Wetland Walk at Ojai Meadows Preserve

Photo courtesy of Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

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Cancellation policy: I will refund your payment if you notify me up to 72 hours (3 days) before the start of the event. After that I will make every effort to fill your space (and I’m usually successful) but cannot guarantee. 

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There’s not been a better time in recent memory to experience the wetland at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ojai Meadows Preserve. Please join me and my wife Rondia for a leisurely nature walk on the historic wetland on Sunday, April 2, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. We’ll identify native plants that have been used for centuries by the Chumash and other Indigenous people of California for shelter, food, medicine, fiber, ceremony and much more. Gardeners will discover how these plants can be used in home yard and garden landscapes. We’ll view first-hand the many benefits of the preservation and restoration of this special piece of land by the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy  (OVLC). In the main pond at the lowest spot in the wetland, we’ll see waterfowl and typical wetland plants such as tules and cattails. This winter’s rains have brought up several smaller vernal pools as well. This walk is presented under a Special Use Permit from OVLC.

For decades the wetland was buried under sediment and fill dirt from nearby construction. A grove of non-native Eucalyptus trees was planted in the 1950s, negating the possibility of native habitat returning on its own. The property also was threatened with the possibility of a shopping center and parking lots. The meadows were acquired in 2000 by OVLC with an outpouring of community support to protect them. Most of the $1.35M came from 140 citizens and businesses, who demonstrated their commitment to preserving the meadows’ natural beauty. Flood waters from Nordhoff High School and Maricopa Highway were diverted onto the meadows bringing wildlife back to the area. Native plant restoration is an ongoing project.