Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Prioritizing Open Space Acquisition in Rapidly Developing Coastal California: Balancing Conflicting Recreation, Biological & Aesthetic Concerns through GIS Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Prioritizing Open Space Acquisition in Rapidly Developing Coastal California: Balancing Conflicting Recreation, Biological & Aesthetic Concerns through GIS ESRI User Conference San Diego, CA June 2007 Jamie L. King, M.S. Ventura Hillsides Conservancy

What is the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy? Nonprofit, Ventura County, California, US Nonprofit, Ventura County, California, US Mission: preserve open space in perpetuity for public Mission: preserve open space in perpetuity for public Launched 2003, 800+ members Launched 2003, 800+ members Sustained by volunteer support + Music Festival Sustained by volunteer support + Music Festival New Executive Director & office staff New Executive Director & office staff

Need for VHC Unique geographic area Unique geographic area Rapid residential development Rapid residential development Open space protections sunset Open space protections sunset 26 protected species/habitats 26 protected species/habitats Need: wildlife connectivity/passive recreation Need: wildlife connectivity/passive recreation Land acquisition/management/pass through Land acquisition/management/pass through

First Step: Identify Interest Area Establish identity Establish identity What resources are vital to conserve? What resources are vital to conserve? Understand key development threats Understand key development threats Consider regional conservation efforts Consider regional conservation efforts Funding sources and sustainable size Funding sources and sustainable size

Established Interest Area & Regional Conservation Efforts Ojai Valley Land Conservancy The Nature Conservancy Trust for Public Lands (Ventura River) Ojai Valley Land Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (Santa Clara River) Trust for Public Lands (Ventura River)

Step 2: Prioritizing Acquisition Areas 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 grant 2005: $200,000 California Coastal Conservancy grant : Detailed technical studies by consultants (~66,000 acre/27,000 h) : Detailed technical studies by consultants (~66,000 acre/27,000 h)

Methodology Analysis based on VHC priorities Analysis based on VHC priorities Used detailed technical studies, available base layers, and agency input Used detailed technical studies, available base layers, and agency input ArcInfo Spatial Analyst to score parcels ArcInfo Spatial Analyst to score parcels Simple additive weighting between and within Rubrics/parcel Simple additive weighting between and within Rubrics/parcel Easily modified with change in needs Easily modified with change in needs RARITY SENSITY SPP. HABITAT WETLANDS DEVELOPMENT THREAT CONTIGUITY WILDLIFE CORRIDOR RESTORATION DISTURBANCE CONTIGUITY LANDMARKS PUBLIC ACCESS HABITAT DIVERSITY GRADE VARIABILITY CULTURAL SIG. TRAIL CONNECTION SCENIC RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT THREAT

Biological Resources Habitat & Species Sensitivity Habitat & Species Sensitivity Local rarity of habitat type Local rarity of habitat type Sensitive spp. occurrence Sensitive spp. occurrence Wetland quality Wetland quality Habitat suitability Habitat suitability Local Threat of Development Local Threat of Development Habitat Quality Habitat Quality Habitat contiguity Habitat contiguity Wildlife movement corridor Wildlife movement corridor Restoration cost Restoration cost

Aesthetic Resources Viewshed Criteria Viewshed Criteria Level of disturbance Level of disturbance Distinguishing landforms Distinguishing landforms Contiguity Contiguity

Public Access & Recreation Resources Public Access & Recreation Criteria Public Access & Recreation Criteria Public Access Public Access Habitat Diversity Habitat Diversity Grade Variability Grade Variability Cultural Significance Cultural Significance Trail Connectivity Trail Connectivity Scenic Resources Scenic Resources Development Threat Development Threat

Results Four key high priority clusters Four key high priority clusters Aesthetics key for southern clusters Aesthetics key for southern clusters Bio. resources key for northern clusters Bio. resources key for northern clusters Limitations: e.g. where are rivers? Limitations: e.g. where are rivers?

Role of Analysis for Initiating Land Acquisition Identifies key parcels to focus acquisition Identifies key parcels to focus acquisition Starting point: portfolio analysis for connectivity and maximum value Starting point: portfolio analysis for connectivity and maximum value Update, modify as opportunities present themselves (riparian funding) Update, modify as opportunities present themselves (riparian funding)

Challenges: Results Vs. Reality Conflicting goals for prioritizing parcels Conflicting goals for prioritizing parcels Clarifying value-and limitations-of GIS analysis Clarifying value-and limitations-of GIS analysis Unanticipated opportunities: Ventura River Parkway Plan Unanticipated 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 staff Maintaining and managing GIS data by volunteer staff

Where Do We Go From Here? 2) Conceptual Recreation Plan RRM Design 3) Stewardship Plan Condor Environmental 1) Focus Property Acquisition Effort!

Acknowledgements Original Group Project-UCSB, Bren School Original Group Project-UCSB, Bren School Jeanne Boland, Dawn Cunningham, Christina Danko, Heather Imgrund, Jason Kreitler, and Josh Levine; Advisor: Buce Kendall PhD. Funding by a California Coastal Conservancy Grant GIS and Technical Studies-Rincon Consultants Jamie King, M.S. & Lacrissa Cook,MESM, Joe Power, Duane Vander Pluym, DESE, Katherine Warner, Cori Lindbeck Cultural Resources Assessment: Greenwood & Associates Conceptual Recreation Plan: RRM Consultants Conceptual Stewardship Plan: Condor Environmental SCGIS & ESRI International GIS Scholarship Program