Ventura Hillsides Ventura Hillsides

ConservancyConservancy

Prioritizing Open Space Acquisition in Prioritizing Open Space Acquisition in

Rapidly Developing Coastal California: Rapidly Developing Coastal California:

Balancing Conflicting Recreation, Balancing Conflicting Recreation,

Biological & Aesthetic Concerns Biological & Aesthetic Concerns

through GISthrough GIS

ESRI User Conference ESRI User Conference San Diego, CA San Diego, CA June 2007June 2007

Jamie L. King, M.S. Jamie L. King, M.S. Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Ventura Hillsides Conservancy

antjamie@sbcglobal.netantjamie@sbcglobal.net

What is the Ventura Hillsides What is the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy?Conservancy?

• Nonprofit, Ventura County, California, USNonprofit, Ventura County, California, US

• Mission: preserve open space in perpetuity Mission: preserve open space in perpetuity

for public for public

• Launched 2003, 800+ membersLaunched 2003, 800+ members

• Sustained by volunteer support + Music Festival Sustained by volunteer support + Music Festival

• New Executive Director & office staffNew Executive Director & office staff

Need for VHCNeed for VHC

• Unique geographic area Unique geographic area

• Rapid residential developmentRapid residential development

• Open space protections sunsetOpen space protections sunset

• 26 protected species/habitats 26 protected species/habitats

• Need: wildlife connectivity/passive recreationNeed: wildlife connectivity/passive recreation

• Land acquisition/management/pass throughLand acquisition/management/pass through

First Step: Identify Interest AreaFirst Step: Identify Interest Area

• Establish identityEstablish identity

• What resources are vital to conserve?What resources are vital to conserve?

• Understand key development threatsUnderstand key development threats

• Consider regional conservation efforts Consider regional conservation efforts

• Funding sources and sustainable sizeFunding sources and sustainable size

Established Interest Area & Established Interest Area & Regional Conservation EffortsRegional Conservation Efforts

Ojai Valley Land Ojai Valley Land ConservancyConservancy

The Nature The Nature ConservancyConservancy

Trust for Trust for Public LandsPublic Lands

(Ventura River)(Ventura River)

Ojai Valley Land Ojai Valley Land ConservancyConservancy

The Nature The Nature Conservancy Conservancy

(Santa Clara River)(Santa Clara River)

Trust for Trust for Public LandsPublic Lands

(Ventura River)(Ventura River)

Step 2: Prioritizing Acquisition Step 2: Prioritizing Acquisition AreasAreas

• 2004: Initial analysis by UCSB graduate students (~ 19,000 acres/8,000h)2004: Initial analysis by UCSB graduate students (~ 19,000 acres/8,000h)

• 2005: $200,000 California Coastal Conservancy grant2005: $200,000 California Coastal Conservancy grant

• 2005-2006: Detailed technical studies by consultants (~66,000 acre/27,000 h)2005-2006: Detailed technical studies by consultants (~66,000 acre/27,000 h)

MethodologyMethodology

• Analysis based on VHC prioritiesAnalysis based on VHC priorities

• Used detailed technical studies, Used detailed technical studies,

available base layers, and agency available base layers, and agency

inputinput

• ArcInfo 9.1 + Spatial Analyst to score ArcInfo 9.1 + Spatial Analyst to score

parcelsparcels

• Simple additive weighting between and Simple additive weighting between and

within Rubrics/parcelwithin Rubrics/parcel

• Easily modified with change in needsEasily modified with change in needs

RARITYSENSITY SPP.HABITATWETLANDSDEVELOPMENT THREATCONTIGUITYWILDLIFE CORRIDORRESTORATION

DISTURBANCE

CONTIGUITY

LANDMARKS

PUBLIC ACCESSHABITAT

DIVERSITYGRADE

VARIABILITYCULTURAL SIG.TRAIL

CONNECTIONSCENIC

RESOURCESDEVELOPMENT

THREAT

Biological ResourcesBiological Resources• Habitat & Species SensitivityHabitat & Species Sensitivity

• Local rarity of habitat typeLocal rarity of habitat type• Sensitive spp. occurrenceSensitive spp. occurrence• Wetland qualityWetland quality• Habitat suitability Habitat suitability

• Local Threat of DevelopmentLocal Threat of Development

• Habitat QualityHabitat Quality• Habitat contiguityHabitat contiguity• Wildlife movement corridorWildlife movement corridor• Restoration costRestoration cost

Aesthetic ResourcesAesthetic Resources

• Viewshed CriteriaViewshed Criteria

• Level of disturbanceLevel of disturbance

• Distinguishing landformsDistinguishing landforms

• ContiguityContiguity

Public Access & Recreation Public Access & Recreation ResourcesResources

• Public Access & Recreation CriteriaPublic Access & Recreation Criteria• Public AccessPublic Access• Habitat DiversityHabitat Diversity• Grade VariabilityGrade Variability• Cultural SignificanceCultural Significance• Trail ConnectivityTrail Connectivity• Scenic ResourcesScenic Resources• Development ThreatDevelopment Threat

ResultsResults

• Four key high Four key high

priority clusterspriority clusters

• Aesthetics key for Aesthetics key for

southern clusterssouthern clusters

• Bio. resources key Bio. resources key

for northern for northern

clustersclusters

• Limitations: e.g. Limitations: e.g.

where are rivers?where are rivers?

Role of Analysis for Initiating Role of Analysis for Initiating Land AcquisitionLand Acquisition

• Identifies key parcels to focus acquisitionIdentifies key parcels to focus acquisition

• Starting point: portfolio analysis for Starting point: portfolio analysis for

connectivity and maximum valueconnectivity and maximum value

• Update, modify as opportunities present Update, modify as opportunities present

themselves (riparian funding)themselves (riparian funding)

Challenges: Results Vs. RealityChallenges: Results Vs. Reality

• Conflicting goals for prioritizing parcelsConflicting goals for prioritizing parcels

• Clarifying value-and limitations-of GIS analysisClarifying value-and limitations-of GIS analysis

• Unanticipated opportunities: Ventura River Parkway PlanUnanticipated opportunities: Ventura River Parkway Plan

• Unanticipated challenges: property for sale on ebay, Unanticipated challenges: property for sale on ebay,

• Maintaining and managing GIS data by volunteer staffMaintaining and managing GIS data by volunteer staff

Where Do We Go From Here?Where Do We Go From Here?

2) Conceptual Recreation Plan2) Conceptual Recreation PlanRRMRRM DesignDesign

3) Stewardship Plan3) Stewardship PlanCondor EnvironmentalCondor Environmental

1) 1) FocusFocus Property Acquisition Effort! Property Acquisition Effort!

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Original Group Project-UCSB, Bren SchoolOriginal Group Project-UCSB, Bren SchoolJeanne Boland, Dawn Cunningham, Jeanne Boland, Dawn Cunningham, Christina Danko, Heather Imgrund, Jason Kreitler, and Josh Christina Danko, Heather Imgrund, Jason Kreitler, and Josh Levine; Advisor: Buce Kendall PhD.Levine; Advisor: Buce Kendall PhD.

Funding by a California Coastal Conservancy GrantFunding by a California Coastal Conservancy Grant

GIS and Technical Studies-Rincon ConsultantsGIS and Technical Studies-Rincon ConsultantsJamie King, M.S. & Lacrissa Jamie King, M.S. & Lacrissa Cook,MESM, Joe Power, Duane Vander Pluym, DESE, Cook,MESM, Joe Power, Duane Vander Pluym, DESE, Katherine Warner, Cori LindbeckKatherine Warner, Cori Lindbeck

Cultural Resources Assessment: Greenwood & AssociatesCultural Resources Assessment: Greenwood & Associates

Conceptual Recreation Plan: RRM ConsultantsConceptual Recreation Plan: RRM Consultants

Conceptual Stewardship Plan: Condor EnvironmentalConceptual Stewardship Plan: Condor Environmental

SCGIS & ESRI International GIS Scholarship ProgramSCGIS & ESRI International GIS Scholarship Program