San Antonio Creek (San Bernardino County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Antonio Creek |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | San Gabriel Mountains Mount San Antonio, Los Angeles County 9,400 ft (2,900 m) 34°08′11″N 117°41′22″W / 34.13639°N 117.68944°W |
| River mouth | Chino Creek Pomona Valley, near Chino, San Bernardino County 1,148 ft (350 m) 34°05′28″N 117°42′05″W / 34.09111°N 117.70139°W |
| Length | 20.7 mi (33.3 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 36.6 sq mi (95 km2) |
San Antonio Creek is an important stream in Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County, California. It flows south from Mount San Antonio in the San Gabriel Mountains. The creek eventually joins Chino Creek, which then flows into the Santa Ana River.
When the creek leaves the narrow San Antonio Canyon and reaches the wide, flat Pomona Valley, it is sometimes called the San Antonio Wash or the San Antonio Creek Channel. This is because the creek often dries up in this lower section during parts of the year.
Contents
What is San Antonio Creek?
San Antonio Creek is about 20.7 miles (33.3 km) long. It collects water from an area of about 37 square miles (96 km2). This area is called its drainage basin.
Where Does San Antonio Creek Start?
San Antonio Creek begins on the southeast side of Mount San Antonio, also known as Mount Baldy. This mountain is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains.
How Does the Creek Flow?
The stream flows southwest through San Antonio Canyon. It passes by Mount Baldy Village and then turns south. It winds through the Angeles National Forest.
At the end of the canyon, the creek reaches the San Antonio Dam. After passing through the dam, the stream often becomes dry. It then flows south through a concrete channel built to control floods.
The creek passes through several cities in the Pomona Valley, including Claremont, Montclair, and Chino. San Antonio Creek joins Chino Creek in northwestern Chino. This meeting point is about 9 miles (14 km) upstream from where Chino Creek flows into the Santa Ana River.
History of San Antonio Creek
The upper part of San Antonio Canyon was a busy place for gold mining in the mid-1800s. People searched for gold there.
How Did the Area Change Over Time?
After the gold ran out, mountain resorts started to appear along the creek in the early 1900s. Around the same time, canals were built from the mouth of San Antonio Canyon. These canals helped bring water to farms in the wide, flat area around the creek.
When Was the Dam Built?
A very big flood in 1938 caused a lot of damage along the creek. Because of this, the San Antonio Dam was built between 1952 and 1956. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built it to help control floods and protect the communities nearby.
What is the Area Like Today?
In recent years, the lower part of the creek's watershed has become much more developed with cities and towns. The area where the creek starts, called the headwaters, is mostly used for fun activities. People go hiking and camping there in the summer. In the winter, they enjoy skiing at the Mount Baldy Ski Lifts area.
