8 WEAVING FIRE INTO THE LAND 

The Ventura River and San Antonio Creek outstretch to one another at the confluence; you can see the water reach into the sky through the leaves of cottonwoods and palms of sycamore. In this canyon, the oaks and walnuts walk downstream to meet the river—hand in hand with sagescrub. Between the communion of plant associations lies Ventura River Steelhead Preserve (VRSP). The 80-acre preserve is below Santa Ana Road, and lightly slopes down to the river. Though surrounded by biodiversity, there are about 25 acres of open field filled with a tangle of invasive species, primarily yellow star thistle (Centarea solstitialis and Centarea melitensis), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and annual grasses. These species not only prickle canvas work pants and wool socks, but they tell us that a disturbance regime was present, which is not conducive to native habitat. This regime has paused in this state. Invasive species often create conditions that inhibit succession of other habitats, unlike native vegetation communities that change and flow with natural disturbance. 

Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) was a year of steady progress and big milestones—many of them years in the making. With your support, we deepened our roots in the Ojai Valley and built momentum for the work ahead.

Matthew Downer is the kind of person who quietly puts in the work, never seeking the spotlight but making a big impact all the same. Born and raised in Ojai, he has deep ties to the land he now helps restore. Long before becoming one of OVLC’s first Volunteer Restoration Crew Leads, Matthew had already logged countless hours in the field, lending his steady hands and humble spirit to projects across the valley. With more than 500 volunteer hours to his name, he brings dedication, local knowledge, and a quiet leadership that inspires everyone around him. OVLC Preserve Manager, Linda Wilkin, recently caught up with him to talk about his roots in Ojai, his path to becoming a Restoration Crew Lead, and why giving back to the land matters so much to him.