OXNARD : Agreement Will Aid Endangered Birds
In an effort to reduce disturbance of endangered California least terns, Ventura County has agreed to restrict flood control work during spring and summer near Ormond Beach where the endangered species nests.
In a meeting with state and federal wildlife agencies and environmental groups this week, the Ventura County Flood Control District agreed that it would notify the wildlife agencies before undertaking any maintenance work from April to October, the period in which the bird courts and nests and when fledglings learn to forage for food on their own.
“It’s a very sensitive time when the young fledglings depend on the J Street Canal and Bubbling Springs to find food,” said Cathy Brown, U. S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, referring to two bodies of water near Oxnard’s Ormond Beach. “During that time, we may ask flood control to wait 10 days to do their work.”
The agreement came during a meeting Wednesday arranged by Supervisor Maria VanderKolk.
The agencies and the district worked out formal conditions under which flood control work such as dredging or draining could be done during the critical period.
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