Vernal Pool at Malibu Legacy Park
The City of Malibu recently dedicated it’s stormwater retention and habitat demonstration area at Malibu Legacy Park. March rains and dry-weather runoff already have added water to the vernal pool and retention areas, providing a local demonstration of Conservation, Permeability, and Retention (C.P.R.), the key principles of Sufrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Program.
West Basin MWD hosted an OFG Basics Class with the City of Malibu at the “old” Malibu City Hall Council Chambers. G3’s Pamela Berstler lead the class, which helps property stewards Understand Their Watershed, Evaluate Their Site, and Develop Strategies For Creating Ocean Friendly Gardens at their own homes. G3 Qualified Trainer, Larry Harris, of Casitas Municipal Water District, was on hand to get a few tips before rolling out his own workshop later this spring. Surfrider volunteer and OFG Committee Chair for the West LA/Malibu Chapter, Rebecca Correa, helped set up and recruit new members into the local OFG group so more Hands-on Workshops (HOWs) and Lawn Patrols could be planned in the Malibu area.
Reviewing CPR at Malibu OFG Class
“Malibu, CA is different from many of the other areas in which we teach classes,” notes Paul Herzog, Surfrider Foundation National OFG Coordinator. “It’s a more rural area, with larger properties, and a closer connection to the ocean and Malibu Creek’s fragile watershed. The population is so small, every person here has a direct impact on the ocean. So, it is imperative that Malibu residents get confident taking steps on their own properties to become part of the solution rather than add to the pollution at the beach.” Paul encouraged participants to check out Malibu Legacy Park and the adjacent Cross Creek Market area for examples of native planting, permeable paving, stormwater retention, and more.
All the participants in this Class said that they learned something new about the role of Living Soil in building a successful garden, and most participants indicated that they learned something new about preventing runoff and beach pollution.
Check It Out
The next step is a HOW, and garden-building Workday scheduled for sometime in the Winter. Details about building an Ocean Friendly Demonstration Garden in Malibu are being worked out between West Basin and the City of Malibu; that project will offer more local opportunities for HOWs. Stay tuned for more information about classes, Hands-on Workshops, and demonstration gardens in future posts and on the G3 Event Calendar.
