The Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park is a small portion of the overall efforts being taken in the watershed by Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and stakeholders along with the multi-beneficial use planning efforts for the Chino Creek Integrated Plan (CCIP). The general function of the CCIP is to focus planning attention on the lower Chino Creek area of the Prado Basin in a process of preserving and restoring the Prado Basin and to maximize its value to the community.
The target of the CCIP is to identify the key problem areas in the lower Chino Creek Watershed within the context if the existing and future planned development efforts and to recommend an array of multi-purpose projects that will result in improved water-quality, flood control, habitat restoration, recreation, water conservation and public education. The wetlands park is a prime example of the efforts focused in the CCIP and creates a baseline for future projects.
In 2004, IEUA received a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to partially fund the Park. The Park is located within the City of Chino at the intersection of Kimball Avenue and El Prado Road. The park is designed to direct flows through wetlands, riparian ponds, and streams and continues under El Prado Road through pipes funneled into a lower wetland area which discharges into a soft bottom portion of Chino Creek Reach 1. The Chino Creek flows into the Santa Ana River in the Prado Wetlands. Ultimately, these flows reach the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach.
The Agency acted as the general contractor for the project breaking down the construction of the park into three phases. Total construction of the facility was 8 months with approximately 1,000 volunteers participating with the planting and irrigation activities throughout the duration of the project.
The park’s construction was partially funded by a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
For additional information on the park please visit www.ieua.org.
Park Facts
- The Park is open during daylight hours
- Dedicated on June 2007
- Opened to the public in April 2008
- 22,000 various drought tolerant plants
- Over 5 miles of irrigation
- 1.7 miles of trails
- 22 acres of habitat
- 6 connecting ponds
- One million gallons of recycled water flowing through its wetlands each day
- Wildlife monitoring stations