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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS BIRTH From left: 1961-1995 Ronald and Nancy Reagan riding at their Malibu ranch, Decades of service on Mulholland and Cornell. Photo courtesy of Reagan Family (1958). Elizabeth “Betty” Douphner, serving first RCD oak plaque. Photo by Clark Stevens. as Clerk then as District Manager, Crab at Malibu State Beach. Photo by Andrea Warniment. leads the District into the future by hiring Elizabeth "Betty" Doughner. inspiring education coordinators, biologists, bringing in grant monies and emphasizing modern conservation goals.

1961-Feb-08 - Topanga Soil Conservation District founded 1960 Founding Directors include: Darrel L. Brady, Elmer E. Landon, Charles F. Hinman, Albert J. Hoyt and Ronald Reagan.

1961-May-10 - First plant sale 1966 - Former RCDSMM Director Ronald Reagan 1986 - Nancy Helsley joins RCDSMM board The TSCD develops a program to grow and sell plants for conservation elected Governor of the State of A schoolteacher for several decades, Nancy Helsley pushes the RCDSMM to purposes, forerunner to the ever-popular native plants sale. further its environmental education program, creates the CA Association of 1979 - Ed Coordinator Jean Dillingham hired Conservation District Envirothon, and receives the CARCD Dir. of the Year 1961 - Albert J. Hoyt begins term as secretary Award. In addition, she is the President of the Cold Creek Docents group for Until the Board moves to direct staff, all minutes, decisions, financial 1980 - Former RCDSMM Director Ronald Reagan Mountains Restoration Trust. responsibilities fall in Mr. Hoyt’s capable (and unpaid) hands. The community elected President of the of America owes him a debt of gratitude. 1986 - Current President of the Board of Directors 1961-June-14 - First projects 1980-1995 - RCD oak plaques protect trees Dennis Washburn joins the RCDSMM The District supports the building of check dams and begins to build Oak plaques purchased by property owners document the condition of their Serving on the Restoration Commission and acting as the connections with partner agencies, including US Soil Conservation Service, oak trees before and during the time of the early oak protection ordinance. Chair of the Malibu Creek Watershed Council - two organizations he helped CA Dept. of and Game, and various LA County departments. Plaques provide protection for trees, necessitating public hearings before to found - and giving 20 years of service as founding Mayor and City Council- removal. This critical conservation program generated significant support member with the City of Calabasas, Dennis Washburn’s long-term vision for 1962-Feb-14 - Name changed to Topanga- in the mountains, with over 500 trees tagged by RCD volunteers. the ongoing beauty and sustainability of the has Las Virgenes Soil Conservation District inspired open space acquisition, green urban planning, watershed planning 1982 - Future State Assembly and Senate member and innovative approaches to environmental problem solving for decades in Di-ammonium phosphate, a fire retardant chemical, is donated to the Fran Pavley elected as the first mayor of Agoura Hills, District by the Shell Chemical Company for use in an experimental program. the community. later joins the RCDSMM board 1962-July-11 - Joint Soil Survey and Conservation 1988 - Sepulveda Basin education programs project with Ventura County RCD 1982 - David Gottlieb joins RCDSMM board Director Nancy Helsley and District Manager Jill Swift are instrumental in David Gottlieb begins service, and is RCDSMM President for several terms. With securing $90,000 in mitigation funds from Anheuser-Busch after spill of 1962-Sept-12 - Education program begins a background in film, he contributes to the RCDSMM by directing films on sodium hydroxide in Bull Creek drainage. Funds are used to develop an District resolves to assist conservation education in LVUSD and Topanga best management practices for stable owners in the Southwest and on safe education program at the basin led by the Audubon Elementary schools. approaches to brush clearing around homes, the latter financed by a grant from Society and the TLVRCD. the NRCS and narrated by legendary weatherman Dr. George Fishbeck. David 1962-Sept-12 - Whitney P. Reeve replaces initiates the RCD’s 10-year program of annual brush clearing workshops. 1988 - Fiddler Crabs discovered in Malibu Lagoon Ronald Reagan as director Joel Washburn conducts research proving fiddler crabs resident in Malibu 1983 - Environmental education program at the Lagoon, including the creation of castings from their tunnels. 1962-Oct-10 - First participation in National newly restored Malibu Lagoon Convention of Soil Conservation District Docent training and interpretive program designed by Jean Dillingham and 1988 - Baseline survey of the Malibu Lagoon ecology Jean Dillingham coordinates the comprehensive survey, assisted by Sean Top, from left: Fran Pavley, David Gottlieb Nancy Sloan begins. Program wins national and statewide awards over the 1963-Sept-11 - Mrs. Helen C. Funkhouser, Director, next several years, including the Allis-Chalmers award for the best RCD educa- Manion and Rosi Dagit, to develop and implement the methodology used Middle, from left: Dennis Washburn. Photo by Randy Witt Productions, serves after Darrel L. Brady passes away tion program in the US. Field programs tied to classroom science programs are to study Malibu Lagoon, Malibu CA. Jean Dillingham, Nancy Helsley. Photo from City of Calabasas. Published as Manion, S. and J. Dillingham, eds. 1989. Malibu Lagoon: A Baseline Ecological contracted to the RCD through school boosters programs and grants. Survey. Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District, Topanga, CA Bottom: L-R: Glenn Bailey, Clark Stevens, Collen Holmes, David Gottlieb, Nancy Helsley, Steve Rosentsweig, Stephen Jewett, Dennis Washburn

Board events Publicity/Publications Restoration Research Education Planning Environmental Services YOUR LAND | YOUR HOME | YOUR RCD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS GROW From left:

Tidewater goby. USGS photo by Kevin D. Lafferty. Marine Resource Inventory of Leo Carrillo State Beach. Photo by Steve Williams.

Las Virgenes restoration. Photo by Rosi Dagit.

Rosi Dagit counting penguins in the Antarctic. Photo by Ron Naveen. Purple Sage.

! 1990

1980-2010 - Conservation biologist staff evolves 1990 - Glenn Bailey begins decade of service as 1991 - First Envirothon participation 1992-1996 - Las Virgenes Creek stream Marti Witter and Sean Manion are hired as the first conservation biologist Director of Northwest County RCD, and later joins RCDSMM Director Nancy Hensley co-founds statewide Envirothon speech restoration project staff members, setting a high standard for commenting on Environmental RCDSMM as Director, then Associate Director competition, culminating in an annual speak-off held at the CA Association District Manager Kathleen Bullard manages the native plant restoration Impact Reports and setting up research and restoration projects. Rosi Dagit Glenn’s interest in the Sepulveda Basin and Chatsworth have helped of Conservation Districts annual convention, and in ‘92 serves as CARCD project, with plant palette by Rosi Dagit. Funds provided by Prop. A, the LA joins the team in ‘87, followed by Steven Williams in ’01, Stevie Adams in ‘05, to keep the district focused on conservation in the San Fernando Valley, while Education Coordinator to promote the CA Envirothon statewide. County Regional Park and Open Space District, and others. Sandra Albers in ‘09 and Jenna Krug in ‘10. Together they continue the RCD his affection for migrating birdlife has inspired numerous RCD programs. role of providing resource management and baseline ecological monitoring 1991 - Malibu Creek Watershed Natural Resources Plan 1993 - RCDSMM organizes community based erosion In partnership with the renamed Natural Resource Conservation Service, services throughout the mountains. 1990-1995 - Follow up Survey of Compliance with control meetings following the Old Topanga Fire the LA County Oak Tree Ordinance Directors Dennis Washburn and David Gottlieb initiate project with local 1980-present - RCDSMM administrative staff evolves stakeholders to address natural resource priorities, water quality and quantity 1993 - Revegetation of the Torpin Plain, Malibu Results in several publications and revisions in implementation of Pearl Sloane, Joan Ware and Rose Wiley all provided expert assistance to issues, and pollution reduction strategies in the Malibu Creek watershed. mitigation strategies. Creek State Park Betty Doughner from ’61-’95. Melanie Beck assists Betty Doughner on the oak “44 action items“ are defined by watershed stakeholders through a consensus Dagit, R. ‘93. Effectiveness of the County Oak Tree Ordinance. IN J. Keeley, Rosi Dagit and Jo Kitz of Mountains Restoration Trust coordinate the certification program in ‘86, and becomes an RCDSMM employee in ’88 and ed. Interface Between Ecology and Land Development in CA. Proceedings of the Southern process, and provide the guiding principles for the conservation, restoration revegetation of 45 acres of , Calabasas, CA, with oaks sets up the first computer system for the District. Adrian Wright and Donna CA Academy of Sciences Symposium, ‘92. pp. 223-226. and management of the Malibu Creek watershed. and associated riparian species. Initial planting in Nov. ’93. Quarterly follow-up Christianson take over the administrative assistant position in the late ‘90s. monitoring and additional planting used volunteer scout and docent groups. Irene Quinonas comes on board in ‘01, joined by John Hendra in ’05, and have 1990-2000 - Study of transplanted/replacement 1991 - Tidewater goby reintroduction to Malibu Lagoon been instrumental in developing a state of the art accounting and record oak trees CA Dept. of State Parks, Heal the Bay and RCDSMM partner in successful 1994 - Senior Conservation Biologist Rosi Dagit keeping system. The important work of the RCDSMM always relies upon these Rosi Dagit conducts 10-year quantitative and qualitative study of transplanted re-introduction of 54 tidewater gobies, a federally listed endangered species, and the Antarctic Site Inventory Project into Malibu Lagoon. As many as 1500 gobies were counted in ‘10. knowledgeable, capable and careful organizers. and replacement oak trees and the potential for replacing lost forest resources Antarctic Site Inventory Project, founded by Ron Naveen and Oceanites, Inc. and monitored recovery of burned oak trees following the Old Topanga Fire of 1991 - Sepulveda Basin education program started in ‘94, has sent a team of research scientists every year since. Using Nov. ‘93. The environmental education program begins at Sepulveda Basin with an tourist vessels as platforms of opportunity, the ASI collects data at over 140 Reported in Dagit, R. and Downer, A. J. ‘02. To Prune or Not to Prune: Responses of Coast emphasis on wild birds, designed by Jean Dillingham and Nancy Laubach. sites on both sides of the Antarctic Peninsula from the Antarctic Circle north Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) to Canopy Retention During Transplanting. IN: Proceedings of to the Shetland Islands. Documentation of penguin and flying the 5th Oak Symposium: Oaks in California’s Changing Landscape, San Diego, CA, Oct. ‘01. Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee formed the same year, Pacific Southwest Research Station Gen. Tech. Rpt. PSW-GTR-184. Berkeley, CA. And Dagit, R. and includes RCDSMM Director. abundance and distribution is reported each year to the Antarctic Treaty Orga- ‘02. Post Fire Monitoring of Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) Burned in the 1993 Old nization and has led to development of site specific management guidelines. Topanga Fire. IN: Proceedings of the 5th Oak Symposium: Oaks in California’s Changing 1992 - Marine Resource Inventory of Leo Carrillo Landscape, San Diego, CA, Oct., ‘01. Pacific Southwest Research Station Gen. Tech. Rpt. State Beach PSW-GTR-184. Berkeley, CA. Rosi Dagit, Chuck Cleeves, Ray Wells and Rim Fay conduct a marine resources inventory of Leo Carrillo State Beach under CA State Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Contract # 54-01-012. Left: Oaks and development, McKain Road. Photo by Rosi Dagit. Right: Transplanted Oaks, Calabasas 1993. Photo by Rosi Dagit.

Photo by Tom Gamache

Board events Publicity/publications Restoration Research Education Planning Environmental services YOUR LAND | YOUR HOME | YOUR RCD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS RENEW From left:

Earth Day clean ups. Photo by Steve Williams.

Mexican freetail bats. Photo of Mexican freetail bats by Scott King. Environmentally sensitive fuel modification. Photo of fuel ladder by Tom Scott. Water quality study in Topanga Creek and Topanga Lagoon. Photo of Steve Williams collecting samples by Rosi Dagit. Gabb’s Checkerspot butterfly. 1995

1995 - Malibu Creek Watershed Committee founded 1998-present - Education Department evolves 1998-2002 - Topanga Creek Watershed Mgmt. Plan Funding obtained from Dept. of Conservation Watershed Coordinator After over 20 years of leading the RCD Education programs, Jean Dillingham In ‘90, the Dept. of Power and Water proposed a Floodway Ordinance Grant Program to launch Malibu Creek Watershed Coordinator Program. retires. Her successors, Chuck Cleeves, Lori Willis and Deborah Low leave their that would severely impact creek homeowners. In ‘92, County Supervisor Melissa Cole Johnson hired as coordinator. Currently called the Malibu Creek unique stamp on the programs. Jennifer Shelstead assumes the education Ed Edelman established the Topanga Canyon Management Watershed Council, information on the growth, history and current work of coordinator position in ‘01, expanding the program to reach high school Citizen’s Advisory Committee, who presented a report adopted by the Board the council can be found at malibucreekwatershed.org. students with the FARMS program, funded by the Center for Land Based of Supervisors in ‘93. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky then requested the committee Learning. Stephen Vodantis picked up where Jennifer left off, and continues to develop a study with recommendations, which was submitted in ‘96. The 1996 - Restoration of Malibu Lagoon bird peninsula these programs, expanding them to reach AP high school science students first CA Dept. of Conservation grant to fund Topanga Creek Watershed Commit- and mud flats with the help of RCD biologists Jenna Krug and Sandra Albers. tee efforts is received by the RCDSMM in July ’98. Rosi Dagit is coordinator until EPA Near Coastal Waters Program Grant with CA Parks and Recreation Dec. ‘03 when Tricia Watts takes over and the DOC funding ended. Currently the includes excavation of over 2,200 cubic yards of old fill material within the 1998-2000 - Biological monitoring for LA County Topanga Creek Watershed Committee is an all-volunteer community-based Coastal clean up Lagoon, restoration of aquatic , mud flat habitat, and high storm Dept. of Public Works organization. Members of the Topanga Creek Watershed Committee, including day. flow refuge for endangered tidewater goby. Two-year contract with LA County Dept. of Public Works to develop a GIS Topangan Ben Allanoff, stay in contact with the Photo by Rosi Dagit. overlay of all sensitive species adjacent to infrastructure in the Topanga RCDSMM to be kept apprised of funding opportunities, ongoing restoration 1997-2002 - Senior Conservation Biologist Rosi Dagit Creek Watershed and conduct biological monitoring at road repair locations projects and to share watershed concerns with the RCDSMM. serves on City of Malibu Environmental Review Board throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. 1999 - Environmentally sensitive fuel modification 1998 - Earth Day clean ups begin 1998-2000 - Mexican freetail bat study conducted strategies for the urban/wildland interface Led on a volunteer basis by Rosi Dagit, Earth Day clean ups by Topanga Creek in Topanga Creek watershed Rosi Dagit, Jennifer Whitney and Deborah Low coordinate citizen scientists Stream Team continue to the present day in lower Topanga. Volunteers collect Contract with LA County Dept. of Public Works to document the abundance to collect data on tree size, location and species in Topanga which are used between 2-8 tons of trash at each event. Many years include restoration work, and distribution of bats and to implement mitigation measures associated to develop GIS models to compare resource impacts and benefits related to primarily weeding and planting. with preserving Mexican freetail bat colonies under bridges. Rosi Dagit, fuel modification strategies, evaluate fire buffer zones, emergency access sites, 1998-present - Coastal clean up day Jackie and Hayley Safanov, and Ken Wheeland coordinate volunteers to and sensitive species impacts. monitor the bridges. Topanga Elementary School 4th graders built build bat Published as Dagit, R., J. Whitney and D. Low. ‘99. Environmentally Sensitive Fuel The Topanga Creek Stream Team works with State Parks, Surfrider Foundation, boxes installed by Grant Brosius, Greg Safanov and Randy Just. Volunteer Modification Strategies for the Urban/Wildland Interface: Evaluation and Modeling of Heal the Bay and the Topanga Canyon Town Council to remove over 4 tons monitoring continues to present. Clearance Strategies. Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. of trash from the creek each year, as well as continue restoration weeding Topanga, CA, Oct. ’99. and planting. 1999-2001 - Water quality study in Topanga Creek watershed Complete a 205j CAL/EPA grant which evaluated water quality throughout the Topanga Creek Watershed at 15 locations between July ’99 -’01. Results published on website, www.TopangaOnline.com.

Photo by Tom Gamache

Board events Publicity/publications Restoration Research Education Planning Environmental services YOUR LAND | YOUR HOME | YOUR RCD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS SUSTAIN From left:

Topanga Creek clean up. Photo by Rosi Dagit.

Pacific tree frog. Photo by Jayni Shuman.

Topanga Creek Stream Team. Photo by Bil Beebe.

Painting of Topanga Lagoon, 1926. By Theodore Gegoux.

Chaparral yucca. Photo by Deidra Walpole.

Below: Front cover of the Living Lightly guide. 2000

2000 - Topanga Creek helicopter clean up 2000-2003 - Margo Murman, District Manager 2002 - First edition of Living Lightly Guide published Inspired by the idea of local students Sean Denny, Joseph Sloggy and Nic Margo is instrumental in consolidating and updating the District’s financial Coordinated and edited by Malibu Creek Watershed Coordinator Papparella, Rosi Dagit organizes and completes removal by helicopter of 20 records through use of computer programs. With dogged determination she Melissa Cole Johnson, and distributed across the Malibu Creek wrecked cars and 17 loads of debris from Topanga Creek in Sept. ‘00. Funded by moves the District forward to new levels of business and technological Watershed, inspiring similar project in the Topanga Creek Watershed an Urban Restoration Grant. Over 120 community volunteers, including modernization. She spearheads the successful District fundraiser, “Run for 60 5th grade students contribute over $20,000 of in-kind services to accomplish Education”, at Pierce College, and is deeply committed to the goals of 2002 - Topanga Creek watershed and lagoon this project, which helps restore habitat for endangered steelhead trout. the District. restoration feasibility study Funded by a grant from the CA Coastal Conservancy and Santa Monica Bay 2001 - RCD awarded EPA grant for environmental 2000-2011 - Amphibian monitoring Restoration Commission to provide an integrated comprehensive survey of the education films RCDSMM, in partnership with USGS, NPS and Pepperdine University have moni- physical, biological and chemical processes that would impact the restoration of The RCDSMM wins an EPA grant for the Malibu watershed, per the efforts of tored amphibians throughout the Santa Monica Mountains since ’00. The the historic lagoon at the mouth of Topanga Creek. Rosi Dagit leads, and future District Mgr. Kathleen Bullard. Three films are created, directed by David Gottlieb Topanga Creek Stream Team surveys four 500-meter reaches each spring, Executive Officer Clark Stevens is architect and public access planner on the including one on the Malibu Lagoon, one on the Las Virgenes Stream Bank counting all amphibians observed. planning team. Restoration and one on Best Management Practices for Horse-owners. Results to date have been published in Riley, S.P.D., G.T. Busteed, L.B. Kats, T.L. Vandergon, Reported as Dagit, R. and C. Webb. ‘02. Topanga Creek Watershed and Lagoon Restoration Showcasing the stable of Jeanne Rosenberg in Topanga Canyon, this last film L.F.S. Lee, R.G. Dagit, J.L. Kerby, R.N. Fisher, and R.M. Sauvajot. ‘05. Effects of Urbanization on Feasibility Study. Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga, CA. the Distribution and Abundance of Amphibians and in Southern teaches local stable-owners how to improve water quality, conserve soil and California. Conservation Biology 19: 1894-1907. 2002 - feasibility study increase viable habitat by using simple and effective best management practices. 2001 - Southern steelhead trout monitoring RCDSMM collaborates with the CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the members of the Malibu Creek Watershed Committee and the United States Army Corps 2001 - Former RCDSMM Director Fran Pavley sworn RCDSMM begins to monitor endangered southern steelhead trout, receiving of Engineers to commence a feasibility study exploring the possible removal of in as CA Assembly Member, serves until ‘06, after grants to assess and monitor status of endangered southern steelhead trout Rindge Dam. Requiring 50% local match for the project to move forward, the population in the Topanga Creek Watershed. Program establishes capture-tag- which she makes successful bid for CA Senate seat feasibility study represents a major commitment from local partners to restore release program and monitoring via in-stream antenna. Rosi Dagit, Principal habitat for endangered southern steelhead trout. 2001 - Malibu Lagoon Task Force defines Investigator, July ‘01- ‘13. Funded by CA Dept. of Fish and Game. restoration approach 2002 - Southwestern turtle survey After 12 mediated meetings in a one year period, Malibu Lagoon Task Force RCDSMM receives grant to assess the population density and structure of unanimously recommends its highest short-term priority for restoration, the Southwestern Pond Turtles (CA species of Special Concern). Rosi Dagit, Principle creation of an engineering design to accomplish: Increased tidal flushing in the Investigator. Funded by Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and CA wet season; Improved water circulation; Increased holding capacity; Reduced Coastal Conservancy (’02-’08) and National Park Service Santa Monica predator encroachment. The 26-person task force includes RCDSMM Directors Mountains Foundation (’09) and the Topanga Brownie Troup/RCD Adopt a Turtle David Gottlieb and Nancy Helsley, and staff members Sean Manion and Lori program (’11). Worked with the Topanga Canyon Town Council to install turtle Willis. Recommendations presented to City of Malibu. Presentation broadcast crossing signs on Old Topanga Canyon Road. on cable TV multiple times.

Photo by Tom Gamache

Board events Publicity/publications Restoration Research Education Planning Environmental services YOUR LAND | YOUR HOME | YOUR RCD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS INSPIRE From left:

Rodeo grounds berm removal and restoration. Photo by Rosi Dagit. Southern steelhead trout surveys in Malibu and Arroyo Sequit Creek Watersheds. Photo of snorkel survey by Jayni Shuman.

Malibu Creek fish die-off monitoring. Photo by Rosi Dagit.

Peter Strauss Ranch. Photo by John Hendra.

Red-shouldered hawk and chicks. Photo by Anthony Arendt. 2003

2003 - Water quality study, Topanga Creek/Lagoon 2005 - History of southern steelhead trout 2006 - Lesley Devine, former Director of the Board 2007 - RCDSMM is honorary host of National Assn. RCDSMM receives LA County Dept. of Public Works NOAA Coastal Impact Historical distribution of steelhead trout resources for the SM Bay. of the RCDSMM, passes away of Conservation Districts, held in Los Angeles Assistance Grant to investigate hydrology and hydraulics of lower Topanga Rosi Dagit, Sabrina Drill and Bo Meyer. Funded by CA Dept. of Fish and Game and A conservation leader, Lesley Devine served for many years on the Board of RCDSMM hosts two watershed tours, one urban led by Water- NOAA Fisheries. Creek and water quality throughout the watershed, specifically focusing on Directors of the RCDSMM and helped to found the City of Calabasas, serving shed Coordinator Jessica Hall, one in the Santa Monica Mountains led by pathogenics in samples from Topanga Lagoon and Creek. 2005 - Southern steelhead trout surveys as its mayor and on its city council. Melina Watts, to full capacity. One farming couple mentioned that they had 2003 - Malibu Lagoon restoration working group RCDSMM receives grant to assess and monitor status of endangered southern never been in a city before and that they were surprised (to paraphrase) at 2007 - RCDSMM moves to the National Park Service how much nature existed even in this context. Numerous attendees had Stakeholder Group created to develop the Lagoon Restoration and Enhance- steelhead trout population in the Malibu and Arroyo Sequit Creek watersheds. Peter Strauss Ranch Rosi Dagit, Principle Investigator, June ‘05- ’11. Funded by CA Dept. of Fish and Game. never seen the ocean before. ment Plan concepts included RCDSMM. Group design workshops facilitated by Thanks to the visionary leadership of Park Superintendent Woody Smeck, Lesley Devine, architect/planner and future RCDSMM Exec. Officer Clark Stevens. 2005 - Rodeo grounds berm removal and restoration Executive Officer Dan Preece, and Director Dennis Washburn the RCDSMM 2008 - Former RCDSMM Director Fran Pavley former 2003-present - Senior Conservation Biologist Rosi In collaboration with State Parks, Rosi Dagit coordinates necessary studies moves into the National Park Service Peter Strauss Ranch facility, ending over elected to State Senate Director of the twenty years in Topanga Canyon and beginning a future in Agoura Hills. State Senator Pavley invited to meet President Obama to discuss her work on RCDSMM Dagit serves on Environmental Review Board, LA Co. and permits and obtains grants totaling $3.3 million from the Santa Monica climate change reduction in the form of AB 32 and other related legislation. Board. Bay Restoration Commission, CA Coastal Commission, CDFG, NOAA, MRCA 2007 - Steven Rosentsweig joins RCDSMM board Photo: City of 2003 - CA Dept. of Conservation funds the Malibu and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Thousands of tons of debris removed and 12 2008 - RCDSMM Hosts Water Run-off Conference ’08, Calabasas acres restored of riparian and upland habitat re-vegetated. Conservation Award-winning retired school principal from A.E. Wright Middle School, Creek Watershed Coordinator program Rosentsweig brings thoughtful and effective managerial style to the Board held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA Program funded for another 3 years, with Melina Watts joining the Biologists Steve Williams and Sandra Albers assist in biological monitoring. Report published as Dagit, R., ‘09. Topanga Creek Restoration: Rodeo Berm Removal. and a commitment to the conservation of the Santa Monica Mountains. Honorary Chair Dorothy Green gives her last speech at this event, while RCDSMM as the new MCWC coordinator. Urban Coast Vol. 1 (1):37-41 Nov. ‘09 His deep experience and understanding of education makes him an asset actor/environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. and TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis to our environmental education programs. finishes the event. Five days of field trips to see functional projects in situ, the 2004 - “A Watershed Experience: The Malibu Creek 2006 - RCDSMM Video: The Clean Water Act and Watershed Tour 2004”, a documentary film 2007 - Tour of proposed CALTRANS Topanga Canyon event is coordinated by Melina Watts and a working committee including Our Backyards staff, directors of the board and volunteers from cities, agencies, non-profits Working with Las Virgenes Municipal Water Dist. and Arlene Post, with RCDSMM produces and distributes “The Clean Water Act and Our Road Repair/Topanga Creek Restoration project and universities across two counties. support from watershed cities and agencies, current and past Malibu Creek Backyards: Improving Water Quality in the Santa Monica Mountains” RCDSMM hosts tour of proposed CALTRANS Topanga Canyon Road Watershed Coordinators take 102 community members on a daylong trip to starring actor/activist Wendie Malick, reaching over 350,000 homes. Repair/Topanga Creek Restoration project, work later included in the initial 2008-2009 - Go Wild: The Native Plants Sale learn from local experts about watershed issues and successes.! work plan of 2010’s Proposition R. Held yearly on PCH at the Topanga Beach Motel parking lot thanks to the 2006-2011 - Malibu Creek fish die-off monitoring 2005 - 2nd edition of Living Lightly guide generosity of CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the event sells over a RCDSMM coordinates Technical Advisory Committee to study the die-off and 2007 - Carol Felixson joins the Board of Directors thousand plants, many to guests who have never heard of Nativescaping. Melissa Cole Johnson updates and edits the Living Lightly in Our Watersheds subsequent recovery of southern steelhead trout in Malibu Creek. Obtain Carol Felixson is currently at the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve, Mildred E. Mathias guide, created by the Ed. Subcommittee of the MCWC, paid for by the office of grants, materials and assistance from the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Botanical Garden, and UCLA La Kretz Center for CA Conservation Science, 2008-2011 - Los Angeles County Oak Supervisor Yaroslavksy and the watershed cities and agencies. Distributed to Commission, Supervisor Yaroslavsky and SCCWRP in ’09 and ’10. served from ’07-’09 as a director of the board and is currently an associate Conservation Management Plan every homeowner in Malibu and every new homeowner in the rest of the RCDSMM Conservation Biologists publish findings as Dagit, R., S. Adams and S. Drill. ‘09. director. The RCDSMM is grateful for her many years of active leadership and Rosi Dagit coordinates the LA County Oak Woodlands Strategic Alliance, com- watershed for the next five years, thanks to a partnership with Las Virgenes Die-off and current status of southern steelhead trout (Oncorhynchs mykiss) in Malibu support in the Malibu Creek Watershed Council Education Subcommittee. prised of 30 professionals who volunteer more than 5,000 hours to develop the Municipal Water Dist. and Water Dist. 29, County of LA Dept. of Public Works. Creek, LA County, USA. Southern CA Academy of Sciences Bulletin Vol 108(1):1-15. Plan. Funding provided by Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Zev Yaroslavsky.

Photo by Tom Gamache

Board events Publicity/publications Restoration Research Education Planning Environmental services YOUR LAND | YOUR HOME | YOUR RCD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS ENDURE From left: Malibu Lagoon restoration enhancement plan: 1. Digital rendering of bird blind, amphitheaters and summer clock. Clark Stevens/RCDSMM. 2. View of winter platform at high tide during which visitors can “walk” on water. Clark Stevens/RCDSMM.

Adopt a Turtle program. Photo by Jayni Shuman.

Setting traps to catch outmigrating trout. Photo by Rosi Dagit.

Humboldt lily. Photo by Deirdre Warpole. 2009

2009 - Chinese delegation at Las Virgenes 2010 - Keep It Green 2011 - Adopt a Turtle program established 2011 - FARMS Leadership Program funding Municipal Water District during an RCD tour Clark Stevens, Rosi Dagit, Steve Williams and Sandra Albers develop a Public donations fund on-going studies, and are also sponsored by the The Education Dept. partners with the Center for Land-based Learning to Elected officials from China come to see how our communities are program to do on-site visits with individual homeowners to learn how to Topanga Brownie Troup, who will assist in trapping this summer. create a FARMS Leadership Program for LA County, an interscholastic save water, money and improve water quality by initiating sustainable program involving students from a number of high schools with topics and working to restore and conserve the environment. Event coordinated by 2011 - LA County interpretive structure/garden Stephen Vodantis and committee. landscaping solutions on their proper. events focusing on food, farming, conservation and resource management. As outgrowth of our work in the Santa Monica Fire Safe Alliance, RCDSMM 2009-2011 - Malibu Lagoon restoration enhancement 2010 - RCDSMM biologists publish important findings architect Clark Stevens teams with LA County Forestry Landscape Architect 2011 - RCDSMM Watershed Coordinator efforts expand plan and outdoor interpretive center Stillwater Sciences, R. Dagit and J.C. Garza. ‘10. Lifecycle monitoring of O. to develop design of 120 s.f. interpretive structure and 1-acre demonstration Efforts now include most of the remaining watersheds of the District, with RCDSMM receives a Wildlife Conservation Board grant to design and manage mykiss in Topanga Creek, CA. Final report to CDFG Contract # P0750021. garden, funded by LA County Supervisory District 3 (Yaroslavsky), the the formation of the Bell Creek Headwaters Council of the upper Los Angeles Clark Stevens, the project with additional funding from the CA Coastal Conservancy, in RCDSMM, Agoura Hills, CA. This work is also presented as talks and posters at project will demonstrate multiple fire-safe and sustainable construction and River watershed, with funding by the Bell Canyon Community Foundation Architect and the Salmonid. Restoration Federation meeting and Southern CA Academy of remodeling systems and materials, low-impact development approaches and NRCS, led by conservation biologist Sandra Albers and conservation Executive Officer partnership with CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The restoration will correct longstanding problems of the original partial restoration and involves a Sciences meeting. such as rain barrels and bioswales, and will include a native demonstration planner Clark Stevens. RCDSMM is selected for a third Department of Krug, J., S. Albers and R. Dagit. ‘10. Water Quality Monitoring Final Progress Report for garden displaying ecologically appropriate wildland interface fuel Conservation-funded watershed coordinator program, this time expanding complete hydrological, topographic and vegetative reconstruction. RCDSMM is Malibu Creek. Prepared for Malibu Creek Fish Technical Advisory Committee, Resource also providing design services of its architect and executive officer, Clark management approaches. Construction anticipated for early ’12. Melina Watts’ role to the Santa Monica Mountains Watersheds Coordinator Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. position, with biologist Sandra Albers assisting as science co-coordinator. Stevens. The enhanced public access design will incorporate a series of unique 2011 - Steelhead Monitoring grant and permits renewed interpretive elements that will enrich the visitor experience, allowing the public 2010 - Ed. Dept. receives Havasi Foundation donation All of our research and scientific permits are renewed, and in one flattering 2011 - Rosi Dagit receives Lifetime Achievement Award to interact with and learn about tidal , local flora and fauna, and The Havasi Foundation donates $6,000 to defray the high cost of instance, are renewed for more years than requested, an unprecedented show Senior Conservation Biologist Rosi Dagit is honored at the 2011 conference cultural resources. Specific elements include new educational displays covering transportation to program sites incurred by disadvantaged schools. This of support for our ongoing research work in the Santa Monica Mountains. of the Salmonid Restoration Federation with a Lifetime Achievement Award, the cultural, history, and wildlife resources, a beach access path; a birding blind, money is instrumental in adding a number of under-served schools to Richard Brody First Topanga Lifecycle Monitoring grant is completed and next 3 year cycle is for her contributions to the knowledge base and ongoing research related to and topographic model of the Malibu Creek Watershed over which water can our education program client list. started. The RCDSMM operates the only instream antenna south of Santa Cruz, the endangered southern steelhead trout. flow on demand for demonstrations. Bids are received well under budget, and and has now tagged over 500 individual steelhead and recaptured over 30. construction is due to begin in the summer of ’11. 2010 - Richard Brody joins RCDSMM board “Brody”, who brings unique experience to the Board as an environmental 2011 - RCDSMM Biology Team expands 2010 - Conservation easement analysis science professional and long-time Topanga Creek Stream Team volunteer, New conservation biology staff are trained on writing comment letters, District Managers of the RCDSMM Conservation Biologist Sandra Albers and Operations Manager John Hendra initiates RCDSMM expansion in fee-for-service environmental work, and mapping, CEQA process, and existing projects, and publish the following produce a Budget and Property Analysis Record for a conservation exploration of mitigation banking. Our thanks to all those who provided leadership and guidance. journal papers and summary reports: Bell E., S. M. Albers, J. M. Krug, and R. Each person played a unique role in guiding the RCD over the years. easement at the Dos Vientos development site in Newbury Park, CA using Dagit. ‘11. Juvenile Growth of a Population of Southern California Steelhead Property Analysis Record software developed by the Center for Natural 2011 - Library construction begins on site of Betty Doughner: Feb 1961 to Dec 1995 former RCDSMM office Trout (Oncorhychus mykiss). CA Fish and Game Bulletin 97(1) in press, and Lands Management. Bell, Dagit and Lignon. ‘11. Environmental Factors Controlling a Kathleen Bullard: Acting EO Jan 1995 to Nov 1995; EO Jan 1996 to Jan 1999 Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky brings a library into Topanga Canyon. RCDSMM Persistent Population of Southern California Steelhead (Oncorhychus mykiss). Lenora Kirby: Acting EO Jan 1999 to July 1999 to curate selection of books on conservation and related materials. Southern CA Academy of Sciences Bulletin April ’11. Margo Murman: Aug 1999 to Oct 2003 Mary Angle: Sept 2002 to Dec 2002 Rebecca Barkin: Jan 2003 to June 4, 2004 Dan Preece: Sept 2004 to May 2009 Photo by Tom Gamache Clark Stevens: May 2009 to present

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