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 VCWPD
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 BOR 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 Watershed Protection District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2004 USACE Feasibility Study completed – Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved 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 Ventura County Watershed Protection District and the US Army Corps of Engineers
2007 WRDA 2007 – Congressional Authorization – Fine Sediment controversy emerges
2009 End of 50-year contract between Casitas MWD and VCWPD
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 VCWPD to support MDERP 65% Design Planning Studies – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awards $287,000 to VCWPD 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 $80,000 to acquire Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge easements and to complete property appraisals for Camino Cielo rights of way
2019 Supplemental EIR completed for Santa Ana Boulevard bridge replacement – CDFW awards $13.4 million to implement the Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge replacement project
2020 First semi-annual MDERP Community and Technical Updates (February) – Wildlife Conservation Board awards $5.025 million for the completion of final design plans for three levee projects and Matilija Dam removal – Notice of Preparation (September) for a Subsequent EIR focused on Matilija Dam removal, Camino Cielo Bridge replacement, and upgrades to the Live Oak Acres and Casitas Spring levees