Purpose
The San Gabriel River Discovery Center is being planned
to replace the existing Whittier Narrows Nature Center
and enhance this unique site located on Durfee Avenue
[map]
within the Whittier Narrows Flood Control Basin and
Recreation Area in Los Angeles County.
The Discovery Center will present the story of the
San Gabriel River watershed, emphasize the importance
of water resources and the natural values of the watershed,
and provide educational and outdoor experiences for
people of all ages. The Center will also continue
the cultural, natural history and ecosystems messages;
and outdoor experiences presented by the L. A. County
Department of Parks and Recreation at the existing
Nature Center.
Discovery Center Facilities
The development of the San Gabriel River Discovery
Center involved a highly collaborative process linking
numerous federal, state and local agencies in cooperation
with public institutions and private groups. The
Schematic Design Report (12.3 MB, 123 page PDF)
is a summary of the process followed, and the concepts
developed for the project. This report provides conceptual
information compiled as of May 24, 2006. The final
design for the site and facility will be conducted
after completion of the environmental process.
The facility is planned as a LEED
Platinum "green" building with a meeting
area, classrooms, and hands-on exhibits about the
river's ecology, watershed education, and conservationn.
The site includes an outdoor classroom. View the Master
Site Plan for the Discovery Center (1-page PDF
file).
The Discovery Center will also be an important node
in the planned Emerald Necklace chain of parks along
the San Gabriel River. View a map
of the Emerald Necklace (1-page PDF file).
Governance
The San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority (SGRDCA)
is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) established to oversee
the planning and operation of the Discovery Center.
The SGRDCA currently consists of the following agencies:
Community Involvement
The community is also involved in the creation
of the Discovery Center via the following stakeholder
committees:
- Stakeholder Advisory Committee (See the links
for this committee in the left column)
- Design/Display Committee
- Fundraising Committee
- Outreach Committee
Project Schedule
| Phase |
Completion Date |
| Conceptual Design |
June 2006 (Complete) |
| Environmental Analysis |
Spring 2008 |
| Fundraising |
July 2008 |
| Construction Documents |
January 2009 |
| Construction Start |
June 2009 |
| Construction Complete |
August 2010 |
| Opening |
November 2010 |
Capital Campaign Program
Current contributions to the project include:
| Rivers and Mountains Conservancy |
$3,000,000 |
| Upper San Gabriel Municipal
Water District |
$800,000 |
| Central Basin Municipal Water
District |
$750,000 |
| Sanitation Districts of Los
Angeles County |
$100,000 |
| Sanitation Districts Supplemental
Environmental Project |
$2,200,000 |
| Los Angeles County Department
of Parks and Recreation |
0.5 acre site |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
balance of site |
Environmental Process
The environmental process for the Discovery Center
is underway. A public scoping meeting was held on
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at South El Monte High
School to introduce and discuss the San Gabriel River
Discovery Center project. The purpose of the scoping
meeting was to solicit comments as to the scope and
contents of the Draft Environmental Impact Report
(EIR). The following documents have been created as
part of the scoping meeting process.
