ARCO Santa Clara River

Summary

• 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)(opens in new tab)
• Final Restoration Plan (PDF) (opens in new tab)

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

Contact

Michael Anderson
Michael.Anderson@wildlife.ca.gov
(916) 375-6672