Temecula Creek facts for kids

Temecula Creek, once known as the Temecula River, is a stream that flows for about 32.6 miles (52.5 km) through southern Riverside County, California, in the United States. It passes by small rural communities like Radec and Aguanga. The creek ends about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) southeast of the original center of Temecula.

The creek bed is often filled with large rocks and is usually dry and sandy. This area is mostly natural and undeveloped, meaning it hasn't been built up much by people. Its water eventually flows towards the coast. Until the 1920s, water flowed in Temecula Creek all year long.

A Look Back: The History of Temecula Creek

Long ago, around 1785, a Luiseño Native American village called Temeca or Temeko was located near the creek. This type of village was known as a rancheria. Later, in 1828, the area became known as a "rancho" (a large ranch) belonging to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.

A researcher named Alfred Kroeber thought the name "Temecula" might come from the Luiseño word temet, which means "sun". In 1853, surveys showed that the village of Temecula started on a high bank on the south side of Temecula Creek, across from an old store called Wolf's Store.

Vail Lake Dam: A Modern Change

In 1948, the people who owned the Vail Ranch built a large dam on Temecula Creek. This dam, called the Vail Lake Dam, is about 132 feet (40 meters) high. It is located about 10 miles (16 km) upstream from where Temecula Creek joins the Santa Margarita River. Today, Vail Lake is a popular place for people to visit and enjoy outdoor activities.

Where Temecula Creek Flows

Temecula Creek starts on the northern side of Aguanga Mountain. It flows northeast for about 1 mile (1.6 km) into Dodge Valley. From there, it continues northwest through several valleys, including Oak Grove Valley, Dameron Valley, Aguanga Valley, Radec Valley, and Butterfield Valley.

The creek then flows into the Vail Lake Reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, it turns southwest, passing through Pauba Valley and finally reaching Temecula Valley. Here, Temecula Creek joins another stream called Murrieta Creek.

Temecula Creek has a slightly larger area where it collects water (its drainage area) than Murrieta Creek. The Santa Margarita River actually begins right where Temecula Creek and Murrieta Creek meet, at the start of Temecula Canyon. As more homes are built near Temecula Creek, some parts of it might be changed into straight channels to control the water flow.

Smaller Streams Joining Temecula Creek

Many smaller streams and creeks flow into Temecula Creek, adding to its water. These are called tributaries. Here are some of them:

• Pechanga Creek
• Vail Lake Dam, Vail Lake
  • Kolb Creek
    • Arroyo Seco Creek
  • Wilson Creek
    • Cahuilla Creek
      • Hamilton Creek (Cahuilla Creek)
• Long Canyon Creek
• Cottonwood Creek
• Tule Creek
• Chihuahua Creek
• Rattlesnake Creek
• Kohler Canyon

Wildlife and Nature Around Temecula Creek

The area around Temecula Creek is very rich in different kinds of plants and animals. It supports both creatures found near the coast and those found in desert areas. The creek is bordered by the Agua Tibia Wilderness area and the Cleveland National Forest.

Plants of the Creek

The plants here include:

• coastal sage scrub: a type of plant community with shrubs like Jojoba.
• alluvial fan scrub: plants that grow on fan-shaped deposits of soil.
• mesquite bosque mix: a mix of mesquite trees and other plants.
• coast live oak woodland: areas with many oak trees.
• Fremont cottonwood-willow woodland: mature trees like cottonwoods and willows.

Animals of the Creek

Many birds live and raise their young near the creek. These include:

• Least Bell's vireo
• Nuttall's quail
• Ladder-backed woodpecker
• California and Gambel's quail

You can also find arroyo southwestern toads in Temecula Creek. Interestingly, North American beavers (Castor canadensis) might help the creek. As they build dams, they can slowly raise the water level underground. This could help parts of the stream, like where it meets Murrieta Creek, flow with water all year again. However, cattle grazing along Temecula Creek have damaged the smaller plants and shrubs growing beneath the main trees.