Foster Park Fish Passage Project – Phase 1 Notch Restoration Project (Restoration Management Permit, RMP No. RMP-2025-0005-R5)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued Restoration Management Permit RMP-2025-0005-R5 to the City of Ventura to restore volitional fish passage at the Foster Park Notch on the Ventura River, specifically to support southern California steelhead and other native aquatic species under all flow conditions. The project focuses on clearing sediment and debris from areas immediately upstream and downstream of the notch to reestablish its original hydraulic function, without expanding its footprint or altering its design. Authorized under Fish and Game Code Section 1670 et seq., the activity qualifies for a categorical exemption under Title 14, Section 15301 of the California Code of Regulations, as it involves routine maintenance of an existing fish passage structure with no significant environmental impact. The work is to be performed at Foster Park in Ventura, California, with the City of Ventura responsible for implementation and the Department of Fish and Wildlife overseeing compliance and approval. No competitive procurement process was involved, and there is no established contract value, payment schedule, or federal acquisition regulation framework applicable to this permitting action. Key contacts include Christian Romberger of CDFW as the primary environmental scientist and Sarah Mulder of the City of Ventura as the project biologist, with project oversight managed by Erin Wilson-Olgin, Regional Manager. Documentation confirms the project’s administrative filing date as August 8, 2025, and its public posting on August 11, 2025, through the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, but contains no details on delivery timelines, packaging standards, inspection protocols beyond functional restoration, or requirements for contractor certifications or representations.