About Us

The Santa Clara River Conservancy (SCRC) is a conservation organization formed in 2009 to maintain connectivity of natural resources throughout the Santa Clara River Watershed.  Based in the Santa Clara River valley, our primary goal is to protect native riparian habitat through restoration, conservation, education, and collaboration.  The Santa Clara River is the last major coastal system in southern California that retains much of its natural hydrology.  

River with blue sky

Supports

The river basin supports some of the most valuable agricultural resources in the world, as well as water resources for surrounding urban populations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Tree Frog

Provides

It provides ecosystem functions necessary to sustain more than seventeen federally listed plant and animal species, including the Least Bell’s Vireo, Southwestern Pond Turtle, and the Coast Horned Lizard.

Supplies

It supplies critical habitat and landscape linkages between five unique bioregions, including the Sierra Madre and Santa Felicia Mountains to the north and the Santa Susana-Simi Hills and Santa Monica Mountains to the south.

Our Mission

The Santa Clara River Conservancy, representing the diverse interests of the Santa Clara River Watershed, from the flood plain to the highest tributaries seeks to:

Secure

Secure, hold, and manage significant lands and waters that provide habitat for native biodiversity.

Support

Promote sustainable access to natural resources for people, including farming and recreation, and engage with the public on the diverse ecology associated with the Santa Clara River.

Sustain

Sustain and restore natural ecosystem function to support all its inhabitants.

Advance

Advance cooperation between the agricultural community and conservation to further common goals and create an integrated working landscape that stems the tide of urban encroachment.

Our Board of Directors

Ron Merkford - President

Ron Merkord

President

Sanger Hedrick - Treasurer

Sanger Hedrick

Treasurer

Hedrick Properties Inc.

Nancy Settle Vaniotis - Board Member

Nancy Settle Vaniotis

Secretary

Retired Ventura County Planning Manager

Ken Blaich - CIC, Board Member

Ken Blaich

CIC, Board Member

Senior Vice President/Principal, Leavitt Group

Gene Peck - Board Member

Gene Peck

Board Member

Heather Merenda - Board Member

Heather Merenda

Board Member

Bryce Wallgard - Board Member

Bryce Wallgard

Board Member

Our Staff

Shawn Kelly - Executive Director

Shawn Kelly

Executive Director

skelly@santaclarariver.org

Devina Schneider

Devina Schneider

Lead Restoration Specialist

dschneider@santaclarariver.org

Dalton Laue

Dalton Laue

Field Technician

Beckett Staubs-Friedmann

Beckett Staubs-Friedmann

Restoration Specialist

beckett@santaclarariver.org