Santa Fe Dam Superintendent is Focused on Future of Natural Area

By David Koons

A tall, energetic man with a handsome smile and excitement in his eyes strides into the
office. Hector Inzunza is eager to discuss his recent assignment as the Regional Park
Superintendent II of the Santa Fe Dam Natural Area.

Inzunza’s career reads like a tour of Southern California wilderness spaces. From his
start in the California Conservation Corps and on to the City of Monrovia’s Canyon Park and
the Wilderness Preserve, Rancho Jurupa Park in Riverside County, then a series of
assignments with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation that includes Deane Dana
Friendship Park, San Dimas Canyon Nature Center, Castaic Lake State Recreation
Area, and his current assignment at the Los Angeles County Raptor Rescue in San
Dimas. Now he brings that experience and his trademark enthusiasm, to Santa Fe
Dam Natural Area and the renovated nature center.

Santa Fe Dam is managed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood control dam
and percolation field. Built in the 1940s along the San Gabriel River, the massive 4-mile-
long dam provides flood control and allows stormwater run off to percolate into the
rocky/gravelly soil. This unique geology gives home to a unique habitats: CNPS has
designated it as alluvial fan sage scrub and calls it a rare form of coastal sage scrub habitat.

In later years, the land north of the dam was leased to Los Angeles County Parks and
Recreation for a recreational center. Now, the County is establishing a Santa Fe Dam
Natural Area between the existing recreation area and the 210 freeway to protect and
interpret the unique native habitat along the riverbed, and adjacent lands.

Inzunza and county biologist, Cristhian Mace, are finalizing a new map of the natural
area, and a new logo is in the works. What else is on his to-do list? Plenty!
Hector plans to inventory every existing trail and road, deciding what stays and what
needs to be de-commissioned. Invasive plant removal is a top priority, and he is quick to
praise the ongoing work of our chapter volunteers, led by Gabi and Cliff McLean,
Jennifer Aparicio, and Mickey Long. He is active in the renovation of the existing nature
center building.

Upgraded signage is also coming. New wayfinding signs and updated educational
panels are needed. Inzunza hopes to partner with the nearby Conservation Corps,
using their amphitheater for future educational programs. He’s building relationships
with the Citrus College Biology Department. and plans to invite local K-12 schools to
develop field trips to the area.

Education is central to his vision. He hopes to launch a docent program modeled after
the ones at San Dimas and Eaton Canyon Natural Areas. Long-term, he
sees the need for a dedicated non-profit, which would be called the Santa Fe Dam Nature Center Associates, to support maintenance, fundraising, and docent training.

Hector appreciates the support and recommendations of the CNPS San Gabriel
Mountains Chapter. The chapter hosts many plant walks, and habitat-care events
annually. During multiple BiobBlitz events, they have identified some rare
native species. If the chapter can identify more unique habitats, or special plants that
can be integrated into the educational and promotional outreach documents, he would
be most grateful.

“The chapter has been a wonderful partner in this operation, and I value the input of
chapter members, and I look forward to many more years of collaboration as the nature
area develops,” says Hector with a warm smile.

We are very lucky to have an experienced and enthusiastic manager of this new natural
area! Please welcome him if you run into him when you visit the natural area at Santa Fe Dam.