Cliff Erosion Control at Malibu Estate

09/03/2009/EPIC Total Water Solutions/Comments Off

EPIC green and lush lawn acts as cliff erosion control in Malibu.

The clients of this Malibu estate were able grow their green lawn organically while also helping prevent cliff erosion control. Malibu County has regulations to limit the size of turf. These regulations were met and surpassed by using the Environmental Passive Integrated Conveyance (EPIC) system. Multiple areas of the property use EPIC for a variety of turf grass. Most importantly, the EPIC water barrier liner protects the cliff erosion by controlling the water runoff. A lined sub-drain underneath the EPIC lawn protects the cliff from any unwanted seepage. Furthermore, the EPIC system increases drainage capacity, improves filtration while also providing irrigation.

Lawn size tripled by using the passive irrigation EPIC system.

The project was designed by EPD Consultants of Carson, CA, and installed by Armfield Design & Construction of Malibu, CA, under the supervision of Wonderland, Inc. of Mount Shasta, CA. Rainfall is captured and reused in the EPIC green lawn area. Therefore, storm runoff from the driveway and roof areas drains through the EPIC sand filter profile. An existing tree is fed within the lined area because of capillary physics. Any excess water is channeled through a sealed pipe to the ocean, hence avoiding contribution to runoff erosion of the adjoining cliff. Most noteworthy, the EPIC system is a different way to irrigate. Because passive irrigation is not pressurized and contained, half the water grows twice the plants! As a result, the plants are able to decide when to drink and when to breathe at their own discretion. Consequently the EPIC chamber provides a reliable conveyance within an ideal growing media.

Gallery of pictures to show the cliff erosion control installation process:

: Leveling of the 1st EPIC cell base above the gravel sub-drain. Laser level base 1/2″ tolerance and compacted

: Laser transit checks the level of the 1st EPIC cell base. Laser transit checks level base elevation throughout EPIC lawn area. The EPDM liner prevents water percolation as cliff erosion control while EPIC chambers distribute moisture above the liner.

: EPDM water barrier liner and EPIC chambers of 1st EPIC cell. The EPDM liner prevents water percolation as cliff erosion control while EPIC chambers distribute moisture above the liner.

: Sand bags hold EPIC chambers in position during installation. The temporary sand bags hold the EPIC chambers in position during the installation. The sand bags are removed once chambers are buried.

: 1st and 2nd EPIC cells with gravel layer over EPDM liner. The first two cells are completed with the 2″ gravel layer installed within the EPIC system.

: Close up of the 2″ gravel layer and EPIC chamber. The 2″ gravel layer distributes water between EPIC chambers on top of the EPDM liner.

: mporting the sand and compacting sand to finish grade above the gravel layer. Conveyors belts import the sand that is compacted to finish grade.

: Sand buries EPIC chambers to finish grade. Sand is placed above EPIC chambers as the sand bags are removed.

: Sand bags are removed as sand is imported. Remove the sand bags and bury the EPIC chambers first to prevent shifting during aggregate import.

: 1st and 2nd EPIC cells sand is compacted to finish grade. The 1st and 2nd EPIC cells have been buried and compacted to finish grade.

: Approved washed masonry sand delivery and stockpile. Delivery and stockpile of the approved washed masonry sand.

: Placement of the 3rd EPIC cell liner and chambers. Placement of the 3rd EPIC cell EPDM liner and EPIC chambers used as cliff erosion control and passive irrigation.

: Checking level of connector pipe. Dylan checks the non-pressurized connector pipe between EPIC cells with a torpedo level.

: cross sectional view of 2″ gravel layer, EPIC chamber and sand to finish grade. The passive irrigation function of the EPIC system wicks water by capillary rise from the gravel into the sand profile.

: Sod samples to match estate color scheme and check for any client allergic reactions. West Coast Turf provided sod samples prior to delivery of the turf to be installed.

: Cliff erosion control overflow pipe safely drains filtered water to the ocean from the property. Once water is captured for future reuse, any excess water in heavy rainstorms is filtered through the EPIC profile prior to the final drain overflow. This cliff erosion control safely drains from the property cliff to the ocean.

: Carl and Daniel inspect the construction on their estate. Carl and Daniel inspect the construction of their new backyard that is three times the size due to their cliff erosion control efforts with the EPIC system.

: Screeting level the 5th EPIC cell base. The 5th EPIC cell is screeted level to prepare for EPDM liner and EPIC chamber placement.

: The 5th EPIC cell negotiates around an existing tree root zone. The 5th EPIC cell is installed around an existing tree to simultaneously sub-irrigate the tree and the turf from the same passive source.

: EPIC chambers around existing tree root zone. The EPDM liner is measured by transit to be 10″ above the sub-grade to allow capillary influence to the exiting tree root zone without over saturation.

: 1st to 4th EPIC cells compacted to finish grade. The installation is nearing completion as the 1st to 4th EPIC cells are compacted to finish grade.

: Sand at finish grade. The EPIC system sand is compacted to finish grade.

: David clears tall grass for containment soil berm to be imported to hold sand profile in place. David removes tall grasses to prepare for a soil berm to be imported to contain the EPIC sand profile, and then remove the temporary retaining wall.

: David trimming cliff hedges. David carefully trims the hedges along the cliff edge.

: Initial charge of the EPIC system with a garden hose in the 1st cell. Final compaction and preparation for sod as the 1st cell is charged with water from a garden hose.

: Pressurized pipe from recirculation pump to inlets. The pressurized 1/2″ pipe recirculates water from the pump in the drain vault to the EPIC inlets.