Home Care In Canyon, CA

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Friday to help fund badly needed repairs of roads battered during this year’s storms, including scenic Topanga Canyon Boulevard that was blocked by millions of pounds of debris.

The governor’s action comes two weeks after California Department of Transportation officials said the massive, 300-foot-tall landslide that covered Topanga Canyon Boulevard in March with mud and rocks would not be cleared until fall, “if all things go well.”

The proclamation enables Caltrans to request funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which could cover up to 100% of the repairs, according to the governor’s office.

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It would also help state officials secure federal aid for other roads damaged by the torrential rains, including a portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur that crumbled and fell into the ocean.

“Storms in March caused significant damage to critical parts of our transportation infrastructure — impacting not only traffic for our communities, but also hurting small businesses and workers,” Newsom said in a statement. “The state is working overtime to complete repairs as safely and as quickly as possible, and I have signed a state of emergency proclamation which will help ensure that we receive critical federal funding to help impacted communities bounce back from these devastating storms.”

April 19, 2024

Much of California was drenched with storms in early 2024, with Southern California seeing more than a year’s worth of rain in just a few weeks, causing mudslides and floods.

On Topanga Canyon Boulevard, officials said the landslide that now covers the road at milepost 1.8 is more than twice as large — with about 80,000 cubic yards of debris covering the area — as the massive landslide that occurred in the area in the 1940s.

The incident has caused residents to make hours-long detours and local businesses to lose revenue, according to the governor’s office.

Because of the instability of the slope and water that continues to seep out of the landslide, Caltrans officials on April 18 said clearing the road would require crews to remove the dirt from the top of the slide. Workers plan to work their way down the mass of debris to keep more dirt and boulders from sliding from the hill.

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When a portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur crumbled on Easter weekend, the road closure also stranded tourists and locals. This week, twice-a-day convoys resumed along one lane of the damaged section to allow residents, workers and visitors to enter and exit the area.

The emergency declaration also covers storm-damaged roads in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity and Ventura counties, according to the governor’s office.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the work must be completed within 270 days, but extensions can be requested.

Officials are conducting tests at a drinking water reservoir in California, after dead fish were found floating there.

The Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority (LESJWA) announced on Wednesday evening it had launched an investigation into oxygen levels at Canyon Lake. The reservoir, in southern California, has historically suffered from algae blooms, which can cause environmental concerns, according to the LESJWA website.

"A fish die-off, is one of the first visible signs of environmental stress when dead fish are found floating on the surface of water or washed up on the shore," a statement said. "The most common cause of a fish die-off is the depletion of dissolved oxygen in a body of water."

There was no mention of whether the fish die-off or presence of algae could potentially impact the quality of the drinking water.

Newsweek reached out to the LESJWA by phone for comment.

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"Fish kills are caused by naturally occurring conditions including algae, weather, low lake levels and abundance of carp/shad," the statement added.

"Phosphorus and nitrogen flows into Canyon Lake from the San Jacinto Watershed; algae use these nutrients to grow. Like all green plants, algae produce oxygen during the daylight hours as a by-product of photosynthesis.

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"However, when light levels drop, water temperature increases or nutrients are used up, the algae release carbon dioxide and stop releasing oxygen. Soon they begin to consume more oxygen than they release.

"This can also result in algae bloom die-off, leading to bacterial decomposition and lower oxygen levels in the lake and suffocating the fish."

Canyon Lake is susceptible to algae blooms because it is located at the end of a watershed, according to the LESJWA website. This means the lake is exposed to high levels of nutrients from water run-off upstream, including phosphorus and nitrogen, which algae consumes.

"These nutrients encourage algae growth," said the lake's website.

Water officials add alum, a chemical compound, to the water to combat the growth.

"By adding alum to the water, it immediately binds to the phosphorus, causing it to neutralize and become inactive. The alum process was chosen as a means to improve lake quality due to its proven effectiveness in lakes throughout the country," the website said.

"LESJWA has been responsible for organizing the alum treatments, which have proven to be successful in minimizing algae growth."

Welcome to Two Days Away, our series featuring weekend-long itineraries within a five-hour drive of your city—because sometimes we all just need a little adventure fix.

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Tucked away in the Santa Monica Mountains is the tiny community of Topanga, with just 8560 residents. It’s huddled in Topanga Canyon, which stretches all the way to Topanga Beach at the coast, between Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The name Topanga comes from the indigenous Tongva tribe that inhabited the area, who likely borrowed its root, topaa, meaning “a place above” from the neighboring Chumash tribe. The area was later colonized by Mexico, but by the 1920s, it became a retreat for Hollywood celebrities, who built cabins there as a weekend escape from the city. Popular musicians, actors and writers flocked to the area in the 1960s, where they found inspiration, as well as privacy, in the solitude of the rolling hills and evergreen foliage. Pre-Helter Skelter Charles Manson lived there before moving to Malibu, and mobster Henry Hill, whose life was chronicled in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas, made it his home after leaving witness protection. Present-day Topanga is known for its vibrant creative community, a stellar collection of state parks, cute coffee shops, and eclectic restaurants. From a quaint café with dazzling canyon views to a world-renowned, open-air theater, here are the best ways to pass some time in Topanga now.

Travel time

1 hour from Los Angeles3 hours from San Diego5 hours from Las Vegas, NV

If you don’t do anything else: Hike Topanga State Park

Topanga State Park is the largest state park within the Santa Monica Mountains, spanning 11,000 acres—it’s also one of the world’s largest parks entirely within city limits. Visitors can access the grounds via more than sixty entrances to thirty-six miles of trails and, once there, enjoy sweeping panoramas while exploring the region’s range of plants, habitats, and wildlife, including several resident bird species. The Eagle Springs Trail Loop is a 6.5-mile moderate hike that starts in a large meadow before heading uphill on a fire road that ends at Eagle Rock, where you’ll have views of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica mountains, and San Gabriel Valley. The Musch Trail is a 4.1-mile trail that takes you on a well-marked route that still feels remote, with a steady climb, diverse terrain, and beautiful vistas. For a moderate, 2.2-mile trail that still packs a punch, the Santa Ynez Canyon Waterfall Trail meanders along the river most of the way to the destination waterfall. It’s not well-marked and can be overgrown, with a bit of bouldering near the falls itself. Experienced hikers recommend downloading an offline map before heading out. Poison oak can be abundant, especially after rains, so long pants and long-sleeved shirts are a good idea.

Fill your days:

Fall in love with Shakespeare at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. This beloved open-air theater has hosted productions for decades and is recognized worldwide for its Shakespeare interpretations. In addition to its annual summer season, which includes works like Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the venue hosts concerts, rehearsals, and classes throughout the year for budding actors and playwrights of all ages. The Canyon Bakery is also situated on the grounds and specializes in naturally leavened breads, pastries, cakes, and cookies using locally sourced, whole-grain flours. Join them for Sunday Funday, a takeout window only on Sundays, from 9:30 am until the bakery sells out. You can also catch a show at Corazon Performing Arts, where artists, poets, musicians, dancers, and performers bring music, oral storytelling, cultural dance performances, and poetry readings alive. In addition to performances, the center holds yoga, poetry writing, art, and dance classes.

Memorial Day weekend brings Topanga Days, a music festival and country fair with three full days of music on two stages, food trucks, vendors, and a parade. Reggae on the Mountain, LA’s premier reggae and world music event, returns for its 12th year in August with Steel Pulse, Don Carlos, Marlon Asher, Empress Akua, Quinto Sol, and more. The Topanga Film Festival, presented by The Topanga Film Institute, takes place in mid-October.

Eat, drink, and sleep:

Get your camera ready for a coffee date at Café on 27, an AM eatery and café where ample outdoor seating offers some of the Canyon’s best views. A full breakfast and lunch menu is available, complete with hearty orders like eggs Benedicts, soups, and club sandwiches, or opt for lighter morning fare and spring for a pastry and any of the specialty drinks, such as the Turmeric Latte or Moroccan Mocha. Grab lunch at Topanga Living Café, a community gathering spot with nourishing, hyper-fresh fare—all California-inspired with global influences. Snag a slice at Endless Color, a family-run pizza joint specializing in from-scratch pies with clever topping combinations; think mozzarella buffala, Beemster goat cheese, baby squash, sungold tomatoes, and garlic confit on Squash Blossom, or spinach, leeks, and goat cheese in the Super Green. Book dinner at Inn of the Seventh Ray, a romantic alfresco dining space with tables tucked into cozy nooks and gazebos, all beneath canopies and fairy lights.

Try tacos to-go at La Chingona Tacos food truck, where the team puts forth fresh, organic, gluten- and dairy-free tacos, ranging from grass-fed beef (carne asada), shrimp (wild-caught), and soy chorizo. Almost everything can be fashioned into plates beyond tacos, too, like tostadas, salads, and bowls. It’s only open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, so plan accordingly. On your way out of town, be sure to stock up on specialty, local snacks at Canyon Gourmet and satiate your sweet tooth while you’re at it. The organic soft-serve there is a must. Pro tip: Top it with any of the artisanal syrups for a winning combo, namely, the vanilla with cardamom.

In addition to plenty of excellent Airbnbs available to rent in the Canyon, there’s Topanga Canyon Inn, a charming bed and breakfast comprising two Mediterranean-style buildings—Casa Blanca and Casa Rosa—both built by the owners. Guests can enjoy bespoke design details in each room and gorgeous mountain views from a private balcony. Come morning, join other travelers for breakfast, served daily at Casa Rosa.

Facility Background

Chiquita Canyon Landfill (the “Landfill”) is a 639-acre municipal solid waste landfill, located in the northern section of Los Angeles County, that is operated by Chiquita Canyon, LLC (“CCL”) and has served Los Angeles County since 1972.

Typically, operators of solid waste landfills like the Landfill dispose of residential and commercial waste by depositing and compacting layers of trash and covering those layers daily. Landfill operators will move where they deposit trash around a landfill so that it evenly slopes upward before reaching a final height, which is dictated by a solid waste permit.

To prevent soil, water, and air contamination, landfill operators will construct impermeable liners underneath and atop closed areas of the landfill to prevent seepage of liquids and landfill gas emissions into the air. Landfill operators control the liquids produced by the landfill, known as leachate, and landfill gases through carefully constructed systems of wells and pumps. Collected gases and liquids can then be treated to avoid environmental damage and harm to public health. CCL is required to operate and maintain both landfill gas capture and control systems and leachate capture and control systems by various federal, state, and local regulations and permits.

Reaction Event History

Since approximately May 2022, the Landfill has been experiencing a significant subsurface oxidation event that has grown in size and impact. While the exact cause of the reaction event at the Landfill is unknown, an oxidation event is a subsurface reaction at a landfill that typically occurs when oxygen intrudes below the landfill cover and results in extreme temperature increases, excessive leachate production, and a change in composition of the landfill gas. During such reactions, the concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organics are typically increased in the landfill gas, while methane is decreased.

Conditions at the Landfill have enabled the expansion of the reaction area to approximately 30 to 35 acres in size in the northwestern portion of the Landfill. The subsurface reaction impeded the ability of the gas collection and control system to operate effectively, resulting in the increase in odors. Residents of the communities surrounding the Landfill reported almost 6,800 odor complaints in 2023. Further, the reaction has resulted in increased leachate production from approximately 150,000 gallons per week in January 2022 to over 1,000,000 gallons per week in December 2023.

Inspection and Enforcement History

Various state and local regulatory agencies have been overseeing CCL, including, California’s Department of Resources Recyling and Recovery (“CalRecycle”), the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Solid Waste Management Program (certified to act as the Local Enforcement Agency by CalRecycle, the “LEA”), California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (“South Coast AQMD”), the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (“RWQCB”) and California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”) (together with EPA, the “Regulatory Agencies”). The Regulatory Agencies have made numerous efforts to address the reaction.

South Coast AQMD has responded to and investigated the odor complaints alleging the Landfill as the source. South Coast AQMD investigated the odor complaints and traced them back to the Landfill as the source. South Coast AQMD has issued in 107 Notices of Violation (as of February 2024) citing a public nuisance caused by the odors under South Coast AQMD’s Rule 402 and the California Health and Safety Code Section 41700. Further, on September 7, 2023, the South Coast AQMD Hearing Board issued a Stipulated Abatement Order requiring CCL to investigate and mitigate the odors and expansion of the reaction.

In September, October, November and December, respectively, the LEA issued violations to CCL for non-compliance with gas monitoring and control requirements, leachate control requirements, preventive maintenance program requirements, and for deteriorated conditions in the reaction area.

On November 22, 2023, the RWQCB issued a notice of violation to CCL for violations of various waste discharge requirements.

On January 17, 2024, the South Coast AQMD Hearing Board approved modifications to the Stipulated Abatement Order which requires CCL to address issues relating to the Landfill’s leachate collection system and other conditions resulting in increased emissions and odors.

On February 15, 2024, DTSC issued violations to CCL related to CCL’s leachate management and disposal which included violations for failing to make a proper waste determination, disposing of hazardous waste at an unauthorized facility, and failing to minimize the possibility of release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) participated in a multi-agency inspection of the Landfill on November 2, 2023, to obtain information about the reaction event and evaluate next steps, in coordination with the other Regulatory Agencies.

To further investigate compliance with the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations, EPA has conducted three follow up inspections at the Landfill. Inspections on November 8, 2023, January 9, 2024, and January 18, 2024, involved surface emissions monitoring, observation of CCL’s response to the reaction event, and evaluation of air emissions controls operating at the Landfill.

To evaluate CCL’s compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA participated in a hazardous waste inspection with DTSC on December 12, 2023. During the inspection, DTSC collected samples of the uncontrolled leachate condensate from gas extraction wellheads. The laboratory analysis showed that the condensate contained elevated levels of benzene rendering the leachate a hazardous waste under RCRA.

On February 15, 2024, EPA conducted a wastewater and stormwater inspection with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to evaluate CCL’s wastewater control systems, and to evaluate the potential for leachate to reach the stormwater drains or the Santa Clara River through seepage.

This section will be updated as information becomes available.

Multi-Agency Coordination

On November 30, 2023, local, state, and federal agencies formed a multi-agency task force (MCAT) to address concerns raised about the operations and overall state of the Landfill. EPA is leading the task force.

Members of the MCAT include the Regulatory Agencies, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, CalRecycle, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Works, Public Health and Planning.

The MCAT’s highest concerns are possible health and environmental impacts, especially those raised by community members. The overarching purpose of the MCAT is to coordinate among the regulatory agencies and marshal their collective expertise, resources, and tools to find short- and long-term solutions to the environmental and public health issues at the Landfill.

On March 21, 2024, EPA held a community meeting for the public to hear from local, state and federal regulators overseeing the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

RCRA and CERCLA Unilateral Administrative Order

On February 21, 2024, the EPA ordered CCL to take immediate steps to protect human health and the environment at the Landfill. The Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) requires CCL to comply with the law and properly manage, treat, and dispose of hazardous waste and to take steps to mitigate the odors emanating from the Landfill. The UAO requires CCL to provide a plan which meets these objectives and incorporates on-going enforcement efforts by state and local agencies to ensure a comprehensive response to the challenges posed by the Landfill.

Section 7003 of the (RCRA), 42 U.S. C. § 6973, and Section 106 of the (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. § 9606, provide EPA with broad and effective enforcement tools that can be used to abate conditions that may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment. RCRA Section 7003 allows EPA to address situations where the handling, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of any solid or hazardous waste may present such an endangerment. CERCLA Section 106 allows EPA to take action to address an actual or threatened release of a hazardous substance that presents an endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment. In these situations, EPA can initiate judicial action or issue an administrative order to any person who contributed to the disposal of a hazardous or solid waste (under RCRA) or who owns or operates a facility where hazardous substances have come to be located (under CERCLA) and require the person to take any necessary action to protect public health and welfare and the environment.

The UAO directs CCL to perform response actions to address off-site impacts, such as noxious odors, and the ongoing subsurface reactions at the Landfill which are causing the off-site impacts. This includes properly managing leachate, including storing, transporting and disposing of leachate characterized as hazardous waste. The UAO requires the installation of temperature probes to monitor the progress of the reaction and a geomembrane landfill cover. Additionally, the UAO directs CCL to conduct increased air and water monitoring. In issuing the UAO, EPA intends for CCL to identify, investigate, remedy, and/or prevent potential endangerment to human health or the environment. CCL will finance and perform the work in accordance with the plans, standards, specifications, and schedules set forth in this UAO or developed by CCL and approved by EPA pursuant to the UAO. EPA will oversee the design and implementation of the work required by the UAO.

Links to Other Chiquita Canyon Landfill Websites

Documents

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