Watershed Appreciation – Get To Know The Santa Ana River Watershed

No matter where you are in Orange County – in the mountains, city centers, or near the ocean, you are within a watershed. The Santa Ana River Watershed is the ninth in a series of blogs that showcase the wonders of each of these wonderful watersheds. If you’re new to the concept of watershed appreciation, our What is A Watershed? page is a great place to get started. Learn more and find out which watershed you live in by visiting our interactive map.

It’s up to all of us to protect OC’s watersheds. Rainwater is an important resource, but if it gets contaminated with pollutants, it can damage our local creeks, rivers, and the ocean. Simple actions like picking up after your dog, performing regular maintenance on your property, throwing away trash in a closed bin, and properly disposing of cigarette butts help prevent pollutants from flowing untreated through storm drains into our water bodies.

From unique features and recreational opportunities to pollution prevention and stormwater resources, let’s take a deep dive and get to know the Santa Ana River Watershed!

WONDERS OF THE SANTA ANA RIVER WATERSHED

Unique Features

The Santa Ana River Watershed covers over 210 square miles and stretches into Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The watershed is so large that it runs through 12 cities in OC (Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda), and includes unincorporated areas and the Orange County Flood Control District too.

The Santa Ana River, the watershed’s namesake, is the largest river in Southern California, beginning in the San Bernardino Mountains and running almost 100 miles to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach. In Anaheim, water in the Santa Ana River is diverted into spreading grounds for recharge of the north Orange County groundwater basin, which supplies 85% of the water demand for north and central Orange County.

Wildlife & Plants

The Santa Ana River Watershed is home to numerous plant and animal species. While exploring one of several parks in the area you might see a cooper’s hawk, western bluebird, or southern alligator lizard. This watershed hosts flourishing plant life too, like Pacific pea, fiesta flower, and mule fat. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a Riverside fairy shrimp! Both marine and terrestrial species alike thrive in this watershed, which spans inland and coastal areas.

Pacific Pea

Recreation

The Santa Ana River Watershed has terrific outdoor recreation opportunities for a wide array of activities like the OC Zoo, hiking, biking, surfing, sunbathing, ball sports, and bird watching. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy this watershed’s recreational areas, including:

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park – Quaint but mighty! This 124-acre park upstream from the Carbon Canyon Dam features Orange County’s only redwood grove. Gander in awe of these majestic giants, have a picnic, or play some beach volleyball or tennis with your friends! Feel free to bring your leashed dog and don’t forget to take pictures and pick up after your furry friend!
• Fairview Park – Enjoy Costa Mesa’s largest park!  This 208-acre park has two Nationally Registered Cultural Resource Historic Sites and five different habitat ecosystems. Fairview Park also serves as a gateway to the Santa Ana River Trail, Orange Coast River Park, and Talbert Regional Park. Feel free to bring the family (including your leashed dog, which you must pick up after) and soak in the serenity! 
• Huntington State Beach – Put on your swimsuits and spend a day at the beach! Huntington State Beach encompasses 121 miles of plentiful sand, beach volleyball courts, and a multi-use trail. Make sure to catch some waves, go swimming, or admire a beautiful sunset on the sand. Dogs are not allowed on the sand but can stroll along the multi-use path (and make sure to pick up after them).  Also, check out the U.S. Open of Surfing this summer, the largest annual surf competition in the world held annually south of the Huntington Beach Pier.

Huntington State Beach

• Irvine Lake – A fisherman’s delight! No fishing license is required to enjoy a day of shoreline fishing. Catfish, carp, bluegill, crappie, sturgeon, and bass (catch and release only) populate this scenic lake. There is a five-fish limit, one rod per person maximum, and only approved baits are allowed (worms, mackerel, dough bates, or artificial lures), so make sure to follow all the rules while you enjoy a tranquil fishing experience!
• Irvine Regional Park – A family gem! This 495-acre park has something for the entire family. Admire diverse wildlife at the OC Zoo, take a walk by Santiago Creek, hop on the Irvine Park Railroad, or enjoy a horse ride on the horseshoe loop trail. Feel free to bring your dog too, but ensure they’re always leashed and you pick up after them. And keep your eye out for a wandering peacock or two!
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park – A nature-lover’s paradise! This 1,269-acre secluded park is perfect for hikers, bikers, and equestrians who want the natural charm of mountain vistas, an orange grove, a babbling creek, and expansive forest. Explore one of the many trails and see what beautiful wildlife you can spot! Also, dogs are welcome to join you in this wilderness oasis, but they must be leashed at all times and you are required to pick up after them. May you enjoy a day away from urban life!
• Talbert Regional Park – Explore this plant paradise! This 180-acre nature preserve in Costa Mesa is divided into separate plant groups (zones) based on the Santa Ana River’s diverse habitat. Stroll through miles of trails and admire native grasslands, wetlands, coastal strands, and woodlands. Bike, hike, and bring your canine companion (on a leash and you must pick up after them) for a wonderful day of exploring!

Water Quality

The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board regulates the Santa Ana River Watershed through Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (or MS4) Permit standards to keep our waterways healthy. With this watershed being highly urbanized and spanning 12 different cities, urban runoff was historically a major source of bacteria. However, public outreach and the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) including diversion projects have been critical in reducing bacteria levels tremendously over the last 21 years.

Diversion Projects

Diversion projects build infrastructure to redirect untreated urban runoff in our waterways to a treatment facility. Locations within the Santa Ana River Watershed where diversion projects have been implemented include:  

• Santa Ana River at Ellis Avenue (City of Fountain Valley)
• Greenville Banning Channel Downstream of Adams Ave. (City of Costa Mesa)
• Adams Street Pump Station (City of Huntington Beach)

Through the implementation of these diversion projects, along with other management actions, bacteria levels have been significantly reduced resulting in improved water quality conditions.

Protecting the Santa Ana River Watershed is crucial no matter where you are in the watershed. The County of Orange, Orange County Flood Control District, and the 12 cities in this watershed are committed to protecting the Santa Ana River Watershed for decades to come.

Protecting the Santa Ana River Watershed

Here are some things you can do to help the Santa Ana River Watershed thrive:

Properly Dispose of Animal Waste

• Bring dog waste bags with you and pick up waste immediately.
• Tie dog waste bags shut and place them in a closed trash can.
• Pick up pet waste in your yard too!

Prevent Littering

• Close the lids on any open garbage cans.
• Throw away all trash in a closed bin. 
• Place all cigarettes in a closed bin.

Maintain Your Property

• Properly dispose of cooking grease by placing it in the trash instead of down the drain.
• Only flush toilet paper down the toilet to prevent backups within your sewer lateral lines.
• Hire a licensed plumber to evaluate your sewer lateral or septic system and determine a maintenance schedule for your property.
• Repair or replace worn-out or damaged laterals as soon as possible.

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. While you’re visiting Orange County’s creeks, trails, and coastline, make observations about water quality conditions. If you see anything abnormal (such as high numbers of dead fish or fowl, overwatering, trash in the gutter, or other signs of pollution), report it by visiting our Report Pollution page. 
• 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 by teaching them about watersheds and pollution prevention through our Stormwater 101 for Students page. 
• Learn more. Visit our What is a Watershed? page and our Tips for Protecting Your Watershed brochure.