD proposes the Lower Santa Paula Creek 2024 Emergency Sediment Removal Project (Project), which will remove approximately 52,500 cubic yards of sediment from approximately 7.2 acres within the lower portion of the Facility. The work would occur over about 3,000 linear feet. An estimated 12 feet of sediment depth would be removed from the channel, with the excavation depth gradually becoming shallower to daylight at the upstream end. The Project would maintain adequate capacity, prevent overtopping of the concreted rock riprap facility banks, prevent erosion of the east maintenance access road, and prevent undermining and flooding of adjacent commercial and residential properties and roads. All materials removed from the site would be transferred to the VCWPD stockpile location on uplands immediately west of the channel and south of Hwy 126. Work would include installation of temporary stream crossings utilizing six 40-ft-lengths of 3-ft-diameter pipes placed side by side to avoid operating heavy equipment in flowing water. Earthen coffer dams comprised of dry alluvium would be placed as needed to divert surface water and allow excavation of accumulated sediment under dry conditions. A team of qualified biologists would relocate aquatic organisms to suitable habitat within flowing water before, during, and immediately following each diversion. Proposed work may take about 90 working days to complete. The work area is currently largely devoid of mature vegetation due to the scouring flows received during the previous two winter storm seasons. Biological surveys would be conducted before work and each morning during work activities to identify and avoid or relocate sensitive biological resources. Work is scheduled to occur outside the bird nesting season. The temporary diversion channels and final graded channel would be configured to allow successful fish passage. Boulders would be placed in the final channel with guidance from qualified biologists to provide resting areas and cover for aquatic species.

Santa Paula

Ventura

Southern California, Unincorporated

Ventura