What is Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center?

• As the name suggests, the Preserve protects, manages, and maintains a tiny portion of the natural landscape as it existed long before the South Bay and Port of Los Angeles areas were developed. Development in the Preserve is kept to a minimum.
• This natural landscape attracts native plants, insects, and wildlife, including migrating birds, because it feels just like home for them. The Preserve has safe places for them to rest and sleep and the native plants provide the foods they’re used to eating.
• The Preserve isn’t the same as a public park like Wilson or Columbia Parks. Parks are developed specifically for active recreation, so they have ball fields, playgrounds, tracks, recreation centers, and areas for picnics and group activities.
• The Nature Center is located across the street from the Preserve. Its purpose is to provide nature-centric education programs and activities for the public of all ages.

What can I do at Madrona Marsh?

• Get out of the house or office and walk our trails. It’s good to get outside and enjoy our plentiful sunshine and our cool, clean ocean breeze.
• Look for some of those native animals living here (bring your camera or binoculars). Our water-wise Native Garden has many drought-resistant plants suitable for your own home.
• Stop by the Nature Center to see our art and science exhibits and visit the Gift Shop. Ask about our regularly scheduled docent-led nature tours, seminars, classes, and birding groups. Many of these activities are child-friendly.

What cannot I do at Madrona Marsh?

We’re here to protect and preserve the natural landscape and the native animals this landscape attracts. Contact the Nature Center for complete information or if you have questions. The following do the most damage and stress the native animals the most and are not permitted inside the Preserve:

• non-service dogs or pets,
• jogging inside the Preserve,
• food in the Preserve (picnic tables are available by the Nature Center),
• drones, bicycles

What else should I know?

• Our natural landscape attracts a lot of native Pocket Gophers and Striped Skunks. Don’t trip over the gopher holes. Striped Skunks are nocturnal but may be active around sunrise or sunset.
• Our native (red) California Harvester Ants are farmers, only interested in collecting seeds from the surrounding plants. Please don’t disturb their nests.
• The walking paths are slippery during and right after rain.

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