Tijeras Canyon Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tijeras Canyon Creek |
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 Location of Tijeras Canyon Creek in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Santa Ana Mountains Near Rancho Santa Margarita 1,901 ft (579 m) 33°39′40″N 117°33′10″W / 33.66111°N 117.55278°W |
| River mouth | Arroyo Trabuco O'Neill Regional Park 499 ft (152 m) 33°35′31″N 117°37′58″W / 33.59194°N 117.63278°W |
| Length | 7.03 mi (11.31 km) |
Tijeras Canyon Creek is a small river, also called a 'watercourse', located in the northeastern part of Orange County, California. It flows into another creek called Arroyo Trabuco.
This creek starts in the hills of the Santa Ana Mountains. It then flows southwest through the city of Rancho Santa Margarita. For a few miles, it actually flows underground through a large pipe called a culvert. After passing under State Route 241, Tijeras Canyon Creek flows above ground again. It winds through Cañada Vista Park and the Tijeras Creek Golf Club. Finally, it meets Trabuco Creek inside O'Neill Regional Park.
Home for Fish
The lower part of Tijeras Canyon Creek is very natural. This makes it a great home for a special type of fish called the arroyo chub. These fish are 'endemic' to this area, meaning they only live in coastal Southern California streams.
In 2010, scientists studied the creek and found many native fish living there. This shows how important it is to keep the creek clean and natural.
Keeping the Creek Healthy
In March 2010, there was a problem near Tijeras Creek. A large pipe broke, and a lot of dirty water spilled into the creek. This water then flowed into Trabuco Creek and San Juan Creek. Eventually, it reached the Pacific Ocean. Because of this, Doheny State Beach had to close for six days to keep people safe.
This event showed how important it is to protect our waterways from pollution. Keeping creeks like Tijeras Canyon Creek clean helps protect the animals that live there and keeps our beaches safe for everyone.
