Lytle Creek (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lytle Creek |
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Lytle Creek and its tributary, Cajon Wash, flowing out of the San Gabriel Mountains.
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| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Santa Ana River 981 ft (299 m) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Lytle Creek is a stream in California, about 18 miles (29 km) long. It flows through southwestern San Bernardino County, near the city of San Bernardino. This stream is a smaller branch, or tributary, of Warm Creek, which then flows into the larger Santa Ana River.
The early settlers, known as Mormons, who founded the city of San Bernardino, gave the stream its name. They named it "Lytle Creek" to honor their leader, Captain Andrew Lytle.
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What is the Lytle Creek Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common point, like a river or stream. The Lytle Creek watershed includes the land that feeds water into Lytle Creek.
Where Does Lytle Creek Start?
Lytle Creek begins in the eastern part of the San Gabriel Mountains. It has three main branches, called forks: the North Fork, the Middle Fork, and the South Fork.
The main part of Lytle Creek starts where the North Fork and Middle Fork Lytle Creek come together. This spot is just west of the town of Lytle Creek, California 34°14′24″N 117°29′55″W / 34.24000°N 117.49861°W. Soon after, the South Fork Lytle Creek also joins the creek from the right side 34°14′04″N 117°29′39″W / 34.23444°N 117.49417°W.
How Does Lytle Creek Flow?
As Lytle Creek leaves the mountains, it reaches an area called the Lytle Creek Wash 34°11′24″N 117°25′59″W / 34.19000°N 117.43306°W. This is around where Glen Helen Parkway crosses the creek 34°11′24″N 117°25′58″W / 34.19000°N 117.43278°W. A "wash" is a dry streambed that only carries water after heavy rains.
Further downstream, the old Lytle Creek channel splits off to the east. There's also a smaller, man-made channel called the Lytle Creek Channel 34°05′39″N 117°19′29″W / 34.09417°N 117.32472°W. This channel continues southeast and eventually reconnects with Lytle Creek's waters in the Warm Creek area, near Knoll Park 34°4′27″N 117°18′13″W / 34.07417°N 117.30361°W.
The lower part of Lytle Creek joins with the man-made channel of Warm Creek. This happens about one mile before Warm Creek flows into the Santa Ana River. At Knoll Park, the Lytle Creek Channel and Warm Creek channel merge just before they both join the Santa Ana River.
Cities Near Lytle Creek
Many cities are built on the old soil and rock left behind by Lytle Creek over thousands of years. These cities include Fontana, Rialto, Colton, and San Bernardino, which is the largest.
What are Lytle Creek's Tributaries?
Here are some of the smaller streams and canyons that flow into Lytle Creek:
- Lytle Creek
- -- The mouth of Lytle Creek Wash, where the man-made channels begin, and where it eventually meets the Santa Ana River.
- Cajon Wash
- Cable Creek
- Lone Pine Creek
- Crowder Creek
- -- The start of Lytle Creek Wash, where the upper part of Lytle Creek ends.
- Grapevine Canyon Creek
- Meyer Canyon Creek
- -- Miller Narrows
- South Fork Lytle Creek
- Bonita Creek
- Middle Fork Lytle Creek
- North Fork Lytle Creek
- Coldwater Canyon Creek
- Paiute Canyon
- Dog Bone Canyon
How Lytle Creek Helps Make Electricity
Southern California Edison, an energy company, has a special power plant on Lytle Creek. This plant uses the flowing water to create electricity.
What is a Hydroelectric Plant?
This plant is called a hydroelectric plant, and it's located at Miller Narrows 34°13′56″N 117°29′11″W / 34.23222°N 117.48639°W. It can produce 600 kilowatts of power. It's a "run-of-the-river" plant, which means it uses the natural flow of the stream without needing a large dam to store water.
A small dam guides some of the water into a special machine called a water turbine. The force of the water spins the turbine, which then generates electricity. After the water has passed through the turbine, it is returned to the streambed further downstream, continuing its journey.
