Pomona Valley Audubon - Southern California Local Birding Locations! Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area

This recreational park area behind the Santa Fe dam (a fee area) has both a large developed lake and grass picnic areas with large trees and access to the seasonal shallow water, willow raparian habitate immediately behind the dam ---and access to the miles of biking trails either south along the flood conrol channels all the way to the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach or north along the water course and ground water recharge basins through chaparal and coastal sage habitates ...some quite undisturbed.

Audubon Christmas Count 1999-2000: Brown Crested Flycatcher near spillway /Peckham Rd. inside FEE Area.

Located in Irwindale, southeast of the 210 and 605 freeway junction, east of Pasadena. Exit off the 210 Freeway going south on Irwindale Ave, right on Arrow Hwy, right after railroad tracks at Azusa Canyon. From the 605 Freeway take the Live Oak exit east where it will merge with Arrow Hwy. Turn left into the gate at Azusa Canyon Road.

PVAS Field Trip 2000 SANTA FE DAM RECREATION AREA, AND PECK PIT. The lake here is good for ducks and gulls. The chaparral is the home to California quail, cactus wren, Allen's hummingbird and various sparrows. Bring fluids. Lunch will be at Santa Fe Dam followed by a short trip to Peck Pit for additional waterfowl.

TECHNICAL: The dam is located on the San Gabriel River about 4 miles downstream from the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon. The San Gabriel River originates on the southern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows through precipitous canyons to the base of the mountains, thence across a broad alluvial cone to Santa Fe Reservoir, and through the San Gabriel Valley to Whittier Narrows Reservoir. Santa Fe Dam is an essential element of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA) flood control system. The primary purpose of the dam is to provide flood protection for the densely populated area between the dam and Whittier Narrows Reservoir.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo of Santa Fe Dam & area

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Pomona Valley Audubon Society
Southern California