Madrona Marsh Preserve
Learn more about the Madrona Marsh Preserve:
An Island Of Wilderness In The City
Madrona Marsh Preserve is one of the last remaining vernal marshes in Southern California.
A slice of wilderness smack dab in the middle of a city.
Situated on land that was set aside for oil production in 1924, Madrona Marsh was never developed - unlike the surrounding city - and remains a valuable natural habitat for birds, reptiles, insects and even small mammals.
Ongoing efforts are restoring native plants including wildflowers and butterfly species. The area has long been popular with bird watchers and The Audubon Society has used Madrona Marsh for their annual bird census since 1967. El Camino College uses it as an outdoor biology and botany lab.
At the Nature Center you can take a docent lead tour of the botanical garden and check out the native plants that grow there. Get up-close-and-personal with the plants that you could have in your yard - and reduce your need for outdoor watering.
Due to its current days of operation, Madrona Marsh is not part of the 2020 South Bay Water Wise Garden Tour. However, it is open to visitors. Please click this info box to visit the Madrona Marsh info website for the most recent visitor information.