About this Event
Back in the day when the Pacific Coast Highway was built, wetlands were treated as waste and filled in – effectively destroying the nurseries of many fish and bird species and ruining local water quality. A ballfield was built on top of part of what used to be the Malibu Lagoon. A small first restoration effort in the 1980s added in small islands, reducing water movement in the lagoon, leaving the lagoon nowhere near its historic size or ecosystem function.
A bold plan was created to take out some of the fill that had shrunk the surface area of the lagoon and made it more shallow and to restore natural habitat at the site. Ultimtaely, the project would increase the size of the lagoon by 4 acres, restore more flow to the lagoon within the water and increase habitat both within the lagoon and in the surrounding environment. The process was carefully managed with over a hundred biologist coming in to volunteer so that when part of the lagoon was blocked off to allow removal of sediment, every fish was caught and monitored prior to the start of work and then promptly released when the water was restored on site.
The end result is beautiful –habitat was improved both in quantity and quality, water quality was improved and the lagoon’s natural beauty shines and thrives.
Come learn how the Malibu Lagoon Restoration came to pass – and learn how the Malibu Lagoon is functioning in 2025.
Agenda
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Event Schedule
Info: Meet and greet other guests. Snacks available.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:02 AM
Welcome to the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Celebration Presentations
Host: Melina Watts
🕑: 10:02 AM - 10:20 AM
Before The Malibu Lagoon Restoration: the Vision
Host: Suzanne Goode, Retired, California State Parks
Info: What was the condition of the Malibu Lagoon in the 1980s? What was the transformative vision? What did it take to get a community to take on the project?
🕑: 10:20 AM - 10:25 AM
Commendation from the Office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath,
Host: Aaron Ordower, Environment Deputy for Supervisor Horvath
🕑: 10:25 AM - 10:30 AM
A Design for Restoration, Part I
Host: Isabelle Duvivier
A Design for Restoration, Part II
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:35 AM
Clark Stevens, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
🕑: 10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Restoration Implementation
Host: Rosi Dagit, RCDSMM
🕑: 10:50 AM - 10:55 AM
Mark Abramson: In Memoriam
Host: Dr. Shelley Luce
🕑: 10:55 AM - 11:05 AM
The 2018 Fish Die Off
Host: Dr. David Jacobs , UCLA
🕑: 11:05 AM - 11:15 AM
Rindge Dam and 8 Upstream Fish Migration Barriers: How Can We Take It Down?
Host: Richard Van Sant "R..J."
🕑: 11:05 AM - 11:15 AM
Looking Forward: the Topanga Lagoon Restoration
Host: Noa Rishe Khalil, California Department of State Parks
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Water Quality then and now, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
Host: Dr. Martha Sutula
🕑: 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
The Post Fire Water Quality Story
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch!
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Optional: Malibu Lagoon Bird Walk
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
23250 Pacific Coast Hwy, 23250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, United States
USD 0.00
