An analysis of Local, State, Federal and Private funding for the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project since 2001 was recently completed over two primary phases:

  1. The Federal Project phase focused on development of a comprehensive plan for dam removal and downstream mitigations in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ preferred plan for sediment management over the years 2001-2009; and
  2. The Current Project phase focused on development of the locally-preferred plan for sediment management (and associated downstream mitigations) after 2011, but including grants awarded during the years 2002-2009 if the benefits of those investments have ongoing relevance.

Based on this analysis, the combined total over both periods and all funding sources amounts to nearly $64 million through mid-2020. This includes approximately $39 million in State funds (>61%), $8 million in Federal funds (>12%), and $17 million in Local and Private funds (>26%). Nearly 75% of all contributed funds involve investments that remain relevant to the Current Project, and more than 25% of the Current Project total came from Local and Private sources, with the State providing all remaining funds.

Please note that the Local amounts reported in this summary include two main components:

  • Actual expenditures from Local invoice totals for completed grants, and approved Local cost-share budgets for grants that remain in-progress; and
  • Unreimbursed Local contributions estimated at 15 percent of each State and Federal grant, and of each Private grant administered by Watershed Protection. As noted in the summary, these additional funds help to account for unreimbursed costs in preparing and submitting grant applications, and for direct and indirect costs on executed grant agreements in excess of approved budget amounts.

Finally, none of the sums compiled here account for the hundreds hours spent each year on a wide range of Project-related activities – Design Oversight Group meetings, Funding and Outreach Subcommittee meetings, Project Management Committee meetings and the like – that are distinct from funded projects and crucial to long-term success, but supported by other funds or contributed in-kind by a host of Matilija Project partners.

Updates to this analysis are ongoing. Please contact Martha Symes, VCPWA-WP Grants Specialist, at Martha.Symes@Ventura.org with any comments or requests for additional information.