Mill Creek (San Bernardino County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mill Creek |
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 Location of Mill Creek in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| City | Forest Falls |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | San Bernardino Mountains San Bernardino National Forest 8,207 ft (2,501 m) 34°04′36″N 116°50′38″W / 34.07667°N 116.84389°W |
| River mouth | Santa Ana River Near Mentone 1,686 ft (514 m) 34°05′27″N 117°07′11″W / 34.09083°N 117.11972°W |
| Length | 17.8 mi (28.6 km) |
Mill Creek is a stream about 17.8 miles (28.6 km) long. It starts high up in the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, California. It is like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one, called the Santa Ana River. They meet just after the upper Santa Ana Canyon.
Part of Mill Creek flows through the San Bernardino National Forest. Its very beginning, called the headwaters, is in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
About Mill Creek
Mill Creek is in much better shape than the lower parts of the Santa Ana River area. This is because the land around Mill Creek is less developed. It does not have as many cities or buildings.
Making Electricity
Even though it's a natural stream, Mill Creek has three power plants. These plants are owned by Southern California Edison. They use the water from the creek to make electricity.
One of these plants, Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant, is very special. It was built near Redlands, California in 1893. This plant was one of the first in the United States to use a special type of electricity called three-phase alternating current. It was designed by a person named Almarian Decker.
Challenges for the Creek
Sometimes, the streambed of Mill Creek can become completely dry in certain spots. This means there is no water flowing there.
Also, large walls called levees were built along the creek. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built them after a big flood. These walls changed the natural areas along the river where plants and animals live. This natural area is called the riparian zone.
Another problem is that fish have trouble swimming up the creek. The poor conditions downstream in the Santa Ana River make it hard for fish to travel to Mill Creek to lay their eggs. This is important for their life cycle.
