Tag: Zuma Creek

MALIBU—On July 2, the city of Malibu posted on its website advising beachgoers that the Zuma Creek underpass will remain closed due to sediment buildup and flooding through the Fourth of July weekend.

Beachgoers heading to Zuma Beach, Westward Beach, or other Western Malibu beaches can achieve beach access through the Northbound and Southbound Pacific Coast Highway entrances, as the main entrance leading to Zuma Beach at Busch Drive will be closed until further notice.

According to the Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors website, the process of reopening the Zuma Creek underpass relies on the safe removal and cleanup of sedimented areas and standing water, without disturbing or impacting the sensitive ecological habitat.

As the city works with the state and federal regulating agencies to reopen the underpass, safeguards have been put in place for Zuma Creek and its habitat, wildlife, and water to ensure the reopening is conducted safely for both vehicles and wildlife.

As the Zuma Creek underpass remains closed, Zuma Beach remains open for beachgoers and for those who wish to spend the Fourth of July Holiday on the water. Zuma Beach will host a food truck, Big Dix Hot Dogs, on Zuma beach Saturday, July 4, through Sunday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as seen on the LA County Beaches & Harbors website.

For information on the Zuma Creek underpass closure, visit https://www.malibucity.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/2107

By Megan Hanson

MALIBU—On Monday, April 13, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that the Zuma Creek underpass cleanup underway.

Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors have started work to clear and reopen the Zuma Creek Underpass — a key access point for thousands of visitors entering Zuma Beach and a critical route that helps ease congestion on Pacific Coast Highway.

Crews began work today, April 13, after receiving emergency authorization from the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board, with coordination and concurrence from Caltrans, California Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A biological monitor is on-site to ensure protection of the surrounding habitat during operations.

The underpass has been closed since early 2023 following severe winter storms that caused flooding and significant sediment and debris buildup within Zuma Creek and the underpass.

The cleanup is expected to take approximately one week, with the underpass tentatively reopening the following week of April 20.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—On September 20, the city of Malibu disclosed on its Facebook page that an encampment was removed from the Zuma Creek region in Malibu.

On September 11, the city partnered with LA County Beaches & Harbors, LA County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), and the City’s Outreach Team to clear an encampment from the Zuma Creek area, removing all tents, personal belongings, and debris found within the brush area adjacent to the Zuma Beach parking entrance.

The City’s Outreach Team and HOST conducted extensive outreach in the lead-up to the encampment clearance and offered interim housing opportunities and resources to all those who previously inhabited the area. Beaches & Harbors properly disposed of all excess belongings left behind and is taking proactive measures to ensure the area remains free of encampments moving forward.

The Outreach Team and LASD continue to actively engage people experiencing homelessness around the Zuma Beach and Zuma Creek areas, citing and arresting when needed, and offering housing opportunities and resources to those receptive to services.

During Red Flag fire conditions, the city can fast-track the removal of encampments to prevent fires when the Malibu City Council declares a local emergency due to high fire risk, which it did in 2021 and 2022.

As a result, the number of fires originating from encampments has dropped from 23 in 2021, to four in 2022, to two in 2023. To learn more about the city’s efforts to address homelessness in the community visit: www.malibucity.org/homelessness.

By Trevor