Thank you hortster and nonmember for the great suggestions! Thanks to both of you I was able to narrow my search! I cross referenced both lythrum and veronica with Bob Muns' 1983 Flora of Malibu Creek State Park. While lythrum species appear similar in photos, veronica anagallis-aquatica has been referenced in the park and the photos seem to closely match. The true test will be to see what kind of flowers bloom this spring. I will keep you posted. Thanks again!

Eupatorium serotinum, or similar?

Yes, Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum), thanks!!!

Where I was coming from was that common snowberry as I have seen it in the western North American part of its range is polymorphic - and many times with shoots just like the low ones with lobed leaves shown and asked about in the original post here. Leaves on vigorous shoots are often lobed Burke Herbarium Image Collection (washington.edu)