The Santa Clara River is the most environmentally intact river resource left in the southern half of California. The Sierra Club actively advocates and works to protect the full range of the river’s ecological benefits for the long range future.
The Santa Clara River watershed is larger than any other river in the region. The river extends 116 miles from the ocean to the mountains. It receives drainage from major tributaries and reservoirs including Sespe Creek, Piru Creek and Lake Pyramid. Large urban populations live on the river banks in the cities of Ventura, Santa Paula, Fillmore and Santa Clarita. Any and everything that happens to those tributaries, in those reservoirs, and from those cities affects the Santa Clara River.
Past luck and fortune have spared the Santa Clara River from profuse environmental damage. Its banks are not paved, winter water flows are large and fast. Though parts of the river are dotted with farms, the river has largely escaped the pressure of urbanization. Luck and fortune will not protect the river any longer. Sierra Club advocates for foresight and commitment as the ONLY way to keep the Santa Clara River environmentally sound.
Sierra Club’s focus is on the river resources that promote natural ecology, including water quality, air quality, plant and animal life. Particularly key topics the Sierra Club is engaged in are: endangered and threatened species habitat, native and invasive plant regions, wildlife corridors, surface drainage quality and ground water supply. These resources are inseparable; they depend on each other to be ecologically sound. Sierra Club supports maintaining each of the key river resources as a means toward a healthy river environment as a whole, and opposes anything that adversely impacts that goal. We acknowledge and oppose adverse impacts from urban development, water release restrictions, and other issues.
Get to know the treasure in your backyard! Come on a walk from the river waters to the ridge of South Mountain. Increase riparian habitat on a plant restoration work day. Join a clean up and remove trash from the river corridor. All of these activities are listed on the Los Padres Outings Schedule.
Sierra Club needs your help in saving the Santa Clara River. Please ask to be added to the Santa Clara River Campaign effort by sending an email to sierraclubventura@gmail.com to get involved.