UPDATE Good News on Topanga Beach Task Force - Changes enacted!

Good news to report! And it shows what volunteers can do on specific ocean related projects in our region. So, if you want to get involved too with Surfrider, let us know. Here's the good news on Topanga:

1. STATE PARKS DEPT. AGREES TO TEST ITS SEPTICS AT TOPANGA LAGOON! Surfrider wrote to Gov. Schwarzenegger in September urging that he get his State Parks Department to act on the poor water quality at Topanga Lagoon and Beach, including testing state-owned septic systems near the lagoon and beach. Surfrider volunteers had discovered scientific studies on Topanga Lagoon earlier in the year showing that the old state-owned septics could very well be causing the poor water quality. Surfrider volunteers had been frustrated by six months of little action on the problem by the State Parks, and the volunteers were preparing to organize a public protest and press conference at Topanga Beach if needed. To his credit, Governor Schwarzenegger acted promptly after receiving the Surfrider letter and got
the State Parks Dept. moving. In early October, State Parks agreed to test all of the active septic systems it owns in the Topanga Lagoon area, and to repair any malfunctioning systems. This was great news on a very important item!

2. TESTS SHOW ONE SEPTIC SYSTEM LEAKING INTO TOPANGA LAGOON. REPAIRS ORDERED.
In late October, the first tests came back showing that, indeed, one state-owned septic system in the lagoon area, at the Cholada Thai Restaurant, was not working properly and was leaking human waste into the lagoon via an underground culvert. State Parks promptly ordered the system’s leech field closed, and ordered that the septic tank at the
restaurant be pumped clean three times a week until a new, properly working leech field is installed. No one knows how long the Cholada septic system had been leaking, but this test result confirmed the suspicion of Surfrider and others that at least one septic system around the lagoon must have been malfunctioning to cause the persistent poor water quality problem at Topanga Beach.

3. FUNDING SECURED TO DEAL WITH ABANDONED SEPTICS AROUND LAGOON.
Surfrider is concerned about several dozen septic systems left in the ground unpumped and unsealed when the houses around Topanga Lagoon were abandoned over the past few years. (The houses were purchased by the State Parks Dept. to be demolished in order to create an expanded lagoon and park in the future, which should ultimately benefit water quality at Topanga Beach). However, having full septic tanks in the ground could pose a future problem when the lagoon is expanded, or even now under certain conditions. Based on the
concerns raised by Surfrider, State Parks has allocated $100,000 in special funding to study this situation and take initial steps to deal with the abandoned septics.

4. LIFEGUARD STATION SEPTIC SYSTEM TO BE TESTED.
The County of Los Angeles has just agreed to test the septic system for the heavily-used County Lifeguard Station restrooms. That septic system overflowed on July 4,
although the spill was contained in the Topanga Beach parking lot. Monitoring wells will be drilled around the septic system to measure over time whether it is leaking and whether it should be repaired or replaced.

5. WATER QUALITY RATINGS RISE AT TOPANGA AS SUMMER ENDS.
After many months of “F” water quality at Topanga Beach, ratings have risen to “A” for most of the time since early August. See http://www.healthebay.org/brc/gradehistory.asp?beach=14 for current and past ratings on Topanga. This is most likely a result of a dry summer reducing the amount of water in Topanga Lagoon and thus reducing the number of breaches of the Lagoon into the ocean. If the Lagoon water is still polluted, we would notice a return of poor water quality when winter rains cause the Lagoon to breach more frequently in the coming months. But Surfrider volunteers are hopeful that the discovery and elimination of the Cholada septic problem in October and the other actions that State Parks and others are now taking will mean that water quality will stay good even when the rainy season returns.

Our work is not over! Surfrider volunteers plan to continue monitoring the Topanga situation closely and to work with State Parks, Los Angeles County, and others toward the goal of the best possible water quality at Topanga Beach. We are hopeful that in the future we will be able to look at the above actions and their results as a good news story for water quality in the Santa Monica Bay.

Coastal Clean-Up Day
September 16, 2006
Pics from the event are posted in the gallery. Check them out! Press Release below summarizing this great event:

"One of the things that is really, really, really clear, the beaches that are regularly maintained are very clean,” said Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay. “However, when you go to the inland creeks and rivers like the Los Angeles River, Compton and Ballona Creeks, the story is completely different,".

The beach cleanup was in association with The Surfrider Foundation’s Malibu Chapter and Heal the Bay which has organized the California Coastal Cleanup Day events in Los Angeles County since 1990, removing more than 400 tons of trash since.

At the Venice Beach Breakwater location over 100 people joined the Avengers and about 9,500 volunteers picked up trash at 58 spots across the county, including Congresswoman Jane Harman who visited Manhattan and Venice Beaches.

A breast pump, a bear trap, a can of crab cakes, a weaving loom, a bottle with a dead mouse and a mountain lion carcass were among the 65,000 pounds of trash volunteers unearthed during the coastal cleanup along Southland beaches and waterways.

The California effort was part of a worldwide cleanup effort, with activities scheduled in all 50 states and 88 nations.

The California Coastal Cleanup Day is the premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. On this day, more than 40,000 volunteers turn out to over 700 cleanup sites statewide to conduct what has been hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest garbage collection" (1993

For more information about Heal the Bay, please call (310) 451-1500 or visit their website at http://www.healthebay.org/

Real-time Flow Data For Malibu Creek?
October 2005 - Staff at Las Virginies Municipal Water District are presently working on getting Malibu Creek flow data into a real-time format for a webpage.

The plan is to see what it would take to connect the county data logger at the gage station to a radio transmitter or WiFi network and posting the flow data to their website.

Update on the Chili Cook-Off purchase
In mid-December the Malibu City Council approved the final wording of the purchase contract with the Malibu Bay Company. By doing so, this has opened escrow on the property... which will close 15 days (or no later than March 31) following negotiations between the Malibu Bay Co. and a possible tenant for the vacant Malibu Lumber building.

The city will issue $18 million worth of COPs in January to cover money needed to buy the site. Additional funding includes the $2.5 million in Measure S bond money, $700,000 from the county, $2.2 million in private donations, $1 million from the city's general fund, and the $500,000 matching pledge from the Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy.

Called the "Malibu Legacy Park Project," the city is still accepting donations for this "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to own the Chili Cook-Off site and create an environmental park in the heart of Malibu. Learn more by visiting the Malibu Legacy Park Project website.

Will the City of Malibu get the money needed to purchase the Chili Cook-Off Site?
December 2005 - The Malibu Times reports that the City of Malibu may not be receiving most of the grant money originally reported. This news comes following a heated meeting at City Hall at which council members were challenged by the Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy (MCLC) and the public.

The deadline for public fundraising is set for Dec. 9. The city has received $700,000 from the public and $250,000 from Malibu Creek Plaza, which is owned by Steve Soboroff. MCLC has promised to match all money donated between Nov. 15 and Nov. 30, up to $500,000. The city has received about $400,000 (out of the $700,000).

Diesel Fuel Spill in Malibu Creek
Alex Farassati from the City of Calabasas contacted The Malibu Chapter on 12-7-2005 to alert us of a tractor accident (12-6-2005) at the bridge over Lost Hills Road on the 101 Freeway. Unfortunately, the tractor spilled approximately 50 gallons of deisel fuel, which entered the storm drain and into Malibu creek.

Although 50 gallons is not a very large spill and the incident happened very far upstream, the Chapter advises you to enter the surf at your own risk, especially if you smell or see a sheen of oil on the water’s surface.

Revised Permit -Tapia Wastewater Facility
November 9, 2005 - Tapia must lower nutrient levels in the treated water from 10 to 8 milligrams of nitrogen per liter and increase monitoring of treated water. Read the Malibu Times article>>>

Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report - Malibu Lagoon Restoration
November 2005 - The CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation is the Lead Agency under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA) and is considering the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement Plan.

Objective: to restore the biological and physical functions of the lagoon to improve lagoon and coastal water quality, including management of water, habitat and access, while minimizing impacts to the existing system. The restoration goals for the lagoon consist of increased tidal flushing, improved water circulation, improved coastal water quality, increased holding capacity, reduced predator encroachment, restoration of typical salt marsh hydrology, increased wildlife habitat, creation of a nesting island for least terns and western snowy plovers, creation of channel connections to the lagoon, and integration of public access with habitat protection.

The Malibu Chapter has been actively following this project, and has submitted comments on issues concerning the chapter.

Download the Notice of Preparation (.pdf)>>>

How to Comment: Due to time limits mandated by state law, response to this Notice of Preparation (NOP) must be received within 30 days of publication of this notice. The public comment period begins October 28, 2005 and extends through November 30, 2005.

Please send written responses to:
Suzanne Goode
CA Department of Recreation and Parks
1925 Las Virgenes Road Calabasas, CA, 91302

A public scoping meeting will be held on November 16,2005 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Malibu City Hall located at 23815 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu California.

The Draft EIR is scheduled for availability in December 2005. When completed, a notice will be published to alert the public of the availability of the Draft EIR and indicate where copies are available for review and how to comment.Details on the Lagoon Enhancement Plan>>>

Surfrider Foundation's Celebrity Surf Jam Rocks Huntington Beach
September 13, 2005 - In what might have been the year’s most exciting surf event, the first annual Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Surf Jam saw a first-time-ever mix of top professional surfers, musicians and average every-day surfers battle it out in the surf next to the famed Huntington Beach Pier this past weekend, Sept. 10-11. Utilizing the National Surf League’s unique "Game" format, competitors were separated into two teams consisting of four pros, four celebrity musicians and four Surfrider Foundation activists each. "This event was awesome!" said Incubus' Brandon Boyd. "What a great opportunity to come down here and surf some great waves in support of the Surfrider Foundation.” Read Surfrider's entire press release.

Surfrider Foundation's "Paddle for Clean Water" Sept. 10-11
September 11, 2005 - In an effort to bring attention to the ongoing degradation of our coasts and oceans, the Surfrider Foundation held its 2nd annual National Paddle For Clean Water the weekend of September 10th and 11th. Chapters across the country provided people the opportunity to rally at their favorite beach and paddle out to form a circle of solidarity to address their concerns and voice their opinions regarding the state of our coasts and oceans. "The goal is simple," said Jim Moriarty Executive Director for Surfrider Foundation. "This event gives Surfrider Foundation activists across the country, as well as rest of the beachgoing public the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their feelings about the current state of our oceans, waves and beaches, and voice their concerns in an effort to make a difference in preserving our natural resources."

Chili Cook-Off Site Proposed for stormwater wetlands park
September 15, 2005 - The Malibu Bay Company has offered to sell the Civic Center property known as the Chili Cook-Off property to the City for $25 million. The purchase must be concluded by Dec. 31, 2005, or the offer to sell expires. The purchase of the Chili Cook-Off property is a component of Malibu's attempt to resolve its longstanding water quality problems and to ensure that its rustic beauty is not destroyed by large-scale development.

Creating the stormwater wetlands is estimated to cost an additional $7 million.

The city is hoping the collection of stormwater runoff in the Civic Center area will significantly reduce the urban pollution that flows directly into Malibu Creek and Lagoon, which pollutes the beaches where we surf! Stay tuned for updates on this project.