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This website is sponsored by the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee (SBWASC) that has been meeting monthly since June 1990. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks concerning the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the existing wildlife areas and any future expansion thereof. The Committee may also make recommendations on matters concerning flora, fauna, and other natural resources in other areas within the Sepulveda Basin, such as the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, park land, and open spaces.
The membership of the Committee is comprised of organizations with a demonstrated interest in flora, fauna, and other natural resources within the Sepulveda Basin. See the bottom of this page to see the logos of the member organizations and other affiliated agencies, or click the tab at the top of the page.
Minutes of the SBWASC can be found here.
Regular meetings of the Committee are held every other month generally on the fourth Tuesday at 6:30pm, at the Valley Region Headquarters of the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, 6335 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91406. See “Upcoming Events” on this page for next meeting.
DIRECTIONS TO THE WILDLIFE RESERVE and MAIN TRAIL
Turn north from Burbank Blvd. (or south from Victory Blvd.) onto Woodley
Ave., which is ½ mile west of the San Diego Freeway (I-405). Travel
about ½ mile to the sign for the Wildlife Reserve (and Japanese
Gardens).
Turn east onto Wildlife Way, a park road.
Bear right at the immediate fork in the road and go east ½ mile to the
Wildlife Reserve parking on your left. The Wildlife Reserve is to the
south...follow the trail down from the restrooms area.
To use online mapping programs, use 6100 Woodley Avenue, and that will
take you to the park road (“Wildlife Way”) leading to the Wildlife
Reserve’s parking lot at the road’s east end.
Park in the lot, then walk south past the monumental rocks and restroom
building to the amphitheater.
Follow the trail leading from the "stonehenge" restroom/amphitheatre
area south towards the entrance to the Wildlife Reserve.
You can walk all the way down to the LA River, but if you do (the trail
leads through a tunnel under Burbank Blvd.) be sure to go with another
person.
Click
HERE for A Regional Trail Map of
the Basin (13.26MB pdf file)
Click
HERE for a local trail map of
the Wildlife Reserve
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The
“Public Recreational Use Plan Sepulveda
Basin Wildlife Area” was signed and agreed to in 1987 by the City of
Los Angeles, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State of
California Department of Fish and Game (copy attached). The “Public
Access and Use” section (beginning on Page 6) provides, in part, as
follows:
"Therefore the following rules and/or regulations will be enforced
within the Wildlife Area by City park rangers and City police. These
rules will be incorporated in appropriate public use information signs
and posted at the entrance and appropriate locations with the wildlife
area.
1. Public use shall be allowed on the Wildlife Area during daylight
hours only.
2. Camping, open fires, and the use of gas cooking stoves on the
Wildlife Area is prohibited.
3. All visitors shall remain on the designated trail. There will be no
public access to the east side of the wildlife lake to prevent
disturbance to wildlife.
4. Bicycles, skateboards, or rollerskating will not be allowed in the
Wildlife Area.
5. No person shall drive, operate, leave or stop any motor vehicle,
off-road vehicle, or tractor in the Wildlife Management Area except for
maintenance vehicles.
6. No person shall swim, wade, or dive within the Wildlife Area.
7. No person shall launch or operate a boat or other floating device
within the Wildlife Area.
8. No person shall disturb or take any bird, nest, or eggs thereof, or
any plant, mammal, fish, mollusk, crustacean, amphibian, reptile or any
other form of plant or animal within the Wildlife Area.
9. No person shall possess, fire or discharge any firearm, bow and
arrow, air or gas gun, spear gun, or any other weapon of any kind within
or into the Wildlife Area.
10. Individual user permits will not be required; however, a visitor
sign-in booth will be located at the entrances and will be maintained by
the City.
11. All commercial activities are prohibited on the Wildlife Area. Large
organizational groups of over 50 people will require prior Parks and
Recreation (City) approval before use of the Wildlife Area.
Permit Office
818-756-8187
12. The release of any fish or wildlife species, domestic or
domesticated species, or the introduction of any plant species, is
prohibited.
13. The feeding of wildlife is prohibited.
14. Pets, including dogs, cats and horses are prohibited from entering
the Wildlife Area."
CLICK HERE FOR
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN RECREATING IN THE LA RIVER
Recommendations for recreational users
include:- No
swimming-
After rain, wait 72 hours before entering recreational zones
- Avoid face-to-hand river water contact
- Wash hands and exposed skin after water
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The mission of the Committee shall be to oversee, in its advisory capacity, the wildlife refuge areas and other areas of present or potential natural value within the Sepulveda Basin, as well as to support policies and programs that ensure their long-term preservation, protection, and enhancement.
Article 3, Section 63.44
of the Los Angeles Municipal Code contains Regulations Affecting Park
and Recreation Areas. 63.44 B-2
mandates that all dogs be on a leash less than 6 feet long, B.8.
'No person shall land, release, take off or fly any balloon, except
children toy balloons not inflated with any flammable material,
helicopter, parakeet, hang glider, aircraft or powered models
thereof, except in areas specifically set aside therefor,
B-10 prohibits bows or
crossbows, B-11
prohibits the take/seizure/hunting of all birds/animals/fish,
B-12 bans the
removal of wood/plants/rocks/soil,
B-13 makes it illegal
to deface any property (including plants),
B-14 prohibits all
loitering between 10:30 PM and 5:00 AM,
B-16 prohibits all
human or motor powered vehicles (except on trails or roads specifically
for that purpose), B-17
bans all fires, B-19
prohibits littering, B-21
bans firearms.
NO DRONES ALLOWED
Who to Call
For emergency (life-threatening) situations:
1.
LAPD -- 911.
2.
Park Ranger Dispatch – 323-644-6661
If you witness people shooting birds or other
wildlife:
1.
LAPD – 911
2.
Park Ranger Dispatch – 323-644-6661
3.
California Fish & Wildlife –
1-888-334-2258
For non-emergency problems (examples:
dogs off leash, fishing,
hunting without firearms, off trail hiking,
parking on grass):
1.
Call 1-888-ASK-LAPD
(or 1-888-275-5273)
2.
California Fish & Wildlife –
1-888-334-2258
(hunting or
fishing)
For CF&W, a recording will come on and give you a
menu. PRESS ZERO for the operator and the operator will ask for the
"violation in progress" and your location and transfer you to the
applicable Fish and Game division department. State that Warden Kory
Collins is in charge of the area and should be notified of the
problem.
LA City Animal Services
West Valley
818-756-9325 and 818-756-9356
California Wildlife
Center
310-456-9453 or 818-222-2658
www.wildlifeservices.org
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Wildlife
Sightings
and Photo Links
October 16, 2016 A Snowy egret scratches itself.
Photograph by David Berman.
National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (December 2014)
Sepulveda Basin won the award for the most number of Unique Species.
Kris Ohlenkamp, who has counted this sector continuously since 1982,
recorded 85 species, his highest total ever, with 15 unique species,
including Ross’s Goose, Mute Swan, Red-throated Loon, Common
Loon, Horned Grebe, Western Grebe, Green Heron,Spotted Sandpiper,
Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte’s Gull,
Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-chevroned
Parakeet, and Brownheaded Cowbird.
Uncommon birds included Red-throated Loon at Lake Balboa, the second
in the history of the San Fernando Valley CBC. The first was
recorded in 1957, the first year of the count. Also seen at the
Sepulveda Basin were four Bonaparte’s Gulls ,
last counted in 1994 and the second record of Thayer’s Gull, last
sighted in 2002. A Brewer’s Sparrow was seen at Sepulveda Basin
during count week, marking the first recorded in the circle.
December 2016 An Ibis at the boat ramp with a
yellowthroat.
Photograph by Pat Bates.
The county’s second Glossy
Ibis was
found in the Sepulveda Basin on May 24, 2016
(Mike Stensvold). Though nearly annual in Imperial County - and
with a few records from adjacent counties- this was the first
chaseable bird in Los Angeles County. It remained through June
5 and offered many birders an excellent and easy opportunity to
observe it.
October 23, 2015 A rare coastal slope Long-eared
Owl was
at the Sepulveda Basin (Daniel Tinoco).
January 14, 2014
A Bald Eagle was seen over Lake Balboa (Daniel Tinoco).
January 5, 2014
Kris Ohlenkamp observed a Swamp Sparrow.
November 29, 2013
A Tennessee Warbler
was seen at the Sepulveda Basin. Also seen was an
American Redstart (Jim Royer).
Turkey Vulture
(below)
Photo by Armando Paniagua, Lake Balboa resident, Nov. 15,
2013.
November 10, 2013
One or two Mountain Bluebirds
were seen at Lake Balboa (Daniel Tinoco)
October 24-November 3, 2013
A rare Red-throated Pipit –
the second in LA County this fall –
was at the Sepulveda Basin (David Bell).
October 25, 2013
A returning Ash-throated Flycatcher was at Sepulveda
Basin.
October 24, 2013 Cackling Geese
were seen on Woodley Golf Course (Irwin Woldman)
October 23, 2013 Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flickers
at the Wildlife Reserve (Georgia Doyle, Linda Elkin)
September 26, 2013
Rare on the coastal slope was a Prairie Falcon that
overflew the Sepulveda Basin in Van Nuys (Mike Stensvold).
August 24, 2013
Unusual more than a short distance from the immediate coast was
a Brown Pelican at Lake Balboa (Mike Stensvold).
This sighting coincided with reports of several others well
inland in southern California, but away from the Salton Sea
where they are common.
July 28, 2013 A
Willow Flycatcher in suitable breeding habitat along the
LA River in the Sepulveda Basin on July 28 (Jon Fisher) was
interesting but probably an early
migrant as it was soon followed by others elsewhere in the
county.
July 23–31, 2013
Cackling Goose was at the Sepulveda Basin in Van Nuys by
Kate Rogowski.
July 22, 2013 Lynda Elkin observed an Indigo Bunting
at Lake Balboa.
March 12, 2012
Steve Hartman observed a dark-form pealei Peregrine
Falcon perched on a cottonwood on the island in the North
Reserve in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. Confirming the
sighting and providing the subspecies was Jean Brandt and Phil
Sayre.
February 26, 2012
Found at least nine Wilson's Snipes around the Los
Angeles River, South of Burbank Blvd. at the Sepulveda Basin
[very close to the Sepulveda Dam].
At the same area, a White-tailed Kite flew-over at 3:30 PM.
There were also two Red-tailed Hawks, one adult Cooper's Hawk,
and one Turkey Vulture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157629464086063/detail/
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
December 2011
Steve Hartman photographed the above Wood Duck at the
Wildlife Lake.
On
December 9, P-A. Fortin from Quebec, Canada, photographed a
pelican with a red tag that might read 3C3 or 3C9. In November
of 2012, pelican with red tag was seen again.
December 9, 2011
in the afternoon two immature Bonaparte's Gulls were
seen at Lake Balboa in Encino. At the Sepulveda Basin
Wildlife Reserve
10+ White Pelicans were spotted on and around the island.
In the fields (at 4:30PM), one female Northern Harrier,
one American Kestrel and one
Cooper's Hawk were seen. You may view photos of the
Bonaparte's Gulls and some other species here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157628355030923/detail/
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
November 6, 2011
between 11 AM and 1 PM, six American White Pelicans
flew over the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve.
Witnessed an aerial duel between a Kestrel and a Sharp-shinned
Hawk. There was no winner in that
dog-fight, the two raptors harassed each other for a minute and
then just parted their ways.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157628069917944/detail/
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
Early November Steve Hartman (and others) saw a
White-tailed Kite perched on a cottonwood tree near the
Wildlife Lake.
October 31, 2011 A Vesper Sparrow was feeding in a
small newly plowed area just east of the Wildlife Area Lake. On
October 30, 2011
the other Vesper Sparrow continued at its spot by the river.
Also, a Cassin's Vireo was in the trees west of the
cricket practice field bathrooms
and a Red-breasted Sapsucker has set-up sap wells in the
ash trees near the Wildlife Area's north entrance.
Submitted by Scott Logan
October 29, 2011
Visited for a few hours in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife
Reserve in the evening. I observed a fly-over the lake a group
of eight White Pelicans
at 5:30 PM. They were circling above the wildlife reserve lake
for a few minutes, considering landing but I haven't seen them
land. Perhaps all those
illegal fishermen scared them away. It's very sad how many
people with fishing rods were present around the whole perimeter
of the lake bluntly
ignoring all those "NO FISHING" posts. Seems like nobody
enforces the law at the wildlife reserve.
According to the eBird, the last sighting of White Pelicans at
the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve (prior to the today's) was on
March 29, 2011.
I took a short video of White Pelicans that I uploaded via
youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsQBHLZWXpI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
And here's one of my today's pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/6293883162/in/photostream/lightbox
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
September 24, 2011
Steve Hartman spotted a group of what were likely Vaux swifts. Silhouette above is
from photo Steve took with his iPhone.
September 23, 2011
I re-found the Orange Bishop at Sepulveda Basin - South
from Burbank Blvd. (along LA river between Sepulveda Dam and
Burbank Blvd). It's a very handsome bird indeed. By the way, I
just received the newest issue of the Birding journal (a
publication by the American Birding Association), which has a
very interesting article written by Kimball Garrett about exotic
birds of
California. If you are interested in those birds, that's the
article for you.
The links to some of my today's photos of the Bishop, etc:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157627613133405/detail/
and a slide-show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157627613133405/show/
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
September 22, 2011
Baird's Sandpiper in the LA River in the Sepulveda Basin
(Scott Logan)
September 21-22,
2011 Palm Warbler at the Sepulveda Basin (Danial Tinoco)
September 18, 2011
Summer Tanager (Scott Logan)
August 9-12, 2011
Black Skimmer at Lake Balboa (Kate Rogowski)
July
14, 2011
Loggerhead Shrike
(Scott Logan). This species used to be common in the Basin but
it is now rarely seen,
only breeding regionally in the deserts and the northwest LA
county.
July
6, 2011
Least Bell's Vireo
seen and heard. Click
HERE for link to YouTube video to hear the vireos. (Steve
Hartman and Kris Ohlenkamp)
May
14, 2011
Elegant Tern in the
Sepulveda Basin (Jon Fisher)
April 10, 2011
Yellow-headed
Blackbirds at Lake Balboa (Kate Rogowski).
March
10,
2011
At least seven Eared
Grebes at Lake Balboa in Van Nuys in the late afternoon. They
appeared to be in various stages between
non-breeding and breeding plumages.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/5538930065/lightbox/
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
December 5
Broad-winged Hawk Continues [In Sepulveda Basin Wildlife
Reserve, first reported 12/4/10 as light juvenile 1st year
Broad-winged Hawk
by Susan Gilliland]: The hawk continues in the area NE of
Burbank and Woodley. It has been moving from the edge of Woodley
as far east as the tree line
along the stream. Submitted by Todd McGrath
December 4, 2010 - between 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM, I was trying to
locate the swan at Lake Balboa that was reported earlier. I
haven't found it. However,
I did see and photograph a Common Loon on the lake. Here's the
photo:
http://picasaweb.google.com/alikoster/LakeBalboa#slideshow/5547061786640313266
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
On November 7, 2010
I visited Lake Balboa where I found - thanks to all prior
postings - at least two maybe three Common Loons and a number of
Eared
Grebes. You may view some of my today's photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157625335841406/detail/
or a slide-show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157625335841406/show/
.
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
On November 5, 2010, at around 5:00 PM I observed a Peregrine
Falcon flying across the cricket field - north from the road
that leads from the Japanese Garden to the main parking lot. It
was flying very fast and I wasn't ready when I spotted it, which
is why the photo is not great but OK for ID:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/5150102877/lightbox/
I saw only one Osprey at the time when I was there but it posed
for me nicely:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/5150102805/lightbox/
Among other raptors, I also found one Red-tailed Hawk and one
American Kestrel.
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
I was able to spot and photograph a Sabine's Gull today (October
8, 2010) at Lake Balboa. The Gull was hunting for fish in a
very similar to the terns' fashion plunging into the
water head first. I witnessed (together with Tommye Hite) how
the Gull caught a fish and then landed on the water, trying to
arrange the fish in its beak to swallow. In a matter of seconds,
a much larger Ring-billed Gull descended on the Sabine's. The
Ring-billed harassed the Sabine's and forced the smaller Gull to
drop the fish. That's our "Welcome" from the locals to such rare
visitors...Besides the Sabine's Gull, I also observed 12 Greater
White-fronted Goose. You may view some of my today's photos,
including the Sabine's Gull here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157625123418484/detail/
or a slide-show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157625123418484/show/
.
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
I spotted one flying
male Wood Duck that attached itself to a small group of mallards (two males
and one female) today (October 3, 2010) in the evening at
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Van Nuys (at North Reserve - North from
Burbank Blvd.) and I saw a silhouette of a white-faced ibis at the same
location at 6:25 PM that was landing on the island in the middle of the
lake. According to the Sepulveda Basin Bird Checklist, wood ducks are rare
visitors at
this location, being recorded in November - December. You may view three of
my today's photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624966072359/show/ .
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
September 19, 2010
Special Report. I spotted two White-faced Ibises today (Sept 19) @ Sepulveda
Basin (south from Burbank Blvd.) between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
I also noted one lesser yellowlegs and one greater yellowlegs among usual
snowy egrets and killdeers. I uploaded three of my today's photos on
Flicker:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624868493531/detail/
or a slide-show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624868493531/show/ .
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
Highlights of the
August 1, 2010
morning's walk included 2 juvenile Cooper's Hawk, 4 snowy egret chicks on
and near a nest on the Wildlife Lake Island (we think the first year nesting
of this species has been observed here), a recently fledged Black-necked
Stilt feeding in the LA River, a first-of-season Lesser Yellowlegs and 4
Yellow Warblers. Click
HERE for a complete list including 47 species. Submitted by Jim
Hardesty.
On
July 10, 2010, between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM, I visited Los Angeles
River by the Sepulveda Dam - South from Burbank Blvd. / Sepulveda Basin
Wildlife Reserve. A few Wilson's Phalaropes were observed there
recently. I did find two of them today, they were foraging in the shallow
water among multiple black-necked stilts and killdeers. There were also
different butterflies all around. I'm attaching a list of birds that I
submitted via the e-bird and you may view some of my today's photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624342664373/detail/
or a slide show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624342664373/show/ .
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
June 26, 2010. I
visited Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve today in the morning between 8:30
AM and 11:30 AM. The morning was very cloudy. At 10:35 AM, a Barn Owl
appeared right in front of me out of nowhere. It was the first time that I
observed a Barn Owl flying at this time of a day at Sepulveda
Basin. Besides the Owl, I also watched a few aerial chases: a Crow was
harassing a Turkey Vulture and a Western Kingbird was after a Red-tailed
Hawk. You may view some of my today's photos via Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624238779185/detail/
and slide-show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985@N08/sets/72157624238779185/show/ .
Submitted by Alexander Viduetsky
Pelican
Injured at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Lake Is Healthy Again, Released
Back Into the Wild
Photo (above) by Jim Hanlon
The release happened Saturday, December 1, around 11:00 AM. The
International Bird Rescue released two rehabilitated white pelicans:
"our" white pelican that had been found ensnared in fishing line and
a plastic bottle at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve and a
second one that had been found in Long Beach with a broken bill. On
hand were the IBR's board president Dave Weeshoff and the manager of
their San Pedro wildlife center Julie Skoglund; two officers from
the City of Los Angeles SMART Team; a troop of Eagle Scout
candidates; members of San Fernando Valley Audubon, local
photographers and a photographer from the Los Angeles Times.
Earlier in the morning a group of around 55 volunteers from a
variety of local colleges planted California native plants such as
California Rose, California Grape, and Hummingbird Sage, scattered
California wildflower seed, and picked up litter. The pelican
release was a wonderful finale. The weather was cooperative and
probably ideal for the activities.
A very fine rain began after the pelicans were released.
For even more -- but excellent -- photos of the white pelican
release, please see the link to the International Bird Rescue's
blog:
http://blog.bird-rescue.org/ .
Click
HERE for the story from the Encino Patch. Click
HERE for the story from
the Army Corp's newsletter.
By Muriel Kotin
SB 1201 SIGNED BY GOV. BROWN TO LEGALIZE ACCESS TO
SOFT-BOTTOM REACHES OF THE L.A. RIVER
Senate Bill 1201 legalizes access to the soft-bottom
reaches of the L.A. River. It will also create a Los Angeles River
Interagency Access
Council, which the Bill states is to coordinate the actions of state
and local agencies with jurisdiction over, or otherwise involved in
developing
and administering public access and safety policies for, the Los
Angeles River.
To read the Senate Bill,
click HERE.
To see a YouTube video of a kayak
trip along the LA River during the 2011 pilot program click
HERE
Community Conservation Solutions Releases
Feasibility Studies for L.A. River Natural Park
The L.A.
River Natural Park: Technical Feasibility Studies Report
including:
L.A. River Regional Public Access, MIA LEHRER + ASSOCIATES
Hydrology, Hydraulics & Water Quality, PSOMAS
These two studies provide analysis and estimated costs of the
proposed urban and stormwater runoff management, water quality
improvements, and regional public access elements of the L.A. River
Natural Park.
Envisioned as a showcase river-oriented park, the L.A. River Natural
Park will:
naturally clean urban runoff and improve water quality
store and reuse runoff
preserve riverfront land and create native habitat
generate solar power
provide regional recreation amenities
establish an L.A. River Regional Public Access Hub and Trailhead for
public access to the L.A. River in the San Fernando Valley
Click HERE
for more information about the L.A. River Natural Park
Steelhead Trout for the Los Angeles River?
Click HERE for video.
Los Angeles River in 1938 - Before It Was Paved. Click
HERE for images
Weaving a New Web at
peopleforparks.org
People for Parks has got a new
look online, with added emphasis
on photos, videos and other
features to highlight PFP
programs and news about parks
and recreation in urban Los
Angeles. To visit us, click
HERE |
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water-quality
issues are the back door to land preservation
See this
great video from Surfrider, a 19-minute animated film, "The Cycle
of Insanity - The Real Story of Water",
at http://www.knowyourh2o.org/
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