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 for the Foster Park Fish Passage Project Phase 1 Notch Restoration Project. Located along the Ventura River in Ventura, California, the project is designed to ensure volitional fish passage for southern California steelhead and other native aquatic species across all flow conditions. The primary scope of work involves restoring the original function of the Foster Park Notch through the clearing of sediment and debris from the immediate upstream and downstream areas. This project is administered under California Fish and Game Code Section 1670 et seq. and is classified as a Class 1 categorical exemption under Title 14, Section 15301 of the California Code of Regulations, as it consists of maintenance activities without expanding the use or footprint of the existing structure. Key project personnel include Christian Romberger, a Senior Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Sarah Mulder, an Environmental Biologist with the City of Ventura. The project is overseen by the Fish and Wildlife Region 5 South Coast office, with regional manager Erin Wilson-Olgin serving as a primary point of contact.