Prado wetlands reborn through hard work

By PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise

CORONA - South Dakota has Mount Rushmore. Cawker City, Kan. has a really big ball of twine.

And Corona has Southern California's largest man-made wetlands.

However, Corona's unique 465-acre landmark is a somewhat of a secret. The complex of more than 50 man-made ponds behind the Prado Dam is for the birds. Humans can visit by appointment only.

The wetlands were shielded from the public eye for more than two years after the rain-swollen Santa Ana River washed them out in the 2004-05 rainy season.

After $4 million in repairs, the restored Prado wetlands are open to duck hunters, school field trips, researchers and bird-watchers by appointment, said Craig Miller, assisting general manager for the wetlands.

"The construction is finished, and now it's up to Mother Nature to bring it back to its prior state," Miller said.

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