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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 13 findings
F01
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds no evidence of a long-term countywide coordinated Arundo eradication plan nor a budget line item to track spending on Arundo removal efforts, despite Ventura County Board of Supervisor’s partial agreement with the 2015-16 Civil Grand Jury’s recommendation to do so.
F02
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds multiple government agencies and nonprofit organizations are involved in Arundo eradication efforts, but no specific group has been empowered to create a coordinated countywide Arundo eradication plan.
F03
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds Public Works is not always following best management practices regarding Arundo removal, resulting in continued regrowth of an invasive weed.
F04
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that failure on behalf of the Ventura County Public Works Agency to observe best practices on invasive plant removal in a very high Fire Hazard Severity Zone has resulted in informal abatement notices from Ventura County Fire Department and public complaints to the Civil Grand Jury.
F05
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that the county agency in charge of controlling the growth of Arundo on county-owned land (Public Works) does not have the budget needed to observe best practices in eradicating Arundo.
F06
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that a clear understanding of Public Works’ expenditures related to Arundo control was unavailable based on the lack of cost accounting for Arundo removal activities (vegetative removal project work is combined so Arundo-specific labor and expenses cannot be determined).
F07
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that programs to eradicate Arundo in the Ventura River and Santa Clara River Watersheds are actively funded and well- organized by watershed councils, Ventura County Resource Conservation District, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, and many others.
F08
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds no active watershed council or Arundo eradication project exists for the Calleguas Creek Watershed.
F09
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds scant information (little web presence and no published archive of past meetings) about the activities of the Ventura County Weed Management Area organized under the Agricultural Commissioner.
F10
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that the Ventura County Weed Management Area has been operating for years with no strategic plan, despite all parties to the memorandum of understanding agreeing to develop one when the group was formed.
F11
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that a lack of coordinated information sharing among members of the Ventura County Weed Management Area has likely led to unnecessary redundancies in limited state grant awards.
F12
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that with a demonstrated benefit to cost ratio of Arundo eradication, lack of a countywide Arundo eradication plan results in wasted taxpayer money, groundwater waste, native habitat destruction, and increased fire hazards resulting in increased liability exposure to the county. Giant Reed, Giant Problem: Arundo in Ventura County 21
F13
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury finds that the Ventura County Planning Division of the Resource Management Agency has not updated their Wetlands Permitting Guide in 20 years, presenting incomplete and outdated information. RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations 6
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R01The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors resurrect the Ventura County Arundo Task Force and request participation from key stakeholders (Public Works/Watershed Protection District, Agriculture, Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Resource Conservation District, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ventura County Weed Management Area, private landowners, etc.) to fund and develop a 10-year Arundo eradication plan specifically for the Calleguas Creek Watershed. This needs to be completed by December 31, 2026. (F-01, F-02, F-07, F-08, F-12)
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R02The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Ventura County Resource Conservation District assume the role as lead agency of this task force based on its long history of leading watershed councils, success overseeing Arundo eradication projects elsewhere in the county, and ability to secure necessary permits and collaborate with key state agencies and other key stakeholders. This needs to be completed by December 31, 2026. (F-01, F-02, F-03, F-04)
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R03The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors reallocate funds from Public Works’ operations and maintenance budgets that involve invasive vegetation removal, redirecting these funds to the appropriate task force or watershed council to support Arundo eradication following best practices. This needs to be completed by December 31, 2026. (F-03, F-04, F-05, F-06, F-07)
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R04The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors allocate necessary funds in its next budget to support existing Arundo eradication programs as requested by the Santa Clara River Watershed council. This needs to be completed by December 31, 2026. (F-01, F-02, F-12)
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R05The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Agricultural Commissioner commit to improving the governance of the Ventura County Weed Management Area, expedite the creation of a strategic plan, and establish a basic website presence as soon as possible to publish meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to increase openness and transparency, promote information sharing among members and the public, and to highlight the important work it is doing around the county. This needs to be completed by October 31, 2026. (F-09, F-10, F-11)
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R06The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Ventura County Planning Division of the Resource Management Agency update their Wetlands Permitting Guide to conform with other recent efforts to streamline permitting processes. This needs to be completed by December 31, 2026. (F-13) 22 Giant Reed, Giant Problem: Arundo in Ventura County RESPONSES Responses required from: The following governing bodies : Ventura County Board of Supervisors (F-01, F-02, F-03, F-04, F-05, F-06, F-07, F-08, F-12, R- 01, R-02, R-03, R-04) Ventura County Resource Conservation District (F-02, F-07, F-08, F-10, F-11, F-12, R-01, R-02,