List of rivers of Orange County, California
Encyclopedia
This is a list of rivers of Orange County, California
, which is a small coastal region in the southern portion of the U.S. state
of California
. There are thirteen distinct drainage areas in the watershed and eight large streams, most of which were formerly free-flowing but intermittent. In the inland portions of the county, streams typically flow into the San Gabriel River
or Santa Ana River
, both of which begin further inland and flow into Orange County as they near their mouths. Closer to the coast, many streams begin in the San Joaquin Hills
or Santa Ana Mountains
and flow directly into the sea. Most of the waterways in the area received their name from Spanish conquistadors
in the 18th century. The county is heavily developed and many streams are now channelized and polluted.
The San Gabriel River delineates the northeastern boundary of the county, and is fed by tributaries such as Coyote Creek
, which drains northwestern Orange County. All along the San Joaquin Hills
, which extend from the mouth of Newport Bay
south to San Diego County, small canyons drain into the Pacific, and San Diego Creek
is the primary watercourse feeding Newport Bay, draining a portion of central Orange County, Further south Aliso Creek drains southwest into the sea, and San Juan Creek
and its major tributary, Trabuco Creek
drain much of the remaining southern part. The slice of land that lies south of San Juan Creek's outflow is drained by two streams, Prima and Segunda Deshecha Cañada.
If a creek passes through a reservoir or lake, that is included. Lakes at the source of a stream are not listed, unless noted. If a creek has a name of Spanish
origin, then the translation of that name is given in the Translation section.
North of San Diego Creek
origin are give, in alphabetical order.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, which is a small coastal region in the southern portion of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. There are thirteen distinct drainage areas in the watershed and eight large streams, most of which were formerly free-flowing but intermittent. In the inland portions of the county, streams typically flow into the San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River (California)
The San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County, California in the United States. Its main stem is about long, while its farthest tributaries extend almost altogether...
or Santa Ana River
Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river of Southern California in the United States. Its drainage basin spans four counties. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows past the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, before cutting through the northern tip of the Santa Ana Mountains and...
, both of which begin further inland and flow into Orange County as they near their mouths. Closer to the coast, many streams begin in the San Joaquin Hills
San Joaquin Hills
The San Joaquin Hills are a set of low hills in coastal Orange County, California. They extend in a northwest-southeast direction, starting in the northwest in Newport Beach at the southern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, and extending southeast to San Juan Capistrano.-Geography and habitats:Named...
or Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
and flow directly into the sea. Most of the waterways in the area received their name from Spanish conquistadors
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
in the 18th century. The county is heavily developed and many streams are now channelized and polluted.
The San Gabriel River delineates the northeastern boundary of the county, and is fed by tributaries such as Coyote Creek
Coyote Creek (San Gabriel River)
Coyote Creek is a principal tributary of the San Gabriel River in northwest Orange County, southeast Los Angeles County, and southwest Riverside County in the U.S. state of California. It drains a land area of roughly covering five major cities, including Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, and...
, which drains northwestern Orange County. All along the San Joaquin Hills
San Joaquin Hills
The San Joaquin Hills are a set of low hills in coastal Orange County, California. They extend in a northwest-southeast direction, starting in the northwest in Newport Beach at the southern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, and extending southeast to San Juan Capistrano.-Geography and habitats:Named...
, which extend from the mouth of Newport Bay
Newport Bay
Newport Bay may refer to:*Disney's Newport Bay Club, a hotel situated at the Disneyland Paris*Newport Bay , an arm of Chincoteague Bay between the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland and Sinepuxent Neck...
south to San Diego County, small canyons drain into the Pacific, and San Diego Creek
San Diego Creek
San Diego Creek is a waterway flowing into Upper Newport Bay in central Orange County in the U.S. state of California. Its basin covers in parts of eight cities, including Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa. The major tributary of the northeast-flowing stream is Peters Canyon Wash, which joins a few...
is the primary watercourse feeding Newport Bay, draining a portion of central Orange County, Further south Aliso Creek drains southwest into the sea, and San Juan Creek
San Juan Creek
San Juan Creek, also called the San Juan River, is a stream in Orange County, California that consists of a catchment basin encompassing . Its mainstem rises in the Santa Ana Mountains, in the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest...
and its major tributary, Trabuco Creek
Trabuco Creek
Trabuco Creek is a small river in the U.S. state of California, flowing from the westernmost extreme of Riverside County through Orange County to join San Juan Creek in the city of San Juan Capistrano. long, its watershed covers in southeastern Orange County, including portions of three...
drain much of the remaining southern part. The slice of land that lies south of San Juan Creek's outflow is drained by two streams, Prima and Segunda Deshecha Cañada.
If a creek passes through a reservoir or lake, that is included. Lakes at the source of a stream are not listed, unless noted. If a creek has a name of Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
origin, then the translation of that name is given in the Translation section.
North of San Diego CreekSan Diego CreekSan Diego Creek is a waterway flowing into Upper Newport Bay in central Orange County in the U.S. state of California. Its basin covers in parts of eight cities, including Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa. The major tributary of the northeast-flowing stream is Peters Canyon Wash, which joins a few...
San Diego Creek to Aliso Creek
South of San Juan Creek to OC Boundary
Translations
Translations of creeks with names of SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
origin are give, in alphabetical order.
- Aliso Creek - Alder Creek
- El Horno Creek - Oven Creek
- El Toro Creek - Bull Creek
- Laguna Canyon - Lagoon Canyon
- Oso Creek - Bear Creek
- Prima Deshecha Cañada - First "Undone" Creek
- San Diego Creek - Saint Diego Creek
- San Juan Creek - Saint Juan Creek
- Segunda Deshecha Cañada - Second "Undone" Creek
- Trabuco Creek - Musket Creek or Blunderbuss Creek