Whittier Narrows
The Whittier Narrows is located at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. It is a gap between the Puente Hills to the east and the San Rafael Hills to the west, and is the location where both the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River exit the San Gabriel Valley to enter the Los Angeles Basin.
It is best known as the epicenter of the October 1, 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, which measured 5.9 on the Richter Scale.
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is a large multi-use facility, headquartered in South El Monte, containing North Lake, Center Lake, and Legg Lake (where radio-controlled model speedboats may be operated), a rifle and pistol shooting range, numerous softball and soccer fields with picnic tables, a paved airstrip for radio-controlled hobby aircraft, and a connector trail between the Class I Rio Hondo bicycle path and the San Gabriel River bicycle path. The park is roughly bordered by Garvey Avenue and San Gabriel Blvd to the north and west and Durfee Avenue and Santa Anita/Merced Avenues to the south and east. A convenient point of access is the Rosemead Blvd (State Route 19) exit south from the Pomona (60) Freeway.
Within the Recreation Area is the Whittier Narrows Nature Center, which contains exhibits about the plants and animals of the river environment, including live displays. The center offers public programs, lectures, ranger tours and education programs. In October 2008, a proposed new interpretive center drew controversy over the potential destruction of a large amount of existing wildlife habitat.[1]
Whittier Narrows Dam
The Whittier Narrows Dam is a flood control and water conservation project constructed and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District. It collects runoff from the uncontrolled drainage areas upstream along with releases from the Santa Fe Dam, and can redirect flows into the Rio Hondo or the downstream San Gabriel. It was completed in 1957.
References
- ↑ Louis Sahagun. "Plans for major overhaul of Whittier Narrows nature preserve stir passions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
External links
- Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
- Whittier Narrows Nature Center
- Friends of the Whittier Narrows Natural Area
Coordinates: 34°01′45″N 118°02′58″W / 34.02917°N 118.04944°W
 |
Rosemead | Rosemead | South El Monte | |
| Rosemead South San Gabriel |
 |
Avocado Heights | ||
| ||||
 | ||||
| Montebello | Pico Rivera | Unincoporated Los Angeles County |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
