Arroyo Conejo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arroyo Conejo |
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Paradise Falls
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| Country | United States |
| County | Ventura |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Discharges to the Pacific by Mugu Lagoon |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Calleguas Creek |
Arroyo Conejo is a special creek in Ventura County. Its name means “Rabbit Creek” in Spanish. It is the longest creek in the Conejo Valley. This creek flows through cities like Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. It also passes through communities such as Newbury Park and Santa Rosa Valley.
Arroyo Conejo is very important for Thousand Oaks. It helps drain water from a large area. This area covers about 57 square miles. Most of this area is in the Conejo Valley.
Long ago, Arroyo Conejo only flowed during certain seasons. But now, it flows all year round. This is because of water from city irrigation. The northern part of the creek helped create Wildwood Canyon. This happened over thousands of years. You can see a beautiful waterfall called Paradise Falls in Wildwood Regional Park. Many people think it shows the creek best.
The southern part of the creek starts in the Conejo Hills. It flows near Thousand Oaks Boulevard. In some places, the creek goes through concrete tunnels. It even runs under the street. After Newbury Park's Hill Canyon, the creek meets Arroyo Santa Rosa. This happens in Santa Rosa Valley. Then it flows through the Pleasant Valley basin. Finally, it reaches the ocean at Mugu Lagoon.
Some people want to make paths along the creek. This would be like the bike path along Arroyo Simi in Simi Valley. This creek is part of the larger Calleguas Creek system. This system drains a big area in southern Ventura County.
In Wildwood Regional Park, the creek has a deep gorge. It also has a 40-foot tall waterfall. This waterfall is called Paradise Falls. It is one of the most popular spots in the park.
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History of the Creek Area
The land around Arroyo Conejo was once home to the Chumash Indians. They lived in this region for a very long time. Their history here goes back 10,000 to 12,000 years. They lived from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Conejo and Simi Valley areas.
Many old Chumash items have been found along the creek. These include tools and rock carvings. These discoveries are often made in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Where the Creek Flows
Arroyo Conejo starts in the Conejo Hills near Newbury Park. It then flows across Casa Conejo. After that, it enters Thousand Oaks. It also goes through Wildwood Regional Park.
The creek flows into Hill Canyon. Then it continues into the Santa Rosa Valley. Here, it joins with Arroyo Santa Rosa. At this point, it becomes known as Conejo Creek. Conejo Creek then flows through the Pleasant Valley Basin. It connects with Calleguas Creek. Finally, it empties into the Pacific Ocean. This happens at Mugu Lagoon. This lagoon is at the northern end of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The northern edge of the creek's area is marked by mountains. These include the Santa Susana Mountains and Oak Ridge Mountains. The southern edge is formed by the Santa Monica Mountains. It is also bordered by the Simi Hills.
Animals Living in the Creek
Many different animals live in and around Arroyo Conejo. You can find the Western pond turtle here. This turtle is native to the area.
Several types of amphibians also live in the creek. These include the California red-legged frog and the Western toad. You might also see the American bullfrog and the Pacific tree frog.
Fish species found here include the Brown bullhead and Green sunfish. There are also Bluntnose minnow and Mosquitofish.
The creek is a vital home for many birds. These birds build their nests near freshwater. Some of the birds you might see are the Great blue heron and White-faced ibis. Other birds include the Black-crowned night heron and Green heron. You might also spot a Belted kingfisher or a Mallard.
Fun Things to Do Near the Creek
People are discussing if Thousand Oaks will build a path along the creek. This path would be for walking and biking. It would be similar to the path along Arroyo Simi in Simi Valley.
There are several parks and open spaces next to the creek. These are great places to visit:
- In Newbury Park: Arroyo Conejo Open Space, Walnut Grove Park, Peppertree Playfield, Rancho Conejo Open Space, Borchard Community Park.
- In Thousand Oaks: Wildwood Regional Park, Glenwood Park, North Meadows Park, South Meadows Park.
- In Camarillo: Camarillo Oak Grove County Park, Trailside Park, Heritage Park, Quito Park.
- In Santa Rosa Valley: Santa Rosa County Park.
See Also
