[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1451-1452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-772]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, Ventura 
County, CA

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
will prepare a DEIS to support the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration 
Feasibility Study, Ventura County, California. The study area is the 
Matilija Dam area and downstream to the Venture River Estuary. This 
study will investigate feasible alternatives to restore the Matilija 
Creek riverine ecosystem, primarily by removing Matilija Dam. Also, 
feasible alternatives for the removal of sediment behind the dam and 
the beneficial use of that sediment will be investigated.
    The DEIS will analyze the potential impacts (beneficial and 
adverse) on the environment of a range of alternatives, including the 
proposed action and the no action alternative. The Los Angeles District 
and the Ventura County Flood Control District will cooperate in 
conducting this feasibility study.

ADDRESSES: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, ATTN: CESPL-PD-RQ (R. Farve), P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, 
California 90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rey Farve, Environmental 
Coordinator, telephone (213) 452-3864, or Mr. Jonathan Vivanti, Study 
Manager, telephone (213) 452-3809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authorization

    This feasibility study was authorized by U.S. House of 
Representatives Committee Resolution on Transportation and 
Infrastructure (Docket 2593), dated April 15, 1999, which states, in 
part: ``that the Secretary of the Army is requested to review the 
report of the Chief of Engineers on the Ventura River, Ventura County, 
California, published as House Document 323, 77th Congress, 1st 
Session, and other pertinent reports, with a view to determining 
whether any modifications of the recommendations contained therein are 
advisable at this time, in the interest of environmental restoration 
and protection, and related purposes, with particular attention to 
restoring anadromous fish populations on Matilija Creek and returning 
natural sand replenishment to Ventura and other Southern California 
beaches.''

2. Background

    Matilija Dam is located on Matilija Creek, a tributary of the 
Ventura River, approximately 16 miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean. 
The dam is located in Ventura County California, approximately 7 miles 
and 25 miles from the Cities of Ojai and Ventura, California, 
respectively. The feasibility study area currently includes the 
Matilija Dam and the area immediately upstream, and downstream of the 
dam to the Ventura River Estuary. The non-federal sponsor of the 
feasibility study is the Ventura County Flood Control District.
    Matilija Dam was constructed in the late 1940's by Ventura County 
Flood Control to provide water storage for agricultural needs. Matilija 
Dam is a concrete arch structure 190 feet in height with an arc length 
of 620 feet at its crest. Sediment carried by Matilija Creek has 
deposited behind the dam and filled the reservoir, rendering the 
structure useless as a water storage facility. It is estimated that 
6,000,000 cubic yards of sediment lies trapped behind the dam.
    The dam no longer provides any flood control protection due to 
sedimentation behind the dam. There is some continued water supply use. 
The Casitas Municipal Water District currently operates the dam under a 
lease agreement from the County of Ventura, which expires in 2009. The 
operation is an integral part of the Robles/Casitas Reservoir water 
supply facilities and is estimated to currently contribute 
approximately 400 acre-feet of water per year. This water function, 
however, is projected to diminish rapidly as the reservoir continues to 
fill with sediments, and is expected to effectively cease by 2010 after 
the reservoir fills completely with sediment.
    Presently, the dam is considered to be a major contributor to the 
declining numbers of steelhead trout in Matilija Creek. If no action is 
taken to secure passage for the steelhead trout to reach the upper 
watershed and its tributaries, the dam will continue to obstruct this 
endangered species, thereby limiting the amount of spawning and rearing 
habitat. In addition, the dam would continue to act as a barrier for 
wildlife movement for other terrestrial and aquatic species.

3. Alternatives

    The feasibility study will focus on addressing the problems and 
needs caused by Matilija Dam with the primary objective of the 
feasibility study being to restore the Matilija Creek riverine 
ecosystem. Other objectives that are considered appropriate may involve 
possible beneficial use of the sediment behind the dam for beach 
nourishment or other environmental restoration.
    In general, alternative plans will investigate reasonable 
alternatives to restore Matilija Creek, primarily by removing Matilija 
Dam. Feasible alternatives for the removal of sediment behind the dam 
and the beneficial use of that sediment will also be investigated. 
Significant beneficial impacts to the riverine ecosystem (especially to 
steelhead trout) are expected from restoration alternatives identified 
in the feasibility study.

4. Scoping Process

    Participation of all interested Federal, State, and County 
agencies, groups with environmental interests, and any interested 
individuals are encouraged. Public involvement will be most beneficial 
and worthwhile in identifying the scope of pertinent, significant 
environmental issues to be addressed, identifying and eliminating from 
detailed study issues that are not significant, offering useful 
information such as published or unpublished data, providing direct 
personal experience or knowledge which informs decision making, and 
recommending suitable mitigation measures to offset potential impacts 
from the proposed action or alternatives.

[[Page 1452]]

    A public scoping meeting is scheduled at the Ventura County Hall of 
Administration, County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 800 South 
Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 at 7 pm on January 31, 2002. The 
purpose of the scoping meeting will be to gather information from the 
general public or interested organizations about issues and concerns 
that they would like to see addressed in the DEIS. Comments may be 
delivered in writing or verbally at the meeting or sent in writing to 
the Los Angeles District at the address given above. The scoping period 
will conclude March 12, 2002.

5. Availability of the DEIS

    The DEIS is expected to be available to the public for review and 
comment beginning in the winter of 2004.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-772 Filed 1-10-02; 8:45 am]
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