Piute Ponds opens improved walking tour

  • Published
  • By Gary Hatch
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Piute Ponds walking tour is now open and ready for business.

That's the message as two elementary school children helped Col. Drew Jeter, 95th Air Base Wing commander, cut a ribbon to signify the installation of an observation deck and several informational signs placed along a wide walking path that loops around some of the dikes at the ponds.

Piute Ponds, a man-made wetland, is located in the far southwest corner of the base. It was formed in 1961 when Los Angeles County built a dike along Avenue C on base to prevent treated effluent from its District 14 Wastewater Treatment Plant from flowing onto the Rosamond Dry Lakebed.

"If you haven't been here before, you'll be surprised by what you find when you get here," Colonel Jeter said as he looked into the faces of a class of second graders from Bailey Elementary School taught by Kristie Grubb. The class, which was at the ponds on a field trip, was among those gathered for the ceremony.

"These ponds are man-made, but we are lucky to have them. I learned first-hand the educational value of the ponds when my daughter was in Ms. Grubb's class last year, and she told me all the amazing things she learned about the ponds from field trips here," he said.

The newly installed facilities include a welcome sign with a map showing the route of the walking tour, six signs that provide information about the plants, animals and insects that inhabit the area, and a covered observation deck that provides visitors some protection from the elements.

"The signs are well placed and have just the right information on them," said Ms. Grubb, who has been taking classes to the ponds for eight years. "And last time we were here, we ate our lunch at the observation deck, where we were more protected from the wind.

"The kids love coming here. I love to watch the look on their faces when they see all that water," Ms. Grubb said.

Piute Ponds is a particular benefit for migrating birds. It is located on the Pacific Flyway, which is a common route for many species of birds as they travel south for the winter or north in the spring.

More than 200 species of birds have been documented in the area.

Those who want to visit the ponds must request access from Environmental Management.

"We have people come from all over the country to watch birds at Piute," said Mark Hagan natural resource manager. "An access letter is required because we want to ensure everyone is safe and secure while they're out there."