The Ventura River is a river in Ventura County, California. The river forms at the confluence of Matilija Creek and North Fork Matilija Creek, 16.5 miles (26.6 km)[1] upstream from the Pacific Ocean. San Antonio Creek joins the river halfway to the ocean and Coyote Creek does the same a couple of miles downstream.
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Genetic analysis of the steelhead in the Ventura river watershed (both above and below Matilija Dam) has shown them to be of native and not hatchery stocks.[2]
However, the flow from Coyote Creek has not been very large since the completion of Casitas Dam, which forms Lake Casitas. The dam is about 2 miles upstream of the junction with the Ventura River. There is also a dam on Matilija Creek, Matilija Dam. Completed in 1948, it was built to store 5,000 acre feet (6,200,000 m3) of water, but sediment has reduced its capacity by 90%. Many groups, including some governmental ones, are working towards the removal of the dam. On November 8, 2007, the 110th Congress overturned President Bush's veto of a bill delegating approximately $89.7M to the project. Finally, Robles Dam, which is 2 miles downstream from Matilija Dam, diverts water to Lake Casitas, further reducing the river's flow.