Aliso Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aliso Creek |
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Aliso Creek flows underneath the Aliso Creek Road bridge before it enters Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.
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Map of the Aliso Creek watershed showing major tributaries and cities
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| Other name(s) | Alisos Creek, Los Alisos Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Counties | Orange County |
| Cities | Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Loma Ridge in the Santa Ana Mountains Cleveland National Forest north of Portola Hills 1,704 ft (519 m) 33°42′10″N 117°37′20″W / 33.70278°N 117.62222°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean Aliso Beach Park, Laguna Beach 0 ft (0 m) 33°30′38″N 117°45′9″W / 33.51056°N 117.75250°W |
| Length | 19.8 mi (31.9 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 34.9 sq mi (90 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Aliso Creek is a small river in Orange County, California. It flows for about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the Santa Ana Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, is about 30.4 square miles (79 square kilometers).
The name "Aliso" comes from the Spanish word for "alder," which is a type of tree. Six smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Aliso Creek. These are Wood Canyon Creek, Sulphur Creek, the Dairy Fork, Aliso Hills Channel, Munger Creek, and English Canyon.
Sadly, Aliso Creek has a lot of pollution. Water that runs off streets in nearby cities, called urban runoff, flows into the creek. This makes the creek flow more all year round and adds a lot of pollution. This pollution is a big problem, especially at Aliso Creek Beach, which is a popular spot.
Contents
Aliso Creek's Journey
Aliso Creek starts high up in the Santa Ana Mountains. It then flows through several cities in Orange County. Finally, it reaches the Pacific Ocean at Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach.
Along its path, the creek passes through different types of areas. Some parts of the creek have been changed by people to help control water flow. There are also special structures built in the creek bed to prevent the soil from washing away.
Water Quality Concerns
The pollution in Aliso Creek is a major issue. The urban runoff carries things like trash, chemicals, and other harmful substances into the water. This can hurt the plants and animals that live in and around the creek. It also makes the water unsafe for people.
One visible sign of pollution is when too much algae grows in the creek. This is called an algae bloom. It can make the water look green and murky. Efforts are being made to clean up the creek and improve its water quality.
Wildlife and History
Aliso Creek was once home to Steelhead trout, a type of fish. These fish were found in the creek as recently as 1972. The creek and its canyon have also been important to local history.
The area around Aliso Canyon was once a boundary between the lands of the Acjachemen and Tongva Native American groups. Later, settlers built homes here. The José Serrano Adobe in Lake Forest is one example of an old building from this time.
Nearby Rivers
North along coast
South along coast
Images for kids
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Aliso Creek near its start, where the water moves slowly.
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Aliso Creek flows into a sandy area at the beach in Laguna Beach. The mouth changes often because of the ocean tides.
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A part of Aliso Creek in Lake Forest that has been changed by people.
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A view from above of where Aliso Creek meets the ocean. Aliso Beach is in front, and Aliso Canyon is behind it.
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Steelhead trout used to live in Aliso Creek, possibly until 1972.
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Aliso Canyon was once a border between the lands of the Acjachemen and Tongva people.
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The José Serrano Adobe in Lake Forest was one of several homes built by Don José Serrano.
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A panoramic photo of Aliso Canyon from around 1900. You can see buildings from the Thurston homestead.
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Many small waterfalls, called drop structures, are in Aliso Creek to stop erosion.
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A lot of algae growing in Aliso Creek near Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in 2017.
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A map showing a project to restore the Aliso Creek ecosystem.
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Laguna Niguel Lake is a popular place for boating and fishing in the Aliso Creek watershed.
