The 13-acre Tujunga Ponds site in Sunland was acquired by the Department in 1978, following the CalTrans completion of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway through Tujunga wash, requiring CalTrans to create the pond site in mitigation for loss of similar habitat under the freeway. In agreement with California Fish & Game and CalTrans, the Department accepted the site and its management as a mitigation area, fenced, gated and closed as the area as a wildlife habitat.
It was agreed that the site could be accessed by permit from the Department (Natural Areas) and existing trails around the ponds could be used by visiting groups for nature study, photography and similar passive recreation. The site contains 2 small lakes (ponds) and surrounding dense willow riparian woodlands and cottonwood riparian woodlands.