FEMA's 100-year flood plain map of the center of Malibu SEE LARGER IMAGE. Developments must be able to sustasin a 100-year storm.

The wetland basin is in a floodplain at the end of the Malibu Creek watershed system. Note the ponding behind the Colony residents along the coast and the massive pond held back by the Pacific Coast Highway, Circa 1938 photo. Click here to see larger image.

 

 

The Malibu Creek Floodplain/Wetland,
Circa 1892 painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STUDIES

It is believed that the Malibu Creek Watershed is the most studied environment in the world.

Over the past two decades, numerous studies have been conducted, in and around the historic wetland in the heart of Malibu, as well as the Malibu Creek watershed, the creek and the coastal ocean waters at the terminus of the Malibu Creek, and at a cost of millions of dollars.

We have gathered five of the studies thus far and placed them here for your convenience and ease of reading. More are to come so that we can add them to the EcoMalibu web site. You may order hard copies of some of the studies that are not available online from the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains at http://www.rcdsmm.org/completed-studies-and-projects

The studies we gathered here substantively provide irrifutable evidence about sources of pollution in the Malibu creek, lagoon and surfzone. Although many sources were hidden, for years, these studies identified all of them and reveal a great variety of pollutants that adversely impacts the various streams that are connected in the Malibu Creek Watershed system.

These studies also provide recommendations to solve the problems of water pollutants that impact world famous Malibu Surfrider Beach and Fishing Pier. Malibu Surfrider Beach and fishing pier hosts over one and a half million visitors annually (Source: Los Angeles County Lifeguards).

Please visit our "History" page to learn more about the issues of concern and our "Wetland Resoration" page to learn about sollutions.

Following are briefs on the five studies with links to the actual studies:

The 2000 UCLA Study
Lower Malibu Creek and Lagoon
Resource Enhancement and Management
May 2000
CLICK HERE to read the complete report.

This report provides the most comprehensive scientific investigations of the "Lower Malibu Creek and Lagoon."

The study involved eight major objectives for the lower watershed, namely an analysIs and interpretation of (1) evolution and historical development, (2) hydrology and morphodynamIcs, (3) biological and water qualIty objectives and habitat associations, (4) vegetation, (5)
eutrophication, (6) pathogens, (7) hydrologic alteration and human disturbance, (8) management alternatives, and (9) wetland restoratIon. The Final Report is organized under these categories, together wIth (10) a summary of management and restoration alternatIves, and (11) a concluding perspective.

CLICK HERE for more...

Natural Resources Plan
for the Malibu Creek Watershed
July 1995

This plan addresses watershed resoures, water quality and quanity issues, and pollution reduction strategies in the Malibu Creek watershed. A highlight of the plan is its "44 action items", created by watershed stakeholders through a consensus process. These 44 action items provide the guiding principles for restoration of the Malibu Creek watershed.

CLICK HERE for more and to read the complete report...

The 1995 UCLA Study
Enhanced Environmental Monitoring
March 1995
CLICK HERE to read the complete report.

The overall goal of this UCLA project was to assess the effects of anthropogenic inputs into Malibu Creek and Lagoon on the physical, chemical and biological processes in the Creek and Lagoon. One particular goal, to assess the impacts of lagoon breaching on the water quality and ecology of the Lagoon, was not pursued because the lagoon did not experience prolonged periods of closure during the study period.

CLICK HERE for more...

Malibu Lagoon:
A Baseline Ecological Survey
1989

The subject of this study is to gather baseline ecological and physical data of the Malibu Lagoon ecosystem. The Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District (TLVRCD), as commissioned by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors and the State Department of Parks & Recreation, has measured and documented physical and ecological conditions for the full year cycle from May 1987 through June 1988. This is the first study of such wide scope undertaken for the Malibu Lagoon. Previous studies have concentrated on single faunal or floral groups and resultant information has been drawn upon for background and methodologies.

CLICK HERE for more...

Earthquake Faults & Liquifaction
in the Malibu Center
Seismic Hazards Zone 2001 and State Geological Maps

Two maps based on two surveys are provided here.

The first map was prepared as part of the state geologist's mapping of all active faults in California in accordance with the Alquest-Priolo Act.  The geologists designated a special study fault zone for the heart of Malibu where they have sufficient evidence to demonstrate recent geologically activity.

The second map is the State mapping of Fault Hazard Zones, which places all of the Malibu center within a liquefaction hazard zone. 

CLICK HERE for more...

Home - Introduction - History - Wetland Restoration - Studies - Videos - Organization

The present day Civic Center is an impaired floodplain/wetland because of 10' to 20' of landfill, as well as commercial development placed on top. We hope the acquisition of the Chili Cook Off property (center green open-space) will be the beginning of the restoration process.

This is the Malibu Center Topo Map. It shows the high water table area indicating the historical wetland. Also, a tidal lagoon was indicated at the west end, circa 1899. SEE LARGER IMAGE
Dr. Terry Huffman refers to the topo map that indicates the historical wetlands and hundreds of acres. City Council member Tom Hasse and Joan House indicated there were only 2 acres. See the video

A through F of first documentation of historical wetland evolution from the UCLA 2000 Study, pg 2-3 CLICK HERE TO SEE LARGE IMAGE

This is the image City Council members referred to during the political campaign of 2004. Did they make a mistake unintentionally by not referring to image "A"? CLICK HERE TO SEE LARGE IMAGE. See images C thru E in the UCLA 2000 Study pg 2-3

CLICK HERE TO SEE LARGE IMAGE




From this photo you can see the close proximity of the two shopping centers dangerously close to the Creek and Lagoon and in the path of a 50-year storm.

The California Coastal Commission issued a temporary permit to allow rip rap to be place on the west end of the creek bank to buffer local businesses from flooding. The rip rap still remains.
This 1995 50-year flood brushed up under the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO Imagine the impact of a 100-year flood, which is what any development is supposed to sustain according the Malibu's General Plan.

The 1995 50-year flood inundated the Cross Creek shopping center and the Country Mart.
Looking toward the creek from Legacy Park, you can see all the shopping centers in the lower floodplain are inundated by two feet of flooding from a 50-year storm. See the video.