Malibu Canyon

Map Satellite

Malibu Creek is an antecedent stream, existing before the mountains were formed, and is the only one that bisects the Santa Monica Mountains. Rocks in the canyon date from the Eocene through the Miocene and include marine sandstones and shales of the Topanga formation, as well as the mid-Miocene Conejo volcanics. Thrust faults and other structural features are clearly distinguished.

Virtually all of the area is covered by chaparral which here includes scrub oak, Quercus sp., chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides, coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica, and Yucca whipplei. There is, however, some coastal sage scrub and riparian. The scrub includes California sagebrush, Artemisia californica, white, black and purple sage, Salvia apiana, Salvia mellifera and Salvia leucophylla. Of note in the riparian area is the Boykinia rotundifolia.

White alder, Alnus rhombifolia, big-leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, and valley oak, Quercus lobata, occur in the canyon. The latter is at or near its southern limit here. There are chain ferns, Woodwardia fimbriata, some of which have fronds up to 3 meters (9 feet) long.

Animal life is abundant. Here is the type locality for several arthropods including an unusual subterranean predator of the Order Schizomida (Class Arachnida). It is also the southern limit of the range of the blind snout beetle, Raymondomnius sp.; three species of this genus occur in North America, all confined to California; the remainder are European.

Within the area is an excellent bed of the Miocene pectin, Pectin nevadensis; other Miocene fossils include Purpura topangensis and Tegula malibuensis.

Integrity: There is a road as well as a reservoir in the canyon; however, the area is relatively undisturbed.

Use: Private

August 1982