VCPWA Announces the Reopening of the Ojai Valley Bike Trail

Ventura County Public Works Agency’s (VCPWA) Watershed Protection District (WPD) is working to reduce repeated flooding in the Casitas Spring community and State Route (SR) 33 by constructing the Fresno Canyon Diversion Project.

The new Fresno Canyon Diversion, which is nearly finished, constructs a new storm drain facility, approximately 1,500 feet in length. The project includes installing a 9-foot reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) from Fresno Canyon under State Route 33 to the Ventura River for conveying stormwater, debris and sediment.

Project construction began in April 2019, and due to the project’s connection to the Ventura River and proximity to the Ojai Valley Bike Trail, the pathway between the Arroyo Mobile Home Park and Foster Park was closed in August 2019, and will reopen late Friday afternoon, January 17, 2020.

“The implementation of this project assists in improving the stormwater runoff through the Casitas Springs community, an area highly susceptible to storm damage,” said Glenn Shephard, director of VCPWA Watershed Protection District. “Our goal is to help reduce the amount of flooding and debris flow these communities face during rainstorms.”