Eleven Cooperating Agencies of the Ventura River watershed involved in a Habitat Conservation Planning Process are working with the Resource Agencies (e.g. California Department of Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U. S. Forest Service) to: (1) prepare a Geographical Information System (GIS) database for the Ventura River watershed; (2) conduct steelhead habitat and passage studies on San Antonio Creek and North Fork Matilija Creek in order to develop and prioritize site-specific enhancement proposals; and (3) provide public education and outreach activities within the watershed.

Work completed to date and efforts that are in progress include:

• Steelhead habitat assessments in North Fork Matilija Creek and San Antonio Creek to supplement prior work in the Ventura River mainstem.
• Fish passage surveys have been conducted and barriers assessed along North Fork Matilija Creek from the confluence to upstream of the Wheeler Creek Campground. Surveys have also occurred where access is granted along San Antonio Creek.
• Preliminary engineering surveys of the two steelhead barriers in Wheeler Creek Campground have occurred to determine how the barriers should be modified to provide passage for fish. Preliminary proposal for modifying or removing these barriers is in progress.
• Two landowner and public workshops are scheduled for February and a newsletter discussing what activities are currently being conducted in the watershed, working together with the public and landowners to restore steelhead in our watersheds and the current status of steelhead in the Ventura River is available.
• GIS database has been developed to provide maps of steelhead and wildlife habitat within the watershed. The database is being used to identify restoration opportunities.
• Development of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to permit the activities of the Cooperating Agencies that affect aquatic habitat in the Ventura River watershed is in progress.