LOTUS FESTIVAL

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RECREATION AND PARKS

Echo Park Lotus Bed
Fact Sheet

WHAT: The Echo Park Lotus Bed decline

WHEN: Approximately three years ago the Department of Recreation and Parks observed signs of the lotus flower decreasing. Since that time the Department has taken special interest in the plants by observation, change in the cutting procedures and investigated some possibilities for the decline. The Department’s lake management staff also conferred with experts in the field and explored some possibilities of the flowers decline. This year it was decided to plant nine lotus pods, followed by weekly monitoring, to explore the vitality and health of the soil.  The Department’s effort will shed some light on why the lotus is declining.

WHY: The possible reasons that the lotus may have diminished:

• The quality of the water drainage from the area into the lake has effected the plant, by receiving urban pollutants
• The turtles and ducks are nibbling at the tender lotus shoots
• The genus of the plant is very old, and more susceptible to disease and overall environment changes
• Temperature of the water changed
• Sediment has built up on the bottom of the lake over the years effecting the growth pattern and root system

HOW: This is being addressed?

There are two ways that the issue is being addressed; one is for the immediate future and the other is long term.
1. With the assistance of the Huntington Arboretum the department recently, has planted 9 test pots each containing 2 lotus tubers, at Echo Park Lake. Each planted with a variety of mixtures and depths. The test area is surrounded with a wire fence to exclude the ducks and turtles. The sprouting time of the lotus tubers is unknown, but we should not expect to see any growth for at least several months.
2. The comprehensive Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project will attend to, Water Quality Improvement, Lake Rehabilitation, and Wildlife & Lotus Restoration. The goal is to complete permits and design in early 2010 and initiate construction in fall of 2010. Funded by Prop O, this project will be managed by the Department of Public Works.

WHO: Those interested in learning more may contact the Department of Recreation and Parks Public Information office at (213) 928-9200 or visit our web site: www.laparks.org where you can find the power point presentation by the Department of Public Works, for Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project or you can call the Department of Public Works at (213) 425-5933.
The Department of Recreation and Parks, Council District 1, Council District 13, the Community and our Park visitors are all affected by the lack of Lotus Blossoms as it is truly a community treasure. All of the City family is working hard to restore the Echo Park Lotus Bed.

Echo Park Lake Water Quality Improvement Project PDF

Michelle Vargas, Public Relations Specialist
Public Works Sanitation
213.978.0325 Office

Overview of the Asian Lotus

Lotus is an aquatic perennial, in the dicotyledon subclass of flowering plants (angiosperms). It is in the family Nelumbonaceae. There are three reported species of lotus: Nelumbo lutea, the Native American lotus, Nelumbo caerulea, the Egyptian lotus, and Nelumbo nucifera, the Asian lotus. The American lotus grows wild in North America, extending southward into Central America. The native range of the Asian lotus spreads from China into India, the Philippines, and parts of Australia, extending eastward to Japan (Speichert 2004).

Lotus has been a prestigious crop in China for 3,000 to 5,000 years. The stems and rhizomes (tubers) are sold as vegetables and the flower stamens can be dried for tea. The seeds can be made into medicine, and also made into a paste for soup and combined with sugar for pastries. The flowers serve as religious ornaments (Yi 2002). Lotus is the national flower of Indian and Vietnam. The lotus flower is significant to the Asian culture as a symbol of rebirth, purity and life. Many selections and hybrids have been developed in the Asian lotus and more than 600 varieties are recorded (Speichert 2004). Many common names are used including Oriental lotus, Sacred lotus, Blue lotus and Asian lotus. In this plan, the common names of lotus and Asian lotus are used in reference to Nelumbo nucifera. (1)

BRIEF HISTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS

Brief History of Echo Park Lake and Lotus Bed

The lake was established as a reservoir in 1868, known then, as Arroyo de los Reyes. According to City of L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP), a natural underground spring feeds into the lake's center. Echo Park was established in 1907. The lotus pond portion of the lake is approximately 0.7 acre. The lotus in Echo Park Lake are believed to be direct descendents from plants imported from China by Aimee McPherson, founder of Angelus Temple in the 1920s (Galbraith, A.M. personal communication 2007). The first confirmed documentation of lotus at the park is from a Los Angeles Times (L.A. Times) photograph and caption in 1929 that reads, "Right now the beds of lotus lilies in Echo Park, Los Angeles are coming into perfection." According to RAP, they have no historical documentation on the planting of the lotus beds, other than the lotus were first grown in stove houses (to attain optimal water temperatures) when they were first imported from Asia (RAP 2008).

Long-time maintenance personnel have no knowledge of any supplemental planting that has occurred over the years. Therefore, it is assumed the existing lotuses in the pond are biologically linked to the original plants. The Lotus Festival originated in 1972 by RAP and members of the Council of Oriental Organization (C.O.O.). The Festival was originally named "The Day of the Lotus," and the purpose was to promote an awareness and understanding of the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to our culture and surrounding communities. In 1990, the Festival was renamed "Lotus Festival" with the theme: "The Peoples and Culture of the Pacific Rim." The Lotus Advisory Board was developed in 1991, made up of representatives from various Asian and Pacific Island communities. Past participation from the following Asian and Pacific Islander communities include: Japanese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Chinese, Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian, Thai, Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian, Tibetan, Loatian, Bandladeshi and Hmong. The annual festival occurs in July, timed to when lotus blooming usually occurs.

As part of a lake rehabilitation project in 1984, a dam was constructed to segregate the lotus bed from the main body of the lake. Other lake improvements (outside the lotus bed) that were accomplished included dredging, installation of a bubbler system and ornamental fountain, construction of a pump house, storm drain outlet improvements, and placement of artificial fish habitat. There is currently no formal lotus management or maintenance plan/program in place (RAP 2008).

p.l. LA DPW- Bureau of Engineering Prop 0- Clean Water Bond Program Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project B&V Project: 160464TM 5 - Lotus Salvage and Replanting Plan June 2008 TM5- 6.