San Diego Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Diego Creek |
|
| River | |
 Lower tidal San Diego Creek (foreground), with Upper Newport Bay and Costa Mesa beyond
|
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Region | Orange County |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | La Cañada Wash, San Joaquin Wash, Bonita Creek |
| - right | Bee Canyon Wash, Peters Canyon Wash |
| Source | Santa Ana Mountains |
| - location | El Toro, Lake Forest |
| - elevation | 700 ft (213 m) |
| - coordinates | 33°38′28″N 117°41′03″W / 33.64111°N 117.68417°W |
| Mouth | Upper Newport Bay |
| - location | Near University of California Irvine |
| - elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| - coordinates | 33°38′55″N 117°52′28″W / 33.64861°N 117.87444°W |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
| Basin | 112.2 sq mi (291 km²) |
| Discharge | for Campus Drive at Irvine, CA |
| - average | 61 cu ft/s (2 m³/s) |
| - max | 43,500 cu ft/s (1,232 m³/s) |
| - min | 0 cu ft/s (0 m³/s) |
The San Diego Creek is a small river in Orange County, California. It flows towards the northwest. The creek is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. The land area that drains into it, called its watershed, is about 112.2 square miles (291 square kilometers). This area covers parts of three different cities.
The San Diego Creek starts in the Coast Range mountains. However, many smaller streams, called tributaries, that flow into it begin in the Santa Ana Mountains. These tributaries flow west until they join the main creek. Eventually, San Diego Creek flows into the Upper Newport Bay. This bay is a branch of Newport Bay, which then connects to the big Pacific Ocean.
Contents
Where is San Diego Creek Located?
San Diego Creek is found in Orange County, California. It is an important waterway for the cities it flows through.
How Long is San Diego Creek?
The main part of San Diego Creek is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) long. It's not a huge river, but it plays a big role in the local environment.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is like a giant bowl of land. All the rain and water that falls into this "bowl" eventually flows into one main river or creek. The San Diego Creek watershed covers a large area. This means water from many places ends up in the creek.
Where Does the Water Go?
The water in San Diego Creek travels from its source in the mountains. It flows through different areas and then empties into the Upper Newport Bay. This bay is a special place where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. From there, the water joins the Pacific Ocean.
Nearby Rivers to Explore
San Diego Creek is part of a network of rivers and streams in the area.
Rivers North Along the Coast
- Santa Ana River: This is a much larger river located north of San Diego Creek.
Rivers South Along the Coast
- Aliso Creek: This creek is found to the south of San Diego Creek.
Images for kids
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San Diego Creek flows into the Upper Newport Bay.
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San Diego Creek and San Diego Creek bicycle path
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View of San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the few remaining wetlands of the Cienega de las Ranas
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The Back Bay is the estuary of San Diego Creek above Newport Bay
