San Diego River
Encyclopedia
The San Diego River is a river
in San Diego County, California
. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains
northwest of the town of Julian
, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir
, the largest reservoir
in the river's watershed
at 112800 acre.ft. Below El Capitan Dam
, the river runs west through the cities of Santee
and San Diego
. While passing through Tierrasanta it goes through Mission Trails Regional Park
, one of the largest urban parks in America. The river discharges into the Pacific Ocean
near the entrance to Mission Bay, forming an estuary
.
The river has changed its course several times in recorded history. When the first European settlers arrived in the late 18th century it emptied into False Bay, the present day Mission Bay. At some point in the 1820s it altered course and began to empty into San Diego Bay
, which continued for nearly 50 years. Because of fears that the harbor would silt up, the river was diverted to its present course in 1877 by a dam and the straightening of the channel to the ocean.
The river travels 52 miles (83.7 km) from its headwaters to the ocean. The river's tributaries include Boulder Creek, Cedar Creek, Chocolate Creek, Conejos Creek, Forester Creek, Los Coches Creek and San Vicente Creek
.
Four additional reservoirs lie in the river's watershed. Cuyamaca Reservoir is located on Boulder Creek and San Vicente Reservoir is fed by San Vicente Creek. Lake Jennings and Lake Murray
are formed by the dam
ming of canyon
s.
The San Diego River Park Foundation
was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to conserving the water, wildlife, recreation, culture and community involved with the San Diego River.
The San Diego River Conservancy was established by an act of the California Legislature to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River area. The Conservancy is a non-regulatory agency of the state government with an independent nine-member governing board. It is tasked to acquire, manage and conserve land and to protect or provide recreational opportunities, open space, wildlife species and habitat, wetlands, water quality, natural flood conveyance, historical/cultural resources, and educational opportunities. One important goal is to help create a river-long park and hiking trail, stretching the full length of the river from its headwaters in the Cuyamaca Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains
Cuyamaca Mountains
The Cuyamaca Mountains, locally the Cuyamacas, are a mountain range in San Diego County, California. The mountains run roughly northwest to southeast. The highest elevations are Cuyamaca Peak at and Stonewall Peak at...
northwest of the town of Julian
Julian, California
Julian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...
, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir
El Capitan Reservoir
El Capitan Reservoir is a reservoir in central San Diego County, California about 30 miles northeast of the city of San Diego and two miles north of the town of Alpine. The reservoir is formed by El Capitan Dam on the San Diego River and has a capacity of . The 237-foot dam is composed of...
, the largest reservoir
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the river's watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
at 112800 acre.ft. Below El Capitan Dam
El Capitan Dam
El Capitan Dam is an embankment dam on the San Diego River in southern California. Completed in 1934, the dam forms El Capitan Reservoir and serves mainly to supply water to the city of San Diego as well as providing flood control. It is the largest storage facility in San Diego's water supply...
, the river runs west through the cities of Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
and San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. While passing through Tierrasanta it goes through Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is a 5,800 acre open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California, established in 1974. It is the sixth largest municipally-owned park in the United States, and the largest in California.-Description:...
, one of the largest urban parks in America. The river discharges into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
near the entrance to Mission Bay, forming an estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
.
The river has changed its course several times in recorded history. When the first European settlers arrived in the late 18th century it emptied into False Bay, the present day Mission Bay. At some point in the 1820s it altered course and began to empty into San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
, which continued for nearly 50 years. Because of fears that the harbor would silt up, the river was diverted to its present course in 1877 by a dam and the straightening of the channel to the ocean.
The river travels 52 miles (83.7 km) from its headwaters to the ocean. The river's tributaries include Boulder Creek, Cedar Creek, Chocolate Creek, Conejos Creek, Forester Creek, Los Coches Creek and San Vicente Creek
San Vicente Creek (San Diego County)
San Vicente Creek is a stream in San Diego County, California. It rises east of Ramona and flows southwest to the San Vicente Reservoir and subsequently its confluence with the San Diego River just north of Lakeside. Its West Branch flows from the west until it reaches the San Vicente Reservoir....
.
Four additional reservoirs lie in the river's watershed. Cuyamaca Reservoir is located on Boulder Creek and San Vicente Reservoir is fed by San Vicente Creek. Lake Jennings and Lake Murray
Lake Murray, California
Lake Murray is a reservoir in San Diego, California, operated by the City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department. It is located within Mission Trails Regional Park. At full capacity the depth is . The asphalt-paved service road lining roughly two-thirds of the lake's perimeter is a popular...
are formed by the dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
ming of canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s.
The San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego River Park Foundation
The San Diego River Park Foundation is a 501 public benefit corporation that aims to create a continuous green-belt along the 52 mile long San Diego River.-Mission statement:...
was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to conserving the water, wildlife, recreation, culture and community involved with the San Diego River.
The San Diego River Conservancy was established by an act of the California Legislature to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River area. The Conservancy is a non-regulatory agency of the state government with an independent nine-member governing board. It is tasked to acquire, manage and conserve land and to protect or provide recreational opportunities, open space, wildlife species and habitat, wetlands, water quality, natural flood conveyance, historical/cultural resources, and educational opportunities. One important goal is to help create a river-long park and hiking trail, stretching the full length of the river from its headwaters in the Cuyamaca Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
San Diego
- Sunset Cliffs Boulevard/Sea World Drive
- Midway Drive/West Mission Bay Drive/Ingraham Street
- Interstate 5Interstate 5 in CaliforniaInterstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan...
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(San Diego FreewaySan Diego FreewayThe San Diego Freeway is a named freeway in Southern California. It refers to the following two segments:*Interstate 5 in California, from the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro district of San Diego to Interstate 405 in Irvine...
) - Pacific Highway
- NCTDNorth County Transit DistrictThe North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States...
's Coaster & AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Pacific SurflinerPacific SurflinerThe Pacific Surfliner is a Amtrak regional passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.... - San Diego TrolleySan Diego TrolleyThe San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
Green Line - Morena Boulevard
- San Diego Trolley Green Line
- Fashion Valley Road
- Avenida Del Rio
- State Route 163
(Cabrillo Freeway) - Mission Center Road & San Diego Trolley Green Line
- Camino Del Este & San Diego Trolley Green Line
- Qualcomm Way
- Interstate 805 Mission Valley Viaduct
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(Jacob Dekema Freeway) - InterstateInterstate 15 in CaliforniaIn the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
& State Route 15.svg.png)
(Escondido FreewayEscondido FreewayThe Escondido Freeway is a named freeway in Southern California. It refers to the following segments:*California State Route 15, from Interstate 5 southeast of Downtown San Diego and Interstate 8 in San Diego...
) - Rancho Mission Road/Ward Road & San Diego Trolley Green Line
- San Diego Mission Road/Twain Avenue
- Friars Road
Santee
- West Hills Parkway
- State Route 52California State Route 52State Route 52 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in San Diego County, that extends from La Jolla Parkway at Interstate 5 in La Jolla to Route 67 in Santee. Route 52 is a freeway for its entire length...
- Carlton Hills Boulevard
- Cuyamaca Street
- Magnolia Avenue
Lakeside
- Riverford Road
- Channel Road
- State Route 67California State Route 67State Route 67 runs from Interstate 8 in El Cajon to Lakeside as the San Vicente Freeway. It then becomes a smaller roadway through Poway and becomes Main Street in Ramona before ending into State Route 78....
- Ashwood Street
- El Capitan Dam
Julian
- State Routes 78California State Route 78State Route 78 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in the United States that runs from Oceanside east to Blythe, traversing nearly the entire width of the state. Its western terminus is at Interstate 5 in San Diego County and its eastern terminus is at I-10 in Riverside County...
& 79California State Route 79State Route 79 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route goes from Interstate 10 in Riverside County to Interstate 8 in San Diego County.-Route description:...
