Ventura County neighborhood tries to raise $94,000 to ease Coyote Creek flooding woes

Federal officials have agreed to pay most of an estimated $1.5 million to help dig out a creek bed near a neighborhood north of Ventura.

But time is running out for that to happen before the next rainy season, which forecasters say could be another wet winter.

Mud and debris built up along the stretch of Coyote Creek near Camp Chaffee Road as the county got pummeled by storms last winter. If the channel doesn’t get cleared before more rain, the Foster Park community could face another round of flooding and more damage.

County Public Works Director Jeff Pratt said the project may have to wait until next summer.

A portion of the money needed to pay for the project is currently being raised by residents. But even if the funds were available now, it likely would take several months to complete the required review, secure permits and go out for bids, Pratt said. The construction work itself could take an additional month.

It is unknown when the rain will start this year. But if crews start excavating in November, they could lose all of their work with just one rainstorm, Pratt said.

'Place for the water to go'

To residents, the timing is crucial. Ideally, the project would be finished before the rain starts, resident Nikki Katz said.

“Then, we have a channel, and we have some place for the water to go,” said Katz, who spent months working the phones, meeting with officials and advocating for the grant funding already approved.

Without the project, there's little room for any additional flow in the creek, she said. She is afraid the community could be wiped out during winter storms.

Plans call for clearing sediment along 3,300 feet from the confluence of the Ventura River to 500 feet upstream of Camp Chaffee Road, according to the county public works department. While much of the area is on private property, more than 40% of the proposed project runs through county parkland.

Crews would dig out a channel roughly 25-feet wide and 5-feet deep. In all, the work would remove an estimated 21,400 cubic yards of sediment.

Project secures grants

With a section of the creek located on private property, the county has said it cannot pay for the work. But with the federal grant, it can act as a sponsor.

In late July, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approved a grant application to pay 75% of the costs. A local match with the remaining 25%, or roughly $375,000, also is required.

County officials said the California Office of Emergency Services is expected to cover close to 75% of the match. That leaves residents to come up with $94,000.

Katz and other neighbors have set up a website, sought additional grants and started holding fundraisers. With so many unknowns, much of the local fundraising efforts had to wait until the federal and state grants were approved.

Residents work to raise funds

As of Wednesday, they had around $5,500, but in coming weeks, they hope to announce a benefit concert and other events.

Katz said she hopes to raise the total amount as soon as possible, but because of the short timing, any work that could get started before it is available would help.

She remains hopeful the project can happen before winter rains, she said.

Pratt, however, said the county needs to know the money is available before it can move forward on an environmental review or other steps. If only part of the money is raised, the project also could be scaled down, he said.

Crossing remains flooded

Until the channel is cleared, residents along Camp Chaffee Road also may be stuck with just one way in and out of their neighborhood.

Despite attempts to clear a county-owned creek crossing, the route has remained flooded since early this year. Residents on Camp Chaffee Road instead have to navigate Skyhigh Drive, a narrow road with tight switchbacks.

County officials tried to clear the crossing in July and August, the driest the area has been since the winter. But each time, the water and sediment would flow back over the roadway. It may take the channel being cleared downstream before that changes, Pratt said.

If the area does drain, the county will get in and clear it, he said.

In 2017, a similar project happened on the creek when the area flooded but not to the extent currently proposed.

Officials have said the damage last winter likely was made worse by the Thomas Fire, which burned through hillsides upstream in December 2017. This winter, much of the burned debris swept downstream.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: California community aims to raise $94K to ease flooding woes