Under a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Aspen Team conducted detailed GIS vegetation mapping for the Ventura River corridor and Matilija Creek through aerial photo interpretation and field surveys. The mapping covers the main stems of the Ventura River and Matilija Creek, a total linear distance of approximately 18 miles. Vegetation communities were delineated as field drawn polygons onto geo-referenced and ortho-rectified aerial image field maps that were developed with GIS software. Field-collected data were digitized into GIS and used to generate vegetation community mosaics.

Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project. Aspen provides various environmental services, including NEPA and CEQA compliance documentation, for a project to remove Matilija Dam on Matilija Creek, a tributary of the Ventura River. It also involves removal of Arundo donax along Matilija Creek and the main stem of the Ventura River. Aspen prepared a joint EIS/EIR that examines seven project alternative strategies for removal of the dam and the disposal of sediment accumulated behind the dam. It also entails downstream improvements to maintain the flood-carrying capacity of the river and prevent deterioration of drinking water quality. The various project benefits are also discussed including: eliminating barriers to steelhead passage; restoring the natural hydrologic and sediment transport regime; improving riparian habitat quality; eradicating non-native plant and animal species; and restoring Matilija Canyon to a more natural, pre-dam condition. Aspen also supported the project's Environmental Working Group in evaluating and scoring the quality of existing habitat and projecting habitat conditions under a future without-project scenario and for each project alternative.