Watershed Protection

Protecting Life, Property, Watercourses and Watersheds

Design and Construction

Operations and Maintenance

Water Resources

Planning and Permits

Hydrology / Technology

Flood Warning System

Programs and Projects

VCFloodInfo.org

OUR WATERSHEDS

FLOOD ZONE 4 SOUTH

Zone 4 has a total of about 225,000 acres divided between several unconnected areas. The southeast area includes 61,000 acres of the coastal drainages of the Malibu Mountains (including Malibu Canyon, Lake Sherwood, Potrero Creek, and Westlake; also known as Russell Valley Basin, Conejo Valley Basin, and Thousand Oaks Basin). For purposes of adequate stream coverage, this page also includes that small portion of Zone 4 drainage area unofficially known as the Las Virgenes Canyon Basin.

Flood Zone 4 South

Quick Links

Ventura County Watershed Protection was formed, in part, to provide for the control and conservation of flood and stormwaters, and for the protection and maintenance of watercourses, watersheds, and life and property in the District from damage or destruction from storm flows or flooding. The District was originally established on September 12, 1944 as the “Ventura County Flood Control District” (VCFCD). On January 1, 2003, the name was changed to the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to reflect changes in community values, regulatory requirements, and funding opportunities. The name change also reflected the District’s desire to emphasize integrated watershed management and to solve flood control problems with environmentally sound approaches. The District’s mission is to protect life, property, watercourses, watersheds, and public infrastructure from the dangers and damages associated with flood and stormwaters. Goals of the District include:

Comprehensive, long range watershed planning;
Collaboration with watershed stakeholders;
Administration of adopted regulations, policies and resolutions;
Responsible and accountable use of public resources; and
Excellence in public service

JEFF PALMER, WATERSHED PROTECTION DIRECTOR

Ventura County Watershed Protection has a long history of service to the citizens of our county. Our region has experienced many changes since the creation of the District in 1944 when we were officially the “Ventura County Flood Control District.”

Over the years, as predominately agricultural lands transformed into growing communities, the control of floodwaters has become increasingly important. And, as the county has become more urbanized, the regulatory environmental demands have also evolved protecting community values and priorities.

Communities now look to us to protect their homes and businesses, while preserving water quality, safeguarding habitat, and improving watershed performance, including beneficial use like recreation. An outcome of laws, strengthening environmental regulation and changing community values encourages comprehensive planning at a watershed level and involvement of watershed stakeholders. Residents, business owners, and government agencies have all become partners in planning the future of our watersheds.

We are especially proud of our efforts to think and act with a watershed-wide perspective with respect to our “Integrated Watershed Protection Plans” for our major watersheds. Within the IWPP framework, we have been able to partner with appropriate federal, state, and local agencies to carry out our mission.

We optimize use of available financial resources and balance output to be most effective and efficient. We also inculcate active community participation to protect our watersheds, now and for the future.

805.654.2001

Jeff.Palmer@ventura.org