The Matilija Dam has always been controversial. Prior to its completion in 1948, critics questioned how well it would serve its intended purposes - water storage and flood control. Over the next fifty years it became apparent that the critics were right. The dam, located 15 miles inland on the Ventura River in Los Padres National Forest, has become so silted up over the years that its holding capacity has shrunk to 500 feet - a more than 90% reduction. Already all but useless, this capacity will shrink to zero by 2020. But the dam is worse than useless, it's an environmental millstone. By blocking the down-river movement of sediment the dam has eroded Ventura County beaches. By blocking vital spawning grounds it has decimated the native steelhead population.

At one time more than 5000 Southern California steelhead made their way up the Ventura River and Matilija Creek to spawn. The fish were so plentiful, neighboring public schools used to shut down on opening day. Now, with more than 20 miles of some of Southern California's best remaining steelhead habitat now blocked, less than 100 fish navigate their way up the river to spawn. Clearly the Matilija Dam would not be missed. That's why CalTrout, the Surfrider Foundation, Friends of the River and others formed the Matilija Coalition. But removing a dam isn't easy.

At 160 feet, the Matilija dam is the largest dam ever considered for removal. Preliminary studies have determined that, although destroying the dam is pretty straightforward, the five to seven million cubic yards of silt presents a huge problem. Releasing it all at once would result in massive flooding and has to be ruled out. How to remove the sediment and where to put it, then, are the key questions to be answered before the dam is removed. Several options have been put forward with price tags ranging from $20 to $180 million.

In June, 2001, the Army Corps of Engineers and Ventura County agreed to fund a feasibility study of dam removal. The study revealed that "Short-Term Sediment Stabilization" was the best solution. First, a slurry pipeline will transport two million cubic yards of fine silt and clay from the remaining reservoir behind the dam to downstream sites. A 100-foot wide stream channel would then be dug through the remaining 4 million cubic yards of sediment by moving the excavated sand and cobble into storage sites adjacent to the channel. Temporary structures would stabilize the base of the larger storage sites and allow a controlled erosion rate. This will minimize downstream sedimentation impacts gradually restoring the sediment-starved river.

Studies are one thing, execution another. This plan will take money. In 2004, removal advocates were thrilled when a Senate Committee voted to authorize $130 million for the tear-down. However, the excitement was premature. The full Senate never acted on the bill and the legislation died.

This year, advocates are again watching anxiously as a similar bill makes its way to the Senate Floor after gaining approval from both the full House and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Many predict there's a good chance it will become law.

"We're very optimistic," said David Sandretti, spokesman for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

CalTrout will have its collective fingers crossed that the funding will be there to remove the dam. Until that time, we will continue to lend support to its removal and the restoration of the Southern California's best steelhead habitats.