Grant Turns Descanso Gardens Into a Fire-Suppression Resource for the Foothills

The 150-acre botanical garden that draws nearly a million visitors a year to see camellias and oaks could soon serve a second purpose: holding 3 million gallons of water for firefighters protecting a corridor the state has designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has approved an $800,000 grant for Descanso Gardens to fund water storage and fire-suppression infrastructure, Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) announced in a press release.

Harabedian, who serves as a legislative participant on the Conservancy’s board, said he advocated for the funding on behalf of the La Cañada Flintridge garden, which sits in a city entirely designated a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

The grant comes 17 months after the January 2025 Eaton Fire, after which Descanso Gardens redesigned its planned stormwater capture and lake restoration projects to include a dedicated fire-suppression component, according to the garden’s website.

The redesigned system will allow fire trucks to access 1.5 million gallons from an underground cistern through fast-fill hydrants, while helicopters can draw another 1.5 million gallons from the garden’s lake, which is being restored as part of the broader initiative.

“Descanso Gardens is one of the jewels not only of my district but of all Southern California,” Harabedian said. “I was proud to advocate for this grant and thank the members of the Conservancy board for supporting these critical projects that will help protect our region from future disasters.”

Harabedian represents Assembly District 41, which includes Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and Sierra Madre — foothill communities that border the wildland-urban interface.

The grant adds state funding to Descanso’s broader infrastructure initiative, which broke ground on May 18 and is supported by Los Angeles County flood control and parks agencies, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, according to a City News Service report. The garden, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2021, is operated by the Descanso Gardens Foundation, a nonprofit, in a public-private partnership with Los Angeles County.

The stormwater capture project at the core of the initiative will divert runoff from the Winery Creek Channel into an underground cistern capable of storing approximately 1.5 million gallons of water and capturing up to 21 million gallons annually from a 256-acre watershed, according to Descanso Gardens officials.

The reclaimed water will be used for irrigation, lake replenishment, and habitat support — reducing the garden’s purchased water by up to 50 percent, according to the garden’s website.

“At a time when our region faces increasing threats from wildfire, drought and climate change, this investment provides critical resources to help us address challenges that no single organization can tackle alone,” Descanso Gardens CEO Juliann Rooke said in the press release. “Through stormwater capture, ecological restoration and emergency water infrastructure, Descanso Gardens can serve as a living demonstration of what is possible when public agencies and community institutions work together.”

The broader initiative also includes restoration of the garden’s lake, with wetland habitat improvements, accessible boardwalks, and upgraded circulation systems designed to improve water quality and biodiversity, as well as a three-acre Nature Discovery Garden with children’s play and educational areas focused on outdoor exploration, watersheds, and native ecosystems.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger praised the project at the May 18 groundbreaking. “Descanso Gardens is a treasure for our region, and these investments ensure it will inspire generations to come,” Barger said, according to City News Service.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is a state agency established in 1980 to preserve open space and expand public access to natural areas across Southern California. The Conservancy has helped preserve more than 80,000 acres of parkland, according to its state listing.

Completion of the broader infrastructure projects is anticipated in late 2027, according to Descanso Gardens officials.

Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive. Information: descansogardens.org or 818-949-4200.

Rooke, a Pasadena native, said the garden is honored to partner with the Conservancy and Harabedian “in advancing solutions that strengthen resilience today and for generations to come.”