Temescal Creek (Riverside County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temescal Creek |
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Map of the Santa Ana River watershed. Temescal Creek connects the San Jacinto River to the Santa Ana River at Lake Elsinore.
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| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Elsinore |
| River mouth | Santa Ana River |
| Length | 20 miles (32 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Southeast-northwest |
| Basin size | 850 square miles (2,200 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Temescal Creek is a waterway in Riverside County, California. It is about 29 miles (47 km) long. This creek flows mainly northwest. It links Lake Elsinore to the Santa Ana River.
Temescal Creek collects water from the eastern slopes of the Santa Ana Mountains. It also gathers water from the western slopes of the Temescal Mountains. Its drainage basin, the area of land where water flows into it, is about 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2). This makes it the largest stream that feeds into the Santa Ana River. It connects the San Jacinto River and Lake Elsinore areas to the Santa Ana River system.
However, Temescal Creek is often dry today. It flows through a dry area called a rain shadow. This means it gets very little rain. Also, people use a lot of the underground water. So, the creek only flows when there is rain or water from homes and farms.
Contents
Temescal Creek: A Changing Waterway
Temescal Creek has changed a lot over time. It used to have much more water. This section explores how the creek's flow has been affected by human activity and natural changes.
The History of Water in Temescal Valley
Before 1886, the Temescal Valley and Temescal Creek were full of water. In May 1886, a company called the South Riverside Land and Water Company was formed. They bought land and secured rights to the water from Temescal Creek and its smaller streams. They also gained rights to Lee Lake.
Dams and pipes were built to move water to a new settlement called South Riverside. In 1889, the Temescal Water Company took over. They bought more land that held water. They started drilling deep wells to find underground water.
At first, water flowed easily from wells that were 300 feet deep. But soon, the water levels dropped. The company had to install pumps to get the water out. Over time, all the water from Temescal Creek and Coldwater Creek was put into pipes.
Natural wet areas and springs dried up. Slowly, the middle part of the Temescal Valley became dry. Farms and fruit orchards in the area were abandoned by 1918.
In the 1890s, the Temescal Water Company bought water from Lake Elsinore. This water was used to irrigate farms in Corona, California. The lake's outlet channel was made deeper. This allowed water to flow by gravity down Temescal Canyon to Corona.
As the lake's water level dropped, a pumping station was built. Pumping continued for a few years. But the water in the lake became too salty for farming. This was because of evaporation and little rainfall. So, the project was stopped. Another problem was that hot springs near Lake Elsinore dried up. People had to dig wells to get that water.
The water shortage was finally helped in 1939. This was when the Colorado River Aqueduct was built. A large water storage area, called Lake Mathews, was also created. This reservoir is in the upper part of Cajalco Canyon, which is fed by Cajalco Canyon Creek, a stream that flows into Temescal Wash.
How Temescal Creek Flows Today
Today, Temescal Creek starts as the Elsinore Spillway Channel. This is a channel that carries overflow water. It runs through the middle of downtown Lake Elsinore. Then, it turns northwest into the Warm Springs Valley.
The creek flows past where Wasson Canyon Wash joins it. After a water treatment plant, the creek can spread out into a more natural stream. Here, it is joined by Arroyo Del Toro and Stovepipe Canyon Wash.
The creek then goes through Walker Canyon. In the middle of the canyon, Gavilan Wash joins it. After leaving Walker Canyon, Alberhill Canyon Creek flows into Temescal Creek. Near Alberhill, Rice Canyon Creek joins from the left. Ceramic Factory Canyon Creek joins from the right.
Soon after, the creek goes under the Escondido (I-15) Freeway. Horsetheif Canyon Creek joins it from the left. The creek then flows into Lee Lake. This lake was formed by an earthen dam. Indian Canyon Creek joins the creek near the lake.
The creek's path is then blocked by a mountain ridge. This ridge separates the lower Temescal Valley from the upper valley. The creek flows around this ridge through a deep canyon. It then enters the main Temescal Valley.
After leaving the canyon, the creek flows through a natural riverbed. It is joined by several other streams:
- Mayhew Canyon Wash from the left.
- Dawson Canyon Wash from the right.
- Coldwater Canyon Creek and Brown Canyon Wash (with its stream McBribe Canyon Creek) from the left.
- Olsen Canyon Wash and Cajalco Canyon Creek from the right.
- Bedford Canyon Wash and Joseph Canyon from the left.
Finally, the creek enters Temescal Canyon.
Where Does the Water Go Now?
As Temescal Creek leaves Temescal Canyon, north of El Cerrito, it enters another reservoir. Here, it is directed into a concrete channel. It then flows through the northern part of Corona.
In Corona, Main Street Canyon Wash and Oak Avenue Drain join the creek from the left. The Arlington Valley Channel joins from the right. The creek then flows into the Prado Flood Control Basin. This basin is formed by the Prado Dam across the Santa Ana River.
The basin has many wetlands. This is where Temescal Creek mixes with the Santa Ana River. During floods, this area becomes a large lake. When this happens, Temescal Creek's connection with the Santa Ana River is covered by water.
Main Streams Joining Temescal Creek
Here are some of the main streams that flow into Temescal Creek:
- Arlington Valley Channel
- Oak Avenue Drain
- Main Street Wash
- Joseph Canyon
- Bedford Canyon Wash
- Cajalco Canyon Creek (which includes water from Lake Mathews)
- Olsen Canyon Wash
- Brown Canyon
- Coldwater Canyon Creek
- Dawson Canyon Creek
- Mayhew Canyon Creek
- Indian Canyon Creek
- Lee Lake
- Horsetheif Canyon Creek
- Ceramic Factory Canyon Creek
- Rice Canyon Creek
- Alberhill Canyon Creek
- Gavilan Wash
- Stovepipe Wash
- Arroyo Del Toro
- Wasson Canyon Wash
- Lake Elsinore
