We’re so excited about the work that will begin this summer at Baldwin Lake and Tule Pond! After years of planning, studies, and fundraising, the Lake and Pond will undergo a major overhaul to improve water quality, restore shorelines and enhance habitat and green space. The Lake is our most endangered historic feature. This Restoration Project will take time to complete and some parts of the garden may be temporarily closed. We appreciate your support and patience. Here’s what you need to know.
The Lake Today
The Lake is approximately 2.5 to 3 feet deep due to sediment and organic material accumulation. Since the original dredging of the Lake, urban and stormwater runoff draining into the man-made Pond upstream have contributed to soil contamination and deposition. Additionally, uncontrolled runoff during storm events and scouring from abrasive flows have led to erosion of the shore edge.
Both Baldwin Lake and Tule Pond will be dredged to remove the buildup of sediment and organic matter. This will be followed by installation of equipment to improve water quality, drainage, flood control and other elements. For full details of the project scope, click here.
This project is a collaborative effort by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Arboretum Foundation.
Restoration to Begin!
June/July 2026: Fencing will go up to enclose garden areas affected by the project.
September, 2026: Dredging will begin and trucks will be hauling out the sediment.
October 2027 – Construction completed.
What You Need To Know
• Work will not be conducted on the weekends, holidays, or red flag warning days.
• Best management practices are being followed to protect air quality.
• The Arboretum will remain open during the sediment removal. However, garden access will be restricted during work hours. Safety measures will be implemented for park visitors.
• Sediment hauling will take place Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; work within the Arboretum may continue until 6 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will be done/why? What will prevent recontamination?
• Baldwin Lake: Remove sediment to increase storage capacity, stabilize storage capacity and water temperatures and sustain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
• Tule Pond: Restore the pond’s ability to act as an infiltration and pre-settling basing to Baldwin Lake and its capacity to capture and percolate stormwater. Will install four in-line treatment systems.
What areas will be closed to visitors?
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Animals
What will happen to the fish in the Lake? Will the lake be repopulated with fish?
Numerous fish, mainly carp, were captured and relocated to other water ponds on the premises so at present, no fish remain in Baldwin Lake.
What about birds?
Birds who enjoy Baldwin Lake will vacate during the lake construction and benefit by and return to a beautifully restored lake that will teem with wildlife post construction.
What about turtles?
Much like the birds, turtles will also vacate the lake during construction. Thankfully, there are other water sources for turtles from our forest ponds, to turtle pond, to waterfall ponds and aquatic pools atop Tallac Knoll. Turtles will also benefit from a newly restored lake and return in due course once construction has concluded.
Places to visit
What happens to the Queen Anne Cottage?
Will the Coach Barn be closed?
Is the Reid-Baldwin Adobe off limits too?
Will the forest be closed?
The Rose Garden?
Will Tallac Knoll be accessible?
Garden of Quiet Reflection & Kallam open?
Meyberg Waterfall accessible?
Events
Will there be a Plumeria Festival in 2026 & 2027?
Will there be summer concerts?
Yes, we continue to run our Arboretum Summer Night Concert Series. These concerts are held on the event lawn and will not interfere with construction.
Will summer (and other seasonal) camps still take place?
Yes.
Memberships
Will my favorite part of the garden be off limits?
That depends what your favorite part of the garden is! Think of this as a time to explore, discover, and fall in love with new areas across our 127 acres. We will be highlighting and featuring them during construction to whet your appetite for discovery.
What happens to my membership?
Memberships will continue to be active during the Baldwin Lake Restoration Project as the gardens will remain open. With 127 acres, there is much to explore, and your member support is essential to sustaining our Arboretum! Our goal is to ensure that as the Baldwin Lake project is completed, the entire Arboretum is stunning. Membership and donor support are key and help fund more than half of horticultural staff who care for our gardens, our rich educational programming, and care of our historic landmark buildings—all of which continue to need funding during construction. Thank you for your support.
Do I get an extension on my membership?
Memberships continue on the terms and duration the member joined under. Should a member have any concerns or require a special accommodation, please contact Ivonne Escobedo, our Membership Manager at 626-821-3233 or
ivonne.escobedo@arboretum.org.
Will there be extended summer hours?
Yes, beginning on April 1 to Labor Day (Monday) September 7, we will be open at 7:30am for members and close at 6:30pm (can stay until 7pm).
