Watershed Appreciation – Get to Know the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed

No matter where you are in Orange County, you’re in a watershed. If you’re new to the concept of watershed appreciation, our What is A Watershed? page is a great place to learn about Orange County’s watersheds and the role they play in our lives! To find out which watershed you live in, visit our interactive map.

All of us must do our part to protect Orange County’s watersheds. By picking up after your dog, throwing candy wrappers in a trash bin, and recycling your used oil at a collection center, you prevent pollutants from flowing untreated into our waterways through storm drains and harming marine life. It is critical to do the right thing and keep pollutants out of our creeks, rivers, bays, and ocean.

The Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed is the fifth in a series of blogs that showcase the wonders of each of the 11 watersheds in Orange County. If you’re hiking through Crystal Cove State Park, exploring the El Moro Canyon Loop Trail, or sunbathing at Laguna Main Beach, you’re enjoying the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed. From unique features and recreational opportunities, to pollution prevention and stormwater resources, it’s time to take a deep dive and get to know the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed!

WONDERS OF THE LAGUNA COASTAL STREAMS WATERSHED

Unique Features

The Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed covers 11 square miles and encompasses all or parts of the Cities of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, and Laguna Woods, along with unincorporated areas. This watershed has incredible public spaces the whole family can enjoy, like Crystal Cove State Park with its over 2,400-acres of backcountry wilderness filled with thriving wildlife, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park’s 7,000-acres worth exploring, Laguna Main Beach’s iconic lifeguard station, and several other public treasures. H₂OC is committed to keeping our watersheds flourishing.

Wildlife & Plants

The Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed is home to numerous thriving ecosystems with diverse flora and fauna both inside the 9,000 acres of the connected Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, as well as the rest of the watershed. Some birds like the phainopepla and hermit thrush, and reptiles like the Silvery Legless Lizard and Arboreal Salamander, can be found in Crystal Cove State Park. Plants like the California fuchsia and coastal paintbrush also call Crystal Cove home.  The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park contains many birds as well, like the red-tailed hawk and acorn woodpecker, and reptiles like the southern alligator lizard and orange-throated whiptail. The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park also features numerous plant species like acres of coastal sage scrub and sycamore trees. Preventing storm drain runoff is vital to protecting the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed’s flora and fauna.

Recreation

Hiking, sunbathing, volleyball, surfing, and bird watching are all favorite activities in the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed. Here are some of the recreational areas this watershed offers:

• Laguna Main Beach – Being the most popular beach in Laguna Beach and one of the most recognizable beaches in the United States, visitors from far and wide enjoy soaking up the sun at Laguna Main Beach. Enjoy sunbathing on the sand, get some volleyball or basketball games in, or go for a walk on the boardwalk. Don’t forget to visit the famous lifeguard tower too! 

• Crystal Cove State Park – With over 2,400-acres of backcountry wilderness, 3-miles of beach, and an underwater kelp forest, the entire family can enjoy a day at Crystal Cove. Hike, bike, or ride your horse on over 15-miles of inland trails, take your leashed dog along the coastal bluff trail, or enjoy incredible ocean views as you camp at Moro campground. Get away from the busyness for a day and try to identify all the wildlife!

• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park – See California as it has appeared for thousands of years in this 7,000-acre park. Dogs aren’t permitted, but you can still enjoy the 40-miles of trails lined by sycamore and oak trees leading to breathtaking vistas on foot, bicycle, or horseback! The Nix Nature Center inside the park also offers exhibits and wildlife viewing areas, scavenger hunts, and more.

• Alta Laguna Park – This small but mighty neighborhood park is known as the “top of the world” by residents. Enjoy some of the best views around while sitting on a bench, playing tennis, or enjoying the playground. Don’t forget your tennis racquet! 
• Heisler Park – This large oceanfront park has grass lawns, picnic tables, paved walking paths, and wonderful ocean views. The park also leads to Picnic Beach, Rockpile Beach, Diver’s Cove, and Laguna Main Beach if you’d like to get your toes sandy. Since Laguna Beach is plastic free, remember to pack a yummy lunch in reusable or non-plastic containers and throw away your trash in the designated bins as you enjoy the calming environment.
• El Moro Canyon Loop Trail – This 5-mile moderately-trafficked trail in Crystal Cove State Park has pristine wildflowers and views of the ocean throughout. It’s rated moderate, so it’s not as easy as a stroll through the park, but perfect for a great workout. 

Water Quality

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board regulates stormwater runoff from urbanized areas in the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed. It ensures that water quality is protected and in accordance with the MS4 Permit. The MS4 system is separated between stormwater and wastewater systems, managed by and under the responsibility of the municipalities. 

Indicator bacteria, a water quality metric for the possible presence of human and animal waste, is a main pollutant in the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed. The Cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, and the County of Orange have many programs in place, like street sweeping and storm drain cleaning, to keep the environment clean for everyone to enjoy. These programs also help municipalities meet the water quality goals in their Water Quality Improvement Plan. 

By implementing best management practices (BMPs), bacteria levels in this watershed have been significantly reduced and most of the watershed consistently meets the necessary bacteria standards. Crystal Cove was even named to Heal The Bay’s California Beach Honor Roll for having perfect a water quality score!

At Laguna Beach’s Heisler Park, covering trash cans and diverting dry weather runoff to the sanitary sewers have helped maintain water quality. 

Heisler Park has also been renovated to better protect the ocean from stormwater runoff. This section of coastline, the Heisler Park Ecological Reserve, was named an Area of Special Biological Significance because of its tidepool life and thriving ecosystem (California only has 34 of these areas), so leaving no trace here is especially critical. By installing an efficient irrigation system, the park can filter stormwater more thoroughly to remove pollutants and improve its water conservation. The renovations are both beautiful, and functional!

To learn more about water quality monitoring in South Orange County, read our story map here. 

Protecting the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed

Nobody likes to swim in water with a bacteria problem. Here are ways you can prevent bacteria pollution to help the watershed thrive:

Reduce Runoff & Help Reduce Potential Sources of Bacteria

• Promptly pick up pet waste with bags and dispose of it in a covered bin before a predicted rain event or sprinklers turn on.
• Properly maintain your home’s sewer pipes to prevent clogs and backup overflows. Fats, oils, and grease should be put in the appropriate bin and only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet.
• Reduce irrigation runoff by regularly checking for leaks and aligning sprinkler heads.
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash instead of in your driveway.
• Report sewage spills immediately to your sewer agency. Alternatively, you can contact the 24-Hour Pollution Prevention & Reporting Hotline by calling (877) 89-SPILL (77455) or visiting myOCeServices.ocgov.com. A quick way to find the reporting options is to click the “Report Pollution button” at the top and bottom of every page on h2oc.org.

More Ways to Appreciate Orange County’s Watersheds

There are many ways to get involved in your local community and appreciate your local watershed:

• Explore your watershed and report water pollution. Explore Orange County’s creeks, trails, and coastline and make observations about water quality conditions. If you see anything abnormal (such as high numbers of dead fish or fowl, oil spills, leaking barrels, or other signs of pollution), visit our Report Pollution page to report the problem.
• Connect with area watershed organizations through local events. Join H₂OC, other organizations, and your neighbors who are working to protect and restore our creeks, rivers, bays, and ocean. Find events in your area.
• Spread the word. To protect our waterways, share your knowledge about preventing water pollution and encourage others to do the same. You can even involve your kids in learning about watersheds and pollution prevention through our kids’ Watershed Activity Workbook.
• Learn more. For more information on watersheds, view our What is a Watershed? page and our Tips for Protecting Your Watershed brochure.

To learn more about the Laguna Coastal Streams Watershed, click here.