The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a federal Feasibility Study for the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project in 2004, along with a joint EIS/EIR co-sponsored by Watershed Protection. Congressional authorization followed in 2007, however costs to implement the federal Project plan quickly escalated above the authorized cost ceiling due to complications from and community concerns with the proposed approach to sediment management and disposal.
To address these challenges, stakeholders convened a Design Oversight Group to oversee development of an alternatives analysis for the Project. This analysis considered additional engineering and design approaches successfully utilized in other recent large scale dam removal projects, which helped to demonstrate that natural sediment transport was a feasible and cost-effective solution for the Project.
With strong support from a diverse group of stakeholders, the Design Oversight Group met in 2016 and selected – with near unanimous agreement – a new approach to sediment release and management through “Uncontrolled Orifices With Optional Gates.” Shortly thereafter, the Matilija Project Funding Committee was established, and since 2017 has been working to assist Watershed Protection in developing critical funding pathways for all components and phases of the Project. (The Chronology summary below highlights key events related to Matilija Dam over the past 80 years, from 1940 to present.)
Design, planning and updated environmental studies for Dam removal and most essential downstream components are well underway thanks to a series of planning, design and implementation grants provided by the State of California from 2017-2022. (Construction of a new bridge – the first essential Project implementation component since 2008 – was funded in 2019 and completed in 2022.) Strategic support from the Resources Legacy Fund, Patagonia, Inc., and other non-governmental partners has also been key to the success of these efforts.
Chronology
1940 Viable steelhead/salmon population (over 5,000) and other wildlife/natural resources
1945 County Bond issued passed for Matilija Dam construction at $682,000 projected cost
1947 June 18 – Construction begins
1948 March 14 – Matilija Dam completed – Report estimated 39 years (to 1997) before siltation would eliminate capacity – County sued engineers for cost overruns (but lost)
1949 Major fish kill behind Matilija Dam due to stagnant/hot water
1952 Reservoir filled
1959 Casitas Municipal Water District assumes responsibility for Matilija Dam under 50-year contract with Ventura County
1964 Bechtel Corp. Safety study condemns dam and presents removal as an option
1965 Bechtel Corp. estimates dam removal cost at $300,000 – County elects to notch dam (remove a section 30 feet deep and 285 feet wide) to reduce reservoir capacity to 65% to relieve strain and allow Dam to remain in place
1973 Study on littoral processes (Bickel) highlights impact to beaches – USFS estimates sediment contribution of Matilija’s dammed watershed to be 116,000 cubic yards per year
1978 Dam notched second time (358 feet wide)
1998 County resolves to remove Dam – Bureau of Reclamation begins Appraisal Study
2000 USBR Dam Removal Appraisal Study completed – Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt visits for Dam removal demonstration project – Matilija Coalition formed
2001 Initiated the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Study between the Ventura County Public Works Agency – Watershed Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2004 USACE Feasibility Study completed – Ventura County Board of Supervisors approves the Final EIR/EIS – USACE Chief’s Report sent to Assistant Secretary of the Army
2005 Initiated the Design Phase of the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project between the VCPWA-WP and USACE
2007 WRDA 2007 – Congressional Authorization – Fine Sediment controversy emerges
2009 Renewal of Matilija Dam operations agreement between Casitas MWD and VCPWA-WP, and transfer of the Matilija Conduit to Casitas MWD
2010 Fine Sediment Study Group convened
2011 Fine Sediment Study completed – Technical Advisory Committee formed
2012 Technical Advisory Committee Scope of Work finalized
2013 Consultant Team selected – Final Statement of Work negotiated
2014 Board of Supervisors approves contract
2015 Draft Report presented to Design Oversight Group
2016 Design Oversight Group reaches consensus on new approach to sediment management in conjunction with Dam Removal – Matilija Funding Committee established – Resources Legacy Fund announces Open Rivers Fund commitment to Matilija Dam removal
2017 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) awards $3.3 million to support MDERP 65% Design Planning Studies – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awards $287,000 for Estuarine and Coastal Sediment Studies – Thomas Fire starts (December)
2018 Thomas Fire ends (January) – Proposition 68 (June) approved, Proposition 3 (November) defeated – RLF awards $100,000 to acquire Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge easements and for property appraisals for Camino Cielo rights of way
2019 CEQA Addendum completed for the Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project – CDFW awards $13.4 million to implement the Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project
2020 Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awards $5.025 million to complete final design plans for three levee projects and Matilija Dam removal – VCPWA publishes Notice of Preparation for a Subsequent EIR focused on Matilija Dam removal
2021 State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) awards $735,000 (increased to $810,000 in 2022) to advance design planning and updated environmental documentation for the Camino Cielo Bridge Replacement Project – SCC awards $380,000 for Phase 2 alternatives development at the Robles Diversion Facility
2022 WCB awards $1.3 million to bolster SCC’s investment in design planning and environmental studies for the Camino Cielo Bridge Replacement Project – CDFW awards $1.55 million to bolster SCC’s investment in Robles Diversion Facility Phase 2 design improvements – VCPWA completes construction of the Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project