Project Overview

The Local Government Commission (LGC) is working with agencies and organizations to develop a watershed-based strategy for aligning local planning and stormwater management to minimize the water quality impacts of future development in Ventura County. This project, which is funded by California Water Boards, will help the county and cities therein comply with the new countywide NPDES stormwater permit, while meeting other environmental and community goals. Specifically, the project will help integrate land use pattern BMPs such as compact development with site-specific strategies referred to as Low Impact Development.  Learn more about the Ventura County innovative watershed-based planning project in Project Background.

Final Regional Watershed Plan

Few decisions have greater impact on the quality, reliability, use and overall sustainability of water resources than how and where we grow. The purpose of this plan is to better understand and bridge the disconnect between how we regulate land development and the standards we expect related to watershed health. This document is comprised of four main parts:

• An assessment of existing conditions and policies to identify needs and opportunities.
• A narrative explaining links between land use regulations in Ventura County and watershed health.
• Specific policy recommendations for aligning land use planning, community design and stormwater/watershed management programs.
• Technical review sheets to guide alignment of local codes and planning programs with stormwater and watershed management programs.

You can download a copy of the plan by clicking on the link below:

Water Resources and Land Use Planning: Watershed-based Strategies for Ventura County

Draft Regional Watershed Plan

The project is developing a Regional Watershed Plan focused on aligning stormwater management, watershed planning, community design and local planning policies. The plan includes assessments of local conditions and policies, and recommendations. A first draft of the plan is ready for review.

Chapter 1. Project Background: Basic concepts, project process, the evolution of stormwater management, smart growth and LID
Chapter 2. The Ventura County Planning Context: existing conditions, watershed descriptions, growth and development trends
Chapter 3. Planning Principles: the Ahwahnee Water Principles, introduction to the recommendations and code review chapters
Chapter 4. Natural Systems and Green Infrastructure: background and code concepts, technical review sheet for local codes
Chapter 5. Infill and Redevelopment: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations
Chapter 6. Compact Design: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations
Chapter 7. Use Mix: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations
Chapter 8. Streets and Mobility: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations
Chapter 9. Parking and Loading: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations
Chapter 10. Watershed Planning through Compact District Design: overview, technical review sheet for local codes, recommendations

New Technical Review Sheet: Stormwater Codes and Permit Coordination

Draft Tentative Stormwater Permit Comment Paper

The Planning Process

The Planning Process includes the formation of the Stakeholder Advisory Committees (SAC), Technical Working Groups (TWG), regional watershed profile and policy assessment, policy recommendations, the watershed plan, training and outreach,  and a timeline.

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

Future Ventura County Regional Watershed Planning Project Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting agendas and past meeting minutes are available for download.

Resources

Studies, plans, policies, articles and general background material that relates to local water and land use issues for the Ventura region are available through the Resources page.  This Resources page currently contains the Regional Watershed Inventory, which is comprised of reports, planning documents, policies, and other documents that relate directly to Ventura County.  The Resources page also has an Articles section that contains news and journal articles, general background information on the issues, and other documents related to land use and water.