The article, “Dam Removal Study…” (July 19, 2007), relevant to Rindge Dam recounts that environmentalists and fish advocates believe steelhead trout have a “historical presence in Malibu Creek.” For over 30 years, these advocates never admit or talk about the fact that trout were planted in both the upper and lower watersheds long before the Rindge Dam was built in 1924.Nor do they bring up the fact that the Chumash Indians subsisted on saltwater fish and not the phantom steelhead trout in Malibu Creek.
In the upper watershed, the Crags Country Club Dam (now Century Dam) preceded the Rindge Dam by about 10 years and was stocked with trout for the benefit of their membership and visitors. The dam at the confluence of Cold Creek and Malibu Creek was also stocked by the Crater Camp recreational facility.
In the lower watershed, trout were also planted prior to 1900 and for years after. If steelhead trout were so abundant naturally, why did humans have to plant them so often to introduce and maintain their existence in the watershed? The “historical presence” of steelhead trout in Malibu Creek is true, but only because they were planted there. Eucalyptus trees (Australia) also have a historical presence in Malibu only because that species was planted in Malibu long ago. If fish interests want fish in a hostile environment trying to survive in degraded effluent and urban runoff waters, they should simply once again plant them and replant them (at their cost) rather than conducting endless studies that have cost taxpayers millions of dollars these past three decades.
Since there are concerns in Malibu about the quality of life of the human species and their property, there are worthwhile alternative uses of the Rindge Dam on file that have never been aired. The aquifer behind the Rindge Dam contains 10 million gallons of water, which could be pumped to tanks above the dam for fighting fires. Some sediment removal and installation of flashboards could trap sewage spills from the upper watershed. Peak floodwaters for short periods of time could be stopped or slowed during heavy winter rains benefiting life and property on the Malibu plain if just a portion of the sediment behind the dam was removed, with or without flashboards. These alternate uses could still be achieved if the predominant mindset of the past 35 years would change.
Ronald L. Rindge