The following is a press release regarding Ventura County’s failure to enforce pipeline shutdown following flood warnings, putting municipal water supplies and downstream communities at risk. Courtesy Rebecca August, Los Padres ForestWatch
Three conservation organizations filed a formal complaint today against the Ventura County Planning Division for failing to enforce its own requirement to safeguard municipal water supplies and downstream communities from oilfield failures during floods.

The Ventura County Planning Division failed to issue a required shut-down order for the Santa Paula Canyon oilfield following flash flood warnings issued for the area last month. The complaint follows new warnings from the U.S. Forest Service of increased flooding risk over the next several years following December’s Thomas Fire, which burned about 440 square miles, including parts of the Los Padres National Forest immediately adjacent to the oilfield.

“We’re shocked and disappointed that Ventura County officials and the oil company failed to temporarily shut down this oilfield when the surrounding hills were barren from a recent wildfire and flash flooding was predicted,” said Rebecca August, Los Padres ForestWatch public lands advocate. “We hope the county takes our complaint seriously and uses an abundance of caution when rain is predicted in the area. The health of our environment and communities is at stake.”

In approving the permit in 2015, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors required the operator of the field, at that time California Resources Corp., to temporarily shut down its 200-foot oil pipeline across Santa Paula Creek when flood warnings are issued.

The current operator, Carbon California, took over the field last year and failed to comply with this permit requirement. The creek is a municipal and agricultural water supply for Ventura County, as well as critical habitat for endangered southern steelhead. The company also is required to submit a report identifying any structural damage from flooding and corrective measures taken. These are among several conditions the board approved in response to public concerns about safety when it granted the permit in 2015.

In a recent report, the Forest Service said areas burned by the Thomas Fire, including the Carbon California oil-and-gas field, are at high risk of increased flooding and debris flow until vegetation in the upper watershed is reestablished over the next decade.

“Modeling has estimated flows to increase 2.2 times that of normal flows,” the Forest Service recently concluded in its Burned Area Emergency Response report summarizing the hydrologic conditions in the Thomas Fire burn area. “Overall, Santa Paula Creek will likely experience a pronounced increase in sediment and higher peak flows. Houses, roads and other infrastructure in and near the creek are at increased risk and should be assessed in detail for post-fire risks.”

Today’s complaint points out that Ventura County officials put public health and environmental safety at risk by failing to require Carbon California to follow basic safety procedures. The complaint also notes that the oil company failed to submit a required fire protection plan to the Ventura County Fire Protection Bureau. With no plan in place, it is unclear what actions the company took after the Thomas Fire burned through the facility on Dec. 7, 2017.

In addition, the complaint points out that the oil company failed to submit an incident report to the Ventura County Planning Division following the fire and the storms that followed in January.

“Ventura County is responsible for protecting Santa Paula Creek and communities downstream from these oilfields,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The county needs to enforce its own safety requirements. Officials dropped the ball after the Thomas Fire by failing to initiate safety measures to protect people and wildlife in harm’s way.”

“The evidence available with this complaint demonstrates gaps in enforcement of permit conditions when it comes to oil and gas activities in Ventura County, not all operators always comply. The public relies on the county to provide vigorous oversight,” said Kimberly Rivers, executive director of Citizens For Responsible Oil & Gas. “The Planning Division must do a better job of holding the oil industry accountable and enforcing the terms of their permits.”

About Los Padres ForestWatch
Los Padres ForestWatch is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife, wilderness landscapes, watersheds, and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the Los Padres National Forest.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Citizens For Responsible Oil and Gas — CFROG — is a Ventura County-based nonprofit watchdog organization that defends local communities and wild places from the impacts of oil and gas extraction.

Bob Crum

As I go from one photo adventure to another, I delight in acknowledging the role that serendipitous weather plays in my behalf. Many of my most fortuitous photos are the result of a kind and considerate Mother Nature. For this I am forever grateful.

However, it behooves me to do my part. Meticulous planning included researching weather reports. We all know about the accuracy of weather reports... right? Anyway, given light winds and calm seas predicted, and not having any scheduling conflicts, I had the good sense to take advantage of glorious weather that weekend. Good thing considering last weekend's blustery weather!

I was at the Ventura Harbor Village again the past weekend for a photo shoot of a different nature. More in a moment. Didn't know the speed but the wind was howling. The ocean was riled and cantankerous. Many moons ago, as a captain of a sport fishing vessel out of Port Everglades, FL, I encountered such frothy oceans. Foregoing better judgment, on a rollicking boat I sometimes ventured forth. Forget photoing anything when just standing vertical is a challenge. Imagine trying to photograph a canon battle between two tall ships on a riled ocean? But I digress.

Last weekend I was commissioned to photograph a yacht for sale by the owner at the harbor. The weather was not photographic friendly. The wind that riled the seas also created so much mist that my mist-negating filter was negated. Thankfully, the shoot was postponed. Incidentally, I have the only mist-negating filter in the world.
While there, I thought why not shoot the two tall ships approaching the high seas, rough as it was. I positioned myself on a breakwater. BTW, it's also a place frequented by mermaids. The Lady Washington came along and I captured misty photos of a tall ship shrouded in mist in the misty Santa Barbara channel making me misty-eyed. Anyway, I waited for the Hawaiian Chieftain which is usually right behind the Lady Washington. Fifteen minutes later, it became obvious it was not coming. This means no canon battle. C'est la vie.

Back at the dock, I learned that the Chieftain endured an 'accident'. The end of the bowsprit was broken off. Curious, I endeavored to find out what happened. No one on board the Chieftain dared talk about it. MUM! One volunteered: Call headquarters!

On a high note, the Ventura Harbor Village is never without photo ops. Last Sunday was no exception. For example, a small abandoned boat was tied to a dock cleat. Something of special interest attracted many seagulls and a curious pelican. The commotion was also a photo op! Eventually all the birds departed. Upon the boat owner arriving with his son I asked what in the boat would attract a flock of gulls and a pelican? Birds, he asked? A quick look around and he proclaimed: They ate all my son's peanuts and cheese crackers”! The gall of those dastardly gulls!

Quick mention: If you ever need a weekend excuse to get out the of house, visit the Ventura Harbor Village. Think fun events, music and wildlife. I also think great food and photo ops.

Photo of the week is a favorite of the Hawaiian Chieftain I made from the Lady Washington the weekend before last. I watched her as the enticing image formed in my mind. Will it manifest? It did! A magnificent, colorful tall ship, with full sails, passing in front of the fabulous north Ventura coastline. Click! Done! Awesome!

Happy photoing.

Send comments, suggestions or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

The Fillmore/Piru GSA Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose the Sespe Aquifer Exemption proposal, and to send a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board, stating their position.

Director Glen Pace recused himself because he represents the Piru Pumpers, but he also spoke in support of the board opposing the exemption.

The GSA board received at least 60 emails from residents in Fillmore and across Ventura County, urging them to protect Fillmore’s water by opposing the exemption, and drafting a letter, like the City of Fillmore’s, to the State Water Resources Control Board.

About 30 Fillmore residents attended the meeting.

Most everyone in the room stood when asked if they opposed the exemption, and several made public comments to that effect, as did CFROG, Keep Sespe Wild and Los Padres ForestWatch, who were there at the invitation of Fillmore residents.

One individual spoke in favor of exempting the Sespe aquifer from Clean Drinking Water protection, a representative from Seneca Resources.

Courtesy Rebecca August, Public Lands Advocate • Los Padres ForestWatch

Fillmore Unified School District

Board meeting highlights for the Fillmore Unified School District

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) Fall 2017 Results
Information presented by Assistant Superintendent Education Services, Micheline G. Miglis

Approve 2017-2018 Comprehensive School Safety Plans for all Fillmore USD Schools
Board approved the Comprehensive School Safety Plans

Approve Resolution Number 17-18-11 to Adopt a Developer Fee Justification Study for the District and an Increase in the Statutory School Facility Fee (Level I Fee) on New Residential and Commercial/Industrial Developments
The Board approved Resolution Number 17-18-11.

Award Bid for Metal Roof Restoration at District Office Room 17 and Sierra High School Rooms 3, 4, and 7
The Board awarded the bid to Western States Roofing, Inc.

Personnel Recommendations
The Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, and leaves.

On Wednesday, February 21st 7pm at the Fillmore Library, 502 Second St., Fillmore a community meeting was held to discuss the expansion project for the Fillmore Library. They discussed the goals of the overall project as well as ways the community can help. The expansion plan is to add 2,200 square feet to the library, which is currently 2,900 square feet.

The project is expected to cost between $1.3 million and $1.5 million. A portion of the budget will come from the Lucille Wigley estate, a Fillmore resident who passed away in 1995 and left $425,000 to the county library system, to be used for the Fillmore’s library. The City of Fillmore will also contribute to the project by using fees paid by developers that could total $200,000 or more. They expect the fundraising to take around two years, and the expansion to start in 2020.

Project goals include:
•Reach more people with vital library services and have more positive impact on the community.
•Establish a community gathering space.
•Create a safe and accessible facility for all community members.
•Increase efficiencies and deliver services via modern technology.
•A quiet space for students to study and do homework
Project details:
•2,220 square foot addition
•Community meeting room
•Reading lounge
•Two study rooms
•Two new ADA compliant restrooms

Project partners include: the City of Fillmore, Ventura County Library Foundation, and Friends of the Fillmore Library.
For additional information, contact Ventura County Library Director, Nancy Schram at nancy.schram@ventura.org or (805) 256-8535.

Fillmore Library is located at 502 Second St., Fillmore, CA 93015. Hours of service are Mondays and Tuesdays 2pm – 7pm; Wednesdays 10am – 5pm; Thursdays through Saturdays 12pm – 5pm. Ventura County Library:

Inspiring our community to explore, discover, and connect. The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.