I recently finished an ecological survey of Malibu Creek where it flows through the Community of Serra Retreat. Our goal is to enhance the ecology and water quality of Malibu Creek in an effort to end the notorious pollution at Surfrider Beach. It was a beautiful area in which to work and I enjoyed it immensely. A major highlight of the project was meeting and speaking with many of the residents. With very few exceptions, they were friendly and were supportive of our work there. One thing perplexed me about the creek where it flows through Serra Retreat. I’m from Minnesota, where each of its famed 10,000 lakes is treated by neighboring residents as a precious jewel to be protected and enjoyed. Along Malibu Creek, however, the situation is entirely different. Residents have erected fences blocking their views of one the most scenic waterways in Southern California. To add injury to insult, many of them continually dump yard waste over the fences, giving the creek an appearance of a garbage dump. In some cases, yard waste is dumped directly in the creek, which is an affront to the creek’s ecology and beauty and a clear violation of State Law. Another thing that perplexes me is the determined effort by some of the residents to fight the inevitable removal of the un-permitted Arizona Road Crossing. This structure is a relic of times past, and does not comply with modern attitudes toward environmental protection. There is no way this structure will be allowed to remain much longer. I believe the resistance to improving lower Malibu Creek’s environment is spearheaded by a minority of the local residents. I implore those of you that support such efforts to speak up and help clean up your own beautiful “back yard.”
Matt Horns