San Dieguito River
Encyclopedia
The San Dieguito River is a major river in Southern
California
, USA. Its headwaters rise on the southern slope of the Volcan Mountains
in San Diego County
and the river flows generally southwest for 23.8 miles (38.3 km), draining 346 mi2 before emptying into the Pacific Ocean
20 miles (32.2 km) north of San Diego
.
. Santa Ysabel Creek rises in the northeastern corner of the San Dieguito River watershed and flows west, creating Lake Sutherland. It then flows out of the lake's dam and westwards for the rest of its course. Its total length is about 11 miles (17.7 km). Santa Maria Creek, the smaller of the two streams, begins near the city of Ramona
and flows northwards about 7 miles (11.3 km) through the Ramona Grasslands and Bandy Canyon. A third fork, Temescal Creek, rises in the Cleveland National Forest
near Lake Henshaw
and flows south about 9 miles (14.5 km) into Santa Ysabel Creek.
From there the river flows west past the city of Escondido
, and under Interstate 15
before being impounded by the Lake Hodges Dam to form Lake Hodges
. From the dam to its mouth, the river flows through the long and narrow San Dieguito River Park past Del Mar
, and broadens into a tidal waterway and a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) lagoon
as it crosses under Interstate 5
to empty into the Pacific Ocean at Solana Beach
.
.
was established in the river valley. On the De Anza Expedition
's way back to Mexico after founding San Francisco, Father Pedro Font mentions San Dieguillo in his diary on January 10, 1776. An Indian rancheria, San Dieguito, is mentioned under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Mission in 1778. In 1840 or 1841 the name is applied to the San Dieguito land grant.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
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...
, USA. Its headwaters rise on the southern slope of the Volcan Mountains
Volcan Mountains
The Volcan Mountains are a mountain range in San Diego County, California.- See also :* Volcanic Hills , also in San Diego County...
in San Diego County
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...
and the river flows generally southwest for 23.8 miles (38.3 km), draining 346 mi2 before emptying 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...
20 miles (32.2 km) north of 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...
.
Course
The river officially begins at the confluence of two streams, Santa Ysabel Creek and Santa Maria Creek, near the town of San PasqualSan Pasqual Valley, San Diego, California
San Pasqual Valley is the northernmost community of the city of San Diego. It is bordered on the north by the city of Escondido, on the east and west by unincorporated land within San Diego County, and on the south by the city of Poway and the community of Rancho Bernardo.State Highway 78 runs...
. Santa Ysabel Creek rises in the northeastern corner of the San Dieguito River watershed and flows west, creating Lake Sutherland. It then flows out of the lake's dam and westwards for the rest of its course. Its total length is about 11 miles (17.7 km). Santa Maria Creek, the smaller of the two streams, begins near the city of Ramona
Ramona, California
Ramona is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,292 at the 2010 census.The term Ramona also refers to an unincorporated community that includes both the Ramona CDP and the adjacent CDP of San Diego Country Estates CDP...
and flows northwards about 7 miles (11.3 km) through the Ramona Grasslands and Bandy Canyon. A third fork, Temescal Creek, rises in the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
near Lake Henshaw
San Luis Rey River
The San Luis Rey River is a river in northern San Diego County, California. The river's headwaters are in the Cleveland National Forest near Palomar Mountain. The river drains into the Pacific Ocean on the northern end of the city of Oceanside. The river is over long and drains...
and flows south about 9 miles (14.5 km) into Santa Ysabel Creek.
From there the river flows west past the city of Escondido
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, and under Interstate 15
Interstate 15
Interstate 15 is the fourth-longest north–south Interstate Highway in the United States, traveling through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Montana from San Diego to the Canadian border...
before being impounded by the Lake Hodges Dam to form Lake Hodges
Lake Hodges
Lake Hodges is a lake and reservoir located in Southern California, about north of San Diego and just south of Escondido, California. When full, the reservoir has , a maximum water depth of , and of shoreline. Interstate 15 crosses Lake Hodges via the Lake Hodges Bridge...
. From the dam to its mouth, the river flows through the long and narrow San Dieguito River Park past Del Mar
Del Mar, California
Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...
, and broadens into a tidal waterway and a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
as it crosses under Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
to empty into the Pacific Ocean at Solana Beach
Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Solana Beach is located at ....
.
Drainage
The San Dieguito River watershed has vast areas, over 83%, of open space. As a result, it provides habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. Vegetation cover ranges from pine forest on the slopes of the headwater mountains to arid grassland on the plateaus and plains further downstream. However, 18% of the basin, mostly along the shoreline, is devoted to urban areas. About 150,000 people live in the San Dieguito River watershed, but could expand to 210,000 by 2015. The lower river suffers from pollutants that affect rivers all over Southern California, mainly from E. coli bacteria from urban runoffUrban runoff
Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of water pollution in many parts of the United States and other urban communities worldwide.-Overview:...
.
History
Prehistorically, the San Dieguito tribe inhabited much of San Diego County, with their main villages on the San Dieguito River. Remains of this culture are identified as the San Dieguito River Complex. By the 16th century, most of the basin formed the southern part of the Luiseño tribal territory. After the Mission Period, the Rancho San DieguitoRancho San Dieguito
Rancho San Dieguito was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Juan María Osuna. The rancho was renamed Rancho Santa Fe.-History:...
was established in the river valley. On the De Anza Expedition
Juan Bautista de Anza
Juan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto was a Novo-Spanish explorer and Governor of New Mexico for the Spanish Empire.-Early life:...
's way back to Mexico after founding San Francisco, Father Pedro Font mentions San Dieguillo in his diary on January 10, 1776. An Indian rancheria, San Dieguito, is mentioned under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Mission in 1778. In 1840 or 1841 the name is applied to the San Dieguito land grant.
Crossings
From mouth to source, the river crosses under:- Camino Del Mar (Historic U.S. Route 101
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) - 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.... - Jimmy Durante Boulevard
- 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...
) - El Camino RealEl Camino Real (California)El Camino Real and sometimes associated with Calle Real usually refers to the 600-mile California Mission Trail, connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions , 4 presidios, and several pueblos, stretching from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego...
- Via de Santa Fe (in Rancho Santa FeRancho Santa Fe, CaliforniaRancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
) - Bing Crosby Boulevard
- Lake Hodges DamLake HodgesLake Hodges is a lake and reservoir located in Southern California, about north of San Diego and just south of Escondido, California. When full, the reservoir has , a maximum water depth of , and of shoreline. Interstate 15 crosses Lake Hodges via the Lake Hodges Bridge...
- David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge
- Interstate 15Interstate 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...
Lake Hodges BridgeLake Hodges BridgeThe Lake Hodges Bridge is a component of Interstate 15 that spans Lake Hodges, just south of Escondido, California. Lake Hodges Bridge is an important part of San Diego's North-South transportation axis....
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(Escondido Freeway)