The Ventura River Parkway

2011

This poster was created in 2011 to serve as a tool to begin our talking points at meetings and events about the Ventura River Parkway.  The poster describes a network of existing parks and preserves in 2011 that are along the Ventura River and form the beginning of the parkway. Much more has been accomplished since this poster was created!

About the Ventura River Parkway movement: The purpose of river parkways include the protection, improvement and restoration of riverine and riparian open space and wildlife habitat. Although the Ventura River is relatively "wild", by southern California standards, it is not accessible to public use.  The vision of the parkway is to the provide opportunities to the public for recreation as well as awareness regarding the conservation and restoration of rivers and streams. In addition, the goal is conversion of existing developed riverfront land uses into uses consistent with river parkways.

For more information go to the Friends of the Ventura River website. 

Grand Unification Poster

or "Protecting the Ventura River Watershed: Community based initiatives to protect and restore our natural resources"

2008 

Surfrider's Enviro Director Paul Jenkin used to laugh at me when we were working on this because I called it the "grand unification poster".  His title isn't as colorful.  But I think it really sums up what this is all about, in a watershed preservation kind of way.  This poster illustrates not only what is happening in the Ventura NGO community regarding preserving/restoring the Ventura River watershed, but it also highlights the many different groups and their diverse projects that are working toward that objective.  Each group focused on their specialty. It's a big deal to see this kind of teamwork among non-profits.  It's the Ventura Grand Unification project.  This poster is a little dated as it was done in 2008, but the work still continues, the collaborations grow and progress is being made.  Exciting times for lovers of the Ventura River.  Probably a more updated version will make an appearance in the future. 

The Sanjon Watershed

2008

The next installment in the Solving the Urban Runoff series created in 2008.  It focuses on the Sanjon Watershed, one of the watersheds that drains the city of Ventura.  It is a small watershed, but contains all the problems an urban community presents AND drains into the ocean, so is a perfect case study of an urban watershed.  The recommendations made to reduce runoff pollution in this proposal are gaining traction in the city government and may one day become a reality.

 Solving the Urban Runoff Problem: 2007

In 2007 I volunteered my GIS skills to the Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.  This was the first poster of many.  This particular poster was the kick off for the Ocean Friendly Gardens campaign that teaches residents about the evils of urban runoff and how they can help reduce ocean pollution.  I went on to become the chair of the OFG campaign from 2007-2012.  This poster was entered in the Ventura College GIS day poster competition.  It tied for first place with the poster before this (Struggle to Survive) by popular vote of conference attendees.

 A Struggle To Survive: Endangered Least Terns and Snowy plovers on Ormond Beach

2007

This poster was designed  to bring attention to the issues faced by a breeding population of endangered California Least Terns (CLT) and Western Snowy Plovers (WSP) on Ormond Beach in Oxnard California.  I worked as a nest  monitor for both species and also tracked the winter population of the WSP.  This poster was presented to the Ventura Audubon Society to use as an educational tool and it tied for first place with the other poster I submitted at the 2007 Ventura College GIS day poster competition.