The Santa Clara River is the last major river still in a relatively natural state in southern California. Without the Santa Clara River it is doubtful Ventura County could continue to be one of the ten most productive agricultural counties in the nation. More than 50% of Ventura County’s agricultural acreage is irrigated with water from the Santa Clara River or the aquifer systems it recharges. Farms and open space located along the river provide flood protection to downstream properties by temporarily storing floodwaters during large flood events. If the land currently located in the river’s floodplain is developed it would increase flooding in Oxnard and Ventura. The Floodplain Working Group developed the concept of providing an incentive to farmers for them to continue to farm in the floodplain thus leaving their land undeveloped.

Project Results

Protected farmland and ecosystems.