Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project
California State Parks, along with partners including the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Caltrans, and Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors are working on a project funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy to restore Topanga Lagoon.
Topanga Lagoon is located at the mouth of Topanga Creek, which drains from a watershed within the Santa Monica Mountains. The lagoon is currently approximately 1 acre in size and is crossed by the Pacific Coast Highway. The historic lagoon area has been filled and developed over the years with buildings and hard-scape infrastructure. The beach adjacent to the lagoon hosts millions of visitors per year and is an important regional coastal access and recreation location. Though reduced from its historical size, Topanga Lagoon still hosts important natural resources, including the federally endangered tidewater goby and federally endangered Southern California steelhead trout. The lagoon area also includes remnants of the Historic Topanga Ranch Motel.
The Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project seeks to restore ecological values by expanding Topanga Lagoon from 1 acre to 7-10 acres and reconstructing an existing PCH bridge to accommodate the wider lagoon. The project also seeks to improve visitor services and coastal access.
California State Parks and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains are seeking public input on the proposed restoration of Topanga Lagoon and the efforts to protect and enhance its biological, cultural, and recreational resources. More information regarding the project is available at: https://www.rcdsmm.org/resources/topanga-lagoon-restoration/.
Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project Public Meeting: Another Milestone Has Been Reached!
Partners of the Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project are holding another public meeting on Thursday October 29th, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The team will be providing an update on the Topanga Beach visitor services design, and lagoon restoration. The public can ask questions or give input on the design before they reach 90% completion towards the end of the year.
Earlier this year, project partners provided the first public update on the restoration since the Palisades Fire. Participants provided input and perspectives on visitor service design elements while sharing their personal connection to the beach & lagoon.
This will be an entirely virtual meeting, so no matter where you are located, you can take part. We will be recording the meeting and uploading it afterwards, so if you cannot participate live, you will still receive all the relevant information.
Live Spanish translation and ADA accessibility will be available during the meeting, upon advance request.
RSVP for this meeting via Eventbrite (Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project Virtual Public Meeting Tickets, Thursday, October 29 • 6 PM - 8 PM PDT | Eventbrite)