East area 1 development project
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| Illustration adapted from City of Santa Paula’s East Area 1 Environmental Impact Report, Fig. 3-4n |
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santa paula creek steelhead and flood impacts receive needed review
Santa Paula Creek is a major tributary to the Santa Clara River, and the River and its tributaries are high priority areas for the recovery of endangered steelhead in southern California. The East Area 1 Project – located in Ventura County, immediately east of Santa Paula Creek – is an approximately 500 acre development project, with homes, retail, and open-space, sponsored by the Limoneira Company. The Project was approved by the City of Santa Paula in 2008, without environmental review of Santa Paula Creek flood impacts because of a mistaken assumption that the Project is not in a 100-year flood zone. On behalf of Keep Sespe Wild, EDC asked the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission (“LAFCo”) to study the impacts of Santa Paula's East Area 1 project on flooding and steelhead in Santa Paula Creek, but in March 2011, LAFCo approved annexation of the Project without this review.
"We found EDC attorneys to be extremely professional, particularly in strategizing how to move forward with a complex topic that tied a steelhead migration corridor to a large adjacent development proposal that was supported and approved by both the relevant agencies and the local population."
-Alasdair Coyne, Keep Sespe Wild |
Following LAFCo’s decision, however, Keep Sespe Wild (represented by EDC) and the Limoneira Company settled concerns over potential Santa Paula Creek flood impacts by ensuring that this issue will be further reviewed when the East Area 1 Project goes back to the City of Santa Paula for additional approvals. As part of the settlement, Limoneira has agreed to pay all costs associated with the City’s preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. The report will evaluate potential Santa Paula Creek flood impacts, including the latest information about storm flow and sediment. It will also evaluate a project alternative which could facilitate steelhead migration by including a greater development setback along Santa Paula Creek.
