The Topanga Canyon watershed is a diverse area with many uses including residential and business development, infrastructure (roads and utilities), wilderness recreation for an urban population and important biological habitat. Because of the historical pattern of development in the canyon, many of these uses are concentrated along the major creek channels.
Land uses throughout the canyon that increase the rate and volume of runoff will have their major impact along the creeks where existing residences, roads, utilities and sensitive riparian habitat occur. Protection of existing life and property, and the riparian habitat, requires an integrated management approach to the entire watershed.
1.0 GOALS
1. To improve public safety and protect existing life, infrastructure, and property from flood hazards.
2. To establish a Watershed Management Committee (WMC) as a permanent administrative body to implement, monitor and coordinate the Topanga Creek Watershed Management Plan (TCWMP).
3. To provide a community based educational forum regarding Best Management Practices that reduce flood hazards.
4. To preserve and protect the creek environment.
2.0 POLICIES
GOAL 1: To improve public safety and protect existing life, infrastructure, and property from flood hazards.
1.1 Ensure that no existing life and property be placed at risk from hazards created by increases in peak flow runoff produced by new development.
1.2 Reduce the flood hazard by implementing measures to reduce existing peak flow runoff.
1.3 Evaluate existing risks to public safety and develop programs to address them.
1.4 Regulate new development in the riparian zone to prevent increases in flood hazard.
GOAL 2: To establish a Watershed Management Committee (WMC) as a permanent administrative body to implement, monitor and coordinate the Topanga Creek Watershed Management Plan (TCWMP).
2.1 Coordinate Federal, State and County regulations to provide an comprehensive integrated management plan.
2.2 Require agencies and utilities to adhere to the same guidelines and regulations as non-governmental agencies and citizens.
2.3 Define the flood hazard problem in terms of potential harm to people, structures and the stream course/riparian habitat.
2.4 Encourage all property owners in the watershed to contribute to flood hazard mitigation.
GOAL 3: To provide a community based educational forum regarding Best Management Practices that reduce flood hazards.
3.1 Develop an outreach program to inform residents of flood hazards and ways to protect themselves.
3.2 Provide a community forum for education regarding Best Management Practices which can reduce the flood hazard.
3.3 Provide a cooperative forum encouraging coordinated voluntary efforts to minimize the flood hazard.
GOAL 4: To preserve and protect the creek environment.
4.1 Preserve and rehabilitate the stream channel and floodplains to restore natural channel capacity wherever feasible.
4.2 Protect the riparian habitat which plays a crucial role in intercepting rainfall, reducing stormwater runoff, maintaining slope stability, and allowing for greater groundwater recharge.
4.3 Improve and protect water quality by reducing erosion, sedimentation, point and non-point source pollution.
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