Wildflowers Bloom at Metropolitan’s Diamond Valley Lake after Years of Drought
February 24 2017 - 1:00PM
Business Wire
Winter rains to bring colorful vistas to DVL’s seasonal
wildflower trail, which opens today (Friday, Feb. 24)
After five years of drought, the green hills surrounding Diamond
Valley Lake will once again come alive with the bright oranges,
blues, purples and reds of the region’s native wildflowers.
The display of colors will be easily accessible to visitors of
the lake’s seasonal wildflower trail, which opens to the public
today (Feb. 24), and will remain open daily until the blooms fade
in late spring.
“This winter’s impressive rainfall has not only brought some
much-needed relief to the state’s record drought, it has brought
life back to the hills surrounding Diamond Valley Lake,” said Jeff
Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District,
which owns and operates the 4,500-surface-acre lake near Hemet in
southwest Riverside County.
“It has been too long since we have been treated to the natural
brilliance of these hillsides ablaze with color,” Kightlinger
added.
The wildflower bloom has already started and is expected to peak
in mid- to late-March, when the hillsides will be a carpet of
color, said wildlife biologist Bill Wagner.
“We’ve had a limited bloom the past few years scattered around
the lake. This year is going to be spectacular, with broad fields
of flowers covering the hillsides,” he said. “Because the hillsides
are so saturated due to the rain this year, I think the bloom could
go well into late spring.”
In addition to fields of orange California poppies—the state
flower—visitors can expect to see blue royal lupines, purple
canterbury bells, yellow ranchers fiddleneck, white popcorn
flowers, and pink red maids, among other wildflowers. The best time
to see poppies in blooms is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as they need
full sun.
The wildflower trail—part of the Southwestern Riverside County
Multi-Species Reserve—is a 1.3-mile loop extending from the
Lakeview Trail. The trail is rated as an easy-to-moderate hike with
some rugged terrain and will be open from sunrise to sunset.
“Visitors who hike to the top of the trail peak will also get
another beautiful sight—tons of butterflies,” Wagner said.
The trailhead is accessible via the lake’s East Marina, entered
at Domenigoni and Searl parkways in Hemet. Parking is $7 and there
is a $2-per-person Lakeview Trail fee that includes a map of the
wildflower trail and a wildflower guide.
Two other trails are open to the public year-round and also
afford good views of the blooming flowers—the 26.1-mile Lakeview
hiking and bicycling trail that circles the 4.5-mile-long lake and
the 5.9-mile North Hills trail for equestrians and hikers.
Another viewing option is to rent one of the lake’s bass or
pontoon boats, bring fishing poles and lunch, and enjoy the
360-degree views from the lake itself. Boat rental and fishing
information is at dvlake.com.
In addition, Diamond Valley Lake features a Visitor Center and
the Western Science Center, both on Searl Parkway near the
Domenigoni Parkway entrance.
Information on California Friendly™ native plants and
water-saving tips are at bewaterwise.com. For more
information about the seasonal wildflower trail, call
1-800-590-LAKE or 961-926-7201.
Pets are not allowed on the trails or in the marina.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a
state-established cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies
serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The
district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern
California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to
develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other
resource-management programs.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170224005110/en/
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaRebecca
Kimitch, 213-217-6450; 202-821-5253, mobileorBob Muir,
213-217-6930; 213-324-5213, mobile