Temecula Basin facts for kids
The Temecula Basin is like a giant bowl-shaped dip in the land. It's a sedimentary basin, which means it's a place where layers of rock, sand, and soil have built up over a very long time. This basin is found in southwestern Riverside County, California.
The Temecula Basin is connected to the Elsinore Fault Zone, a major crack in the Earth's crust. It was formed when ancient rocks sank down, and then newer layers of dirt and sediment filled the space on top.
Water Underground: The Temecula Basin Aquifer
The Temecula Basin is also a very important natural underground water storage area, called an aquifer. Think of it as a huge sponge beneath the ground that holds water. It's the biggest underground water source in the San Diego water region.
This underground water supply gets refilled, or "recharged," in a few ways:
- When rain falls in the valley, it soaks into the ground.
- Water flows underground from other areas.
- Water from creeks like Murrieta Creek and Temecula Creek (which flow into the Santa Margarita River) also seeps into the ground. These creeks drain water from the surrounding mountains and the southern Perris Block.
A Look Back: Water in the Past
In 1919, a report from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) described the water situation in the Temecula Basin.
- In the low areas of Murrieta Valley, the underground water was very close to the surface, often less than 10 to 20 feet deep.
- The water from wells in Murrieta Valley was generally good enough for drinking and for watering crops.
- However, along Murrieta Creek, the water was even closer to the surface (about 6 to 8 feet deep). Because the ground was always wet, water would evaporate, leaving behind minerals like alkali.
- In the main Temecula Valley, underground water was also close to the surface, especially in the wide, sandy parts.
- Smaller valleys in the upper Temecula Basin also had water near the surface, usually in the sandy and rocky materials.
