All About Ojai | Don’t Doubt the Trout: Steelhead, Dams, and Watersheds

Join the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy on Saturday, March 1, at the historic Ventura River Steelhead Preserve for an evening of music, film, and conversation about steelhead trout and the rivers they call home. The night begins with a live performance by Par Avion, led by CalTrout Ambassadors Rebecca Ramirez and Bernard Yin, and a screening of Don't Doubt the Trout (directed by Ojai’s Isabela Zawistowska), which follows Rebecca and Bernard’s journey to understand Southern California’s endangered steelhead and how the experience deepens their connection to nature. The evening concludes with an outstanding panel of local conservation experts discussing fish, rivers, watersheds, and dam removal.

EVENT SCHEDULE

5-6:00 pm – Reception and performance by Par Avion featuring Bernard Yin, Rebecca Ramirez, and drumming legend Dusty Watson.
*** Popcorn and beverages will be available for purchase.

6-6:30 pm – Film screening — Don't Doubt the Trout

6:30-8:00 pm – Panel discussion featuring Rosi Dagit (RCDSMM), Mark Capelli (NMFS), Paul Jenkin (Surfrider Foundation), Russell Marlow (CalTrout), Rebecca Ramirez (CalTrout), Bernard Yin (CalTrout), and moderated by Tom Maloney (OVLC).

WHAT TO BRING

This event is held outdoors and will end after the sun sets.
Bring your low back chairs, blankets, warm clothes, and a flashlight or headlamp.

PANELISTS

Mark Capelli is with the National Marine Fisheries Service, where he is responsible for coordinating the development of recovery plans for the threatened and endangered steelhead trout of central and southern California (from Monterey to the U.S. Mexican border). He is the lead author of the "Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan" and the most recent "2023 5-Year Review of Southern California Steelhead."

Rosi Dagit is Principal Conservation Biologist for the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. She has initiated and coordinated numerous research, restoration and monitoring projects throughout the Santa Monica Mountains, starting with studies of Malibu Lagoon, Leo Carrillo State Beach, and moving inland to watershed level analysis and sensitive species monitoring. She recently led efforts to rescue tidewater gobies and steelhead trout in the Palisades Fire burn scar. Currently, Rosi leads the Topanga Creek Stream Team.

Paul Jenkin is the Ventura Campaign Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation, and founder of the Matilija Coalition. He serves on the Surfers Point Working Group, a multi-agency task force working to solve beach erosion problems near the mouth of the Ventura River. Paul has also served on the various technical work groups within the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, and acts as the coordinator of the non-government efforts to remove Matilija Dam and restore the Ventura River watershed.

Russell Marlow is a CalTrout Senior Project Manager for the South Coast Region, leading the Ventura office. Russell previously worked for USFWS and the NPS as a biologist focused on native and endangered aquatic species before completing his graduate studies at South Dakota School of Mines studying aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Russell’s project focus in the Ventura Office is on reconnecting critical habitat for the endangered southern steelhead through passage barrier removal or remediation.

Bernard Yin and Rebecca Ramirez serve as ambassadors for CalTrout, Patagonia Fly Fishing, conservation co-chairs for the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers Club, and perform music with their band, Par Avion.