ARCO Santa Clara River

LOCATION: Santa Clara River in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

• DATE: January 17, 1994
• INCIDENT SUMMARY: A pipeline break during the Northridge Earthquake resulted in the spill of over 190,000 gallons of crude oil. Oil entered the Santa Clara River near Interstate 5 and continued 16 miles downstream.
• RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO)
• NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
• RESOURCES IMPACTED: Fish (including the Unarmoured Threespine Stickleback); riparian vegetation (approximately 100 acres destroyed); birds, mammals, and other riparian and aquatic animals.
• SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the NRDA portion of the case for $7.1 million.
• STATUS OF RESTORATION: Final Restoration Plan, restoration projects in progress.

Available Documents

• Trustee Council News Update 2020 (PDF)
• Final Restoration Plan (PDF)

Administrative Record

The Arco Santa Clara Trustee Council Administrative Record can be viewed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office located at 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003, telephone number (805) 644-1766.

Restoration Project Monitoring Reports

Santa Clara River

• Santa Clara River Upper Watershed Conservation Plan (PDF)
• Santa Clara River Lower Watershed Conservation Plan (PDF)
• Restoration Site Prioritization Analysis (PDF)
• Riparian Restoration Handbook (PDF)
• Vegetation Classification and Mapping (PDF)
• Santa Clara River Watershed Amphibian and Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Project Final Report (PDF)
• Santa Clara River Stickleback Final Report (PDF)
• Biological Control of Arundo (PDF)
• Avian Populations on the Santa Clara River in 2005 and 2006 (PDF)
• Steelhead Assessment and Recovery Opportunities (PDF)
• Hedrick Ranch Restoration Final Report (PDF)
• Hedrick Ranch Volunteer/Stewardship Program Report (PDF)
• Removing Zoning Barriers to Acquisition of River Properties & Educating Landowners: Final Report (PDF)
• Removing Zoning Barriers to Acquisition of River Properties & Educating Landowners: Outreach Report (PDF)
• “Have you considered donating or selling a portion of your land to a conservation agency?” Handout (PDF)
• Santa Clara River Touring Exhibit Final Report (PDF)
• Taylor Property Restoration 2013 Report (PDF)

Contact

Daniel Orr
Email: Daniel.Orr@wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 375-4862