Wonderful news is rippling across the water in Arcadia: historic Baldwin Lake, the beloved heart of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, is being restored to its former glory. After years of study and planning, the restoration of Baldwin Lake and neighboring Tule Pond is now underway — dredging began in September 2026, and the work is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
The lake needs the love. Decades of sediment and runoff have left it just 2.5 to 3 feet deep, a shadow of the 12 to 15 feet it was dredged to back in the late 1880s. Crews will remove the buildup and install new systems to improve water quality, restore habitat and manage stormwater — a team effort by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, the County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Arboretum Foundation to save what the garden calls its most endangered historic feature.
The wildlife is being looked after, too. The lake’s carp have been safely relocated to other ponds on the grounds, a biologist is checking for bird nests to protect, and shoreline trees will be moved so the original rock wall can shine again. Best of all, the Arboretum stays open throughout, with most gardens and paths fully accessible — work happens only on weekday daytime hours. So come stroll, admire the Queen Anne Cottage reflected in the water, and watch a Los Angeles treasure come back to life.
Photo: Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
