The Matilija Creek Giant Reed Removal Project was initiated by Watershed Protection District (WPD) in 2007 with a State Water Resources Control Board grant to improve habitat quality and to reduce flood and fire risks in advance of Matilija Dam removal. Non-native plants, including giant reed (Arundo donax), have been removed or re-treated approximately 1-3 times per year since 2007, allowing native plants to re-colonize the floodplain ecosystem. More than 1,200 acres upstream of SR 150 along 15 river miles of the Ventura River and Matilija Creek. In mid-2025 the program transitioned from WPD to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) for expanded implementation under a multi-year, watershed-scale CalFIRE grant.