Winner of the Governor's Award for Economic and Environmental Leadership

WORK PROGRAMS...continued

B. FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES

In addition to its recreational trail work, The C.R.E.W. does substantial year-round fire protection work through the construction of strategically sited fuel breaks. The C.R.E.W. has built over 30 miles of fuel break on the notorious Ojai Fuel Bed, as well as another 7 miles of Fuel Break above the towns of Frazier Park and Pine Mountain Club. The C.R.E.W.'s fire protection activities provide a proven career track for youth wishing to pursue fire fighting positions. Each year we collaborate with US Forest Service Fire and Aviation Division and County Fire agencies. This activity has become a prime component in the C.R.E.W.'s work program and resulted in the successful sponsorship by the California Department of Forestry and Fire protection for the 2004 Governor's Award for Environmental and Economic Leadership. It collaborates with several Fire Safe Councils and Homeowners Associations to ameliorate the threat of fire.

C. Habitat Restoration Projects

The C.R.E.W. has performed numerous habitat restoration projects, samples of which are listed below:

• Piedra Blanca Creek Steelhead Habitat Project - Working with the Department of Fish and Game, Wetland Restoration Program, US Forest Service, California Native Plant Society, and For the Sake of the Salmon, the C.R.E.W. completed siltation and erosion control on 9.5 miles of habitat, revegetated over 100,000 sq. feet and did 5 acres of weed removal.
• Millenium Tree Project - Working with the City of Ojai, the C.R.E.W. planted 250 in the city of Ojai.
• Ventura River Project - Working the California Native Plant Society, US Forest Service, and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, the C.R.E.W. refurbished 14.5 miles of trail, built two river crossings, and erected signage at multiple sites.
• Sespe Aquatic Ecosystem Reconstruction Project - Working with the US Forest Service, the C.R.E.W. completed siltation and erosion control and non-native plant removal at 19.5 miles of Sespe Creek.
• North Fork Matilija Creek Project - Working with the US Forest Service, CalTrans, and Department of FIsh and Game, the C.R.E.W. cleaned debris for 7 miles of Steelhead spawning ground and removed over 12,000 full-grown Spanish Broom plants.
• Friends of the Santa Clara River have been using the C.R.E.W.'s Santa Clara Valley youth to do habitat restoration on the Hedrick Nature Preserve. These activities focus primarily on invasive plant removal and revegetation with native plants.
• Ojai Valley Land Conservancy - The C.R.E.W. has enjoyed a a Memorandum of Understanding with this significant Ojai Valley Conservation Group for several years. This partnership has resulted in the repair or construction of 16 miles of horse & hiking trails, the construction of a 5 mile strategically located fuel break, and the eradication of invasive plants.

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