Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is a major river in southern California, in the United States. It begins in San Bernardino County and flows west about 100 miles (160 km) to the Pacific Ocean, through Riverside and Orange counties. It has a watershed of 2,650 square miles (6,863 square kilometers). Its biggest tributaries include Lytle, Temescal, and Santiago Creeks. Like the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers to the north, it is lined with concrete in many places. A notable feature on the river is the Seven Oaks Dam, which, at 632 feet (193 m) tall, is the 6th tallest dam in the United States.
Nearby rivers
North along coast
South along coast
Santa Ana River Media
Map showing the Santa Ana River and San Jacinto River drainage basins, with Temescal Creek added, in orange. * Southern California.
Mill Creek (pictured) is one of the main headwaters tributaries of the Santa Ana River.
The channeled mouth of the Santa Ana River between Huntington Beach and Newport Beach
The Transverse Ranges were formed by uplift along the San Andreas Fault. Santa Ana Canyon is between the first and second ridges and Big Bear Lake is in the background.
This segment of the Santa Ana River just downstream of Seven Oaks Dam marks the beginning of the inland riparian zone
Bernardo Yorba Adobe was built by Mexican settlers in Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana in 1835
The Santa Ana River near Riverside
Army Corps of Engineers map of the 100-year floodplain of the Santa Ana River
The Prado Flood Control Basin on the Santa Ana River has one of the largest remaining riparian zones along the main stem.
References
- Santa Ana River Watershed Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
- OC Watershed Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine