The Arroyo Seco Foundation

The Arroyo Seco Foundation (ASF) was founded by Charles Lummis more than one hundred years ago to preserve and promote the Arroyo Seco, one of Southern California's greatest natural treasures. The Arroyo Seco is a spectacular stream and canyon that runs from high in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains all the way to downtown Los Angeles.

After a lapse of many decades, the Arroyo Seco Foundation was revived in 1989 to continue that vision. Since then we have planted several thousand native trees in the Arroyo, participated in and led major Arroyo planning efforts, educated the public about the riches of the Arroyo, and most importantly worked to restore and enhance the natural splendor of the Arroyo for future generations.

ASF has brought over $25 million in funding into the Arroyo Seco Watershed. Some of the major projects have included the low-flow stream restoration program in the Lower Arroyo in the 1990s, the Central Arryo Stream Restoration Program, which brought back native fish to the Arroyo, the Watershed Coordination Program, and the Arroyo Seco Canyon Project.

ASF is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We advocate an integrated, harmonious approach to watershed and flood management, water conservation, habitat enhancement, and the expansion of recreational opportunities. Through action projects, recreation, and environmental awareness activities, ASF strives to involve the residents and organizations in our region in this tremendous enterprise. As a member of the California ReLeaf tree-planting network, ASF works to reforest the Arroyo Seco, the San Gabriel Mountains and the neighboring urban landscape with native shrubs and trees.

The activities of the Arroyo Seco Foundation enable local residents and businesses to become directly involved in the restoration of the Arroyo Seco and in the recreational and environmental opportunities available.

Major Programs for 2019 include:

• Berkshire Creek Stream Restoration

  Berkshire Creek drains a small watershed around La Canada High School before it comes into the west side of the Hahamongna basin above Devil's Gate Dam. ASF is co-sponsoring a program along with the City of Pasadena to restore a more natural stream here. Past flood flows through a large culvert have degraded the stream and habitat conditions. The project will repair the erosion and establish a more sustainable stream zone.

• Save Hahamongna

  ASF has joined together with the Pasadena Audubon Society and other community groups and advocates to minimize the devastating impacts of LA County Flood Control District's sediment excavation and trucking program in Hahamongna Watershed Park. We are working with the Hahamongna Accountability Project to ensure that the County complies with all their commitments and regulatory requirements for the project. Habitat restoration, dangerous air pollution and the long-term footprint of the County's maintenance area are among the chief concerns now being addressed through community education and outreach and two separate lawsuits.

• Arroyo Seco Stream Team

  Our work is made possible by the generous contributions of time and other resources by community members. The Stream Team is ASF'a volunteer corps. Members participate in clean-ups, tree-planting programs, habitat assessments, invasive species removals and a variety of other activities.

• Arroyo Seco News and Education

  ASF has an active social media presence with two Facebook sites, ASF and Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery, an Instagram site and a Twitter Account. These forums offer up-to-date new and informative coverage of important environmental issues and happenings that allow Arroyo afficionados to stay up-to-date and spread the work about important Arroyo issues, projects and events.

• Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery

  This community-based nursery has been established to produce native plants for habitat restoration projects and to beautify local yards, businesses and public facilities. HNNP is part of a movement to transform the landscape of Southern California through a return to the spectacular plants that are ideally suited to our climate and condiations and that foster biodiversity. The nursery is fueled by volunteer energy, so we encourage you to get involved too by helping grow plants and by buying some from your yard or garden.

• Monitoring Arroyo Planning Efforts

  A multitude of planning efforts are now underway to upgrade and transform the Arroyo. These include the development of a master plan for the Angeles National Forest, Pasadena's Arroyo Seco EIR, South Pasadena developments, Debs Park, Confluence Park planning and other efforts.

• Tours and Educational Events

  An important part of ASF's mission is to educate the public about water managment in the watershed. ASF staff and volunteers lead informative walking tours of the Arroyo Seco, as well as outreach to student groups. Topics include water resources, habitat, culture and history of the Arroyo Seco.

• Quarterly Meetings

  ASF presents a quarterly meeting at the Donald Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Central Library to allow members and the general public to be kept up to date on the latest Arroyo issues and projects of the Foundation.