OVLC’s Ventura River Steelhead Preserve, situated seven miles inland from the Ventura County coast, is a low-density rural residential area surrounded by open space. It encompasses a unique groundwater-dependent ecosystem along the river that has ebbed and flowed with the river’s breath over many centuries. Over the last 100 years, human activities like grazing have deeply influenced the landscape. 28 acres on the preserve are primarily non-native vegetation communities, dominated by yellow starthistle (Centaurea spp.), nonnative grasses (Bromus spp.), and more. Around the edges of this historical grazing are California black walnuts (Juglans californica), coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia), buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.), and purple sage (Salvia leucophylla) scrub. These native relics of the land are stalled along the edges, waiting in the seed bank, and anticipating a time to recruit into alluvium soil and mix into a diverse ecotone. 

Ojai, CA 6/21/2023 – The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is collaborating on an ecological restoration research project aimed at assessing the effectiveness of prescribed burning and broadcast seeding in restoring native species richness and cover, reducing the density of invasive species, and maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The project will also evaluate the impact of prescribed burns on specific target species and investigate the long-term effects of consecutive burns and seeding.