Talbert Regional Park Wetlands
Last updated February 18, 2002
Talbert Regional Park is located
in Costa Mesa just east of the Santa Ana River and south of Victoria Street.
Tidal gates have been installed into the eastern river channel wall
that allow water to flow in and out of the park, creating a large pond and
wetlands. If it can be done with the Santa Ana River and Talbert Regional
Park, it could also be done with the Wintersburg Channel and the Shea property.
These digital photographs were taken on February 18, 2002. Click on each image for a hi-res version.
This park is a little oasis in the midst of suburbia. The little patch of
concrete to the left of the brown "Area Closed" sign is where the pipe connects
to the river.
The pond and some waterfowl (mostly ducks).
A wider-angle view of the pond, with the riverside bike path at the right edge of the frame.
The king of the pond, later captured in flight in the thumbnail at the upper right of this composite image.
Riparian vegetation and more waterfowl at the southern end of the pond.
Pond-side view of the tidal gate (circled).
The tidal gate (circled) in the channel wall that feeds the pond; trust me
on this. This picture was taken from the Victoria Street bridge. It
would have taken an approximately TWO MILE round trip walk to gain access
to the end of the peninsula on the right (no thanks!!!).
A closer tidal gate just south of the Victoria bridge. The bridge railing is in the lower left corner of the frame.
The park is not all wetlands. There is also scrub and mixed vegetation, both native and non-native.
There is an assortment of large trees adjacent to the pond.
Bare trees against a clear winter's sky.
Webmaster: Mark Bixby
