City Creek (California)
Encyclopedia
City Creek is a 7.5 miles (12.1 km) tributary of the Santa Ana River
in western San Bernardino County
in the U.S. state
of California
. Its watershed
drains about 19.6 mi2 on the southwest slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains
. Although short, the creek stretches about 12 miles (19.3 km) to its farthest source.
It rises in two forks of similar length and size, West Fork City Creek and East Fork City Creek, in the San Bernardino National Forest
. Both forks begin on the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains. The West Fork rises near Crest Summit south of the unincorporated community of Crest Park
, at about 5400 feet (1,645.9 m). It flows south then southeast and finally south again through multiple gorges, picking up several unnamed tributaries. The East Fork begins in a fan-shaped group of gulches south of Heaps Peak and Mount Sorenson, at about 6000 feet (1,828.8 m). From there it runs south-southwest in a canyon past Fredalba, receiving Schenk Creek from the left near the mouth. The West Fork is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long; the East Fork stretches roughly 3 miles (4.8 km).
The two forks combine in a steep chasm just downstream of where the West Fork passes under a bridge of California State Route 330
, also known as City Creek road. The main stem flows south in a thousand-foot-deep gorge between McKinley and Harrison Mountains, rapidly dropping to the plains near Highland
, where most of its flow is diverted into canals for municipal and agricultural usage. Downstream of the diversions the creek fans out into alluvial deposits. Cook, Bledsoe and Elder Gulches as well as Plunge Creek all enter from the left as the creek flows along the east side of Highland in a wide flood control channel
. It joins the Santa Ana River to the southeast of San Bernardino International Airport
.
Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river of Southern California in the United States. Its drainage basin spans four counties. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows past the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, before cutting through the northern tip of the Santa Ana Mountains and...
in western San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. Its 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...
drains about 19.6 mi2 on the southwest slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
. Although short, the creek stretches about 12 miles (19.3 km) to its farthest source.
It rises in two forks of similar length and size, West Fork City Creek and East Fork City Creek, in the San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering more than 800,000 acres . There are two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular...
. Both forks begin on the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains. The West Fork rises near Crest Summit south of the unincorporated community of Crest Park
Crest Park, California
Crest Park is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Crest Park is located in the San Bernardino Mountains on California State Route 18 south of Lake Arrowhead. Crest Park had a post office with ZIP code 92326, which opened in 1949....
, at about 5400 feet (1,645.9 m). It flows south then southeast and finally south again through multiple gorges, picking up several unnamed tributaries. The East Fork begins in a fan-shaped group of gulches south of Heaps Peak and Mount Sorenson, at about 6000 feet (1,828.8 m). From there it runs south-southwest in a canyon past Fredalba, receiving Schenk Creek from the left near the mouth. The West Fork is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long; the East Fork stretches roughly 3 miles (4.8 km).
The two forks combine in a steep chasm just downstream of where the West Fork passes under a bridge of California State Route 330
California State Route 330
State Route 330 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is also known as City Creek Road in the San Bernardino Mountains.-Route description:...
, also known as City Creek road. The main stem flows south in a thousand-foot-deep gorge between McKinley and Harrison Mountains, rapidly dropping to the plains near Highland
Highland, California
Highland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population in 2010 was 53,104, up from 44,605 at the 2000 census...
, where most of its flow is diverted into canals for municipal and agricultural usage. Downstream of the diversions the creek fans out into alluvial deposits. Cook, Bledsoe and Elder Gulches as well as Plunge Creek all enter from the left as the creek flows along the east side of Highland in a wide flood control channel
Flood control channel
Flood control channels are a series of large and empty open-air channels that extend a ways below the street levels of some larger cities, so that if and when a flood occurs, the flood will run into the channels, and proceed to be drained to the proper body of water...
. It joins the Santa Ana River to the southeast of San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. The airport covers and has one runway. It is currently a general aviation and cargo airport located on...
.