Wheeler Gorge-ous! South Coast Habitat Restoration and U.S. Forest Service Celebrate Completion of Major Fish Passage Project

Restoration Effort Removes Four Barriers and Adds Two Bridges to Reopen 13 Miles of Upstream Habitat for Endangered Southern California Steelhead Trout

Written by the South Coast Habitat Restoration 

Steelhead trout and other aquatic organisms now have greater ability to swim upstream through Ojai’s Wheeler Gorge after the completion of major projects removing barriers from North Fork Matilija Creek and Bear Creek within the Wheeler Gorge Campground.

In total, the barriers opened 13.3 miles of creek that have not been accessible for 48 years. The successful project was completed using $6 million in grant funding and will increase access and safety for campers while restoring natural hydraulic and geomorphic processes to the creeks. 

“One barrier at a time, we have been able to restore watersheds in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in order to give creeks back to nature and increase the likelihood that the endangered Southern Steelhead Trout can repopulate its historic habitats,” said Mauricio Gomez, Executive Director of South Coast Habitat Restoration, a Carpinteria-based nonprofit.

Located above Ojai along Highway 33 in the vast Los Padres National Forest, Wheeler Gorge Campground is a destination nestled in sycamore trees and native riparian habitat. Prior to the construction, vehicles accessed the campground through at-grade creek crossings, which allow water to flow over them. These barriers to movement of fish and other riparian species were replaced by two bridges engineered to provide clearance during 100-year storms. The at-grade crossings not only stood in the way of aquatic species accessing upstream habitat, they altered natural hydraulic conditions. Creek bed work was also completed to enhance the depth and grade of the creek to a more natural state that supports ecological health. 

Following work to remove barriers and improve creek stability, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy planted dozens of native plants along the banks of the creek to restore and enhance areas that were disturbed by the project. OVLC collected native seeds and propagated them in the local nursery before planting as the last phase of the project. 

“These improvements at Wheeler Gorge Campground serve both migrating fish and Forest visitor access. These bridges are an important investment in the ecology of the watershed and will facilitate recreation access for many years to come.” said Marshall Alford, District Ranger on the Ojai District of the Los Padres National Forest “This kind of partnership and collaboration is a great example of how we can work together to maintain and improve these watersheds and Forest resources for current and future generations to explore and enjoy.”

This critical project was made possible by the generous support of the Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Los Padres National Forest, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Patagonia.

About South Coast Habitat Restoration: South Coast Habitat Restoration is a local non-profit organization based in Carpinteria that is dedicated to environmental stewardship and habitat enhancement. SCHR emphasizes steelhead trout recovery through a variety of watershed restoration projects throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Our mission is to protect, and restore habitat as well as native biodiversity throughout the Santa Barbara and Ventura area. This is accomplished through the management and implementation of restoration projects as well as public outreach events.  We strive for positive partnerships with the private property owners, local governments, wildlife agencies, and other community groups to accomplish our goals.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class   science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to    nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.