Before the Pacific Coast Highway, before Malibu and before multimillion-dollar beachfront homes, Topanga Creek flowed freely down through the Santa Monica Mountains. The water, swelling and subsiding with the seasons, eventually dumped out into a large lagoon, which in turn drained out to the Pacific Ocean. Historically, the lagoon covered 30 acres of coastal wetlands. But over time, the brackish water slowly gave way to homes, beach parking lots and the Pacific Coast Highway. Today, less than 1 acre of the lagoon remains. … In Malibu, a last-ditch effort is underway to save and expand the Topanga Lagoon, which contains some of the last remaining coastal wetlands in the state. 

Other wetland news:

• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): California’s hidden vernal pools are blooming right now and most people have never seen one
• Edhat Santa Barbara (Calif.): Vernal pools across California hit peak season, showcasing rare wildlife and wildflowers