Our Fisheries Program is an extensive monitoring, evaluation, and research effort that is intended to provide an understanding of the life history, population status, and environmental conditions for the resident rainbow trout and endangered steelhead in the Ventura River basin.
The Fish Passage Facility at the Robles water diversion facility is a state-of-the-art fish ladder constructed by the Casitas Municipal Water District in 2005.
It allows the endangered southern California steelhead to travel upstream of the Robles facility to prime spawning areas, which was not possible prior to 2005. It also lets fish swim downstream to the ocean. This federally mandated project is a collaborative effort by multiple agencies and community organizations. Agencies and organizations that supported the fish ladder project included the Association of California Water Agencies, Coastal Conservancy, Friends of the River, Matilija Coalition, Ventura County Watershed Protection Area, City of Ojai, Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA Fisheries, Association of California Water Agencies, and the California Department of Fish and Game.
The Federal agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service has identified in their Biological Opinion (BO) that less than 200 endangered steelhead trout remain in the Ventura Basin. Steelhead trout are dependent upon quality spawning sites that are no longer accessible in many streams and rivers throughout the California coastline. Upstream of the Robles Water Diversion Dam on the Ventura River are historic steelhead spawning areas. The fish ladder at the Robles Diversion Dam now provides access to spawning areas that were not accessible for over fifty years.
Southern California Steelhead, the species living within our watershed, was listed as an endangered species effective October 17, 1997. As such, the Steelhead is protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Per the Endangered Species Act, all Federal Departments and Agencies shall:
- Conserve endangered and threatened species;
- Utilize their authorities in the furtherance of the purposes of the act; and
- Cooperate with state and local agencies to resolve water resource issues in concert with conservation
Endangered Species Act Section 7 requires Federal Agency Cooperation:
- All Federal agencies must utilize their authorities to advance the Endangered Species Act
- All Federal agencies must insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out is not "destructive or adverse modification of habitat," or "likely to jeopardize the continued existence" of an endangered species.
Endangered Species Act Section 9 prohibits "Take":
- "Take" is defined as: "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct"
As such, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Services (NOAA Fisheries) provides the criteria for the operation of the Robles Fish Passage Facility.
Summary of operational guidelines
The Fish Passage season of operation is January 1 to June 30
Fish Passage Flows
The Fish Passage flows are designed to mimic natural storm flows. The duration of these flows is 10 days with a minimum water flow of 50 cubic feet per second. This volume of water is equal to filling an average residential swimming pool every minute or less.
Minimum Flow Between Storms
Between storms, the District cannot divert water until fish flows exceed 30 cubic feet per second.
The District prepares a report on the operational and monitoring activities for the Robles Diversion Fish Passage Facility annually to comply with the Biological Opinion prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service.