Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement
Project Overview
Basics
Completed
The Malibu Creek watershed is the second largest watershed draining into the Santa Monica Bay and its lagoon had long been labeled impaired with low oxygen levels and substantial sedimentation. Malibu Lagoon was first restored in 1983 when CDPR purchased the land and restored the former Caltrans dump site/ball fields back to a lagoon. This restoration design focused on visitor experience at the cost of ecological function; the benthic invertebrate and fish community steadily declined in the years after the initial restoration. The Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement Project, completed Oct. 29, 2012, has improved water quality and restored habitat conditions in Malibu Lagoon.
2009
2011
2012
2/15/2023
Project Attributes
Census Tract Income
None
Direct Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
None
EnviroScreen
None
Free and Reduced Lunch
None
Indirect Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
None
Tribal Engagement (True/False)
None
Tribal Engagement
None
Location
Organizations
| Funders | |
| Lead Implementer | |
| Partners | |
| Primary RCD | |
| State Assembly Voting District | |
| State Senate Voting District |
Contacts
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
| Habitat Restoration/Creation | Action Taken: Restored Habitat Type: Estuarine | 12 acres |
| Special Status Fish Species Habitat | Action Performed: Restored Focal Species: tidewater goby Habitat Type: Estuary Listing Status: Federally Endangered/State Endangered | 600 lf |
| Special Status Fish Species Habitat | Action Performed: Restored Focal Species: steelhead - southern California DPS Habitat Type: Estuary Listing Status: Federally Endangered | 1,000 lf |
Reported Performance Measures
| Habitat Restoration/Creation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Taken | Habitat Type | Total | 2012 | 2011 | Units |
| Restored | Estuarine | 12 | 12 | 0 | acres |
| Total | 12 | 12 | 0 | acres | |
| Special Status Fish Species Habitat | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Performed | Focal Species | Habitat Type | Listing Status | Total | 2012 | 2011 | Units |
| Restored | tidewater goby | Estuary | Federally Endangered/State Endangered | 600 | 600 | N/A | lf |
| Restored | steelhead - southern California DPS | Estuary | Federally Endangered | 1,000 | 1,000 | N/A | lf |
| Total | 1,600 | 1,600 | 0 | lf | |||
Financials
Budget
| Comment: | None provided |
|---|
Reported Expenditures
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund (CDPR) | $0.00 | $21,563.00 | $21,563.00 | $21,564.00 | $64,690.00 |
| Prop 50 (SMBRA) | $23,700.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $23,700.00 |
| Prop 50 (WCB) | $104,300.00 | $104,300.00 | $104,300.00 | $104,300.00 | $417,200.00 |
| Grand Total | $128,000.00 | $125,863.00 | $125,863.00 | $125,864.00 | $505,590.00 |
| Note: | None provided |
|---|
Project Themes
Project Themes
The design of Malibu Lagoon's restoration was focused on improving ecological function coupled with an enhanced visitor experience. Malibu Lagoon is the site of many field school trips, with educational programs occurring at least once a week in the Spring. Educational infrastructure was incorporated throughout the lagoon from signage on particular species, to an interactive watershed model, as well as an abundance of observation areas.
The restoration of Malibu Lagoon directly supports conservation efforts in support of the federally endanger southern steelhead trout population segment that utilizes Malibu creek as spawning and rearing habitat. Supporting the proper function of this estuary system has improved passability for steelhead to migrate between riparian and marine ecosystems. The increase in water movement has also reduced anoxic conditions within the lagoon, supporting the recovery of other aquatic species - like tidewater goby - in Malibu Lagoon
The restoration of Malibu lagoon has supported the diversity of aquatic species found within the lagoon. Restoration of the plant community surrounding the lagoon fosters improved water quality conditions by allowing the vegetation to act as bio-filters for runoff. The design of the lagoon itself was intentionally made to foster turnover throughout the water column to increase oxygen levels and deter algae from building up across the water's surface, an issue that occurred regularly pre-restoration.
Project Details
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