Ventura River Fish Ladder Still Faces Steep Misgivings

A Ventura County water agency has received a federal permit to build a $6-million fish ladder at a Ventura River dam, moving the project that is intended to help in the recovery of the endangered steelhead trout one step closer to reality.

The board of the Casitas Municipal Water District approved a resolution Wednesday, adopting guidelines outlined in the so-called biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is equivalent to a permit for the construction and operation of the fish ladder. But the district’s action wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic endorsement.

Water officials remain concerned about how the fish ladder project could affect their ability to meet the demands of their customers, which include 3,000 residents and growers in the Ojai Valley.

One sticking point is the federal agency’s requirement that a minimum of 2,000 acre-feet of river water flow through the fish ladder on a yearly basis, rather than the 800 acre-feet suggested by the water district. An acre-foot is equivalent to 326,000 gallons, or enough water to supply two typical homes for 12 months.

During the rainy season, the district diverts water from the river to Lake Casitas for storage. But it may have to curb those diversions under the new guidelines, officials said.

They worry that less water going to the lake could, in turn, require cutbacks in the amount of water available to customers, particularly during prolonged droughts. The district may be forced to implement new conservation measures and possibly increase water rates.

“The fish already get 70% of the water and now they’re going to get 75%,” said John J. Johnson, general manager of the water agency.

“We’re either going to have to find more water, conserve more water or change the commitment” to customers, Johnson said. “If anybody needs additional water they’re not going to be able to get it until we can solve the water shortage problem.”

Board member Jim Word expressed frustration with the water agency’s predicament. He said the federal operating guidelines for the fish ladder are based on Northern California rivers, which tend to flow year-round, unlike those in Southern California, which are dry during certain periods.

Word said the water district has already placed a moratorium on new customer hookups until it can put together a workable plan to comply with the federal mandate.

If the board fails to meet the requirements, it would be in violation of the Endangered Species Act and could be subject to fines, he said.

At its April 23 meeting, the board has scheduled a public hearing to discuss possible conservation measures and other sources of water. Word said more rain may provide the only solution.

Meanwhile, Johnson said the district hopes to secure other permits it needs for the fish ladder from other agencies -- including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Regional Water Quality Control Board -- in the next 30 to 45 days. About the same time, it expects to receive proposals from building contractors.

Construction of the fish ladder at Robles Diversion Dam could begin this summer and would take about 13 months to complete, Johnson said.

The ladder is part of an ambitious plan to enable the steelhead to reach prime spawning streams in the Topatopa Mountains above Ojai.

The prized game fish abounded before coming under pressure from dams, pollution and water diversions.

The ladder would consist of a series of underwater terraces that would enable fish to climb over the dam and reach spawning habitat on the north fork of Matilija Creek.

“It’s all aimed at giving steelhead what we think is necessary to migrate through that area,” said Rick Rogers, the federal fisheries biologist who wrote the permit.