San Antonio Creek Update
Great things have been occurring in San Antonio Creek!
San Antonio Creek – before arundo removal
San Antonio Creek – after arundo removal
Since the fall of 2016, the OVLC has been removing arundo from San Antonio Creek along Creek Road. Arundo, which is native to the Indian sub-continent and looks similar to bamboo, has infested watersheds throughout southern California, including the Ventura River Watershed. Arundo crowds out plants that are native to our creeks and consumes a lot of water—see below. It also creates a major fire threat, increases flood risks, and deprives habitat for wildlife
The project area spans 4.75 miles from Camp Comfort to the Ventura River confluence near Rancho Arnaz. In total, 21.5 acres of arundo were removed from the creek this winter and an estimated 4 acres will be removed next winter.
This project is a community effort—35 landowners have come together to make this project possible and dramatically improve the health of the San Antonio Creek. Removal of the arundo has opened up vistas of our creek, reduced the fire and flooding threats, and improved habitat for imperiled wildlife such as fish, birds, turtles, and frogs that call this creek home.
This project also helps to protect the valley’s water supply. Research published by the California Invasive Plant Council states that on average, removal of one acre of arundo results in a net savings of 20 acre feet of water per year. This project will remove approximately 26 acres of arundo. This equates to a total savings of 520 acre feet of water per year, or the amount of water 1,040 average households could use in one year!
