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The CA State Lands Commission (CSLC) just posted a Notice of public review and public hearing on the Broad Beach Restoration Project for next Thursday, Nov 8 at Malibu City Hall from 5-8pm. There will be a short presentation and they are opening the floor for public comments.
More detailed information on this project provided here:
http://www.surfrider-southbay.org/download/Broad_Beach_Restoration_Project_MASTER-DOCS.pdf
The Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project and The Real Malibu 411 are front and center in the latest issue of Smithsonian Magazine. Here are excerpts from the article:
A potentially fatal tick disease called Babesiosis is emerging in the Malibu area with a minimum of five dogs contracting the disease in the last fews months, one of which died. Up until now, this disease was considered rare and found mostly in Mediterranean countries but has now made it to our rural community. This disease is extremely hard to diagnose and is not normally included in the tick panel that your local vet will submit to diagnose LYME disease etc… To date you must ask for the Babesiosis Tick test - especially if your pet is displaying the symptoms listed below and the normal tick panel comes out negative. The 411 is sad to announce the passing of Girlie, our beloved Anatolian Shepard and the dog that Stephenie rescued. She contracted the tick sometime in that last month and since this tick is so hard to diagnose, the doctors were baffled by her sickness. However, they persevered and found the tick but alas the disease had done the damage to Girlie’s red blood cells and she passed away on Sept. 13, 2012. The 411 is hoping the information we are giving to the residents and readers will help save the lives of other beloved dogs in our community and in surrounding areas.
A very special thank you to Dr. Vic and Dr. Lisa and the staff Malibu Coast Animal Hospital for their amazing care they gave Girlie.
Canine Babesiosis – Rare But Deadliest of the Tick-Borne Diseases
This dog tick disease is not common in the United States, however dog owners should be aware of babesiosis due to its high death rate. Babesiosis is caused by tiny blood parasites that are transmitted from dog to dog, often by the brown dog tick. These parasites then live within the red blood cells of the affected dog.
Common signs of babesiosis are:
- High fever
- Listlessness
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Pale or yellowish mucous
- Reddish or brownish urine
- Jaundice
Antibiotics are usually prescribed for babesiosis, however regular monitoring is necessary as the dog may never be completely clear of this disease. Treatment is difficult if the disease has severely progressed.
Keeping a dog free of ticks is the best way to avoid tick-borne canine diseases. But when ticks bite, it’s important to remove them as quickly as possible and watch for signs of infection. Senior dogs may be especially vulnerable to tick-borne diseases, so they should be monitored even more closely.
If ever in doubt, call the vet. The quicker a dog owner reacts to a dog tick bite, the better the outcome for the dog.
Sources:
“Babesia Parasite Infection in Dogs,” “Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs,” and “Rickettsial Infection in Dogs,” petmd.com (accessed March 22, 2010).
Heal The Bay’s annual Coastal Clean-up Day was a success once again and The 411 took part by cleaning up the Zuma Lagoon at Zuma Beach.
With a rake in one hand and hefty bags in another, we were overjoyed to see the results of FIVE bags full of trash and a monumental effort with included Steve dredging the lagoon with a rake to navigate the trash to shore.
Only a true man of the earth ( and water ) would go to those lengths to protect what he affectionately calls his “favorite spot in Malibu” - and for the record he hates when I give him kudos for doing this - which he does all the time, not just on Coastal Cleanup Day. There are only a few like him in Malibu and I do not know even one that would get in to dirty, murky water - especially without being paid, only for the love of the environment.
See the pics below and our guerrilla style iPhone video here.
Beautiful koi fish live in this converted redwood hot tub ( designed by Steve Woods ) and are all survivors of the 2007 fire. They are now about 10 years old. Hal Fishman of KTLA reported on the devastation of the Corral Canyon fire could n
ot believe the miracle of how the fish did not boil. The 2×6 redwood hottub sides and wood deck burned away but the rubber liner and the metal ribs kept the water from spilling out . The odd phenomena is like the oddity of being able to boil water in a paper cup on an open flame. The paper will not burn below the water line but the paper cup will not burn with the water on the inside. The fish survived the fire staying in the middle and down on the bottom. The sides of the tub must have been near the boiling point. The carp family are tough and resilient survivors but maintaining water quality is still important. Like the Malibu Lagoon, good water circulation and oxygen levels help keep ammonia levels to a minimum for optimum fish health. Aquatic plants not only create a serene look but helps filter out contaminants also. Lotus flowers are always a visual treat that accompany the beauty of Koi fish .
Here are the before pics! What a transformation. More information on building and maintaining koi ponds coming soon to TRM411.com
Although this is community page, recent events have led 411 co-founders Steve Woods and I ( Cece Stein ) to make a public statement in order to correct the rumors regarding a decision we made to go public with our personal relationship. Some lagoon opposition members and others have passed judgment without facts or merit and have used this information to attack our credibility. They have only created a stronger foundation for the two of us and I posted this on my personal Facebook page today:
“Tonight is a new moon. One month ago, on a new moon, Steve and I transitioned into a committed relationship based on love, truth and trust.
Public scrutiny and judgement based on our decision and it’s timing is only based in ignorance as no one other than Steve and I know the dynamics of our former relationships and how we arrived to this profound, deeply loving union.
Our wish for this new moon phase is for those who do not know our truth, to open your minds and hearts to a place of clarity and you will know instantly just how meant to be Steve and I are. This is for the rest of our lives. We have already accepted this and have given thanks for each other - and to those of you who have supported us. “
This a post on cecestein.tumblr.com marking the beginning of our new phase, personally and with the 411:
The final farewell was said today to our friend who died recently… today would have been her 38th birthday.
Steve and I reminisced about the Chumash Ceremony in my last post and while we burned sage to say good bye to her in peace, we look forward to our future together.
Our mutual fave blog post is the wedding that Spell posted. We are keeping these images as our inspiration… and someday you’ll see us share our joy of what will be the happiest day of the rest of our lives.
Once again, this is why The Real Malibu 411 exists :
“I got a serious bacteria infection, one early fall day at Malibu in 2006, that has compromised my immune system ever since, although I have no proof that it happened there, I’m quite sure that it was.
My surfing has cut back due to that condition.
I mention this because I feel that the lagoon restoration project will end those toxic days fore
ver, and bring back great sand and water conditions.
I admire your frontline stance in support of this, even though having to endure the wrath of bullying localism. Shame on them.”
Steve and I thank all of you for your support. We will keep fighting for what we believe in. Popular or not - the safety of the community is most important. Click on the pic below to see our latest video update from the Lagoon Restoration!
GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY IN MALIBU CREEK’S LOWER FLOOD PLAIN
AND
IT’S IMPLICATIONS FOR WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
By Matt Horns
August 3, 2012
Ambrose and Orme produced a document that is posted on the Ecomalibu web site’s “studies” page dated May 2000 and titled “Lower Malibu Creak and Lagoon Resource Enhancement & Management.”
For this article, “Malibu Creek’s Lower Flood Plain” includes the area designated by Ambrose and Orme that is underlain by substrate described as “ fluvial and estuarine” on their map on page 1-5. This includes flat-lying terrain upstream and within Serra Retreat, all the shopping centers, the Colony, the Courthouse/Library, and of course the creek and the lagoon. Malibu Civic Center is located on a rise at slightly higher elevation, so it could be considered just inside, just outside, or at the margin of the flood plain.
The flood plain is underlain by unconsolidated alluvium (sediments including sand, silt, gravel, cobbles, and boulders) deposited by Malibu Creek, with some lenses of sand deposited in a beach or near-shore environment. This sediment is around 200 feet deep at a maximum toward the center of the flood plane and becomes thinner toward the margins. The depth of the alluvium is a result of the lower canyon filling with sediment as sea level has risen several hundred feet in the last 10,000 years or so.
Figure 1-7 on page 1-13 of the Ambrose/Orme document presents a north-south vertical cross-section through this sedimentary basin. This illustration is based on theoretical models.
Figure 1-8 on page 1-16 shows more detail. This illustration is based on extensive field data.
Now, to groundwater hydrology:
The velocity at which groundwater flows though alluvium is determined by 3 factors. One is the gravitational force on groundwater at whatever elevation on whatever celestial body the site is located at. In this case we are talking about Planet Earth’s mean ocean tide levels at Malibu, California, North America. Another is the alluvium’s permeability, which is rather high in this case. The third factor is known as “hydraulic head.” This is the difference in elevation between the water table at various locations. Typically groundwater flows away from locations with a higher water table toward areas with a lower water table. The exception is when groundwater is overlain by an impervious layer and pressure builds, sometimes forcing groundwater upward though the substrate.
Most of the flood plain’s surface lies at an elevation of only 10-20 feet (less in some places, more in others). Most of the sedimentary layers have fairly high permeability rates (the ability of groundwater to flow through them). When elevated above the ocean and allowed to drain efficiently, groundwater typically flows rapidly down-gradient and away though this type of alluvium, allowing for well-drained conditions. Here, the water table along the beach is maintained at a shallow depth by the adjacent ocean. This slows subsurface drainage out of the alluvium and creates very shallow depths to groundwater.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS
When a large amount of rainfall infiltrates into the ground, the water table is elevated at somewhat uniform levels. When water is injected into the ground, for example by a septic leach field, a leaky water pipe, or an injection well, a “mound” is created in the water table. Due to hydraulic gradients formed by this mound, shallow groundwater flows away from the mound in all directions. This is how some of the septic system effluent along Colony Road could possibly flow away from the beach and end up in storm drains and in the lagoon.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Waste water injection might not work:
Injecting treated waste water into the ground beneath the flood plain at a rate in which it all flows down-gradient through the alluvium into the ocean is a lot like having the bath tub faucet turned on continually at a rate that will allow it to all flow through the drain and not overflow the tub. Consultants have supposedly determined that the designed discharge rate from the proposed sewage treatment plant will not overflow (in this case emerge from the ground and become surface runoff). The water table at the proposed injection well is already quite shallow and is certain to rise when pumping begins. I see a very thin margin of error in this case. I am not convinced that subsurface flow through the “buried stream channels” that they have found will convey water rapidly enough away from the well to prevent “day-lighting” of a substantial portion of that effluent.
“Waste Water” is a thing of the past:
Southern California’s domestic water supplies are diminishing while demands for water rise. Many established water treatment systems are being retrofitted (at huge financial cost) to recycle their treated water and use it for irrigation. Including a recycling system in the original design is much more cost-effective. Tapia recycles most of its treated water. Pepperdine recycles almost all it theirs. If a sewage treatment plant is built for Malibu, it is unthinkable to me that recycling would not be a part of the design.
You heard it here first on the 411!
http://www.therealmalibu411.com/waterqualitytestresults.html
| AUGUST 1, 2012
“Attached please find the water quality testing results for the Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement Project. The plant continues to operate as designed and water quality in the lagoon is far superior after treatment. Included are the acute toxicity results from July 17th prior to ocean discharge and the results from July 23rd through July 25th when the treatment plant discharge began flowing to the ocean.”
- Mark Abramson, Senior Watershed Advisor, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation.
PLEASE READ OUR 411 CONTRIBUTOR MATTHEW HORNS
BREAKDOWN OF THE RESULTS BELOW:
“1. Samples are collected and analyzed at both the intake and outlet of the treatment system.
2. Samples are identified with a 5-digit number, then a dash, then either INF or EFF.
3. INF means INFLUENT, water flowing from the dewatering basin onto the treatment system.
4. EFF m
eans EFFLUENT, water discharged from the treatment system onto the beach.
5. Columns in the data forms labeled TDL, and RDL are concerning water quality standards, but they are left blank on most data sheets. This does not allow us to know how well standards are met unless we already know what those standards are (which I do not).
6. What we CAN see, is that levels of bacteria and suspended solids are clearly much lower going out than coming into the treatment system.”
- Matthew Horns, Contributor, The Real Malibu 411 |
MALIBU LAGOON RESTORATION UPDATE ( video to follow ):
“Same things are happening as previous. Dirt being moved! The contractor has completed the temporary dike all the way across project site to be used for alternate pedestrian access when the begin work on the interpretive features along the existing lifeguard access road. The contractor continues digging the main channel and moving water fromwork areas into the dewatering basin. Water is being pumped from the dewatering basin onto the beach along the colony fence. The pipe outlet near the colony fence has been stabilized and is working properly. We continue to test water quality from the treatment system and incoming water from the lagoon as it enters the treatment system. The project is progressing well and the contractors will be working long days over the next two weeks to stay on target.” - Mark Abramson - Senior Watershed Advisor, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation.
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