Overview

Peck Road Water Conservation Park is an active community park that features native plants. It’s a little hidden and would definitely be easy to miss driving by.

I dropped by on a Monday morning and saw what looked like a sizeable Tai Chi class, a man off on his own fishing, and numerous people exploring the trails. Yet much of the park was vacant. It’s a large space, mostly made up of bare dirt.

The place

History

The park is built on the channels created by the Army Corps of Engineers when they channeled the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers. The lake was formed by quarrying. Clearly a lot of work has been done to bring a natural feel to the place. I want to say restoration, but the land here has been thoroughly put through the wringer. Whatever is there, or will be there, is clearly a creation that started nearly from scratch once the quarries had finished. It’s clear when you look at parts of the earth that have not been “restored” or enhanced for exhibition or other use, or along the waterfront. The ground is white and lifeless but for a few brave pioneer plants.

What to see

Purpose

My primary question going into my visit here was to find what they were doing to call it a “Water Conservation Park.” Not far from the parking lot there is a bioswale. Bioswales collect water and attempt to let it absorb slowly into the ground. That way it is not channeled out to be eventually lost to the ocean. The signage, for the most part, is in good shape. They have thorough descriptions of native plants, native pollinators, the value of bioswales and the native tribes that once inhabited the area.

Bioswales slow down the runoff of water and allow it to absorb slowly into the water table. This help prevent soil erosion and prevents the loss of water.

Field notes

I dropped by on a Monday morning and saw what looked like a sizeable Tai Chi class, a man off on his own fishing, and numerous people exploring the trails. Yet much of the park was vacant.

My primary question going into my visit was to find what they were doing to call it a “Water Conservation Park.” The bioswale near the parking lot and the accompanying signage provided the clearest answer.

Native plants

The park features willows, oak trees and other native plants. The signage includes thorough descriptions of native plants and native pollinators.

Plants documented during the visit included Hooker’s evening primrose, live oak, sacred datura and other plants growing around the park and bioswale areas.

Garden design

Not far from the parking lot there is a bioswale. Bioswales collect water and attempt to let it absorb slowly into the ground instead of allowing it to be channeled away and eventually lost to the ocean. Much of the park remains a large, open space of bare dirt, while other sections have been enhanced for exhibition, habitat and community use.

Wildlife

The park includes Mungi Lake, where fishing takes place, as well as native plant and pollinator interpretation. The signage also includes information about birds.

Willows at Mungi Lake — Willows are fast growers, highly important to foraging animals and are really good at preventing soil erosion.

Home garden takeaways

The bioswale near the parking lot demonstrates how water can be collected and allowed to absorb slowly into the ground rather than being channeled away.

Before you go

Peck Road Water Conservation Park is a little hidden and would be easy to miss while driving by. Although geographically it is closer to most of El Monte, it belongs to the city of Arcadia. It could just as easily be considered to be serving the communities in Irwindale and Monrovia as well. The park is part of the Emerald Necklace, a larger project of parks intended to green the urban landscape between the San Gabriel Mountains and the ocean. Rock Sign of Emerald Necklace

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Peck Road Water Conservation Park

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Where to find Peck Road Water Conservation Park