The majority of tommorrow's decision-makers and potential leaders are today's urban youths. These mostly are minority and new-immigrant students, who have little real contact with the world of agriculture and why soil and water need to be conserved, are future voters who can dramatically affect agricultural and environmental legislation in the next decade. Through conservation education outreach programs at field sites such as Malibu Lagoon, the Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District presently introduces students to ecology and value of one of the last remaining estuaries in Southern California through a variety of "hands-on" activities. Water quality data gathered by these students is used by the California Department of Parks and Recreation in the management of the Lagoon, and has become instrumental in influencing management of wastewater discharge into Malibu Creek by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

Our District's research report: "Malibu Lagoon: A Baseline Ecological Survey", has made our District's voice more effective as we participate in planning the clean-up of water quality in Santa Monica Bay, and as we provide a forum for coordination for agencies involved in planning of the entire Las Virgenes watershed.

And it all began with a small conservation education program developed by the District in 1985. What these youths have experienced in District programs at Malibu Lagoon provides the beginning knowledge of and appreciation for this small estuary, which we hope that they will one day use as members of the "Earth Team" in the conservation of our soil and water resources.

For more information contact:
Jean Dillingha, Director of Education and Research
Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District
122 North Topanga Canyon Blvd
Topanga, CA 90290