Homes of longtime residents will be demolished by summer. Some residents still fighting relocation.
By Tracy Marcynzsyn/Special to The Malibu Times
As preparation to demolish homes of residents who have lived in Lower Topanga for more than 30 years takes place, plans to restore wetlands in the area further angers many because of the cost and possible disruption of traffic in the area.
The California Department of State Parks purchased 1,649 acres of land in the Lower Topanga area in August 2001 to use as a state park, which has caused the eviction of many longtime residents and some businesses.
Restoring the lagoon estuary complex that formerly existed at Lower Topanga Canyon headed the list of projects recently reviewed at the California Department of State Parks’ Southern Service Center in San Diego.
While a diverse group of archaeologists, engineers, historians, landscape architects, research analysts and various state parks officials met to discuss the future of the parcel purchased by the state, actual realization of their plans could be years off, according to Steve White, State Parks superintendent of the Topanga sector.
Although still in the concept stage, White said plans for restoring the area to its former wetlands environment would benefit the area wildlife. “Restoring the lagoon estuary complex provides the opportunity to give a fly-to location for migratory birds,” said White, who noted that Topanga Creek is also home to tidewater gobi, steelhead trout, frogs and other threatened species.
White said Topanga Creek is unique in that it is one of the 10 percent of waterways that is not polluted by sewage. “There is no infusion of treated sewage waters like we find in the other streams,” White said.
“The creek is very important for drainage in the L.A. area,” he added.
However, restoring the lagoon to its natural condition would involve moving some 900,000 cubic yards of material that was used more than 100 years ago to fill in the land where the Topanga Ranch motel now sits and may mean moving Pacific Coast Highway to allow for a free exchange of tidal waters between the creek and the lagoon, according to Bernt Capra, a longtime Topanga resident and cochair of the Topanga Community Association.
“The plan is to move the entire PCH to the left or right for this stretch of Topanga lagoon, and put the highway on stilts,” said Capra of a project proposed by Rosie Dagit, senior conservation biologist with the Resource Conservation District.
But, says White, the project would not interfere with traffic flow, as the existing highway would be used while the new lanes were constructed. Studies regarding cost and feasibility of the project are underway, but as of now, the funds are not available. White said the state is counting on grant money to fund the development.
Funded by a $300,000 government grant, researchers recently drilled 10 holes in four quadrants around the creek. Examination of the samples will provide a “look at the composition of fill material” to determine if “there are hazardous materials,” according to Dagit.
“A major cost associated with moving the fill material is the cost of disposal,” Dagit explained. If hazardous materials are part of the fill material, the cost of moving it would be affected, she said. Dagit said the results from the samples would be published in February or March.
While wetlands restoration also calls for removing non-native plants and replanting native fauna, Capra points out that many things have changed and says it is impossible to turn back the clock 150 years.
“It’s not possible to just restore the fauna without bringing back the animals,” Capra said. “You cannot bring back paradise.”
Meanwhile, Capra’s family is one of the 20-some remaining households continuing to protest efforts to relocate them from the area. Since the state purchased the land for $43 million a year-and-a-half ago, most of the residents of the 70-plus households in the area have vacated, taking advantage of monies paid to them by the state to relocate from their homes, which some had occupied for more than 30 years.
Represented by attorney Craig Dummit, several residents have filed grievances based on the legality of the forced relocation.
White said clean-up crews have removed considerable amounts of hazardous waste and debris from Lower Topanga Canyon, including paint, pesticides, used motor oil and old batteries. “Stored, it would fit into a fairly decent-sized living room,” White said.
Abandoned cars have also been removed from the area as well as several eucalyptus trees that presented a danger from falling branches.
Several vacant houses have already been boarded up and plans to demolish about 20 homes along Topanga Canyon Blvd and Old Malibu Creek Road are underway, with bulldozing scheduled to occur sometime early this year, White said. He anticipates the first 20 homes to be cleared before summertime.
Temporary parking and a temporary trailhead, as well as some type of chemical toilet, will be in place soon, according to White, who said rangers are currently in the area.
“We have a presence there now,” said White, who added that the construction of a visitor center in the future is a possibility.