Published: Mar 22, 2016 | 09:00 AM

Visit the San Joaquin Marsh in Spring

It’s springtime and the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh is waking up. If you have never visited the Marsh, or if it has been a while, this is a wonderful time of year to get acquainted with this urban jewel.

The Marsh is a reconstructed wetland designed to clean urban runoff from the San Diego Creek before it reaches environmentally sensitive Upper Newport Bay. Besides enhancing water quality, the Marsh provides a home to some 230 species of birds and other wildlife, making it a park-like setting.

In addition, the marsh contains 12 miles of meandering hiking trails on approximately 320 acres and is open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk. The campus is also home to the Audubon House and the IRWD visitor’s center, both open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Marsh contains mostly native plants. When IRWD began rehabilitating the Marsh in the late 1990s, crews faced a daunting task of eradicating many unwelcome, non-native species, such as artichoke thistle and yellow-flowered black mustard plants. Landscape crews continue to monitor for any appearance of these plants and they are removed immediately.

During the spring, the marsh plants begin to bloom and regain their color after winter dormancy. Visit the Marsh for spring planting ideas, and take a walk through the butterfly garden in the Marsh’s meadow.

A recent addition to the Marsh, and also a work in progress, is the Pollinator’s Garden. This was designed to attract bees, which are responsible for pollinating about one-third of the food consumed by humans. Development of the garden began in October and includes a variety of native plants so something is in flower during each season.

More information about the San Joaquin Marsh is available on our website.