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1. What is an ASBS?

The Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) are coastal areas designated by the State of California where fragile biological and marine communities must be protected. Malibu is adjacent to ASBS No. 24 (designated in 1974), which stretches from Latigo Point to Laguna Point. The regulations set forth by the State to protect these coastal habitats are intended to maintain natural water quality standards by preventing pollution from entering the ASBS.

2. Can I irrigate my landscaping?

Yes, residents may irrigate landscaped areas, but should not over-irrigate plants to the point where the plants and soil cannot absorb the water and it flows off the property and into the street. Overspray from sprinklers or other irrigation methods set too close to the street can mistakenly water the pavement instead of plants.

It is common to overwater plants, which not only causes runoff but makes it difficult for plants to survive. Try irrigating less, and you will likely be surprised that your plants do just as well or better with less water. Remember to adjust irrigation practices for seasonality and weather. Try using native plants that are naturally adapted to the moisture levels in Malibu and need very little to no water at all.

3. Is car washing or watering outdoor plants prohibited?

No. However, residents may not allow fluids to runoff of their property because the runoff can enter the storm drain system or deposit pollution on the street that will be carried to the ocean with the next rain. These runoff restrictions derive from the requirements in the Federal Clean Water Act, the California Water Code Section 13000 et. seq., the California Ocean Plan, and the Los Angeles Region Water Quality Control Plan (also referred to as the Basin Plan).

These regulations are implemented locally through Malibu's Municipal Code (MMC), including the following sections:

• MMC Section 9.08.060, Causing or permitting certain substances to flow onto highways or into drainage channels prohibited
• MMC Section 13.04.060, Stormwater management and discharge control - Prohibited activities
• MMC Section 13.04.080, Requiring good housekeeping practices
• MMC Section 8.28.020, Duty of owner or possessor of property
• MMC Section 9.20.020, Regulation of irrigation practices
• MMC Section 9.20.030, Regulation of exterior washing practices

The requirements for new landscaping can be found in MMC Section 9.22.090, Landscape water conservation design standards.

MMC, Title 1

4. What can I do to prevent runoff and protect the ASBS?

Living next to the majestic Pacific Ocean comes with a price and, in Malibu, everyone is obligated to do their part to protect the ocean and its fragile marine communities. The key to eliminating runoff is preventing water from leaving your property and flowing into the street. If water is leaving your property, the first step is to locate the water's source. The most common sources of runoff are over-irrigation, car washing, and hosing down sidewalks or driveways, but runoff can also come from broken pipes, greywater connections or pool backwash, among other things. Once the source of the runoff is determined, you can assess the best remedy for the problem.

5. What is an Ocean Friendly Garden?

An Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) utilizes the concepts of Conservation, Permeability, and Retention (CPR) to keep water onsite and reduce pollution to the ocean from runoff and stormwater:

• Conservation requires reducing irrigation (because 30-70% of a household's water is used outdoors), and reducing the use of garden chemicals. Using less water creates a drier landscape, which allows the garden to hold more rainwater. By reducing or eliminating pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer, landscaped areas will not contribute toxic chemicals to the water that runs off landscaping after a storm. This can be achieved by using native plants that are naturally adapted to Malibu's climate and require very little water, and by using non-toxic alternatives to traditional fertilizers and pesticides, like compost and integrated pest management.
• Permeability increases a landscape's ability to slow and hold water in order to allow the water to sink into the ground, which feeds the plants and ground water, instead of rushing across a hard impervious surface. Permeability can be achieved by increasing landscaped areas, maintaining healthy soils, and opting for permeable or semi-permeable hard surfaces (brick, stone, decomposed granite) in your yard and driveway instead of concrete.
• Retention involves strategies that allow landscapes to collect water by capturing and storing it for later use. Retention methods often include bioretention basins, infiltration trenches, or rooftop rainwater collection systems.

Ocean Friendly Gardens

6. What is the City doing to protect ASBS #24?

The State Water Resources Control Board adopted a plan (officially "Special Protections") on March 20, 2012, which provides more detail on how the waste discharge prohibition is to be applied in local communities. These protections specify what concrete actions must be taken to protect California's ASBS.

The protections require the elimination of nearly all non-stormwater discharges to the ASBS. The City applied for and received two grants from the State to install structural Best Management Practices (BMP), structural facilities that can catch and treat polluted runoff before reaching the ASBS. In 2015, the City completed installation of structural BMPs at storm drains on Wildlife Rd and Whitesands Pl in Point Dume, and along Broad Beach Rd. The structural BMPs will improve the water quality of stormwater runoff that drains to those catch basins, which will complement residents' efforts to stop non-stormwater runoff and comply with the Special Protections. The grant also funded the City's Coastal Preservation Specialist position, a two-year staff position dedicated to conducting ASBS education and outreach with the Malibu community. A permanent Environmental Programs Specialist position was added to City staff upon the conclusion of the two-year, grant-funded term.

Learn more about ASBS Protection

7. How is the ASBS regulated?

The California Ocean Plan, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board, prohibits waste discharges into the ASBS. One way waste is discharged to the ASBS is through pipes that drain directly to the ASBS; another way is through dry-weather runoff (runoff not from precipitation) that flows over the land and eventually drains to the ocean. Runoff, no matter where it starts, may pick up pollutants as it flows over impervious surfaces. That polluted water eventually drains to the ocean through storm drains or natural streams and creeks. This runoff may harm the fragile biological and marine communities, which is why the State prohibits "waste" discharges into the ASBS and why best management practices (BMPs) must be used to prevent such discharges.