Geotech Studies Underway
The geotechnical investigations began in September. What are they doing down there?
Photos courtesy of Moffatt & Nichol Engineering.
In September, the MCERP began conducting geotechnical studies at Rindge Dam in Malibu Creek State Park. The studies are an integral part of the pre-construction, engineering, and design phase of removing Rindge Dam.
These geotechnical investigations will help us better understand the century’s worth of accumulated sediment trapped behind the dam. Because of the narrow canyon and severely limited access, a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter was needed to transport special equipment into the work area. Among the supplies air dropped in to conduct the studies were a drill rig, small excavator, front end loader, metal bridge, side-by-side ATV, tools and other supplies. Crews were waiting to accept the gear and begin mobilizing immediately.
Photo courtesy of Moffatt & Nichol Engineering.
Samples have been taken at several locations behind the dam to analyze the grain size of the sediment and saturation levels. They have been collecting samples at varying depths up to 100 feet before reaching the natural stream bed. Characterizing the grain sizes and other important material properties will aid in the design of where the material could be placed once removed, including on the beach, in the near-shore coast, or upland disposal.
For three weeks their workday began at 6 am to make the half-mile trek into the canyon and ended when the sun started to set to hike back out. The hike required wearing waders to cross chest-deep water in several locations.
The samples collected during these field studies will be analyzed by project team geotechnical experts. This data and the assessments will be incorporated into the basis of design reports and plan for removal.
The Challenges in Building Rindge Dam
Design drawing for Rindge Dam by Wayne Loel who was a prominent geologist at that time, working with many petroleum companies in Southern California during the oil boom. (From the California Division of Dam Safety archive.)
In the early part of the 20th century, concrete dam construction became the technological darling of reliable water storage, particularly in drought prone Southern California. Most large dam projects were built with public funding, but Malibu mogul May Rindge took on the challenge of building her own private dam to support her 13,316-acre cattle ranch. The challenges she faced were both geological and financial.
Although the State of California didn’t require permits for dams back then, Rindge retained a prominent engineering team of noted geologist Wayne Loel and civil engineer A.M. Strong to design and construct Rindge Dam. Loel oversaw the planning and construction of the 100-foot tall, 120-foot wide at top and 60-foot wide at streamline concrete barrier that could store over 500 acre-feet of water on Malibu Creek. Within a month of their permit inquiries to the State Engineer in March 1924, dam construction was underway.
An example bill sent by the state to the Malibu Ranch Company for traveling from Sacramento to inspect the dam during construction. (From the California Division of Dam Safety archive.)
Decades before Malibu Canyon Road broke ground in the early 1950s, Rindge’s ranch hands blazed a two-mile road up the rocky canyon from Malibu, hauling in 30,000 sacks of imported, slow-drying cement to the dam site. To help cut costs, dismantled railroad ties from the Rindge rail line were also hauled up and repurposed into the dam’s framing.
The Division of Dam Safety’s archives include letters between the project leads and State Engineers regarding the dam’s design, placement of rails, concrete materials, etc. Inspectors traveled from Sacramento to the dam site during construction and billed Rindge’s Malibu Ranch Company for expenses. They watched the crews make and pour wet cement into the forms from buckets suspended by two cables spanning the narrow canyon. As there are no construction joints in the dam, a continuous-pour method of new concrete over the previous pour was made within 24 hours. They completed the dam by December 1924.
Rindge Dam in February 1925 before the addition of the spillway. (From the California Division of Dam Safety archive.)
The Santa Monica Mountains are young in geological years. This caused problems after the first heavy storm. Loel didn't anticipate the erosion of the marine sedimentary soil. Severe storms in the years after construction quickly created the potential for failure issues within a decade. In addition, before Rindge Dam was completely finished, May Rindge had started to run out of money from years of lawsuits over a coastal highway easement through her property. She eventually lost this lawsuit.
The State of California, becoming concerned with dam safety, required an adequate spillway for Rindge Dam. As the dam began to fill, leakage was noted at the left abutment. Loel responded to the state with an alternative plan on cutting a notch through the bedrock for the spillway feature citing his client’s lawsuit costs. The state insisted on their spillway requirements and ultimately Rindge agreed to perform the work. Later inspections proved the spillway was still insufficient and required concrete reinforcement.
This drawing was submitted by Wayne Loel in 1928 to the state's Division of Dam Safety after years of not responding to their request for the official dam blueprints. (From the California Division of Dam Safety archive.)
Correspondence starting in 1925 in the State’s Division of Engineering archive indicates ongoing requests of Loel to submit the dam’s final plans. Additional letters indicated that H. Hawgood had taken over as the project engineer for the spillway construction with flow control gates at the top. He wrote that he was reluctant to ask Loel for the drawings to assist in the construction. In June 1928, Loel finally responded with only a sketch “from memory” in a letter notifying the State he was in a lawsuit with Rindge’s Malibu Ranch Company for final payment.
During the winter storms of 1925/26, additional improvements to the spillway design were needed. Although a final state inspection of the dam was performed in September 1926, the following May during a heavy storm, the spillway gates didn’t work automatically as intended. An on-site dam keeper was hired to ensure the gates operated when needed. Rindge Dam continued to need repairs and have work done on the dam, spillway and reservoir.
A photo taken in 1930 of the caretaker's house to operate the spillway gates when needed.
Many of the local dams built in that era had failure issues and topping the list was aqueduct engineer William Mulholland's St. Francis Dam catastrophe of 1928. Located ten miles north of Santa Clarita, the dam’s sudden and unexpected collapse killed over 430 people downstream and is considered the worst American civil engineering disaster of that century.
Since the last century, we've gained a better understanding of how development can harm our natural resources and ecosystems. River restoration in Southern California is an important step toward correcting past mistakes that have endangered both public safety and wildlife. While we can remove dams, we cannot reverse the permanent loss of such species as the endangered Southern steelhead.
Get to Know a Species: Belostomatidaes aka Waterbugs
A MALE waterbug with eggs on its back. Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service
A male waterbug with eggs on its back. Photo credit: Tom Schulz, National Park Service
Belostomatidae is a family of freshwater hemipteran insects, known as giant water bugs or toe-biters. Abedus indentatus is our local Southern California species averaging.1.5 inches in size but other species can grow as large as 4.5 inches.
Interesting Facts About Waterbugs:
In a bit of role reversal, the eggs are typically laid on the male's wings! Males keep their babies moist, clean and safe from predators. He carries them until they hatch, which is usually at the end of summer, so now is a likely time to find nymphs in the local streams. Males can’t mate during egg duty, but females are free to!
Giant water bugs dine on a variety of aquatic life, including tadpoles, small fishes, insects, and other arthropods. Some are known to kill prey many times their own size. Grasping victims by “raptorial” front legs, they inject venomous digestive saliva into their victim and suck out the liquefied remains.
Giant water bugs can deliver a painful (though nontoxic) bite between the toes of unsuspecting human feet. This explains one of their common names: toe-biter!
Giant water bugs are known to play dead if removed from water. And, if startled, can emit a smelly fluid from their anus.
One species of giant water bug, Lethocerus indicus, is boiled in saltwater or fried and eaten by diners in South and Southeast Asia as a specialty cuisine.
Aquatic invertebrates such as the Abedus indentatus can tell us a lot about water quality. They often react strongly and predictably to changing water conditions. Monitoring fish and aquatic invertebrates can reveal long term impacts to aquatic systems, whereas traditional water quality measurements might indicate a moment in time, such as after a rainstorm.
Aquatic invertebrates can tell us a lot about long term water quality of a stream. Photo credit: Bernhard Yin
The Rindge Behind the Dam
May Knight Rindge with her children Samuel, family dog, Frederick Jr. and Rhoda Agatha on a local beach circa 1896 before she was widowed. She became known as the “Queen of Malibu” and built Rindge Dam to run her cattle ranch, which was all of Malibu. (Photo courtesy of courtesy of local historian and author Suzanne Guldimann.)
May K. Rindge with her children Samuel, family dog, Frederick Jr. and Rhoda Agatha on a local beach circa 1896. (Photo courtesy of local historian and author Suzanne Guldimann.)
May Knight Rindge was God fearing and that was all she feared. Widowed in 1905 at 41 years old with three young children, Rindge continued to manage what she and her belated husband Frederick owned, which was all of Malibu. In 1892, the couple had bought Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit, a one-time Spanish land grant, and most of the homesteads around it. With a gun holster on her hip, she became known as the Queen of Malibu, allowing no one to encroach on her property, extending 25 miles along the coast north from Las Flores Canyon and 2.5 miles inland.
She hired vaqueros to burn out rustlers and squatters. She hired lawyers to drive out Southern Pacific Railroad (SPR) and the Division of Highways (DOH). She strategically built railroads and dams. Her 15-mile private railroad took advantage of a law stating only one rail system could go through a property. It prevented SPR from building a rail line from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara along the coast. By the early 1920s, when a reliable water supply became essential to sustain her 13K+ acre cattle and agricultural ranch, she built her own private dam.
May Rindge (on the right) with an unidentified companion, crosses her Hueneme, Malibu, Port Los Angles Railway trestle bridge over Malibu Creek shortly after she built the stretch of railroad c. 1905. This same stretch of railroad track was later repurposed to help build Rindge dam. Photo courtesy of local historian and author Suzanne Guldimann.
Rindge hired Wayne Loel, a distinguished geologist and engineer of the time. He oversaw the planning and construction of a dam that could store over 500 acre-feet of water on Malibu Creek. The dam broke ground in March 1924 without a State permit, although the State Engineer periodically sent personnel to check on construction.
Ranch hands blazed a two-mile road up the narrow canyon, hauling in 30,000 sacks of imported, slow-drying cement. They also hauled up rails from her dismantled railroad for repurposing in the dam’s construction. Mixing the sacks of cement with water from the creek and aggregate materials obtained on site, they carefully poured the wet cement into the forms from buckets suspended by two cables spanning Malibu Canyon. There are no construction joints in the dam, requiring a continuous-pour method of new concrete over the previous pour within 24 hours.
Early photos of Rindge Dam: Left, a postcard image of the dam (photo courtesy of the Wienberg (Eric) Collection of Malibu Matchbooks, Postcards, and Ephemera of the Pepperdine Libraries Special Collections and Archives). Center, Rindge Dam before completion of the spillway, 1925. Right, the dam caretaker’s house, 1930 (photos courtesy of the California State Water Board).
At 102 feet tall, Rindge Dam was completed in December 1924 with a storage capacity of 574 acre-feet. Because of Rindge’s cost of the highway lawsuits and conflicts with the original dam engineers, the spillway was delayed in completing (she lost the 18-year highway litigation case; a Supreme Court ruling allowed for the public coastal highway through her property). The spillway with four radial gates and a maximum capacity of 5,000 cubic feet per second was completed in September 1926. The total cost of Rindge Dam with spillway was $152,927 ($2,714,454.25 in today’s dollar.)
The cost of the dam, legal fees as well as owed back taxes created mounting debt for Rindge. By 1926, cash poor but land rich, she was forced to start leasing then eventually subdividing and selling parcels of her ranch. One of her first developments was Malibu Colony on the sands of Malibu, building and renting cottages—and later selling them—to early Hollywood stars such as Bing Crosby, Gloria Swanson, and Mary Pickford.
Within five years, the dam was also having issues. An inspection noted that severe flooding had damaged the soft rock backing the spillway. Accumulating sediment from seasonal flooding was rapidly reducing storage capacity. Heavy flooding was also obstructing the outlets. Even with the outlets cleared, the diminishing storage capacity limited the amount of deliverable water through the irrigation system. By June 1945, the reservoir's storage capacity was less than 80 acre-feet, about 15% of the original capacity.
Upstream view of Rindge Dam and spillway in the 1940s after several wildfires and subsequent erosion of the surrounding hillsides. The dam became heavily silted in. Photo, property of Malibu Adamson House Foundation.
During the Southern California oil boom, Rindge hoped to rebound from her accumulating expenses by finding oil on her property. She only discovered an unusual clay instead, which established the famed Malibu Tile Pottery Company. (The artistic tile is on display at the historic Adamson House adjacent to Malibu Lagoon.) However, her debt continued to grow. When Rindge died in 1941, she had $750 to her name.
The historic Adamson House, originally owned by May Rindge’s daughter, Rhoda Agatha Rindge Adamson, features Malibu tiles (pictured here around doorway and windows, and roof line) from the Malibu Pottery Company and is now part of Malibu Lagoon State Park, open for public tours. Visit https://www.adamsonhouse.org to learn more. (photo courtesy of California State Parks)
After May’s death, the family-owned Malibu Water Company continued to provide irrigation water from the dam to residents engaged in commercial agriculture at the mouth of Malibu Canyon where May once had her fields of fruits and vegetables. By the 1950s, more residential development led to a demand for domestic water that came from wells also owned and operated by the Rindge family.
By 1963, continuing floods had nearly filled Rindge Dam with silt, rock, gravel, and debris, rendering the 8-inch distribution pipe inoperable. Upon request by the Malibu Water Company to Public Utilities Commission in January 1967, the dam was officially decommissioned.
In 1984, Rindge Dam was incorporated into Malibu Creek State Park. As part of the MCERP, the dam’s history as well as the Rindge family legacy is being included in the planned roadside interpretive site at historic Sheriff’s Overlook above the dam. Visitors will be able to view the dam removal, learn about the Malibu Creek watershed and local cultural history, all while taking in the area’s majestic beauty.
Rindge Dam today.
References:
National Register of Historic Places Evaluation of Rindge Dam, Malibu Creek State Park, Los Angeles County, California by Scott Thompson, Simon Herbert, and Matthew A . Sterner
The King and Queen of Malibu by David K. Randall, 2016
Snorkel Surveys: What Stream Explorations Can Reveal
Second in a series of blogs on the science and engineering involved in the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is snorkel surveys.
Snorkel Survey Team (Left to Right): Steve Williams, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM); Luke Benson, RCDSMM; Bernard Yin, Rebecca Ramirez, and RJ Van Sant; California State Parks Project Manager for the MCERP, who provided insight on creek monitoring surveys. (Photos by RCDSMM Stream Team)
The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM), a project partner of the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP), has been conducting southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) snorkel surveys in Malibu Creek for nearly 20 years. The surveys help track the endangered species’ populations and distribution. They are a key restoration component of the MCERP, said Project Manager and Senior Environmental Scientist R.J. Van Sant. He recently joined a survey to help document baseline conditions for the MCERP.
Stream explorations not only track the presence of southern California steelhead but also other native species and the non-native species which tend to be more aggressive than natives. Other important data collected includes stream pool depth, shelter value, visibility, and instream cover. In addition, small data loggers placed throughout the creek track stream temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. “These data help monitor and track the quality of the overall habitat. All these conditions impact the survival of southern California steelhead and other native species” explained Van Sant.
Invasive species, such as this school of carp, are throughout the watershed. Programs to remove them will help in the recovery of southern California steelhead to the watershed.
If water levels are safe to perform them, stream surveys are usually conducted monthly between March and November. Malibu Creek’s water level can vary dramatically based on the year’s rainfall. Heavy rainfalls for the past two years have kept the creek flowing with many pools.
In June, the snorkeling crew spent two days conducting surveys in strategic locations along the creek. They spent the first day upstream of Malibu Lagoon (restored by the California State Parks and partners in 2012) and the second day surveying up to the base of Rindge Dam and upstream above it. They snorkel approximately 2 miles of creek over the two days.
View of Rindge Dam from Malibu Creek. (Photos by RCDSMM Stream Team.)
To accurately conduct the survey, teams of two to three snorkelers start downstream and proceed upstream in unison. This method helps to observe as much creek as possible and to avoid double counting any species. Depending on the year and season, underwater visibility can range from ten feet or more to just one foot or less.
The crew found that Malibu Creek was still diverse in depth—ranging from a few inches in some locations to 5-10 feet in others! In deeper areas, they dive down to the bottom to check under rocks, tree roots, and undercut banks. They use flashlights to check in crevices and spot animals at lower depths.
The water level in the creek can dramatically vary from year to year based on how much rain falls. The last two years have kept the creek flowing through summer. During droughts, the creek can dry up in most places except the deep pool areas. (Photos by RCDSMM Stream Team.)
While the team primarily focused on searching for southern California steelhead, they documented any animals spotted, including eggs and juveniles. They recorded what they observed.
“The native species that we documented included southwestern pond turtle, California tree frog, pacific tree frog, lots of tree frog and California toad tadpoles, two-striped garter snake, and arroyo chub,” reported Van Sant. “Non-natives documented included lots of carp and crayfish, a Texas spiny softshell turtle, a bluegill, and largemouth bass.”
Rebecca Ramirez holding a southwestern pond turtle. (Photos by RCDSMM Stream Team.)
Disappointingly, the RCDSMM Stream Team hasn’t seen any southern California steelhead or rainbow trout so far this year in Malibu Creek. The last salmonid believed to be seen by the team was in 2018. It couldn’t be determined if it was anadromous or not. Southern California steelhead were once abundant in Malibu Creek but have suffered due to development, invasive species, and human made barriers. This dynamic species travels throughout watersheds from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border. With the removal of the 100-foot-tall Rindge Dam on Malibu Creek and remediation of 7-8 barriers upstream of the dam, 15 miles of stream habitat will open for the first time in 100 years for the endangered southern steelhead as well as other species to finally access. In the meantime, the Stream Team will keep on the hunt!
Public Helping to Monitor Malibu Creek
MCERP has launched a new Community Science Program to help monitor creek activity. The first photo post is in Malibu Creek State Park.
Visitors to Malibu Creek State Park are actively contributing strategic photos as part of the MCERP’s new community science program. The program helps monitor the changing conditions of the Malibu Creek watershed throughout the restoration. Participants have uploaded over 120 pictures since the program launch in early May.
“Documenting the physical condition of the creek and watershed over time is essential to this landscape-scale restoration effort,” said Russell Marlow, south coast project manager for California Trout.
The program’s first photo capturing site is in Malibu Creek State Park on Crags Road Trail about .25 mile in from the parking lot trail head. Located above Malibu Creek’s confluence with Las Virgenes Creek, the site is considered a dynamic and critical intersection. Uploaded photos from this location will help document the positive benefits expected downstream.
Two more photo sites are soon to be added along the aquatic corridor, with headwaters starting in east Ventura County and ending at the ocean in Malibu Lagoon. “Public participation in taking and uploading photos in strategic aquatic zones along the corridor is helpful for building a robust data set and monitoring the creek’s transformation,” explains Marlow.
The community science monitoring program is funded by Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) focused on dam removal and river restoration in the American West and the Dorrance Family Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities by supporting education and natural resource conservation.
Get to Know a Species: The Southern California Steelhead
For centuries, the Southern California steelhead roamed Southern California rivers, creeks and estuaries until a stark decline led to their 1997 classification as a federally endangered species. Photo credit: Mike Wier
Southern California steelhead, a species native to southern California's rivers, creeks, and estuaries, were once prevalent, journeying from the coastal mountains' headwaters to the ocean's kelp forests. This fish was a food source and held cultural significance for local tribes, particularly within the Santa Monica Mountains. The Chumash, sharing over 7,000 years of history with the steelhead, felt a deep kinship with these creatures, underscoring the importance of their preservation.
Covering an extensive range of 11,580 square miles, Southern California steelhead populations extend from the Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo County down to the Tijuana River at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are the southernmost steelhead population globally. Historical records, including photographs, oral histories, and surveys, reveal that these fish once flourished, particularly within Malibu Creek.
What Happened to Southern Steelhead?
For centuries, the Southern California steelhead roamed Southern California rivers until a stark decline led to their 1997 classification as a federally endangered species. Habitat degradation and the obstruction of their migratory paths have critically hindered their breeding and maturation processes. This environmental impact caused a dramatic reduction in their numbers, plummeting from annual runs in the tens of thousands returning adults to fewer than 500.
The 100-year old Rindge Dam has prevented southern steelhead from migrating Malibu Creek from headwater breeding pools to reaching the ocean. Photo credit: Bernard Yin.
Urban infrastructure and water development since the 1920’s has led to significant alterations to the steelhead's migratory corridors. Particularly with dams and water diversions in areas like Malibu Creek. These barriers have not only fragmented their habitat but also potentially threaten the steelhead's unique genetic makeup. The life cycle of the steelhead trout begins in freshwater, where they can either remain as rainbow trout or migrate to the ocean. Unlike salmon, which spawn once and then die, steelhead are capable of multiple spawning journeys. During their time in the ocean, they can grow larger and stronger to help with these difficult journeys. The distinct size and color differences between rainbow trout and steelhead underscore their unique life strategies.
The Challenges for Survival
In the Malibu Creek watershed, the struggle for survival is evident. Limited habitat connectivity below the dam restricts the full lifecycle of the southern steelhead. Biologists are concerned about the potential loss of ocean-going genetics in local rainbow trout populations. Approximately 15 miles of aquatic habitat upstream from the dam offer a glimmer of hope, with the Malibu Lagoon acting as a vital transitional zone supporting young steelhead's preparation for oceanic life.
Southern steelhead populations are in danger of extinction within the next 25-50 years due to anthropogenic and environmental impacts threatening their recovery.
The rapid decline of Southern steelhead populations in fragmented habitats emphasizes the need for rebuilding the resiliency of this impressive fish. The Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project aims to dismantle these obstacles by totally removing Rindge Dam. We can help Southern steelhead reclaim their historical habitat and take steps to ensure the species' survival. This project not only seeks to restore critical juvenile habitats but also aspires to re-establish Southern steelhead as a keystone species within the Malibu Creek watershed, honoring their remarkable journey and vital ecological role.
Aerial photograph of Malibu Creek’s stream-lagoon-ocean transitional zone. Photo credit: Bernard Yin.
Soil Sleuthing: What Geotechnical Investigations Can Reveal
How do you tackle a watershed-scale restoration project? We’ll be sharing the areas of expertise involved in the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project—removing a 100-year-old, sediment-filled dam and mitigating/removing eight upstream barriers. When completed, a key aquatic corridor will be restored to bring back the watershed’s ecological resiliency and support Southern Steelhead once again.
First in a series of blogs on the science and engineering involved in the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is on Geotechnical Surveys
Joe Goldstein, PE, Senior Engineer at Geosyntec in Los Angeles, California provided insight on an important phase in the planning and engineering of removing Rindge Dam.
What is a Geotechnical Investigation?
A geotechnical investigation involves engineers and geologists evaluating the subsurface conditions of a site. This process occurs when planning construction or infrastructure development. It is crucial for comprehending the geological, hydrological, and soil properties of the site. These properties will play a key role in the planning, design, and eventual deconstruction phases in the removal of Rindge Dam.
How are they done?
In a geotechnical investigation, engineers and geologists use different methods to collect information about the underground condition of the site. These methods include drilling boreholes, gathering soil samples, conducting geophysical surveys, and analyzing already available geological data. The collected data is then used to evaluate factors such as soil stability, bearing capacity, groundwater levels, and potential hazards such as landslides.
Why are they necessary?
The results of a geotechnical investigation play a vital role in guiding the design and construction phases. They ensure that necessary actions are taken to reduce any risks associated with the geological conditions of the site. Recommendations may include implementing slope stabilization measures, installing drainage systems, or employing other engineering solutions customized to the site's individual features. Ultimately, a comprehensive geotechnical investigation serves to minimize uncertainties and enhance the safety and efficiency of the project overall.
In 2002, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted a feasibility study to determine if Rindge Dam could be removed and would be beneficial to the ecosystem. The study included drilling several borings into the impounded sediment as part of geotechnical investigations. (Reference: Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Study: Appendix D - Geotechnical Engineering. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, November 2020. Pg D3-2.)
What is being investigated for Rindge Dam?
In addition to the removal of the dam itself, the sediment impounded by the dam will also be removed. The sediment deposits in the reservoir are being considered for beneficial reuse at local nearshore locations and/or via direct beach placement for beach nourishment and for enhancement of the resiliency of the nearby coastline. The methods of removal, transport, and the permissible disposal locations for the impounded sediments depend on the physical characteristics of the impounded sediments. These characteristics can be obtained by conducting a geotechnical investigation of the impounded sediments.
What challenges are there in geotechnical investigations?
Investigations can be challenging because of logistics and dam location for acquiring the sediment samples. We also want to minimize environmental impact with the process, studying how best to get the samples with minimal vegetation damage and habitat impacts. Due to the steep terrain along Malibu Canyon, we’ll be using helicopters to air drop the drilling equipment to the sampling sites.
As with the US Army Corp of Engineers with the feasibility studies, helicopters will aid in the upcoming geotechnical surveys, dropping the drill rigs and equipment onto the impounded surface by helicopter, assembled the drill rigs, drilled a hole, then repeated the process at the next drill location. (Reference: Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Study: Appendix D - Geotechnical Engineering. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, November 2020. Pg D3-2.)
PED Phase Kicks Off with Exciting First Year
After nearly two decades of studies, research, and stakeholder collaboration, advancing the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) into the pre-construction, engineering and design (PED) Phase II was greeted with public enthusiasm! We captured some of the highlights during our first year.
After nearly two decades of studies, research, and stakeholder collaboration, the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) advanced into the pre-construction, engineering and design (PED) phase early this year. On the heels of mourning the death of mountain lion P-22, who became the mascot for connecting habitats for wildlife protection in urban Los Angeles, the news was greeted with enthusiasm. The media and the public were eager to learn more about the removal of Rindge Dam in Malibu Creek State Park (and remediation of additional upstream barriers) and reconnecting the Malibu Creek aquatic corridor to help bring back the endangered Southern California steelhead. Phase completion of 90% design, engineering plans, and permitting is slated for 2026 with dam deconstruction to begin in the following years.
“Public involvement is essential to project success,” said R.J. Van Sant, State Parks Senior Environmental Scientist and project manager for the MCERP. “This is a public project, it’s on State land, and as a public agency we want to hear from our public stakeholders.”
Outreach and education this year brought awareness to landscape-scale ecosystem restoration efforts and the needed collaboration to achieve them. The project team participated in over two dozen community events presenting the PED phase, and below are some highlights for the year:
UCLA Design Blitz
Under consideration during the PED phase is developing a public interpretive site at the historic Sheriff's Overlook to view the dam deconstruction process. UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Program students were invited to a design workshop to blueprint concepts for creating an educational viewpoint. Their designs featured the Malibu Creek Watershed’s ecological, cultural and historical points of interests and will be considered in the site planning. You can see them here.
Public Workshop
The MCERP team led by California State Parks held its first public workshop for the PED phase in June 2023. The panel of experts discussed the current project phase, covering project management, geomorphic/ sediment analysis, geotechnical overview, aquatic ecology, and public outreach. The public was given an opportunity to ask questions of the team or comment about the restoration. All public comments were reviewed and responded to which can be found here.
First Annual Watershed Fair
All ages had the opportunity to discover the diverse and interconnected world of watersheds at the Malibu Farmers Market Greenwave Fair. Over 12 organizations shared their work in the watershed and how the public can help protect our local beaches, creeks, creatures, and cultural history. The fair will return in 2024 with even more educational and recreational booths, displays, family activities, bird walks, nature journaling, volunteer sign ups and more. Watch the Greenwave Fair video below for a sneak preview!
Dignitary Tour
Stake holding representatives from government agencies and tribal nations were invited to attend a presentation and tour the MCERP with California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. The project team presented the scope of work, funding needs, and timeline to cultivate ongoing support, funding and collaboration for the landmark restoration project.
Public outreach will continue to expand in 2024; look for project updates and our event schedule on www.restoremalibucreek.org. Thank you for helping us make the launch of the PED phase an exciting and successful year, and we look forward to your continued support in restoring Southern California's diminishing wildlands.
Tribal Partnership in State Park Land Management
Many public and private events now begin with formal land acknowledgments recognizing Indigenous communities' rights to territories seized by colonial powers. But California State Parks (State Parks) does not stop there. “State Parks focus is not just acknowledgement (of) relationships with tribes, but co-management of the land,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero to a group of representatives from government and environmental agencies who were touring the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP), which is taking place on parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Across California, State Parks has actively formalized the coordination and cooperation with tribal nations for the protection, preservation, and interpretation of tribal ancestral homelands within the parks. “State Parks has set the gold standard on tribal relations with agencies because not everybody is like State Parks,” said Christina Conley, Cultural Resource Administrator for the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California. “They offer a place at the table every time there is a discussion on the management of our tribal land, and we could not be more grateful for that.”
The first known occupants of the Santa Monica Mountains were the Gabrielino Tongva, Chumash, and Fernandeño Tataviam tribal groups. Director Quintero explained what happened to tribes. “When this state was first established, there was literally a bounty put on the men, women and children of these tribes and ther e were a number of militias formed, and the places where the militias went were the village sites while the tribes were in ceremony. So, when you hear about a place where tribes are practicing ceremony, it’s likely the site of an incredible tragedy in this state.”
To help bring tribes to their own places again, State Parks has implemented programs through its Tribal Affairs Program. Agreements have been made with tribes where they are able to return their cultural practices to many state parklands and again practice their traditions in privacy, without the oversight of State Parks, but rather in partnership. State Parks is also providing educational opportunities within parks for Californians and visitors to understand the full state’s history.
“Our relationships with tribes are anchored in incredibly deep respect, and we look forward to a long and great future collaborating with them in both land management and cultural recognition as we move forward with the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project.”
As a cultural resource administrator, Conely says her job is to be a caretaker of not just the artifacts that her ancestors left behind. “It's also the trees, the waterways, the steelhead--it's all of these things that make up our family. Our culture is different, and we are excited for the future and the trajectory State Parks has set.”
Quintero discussed how the MCERP is an extraordinary fulcrum in our history. “We are seeing agencies and nonprofits realizing that the only way we're going to be able to do this work successfully is to do it together and at scale, and by that I mean landscape scale, where we have multiple agencies working in the planning and the sharing of information. It's all of us and bringing all the science together, it's an amazing thing to do. This type of work does not happen by accident, it takes time, leadership, and partnership.”
Get to Know a Species: The Leaping Frog of LA County
Through a coordinated partnership effort that began in 2014, the return of the rare California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) appeared to be a successful comeback story in the Santa Monica Mountains where their populations begin to flourish by the fall of 2018. Then the Woolsey Fire struck in November burning 88% of federal parkland, according to the National Park Service, and ravaging the frog’s habitat. Immediately following the fire was a winter of heavy rainfall, causing debris flows to fill their homes with silt and mud. One of the many goals of the MCERP is to restore natural stream processes, which will benefit these special amphibians.
Get to Know a Species will put the spotlight on local species related to the Malibu Creek watershed. By restoring the ecological resiliency within the watershed, our native habitat will have a more sustainable place to call home in Southern California’s diminishing wild spaces.
This rare amphibian was rebounding in the Santa Monica Mountains through a successful conservation partnership… then there was the Woolsey Fire...
In the fall of 2018, the return of the rare California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) was a successful comeback story to the Santa Monica Mountains where their populations begin to flourish. Then the Woolsey Fire struck in November of that year and ravaged their habitat. The fire burnt 88% of federal parkland, according to the National Park Service. Immediately following the fire was a winter of heavy rainfall, causing debris flows to fill the streams with silt and mud. A goal of the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) is to rebuild these special amphibians’ homes!
The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) was once a common species in Southern California, primarily inhabiting streams and pools that contained water year-round. It is also the famed “leaping frog” that provided the inspiration for Mark Twain’s story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. These smiley-face amphibians are the largest-sized native frog species in the western United States with adult females measuring up to 5.4 inches and the males up to 4.5 inches.
To spot one within a stream pool, look for a frog’s back with indistinct outlines on a brown, gray, olive or reddish-brown background color, covered with small black flecks and larger irregular dark blotches. A colorful amphibian, they are known for having hind legs (and abdomens) that are often red or salmon pink.
But you might be looking for a long time--these frogs are now among the 14 species in the Santa Monica Mountains on the federal and/or state endangered species list. Habitat degradation and fragmentation caused by Rindge Dam and other barriers along Malibu Creek have impacted these and many of the local native species that rely on canyon streams. Roads and housing between streams in the Santa Monica Mountains also separate the few available creeks in the watershed and isolate populations with fragmented wildlife corridors that prevent genetic diversity and overall stability of the species.
Invasive species are also a factor in the frog’s diminishing populations. “The non-native bullfrog, which is larger than the California red-legged frog, red swamp crayfish, and a deadly chytrid fungus are all considered threats to the species,” said Olivia Beitelspacher, Digital Communications Specialist, Ventura Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2014, a coordinated partnership effort demonstrated how collaboration can change the course of extinction for endangered species. A group of nine agencies: National Park Service, California State Parks, Ventura Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, California State Coastal Conservancy, and U.S. Geological Survey developed a blueprint how to help the species recover in the Santa Monica Mountains.
A Safe Harbor Agreement was formed to reintroduce the frogs on California State Parks-managed land. Optimal habitats for breeding were identified and egg masses from an adjacent population were relocated into selected pools. The agencies closely monitored the pools annually. In 2017, during a stream survey, NPS reported that researchers discovered nine egg masses laid by frogs– evidence confirming the California red-legged frogs were breeding on their own!
But in November 2018, the massive Woolsey Fire burned 88% of federal parkland, reported the NPS. The following winter heavy rains filled streams with silt and mud. A year later, biologists discovered adult frogs still at the sites that had survived the fire and silt, but with much of the Malibu Creek watershed in the path of the Woolsey fire, most of the frogs’ habitats were severely destroyed.
Restoring natural stream processes for the California red-legged frog as well as the other endangered and native species is one of the many goals of the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project. A collaborative team that includes California State Parks, California Trout, McMillen, Inc., Stillwater Sciences, and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains is currently developing the ecological blueprint for removing Rindge Dam and eight upstream barriers within the watershed to reconnect the waterways for all native habitat to survive and flourish in LA’s wildlands.
Students Imagine Possibilities for Public to Experience Malibu Creek Restoration
We asked UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Program’s 3rd year students to help us conceive an interpretative site. See what they came up with!
Interpretive Transformation https://caltrout.org/news
The summit-to-sea Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP), removing Rindge Dam and returning a key watershed back to its natural course, is a challenging yet exciting project. Taking place within Malibu Creek State Park, restoration plans also include sharing the rebuilding of the waterway with all who pass though. Project funding includes creating an interpretive site at a historic overlook where visitors will be able to view the dam removal, learn about the Malibu Creek Watershed and its cultural history, all while taking in the area’s majestic beauty.
To imagine the possibilities of a creating such a site, CalTrout reached out to the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Program to help interpret the points of interest into a “stop the car!” experience with welcoming aesthetics and engaging displays.
Program Director Stephanie V. Landregan and her 3rd year students attended a MCERP design charette at King Gillette Ranch Visitor Center to learn about the project goals and the Santa Monica Mountain’s cultural history from several organizations: CalTrout South Coast Senior Project manager, Russell Marlow, Barbara Tejada, Supervisor of the Cultural Resources Program at State Parks, Science and Policy Director Katherine Pease from Heal the Bay and Watershed Scientist Tevin Schmitt from Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation discussed the project’s cultural, historical and ecological components.
Students then visited Sheriff’s Overlook, located on Malibu Canyon Road, to brainstorm and conceptualize designs for interpreting the watershed’s ecology and native species migration patterns, indigenous communities, and dam history.
Student worked in three teams performing site analysis and presenting their concepts of how they would create an enriching and inspirational experience.
And how they delivered!
Light on the Land: This concept was developed with a low impact approach at the center, prioritizing access to view corridors for all parties; preserves existing native vegetation as a site feature; offering trail access to the lowest terrace (currently inaccessible); educational signage and guided experience; addresses historical and ecological elements.
Performance Objectives: Develop a design solution that prioritizes safe and equitable access to May K Rindge Scenic Overlook off of Malibu Canyon Rd where community members can view the decommissioning of a defunct dam and the restoration of Malibu Creek in real time, and future generations can enjoy sweeping views of the creek and canyon while learning about the natural and cultural history of the site.
Witnessing History in the Making: Decades of scientific research and environmental advocacy and legislative policy work have made possible this moment to remove old infrastructure to make way for our non-human relatives - the Southern California Steelhead. Observe this dam as it is dismantled, and the watershed restored to its natural free flowing state. Please enjoy this powerful moment, and know that soon this dam will be but a memory.
Design concepts from the teams included creating trail access, native plant landscaping enhancements providing shade, seating areas, creating sculptures from dam materials and signage.
Let us know what you’d like to see!
Hear from Program Director Stephanie V. Landregan about the creative process in UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Program.
MCERP Holds First Public Workshop
The Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) team held its first public workshop on June 13 at Malibu City Hall, presenting Phase II of restoring the Malibu Creek Watershed.
The Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) team led by California State Parks (State Parks) held its first public workshop on June 13, 2023, at Malibu City Hall, presenting Phase II of restoring the Malibu Creek Watershed. Phase II will center on the removal of Rindge Dam and remediation of eight upstream barriers. State Parks Angeles District Superintendent Lori Harrod welcomed about 80 attendees to hear from the project technical team and participate in a listening session.
Presenting the project overview, Richard Van Sant, State Parks Environmental Scientist and Rindge Dam Project Manager, encouraged public participation in the restoration process. “We want your input; it’s a public project, it’s on State land, and as a public agency we want to hear from our public stakeholders.”
The panel of experts from State Parks, CalTrout, McMillen, Stillwater Sciences, and Moffat & Nichol discussed the current pre-construction, engineering, and design project phase, which covered project management, public outreach, geomorphic/ sediment analysis, geotechnical overview, and aquatic ecology. The public was given an opportunity to ask questions of the team or comment about the restoration effort.
CalTrout is partnering with State Parks to lead a comprehensive outreach and education program as part of Phase II. “These types of meetings are extremely important. We’re all in this ecosystem together and this is an ecosystem level project, it’s big, it’s bold, and we’re taking utmost care to address every issue, said Sandi Jacobson, PhD, CalTrout Southcoast Regional Director. “We want you to have pride when you look at Malibu Canyon that it’s beautiful and no longer has a big chunk of concrete in the middle of it, and that Southern steelhead can go from ocean to headwaters and back again.”
The Q&A session following the project overview can be read here. Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project Public Workshop June 13, 2023 - Comment Matrix (ca.gov)