Peters Canyon Wash facts for kids
Peters Canyon Wash is a natural waterway, like a small river, located in the middle of Orange County, California. It's a tributary, which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. Peters Canyon Wash flows into San Diego Creek.
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What is Peters Canyon Wash?
Peters Canyon Wash is an important part of the local water system. It helps carry water from the land into larger creeks and eventually to the ocean. Even though it's called a "wash," much of it has been changed by people. It's now mostly a "channel," which means its path has been made straighter and sometimes lined with concrete.
Where Does it Start and End?
The wash begins near the border of the cities of Orange and Tustin. It starts at a place called Peters Canyon Reservoir. This reservoir is a large body of water, about 55 acres in size.
From the reservoir, Peters Canyon Wash flows mostly southwest. It travels in a fairly straight line for about 11.8 miles (19 kilometers). Its journey ends when it meets San Diego Creek. This meeting point is close to the Irvine Civic Center Plaza.
Its Connection to the Ocean
San Diego Creek, after receiving water from Peters Canyon Wash, continues its flow. Less than 5 miles (8 kilometers) downstream from where Peters Canyon Wash joins it, San Diego Creek empties into Upper Newport Bay. This bay is a beautiful natural area that connects to the Pacific Ocean. So, water from Peters Canyon Wash eventually makes its way to the sea.
Main Branch of Peters Canyon Wash
Peters Canyon Wash has its own smaller streams that flow into it. The biggest of these is called the Santa Ana Channel. It's important not to confuse this with another channel called the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel. The Santa Ana-Delhi Channel flows directly into Upper Newport Bay, not into Peters Canyon Wash.
