SECTION TWO CURRENT CONDITIONSof Santa Ana to the mouth of the River in Huntington Beach. From 17th Street in Santa Ana to the Victoria Street Bridge, the River is ordinarily dry

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C U R R E N T C O N D I T I O N S

Santa Ana Integrated Watershed Plan Environmental and Wetlands Component

Figure 2-1 Channel and Floodplain FeaturesChannel and floodplain characteristicschange from headwaters to mouth (Miller, 1990)

A. Physical Setting,Hydrology, andGeomorphology

Dunne and Leopold (1978) define a watershedas an area of land that drains water, sediment,and dissolved materials to a common outlet atsome point along a stream channel. The SantaAna River watershed, depicted in Figure 2-2,catches stormwater draining a 2,847-square-milearea and channels it into the Pacific Ocean at theCity of Huntington Beach. The Santa Ana River,flowing over 100 miles, drains the largest coastalstream system in Southern California includingparts of Orange, Riverside, and San BernardinoCounties, as well as a sliver of Los AngelesCounty. The total length of the River and itsmajor tributaries are about 700 miles.

SECTION TWO

CURRENT CONDITIONSMuch of the movement of materials, energy, andorganisms associated with the channelenvironment and adjoining upland environmentdepend on the movement of water within theSanta Ana Watershed. To the extent that thismovement is altered, so does the potential existfor the system to become �dysfunctional� forspecies that depend on it for life support. Thatis, alteration of water movement via dammingor channelization can reduce ecosystemfunctionality. Refer to Figure 2-1, Channel andFloodplain Characteristics Change fromHeadwaters to Mouth, for an illustration of waterand sediment transport throughout a watershed.

Today, only 20 percent of the Santa Ana River isa concrete channel, the majority near the mouthof the River. Discharge from publicly ownedtreatment works (POTWs) have changed naturalsurface flows and provides base flow in manyparts of the River�s drainage network. Thistreated wastewater has altered the natural systemby providing year-round river flow, and, for anumber of reasons, many indicators show waterquality generally decreases as it travels

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Figure 2-2 Santa Ana River and Tributaries within the Santa Ana Watershed

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Onyx SummitPhoto courtesy of SAWPA

downstream. As populations have increased,urban runoff and wastewater flows haveincreased. Between 1970 and 1990, the totalaverage volume rose from less than 50,000 toover 130,000 acre-feet per year, as measured atPrado Dam. Base flow is expected to rise to230,000 acre-feet per year by 2020, a projectedincrease of 77 percent since 1990.

Geologic and HydrologicFeatures of the Watershed

The upper watershed or headwaters, includingthe highest point in the drainage system, isdelineated by the east-west ridgeline of the SanGabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. Overthis ridgeline lies the Mojave Desert, which is

part of the Lahontan Basin. This upper �erosion�zone of the watershed has the highest gradient,highest erosion level of new sediment to thesystem, and fastest stormwater runoff. As flowsconsist mainly of snowmelt and storm runofffrom the undeveloped land in the SanBernardino National Forest, water quality tendsto be high, with low concentrations of totaldissolved solids, nitrates, and other pollutants.In this zone, the Santa Ana River channel isconfined in its lateral movement, contained bythe slope of the high, mountainous terrain.Within the upper watershed, the River and itstributaries travel around large boulders and oversand and gravel bars punctuated by pools andriffles reaching depths of about six feet.



Riverside MWD CrossingPhoto courtesy of SAWPA

Sedimentary and crystalline materials from theupper watershed move down slope through aprocess fed by storm pulses; therefore, sedimentdoes not move at a continuous speed. River flowfrom Seven Oaks Dam to the City of SanBernardino consists mainly of stormflows, flowsfrom the Lower San Timoteo Creek, andgroundwater that is rising due to local geologicalfeatures. From the City of San Bernardino tothe City of Riverside, the river flows perenniallyand much of the reach is operated as a floodcontrol facility. The principal tributary streamsin the upper Santa Ana Watershed originate inthe San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains.These tributaries include San Timoteo, Reche,Mill, Plunge, City, East Twin, Waterman Canyon,Devil Canyon, and Cajon Creeks and UniversityWash from the San Bernardino Mountains andLone Pine, Lytle, Day, Cucamonga, Chino, andSan Antonio Creeks from the San GabrielMountains.

From the City of Riverside to the recharge basinsbelow Imperial Highway, River flow consists ofhighly treated POTW effluent, urban runoff,irrigation runoff water, imported water appliedfor groundwater recharge, and groundwaterforced to the surface by underground barriers.Near Corona, the River cuts through the SantaAna Mountains and the Puente-Chino Hills,which together form the northern end of thePeninsular Ranges in Southern California. TheRiver then flows down onto the Orange Countycoastal plain: the channel lessens in gradient,the valley floor is reached, and the soft featuresof the channel where sediment has deposited aremore prevalent. Floodplains are strewn withboulders and characterized by sand and gravelwashes. Within this valley floor, the transportand depositional processes are less confined byhigher terrain as water, dissolved material andsediment move toward the sea. Over time,

aquatic and terrestrial wildlife have adapted tothis dynamic process and channel form (seeFigure 2-1). However, rapid urbanization hasartificially increased the rate of sedimentationand loss of habitat in this part of the Watershed,negatively affecting water quality and wildlifehabitat.

In the southern portion of the Watershed, theregional boundary divides the Santa MargaritaRiver drainage area, which is not part of the SantaAna Watershed, from that of the San JacintoRiver. The San Jacinto River, part of the SantaAna Watershed, starts in the San JacintoMountains, runs westerly through Canyon Lakeand normally ends in Lake Elsinore. In wet years,the San Jacinto River will overflow the lake andconnect with the Santa Ana River. Flood flowsproduce a broad, shallow wetlands area calledMystic Lake near the northernmost point of theRiver.

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Foreground: Prado Wetlands. Background: Chino Hills State Park.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

The Orange County coastal plain is composedof alluvium derived from the mountains.Upstream from the Santa Ana Canyon lay PradoDam and Prado Wetlands; River flows are passedthrough the Weltands to improve water qualityand remove nitrates before being used forOrange County groundwater basin recharge.Santiago Creek, the only major tributary to thelower Santa Ana River, joins the River in the Cityof Santa Ana. The lower limit of both thegroundwater recharge area and the River�sordinary flows is 17th Street in the City of SantaAna. Prior to channelization of the lower part ofthe River, the channel used to meander slowlyacross broad flood plains. Currently, the Riveris a concrete channel from 17th Street in the Cityof Santa Ana to the mouth of the River inHuntington Beach. From 17th Street in SantaAna to the Victoria Street Bridge, the River isordinarily dry. The Greenville-Banning Channel,which carries stormwater discharge and urbanrunoff, is channelized to the Victoria StreetBridge where it joins the Santa Ana River.Discharge from the Greenville-Banning Channelcombines with tidal flow from the Pacific Oceanand the River is wet from the Victoria StreetBridge to the mouth of the River.

Groundwater in the watershed is highlycontrolled by the geology of the area, both theconfiguration of bedrock and by the extensivefaulting. Most groundwater basins areunconfined, much like a bowl full of sand thathas water poured in halfway. However, thevariable depth to bedrock, and the presence offaults cause pressure zones where water flowstowards (or to) the ground surface. In general,groundwater flows the same directions as surfacewater- from the mountains in the east/north tothe Pacific Ocean in the west. There are about40 groundwater basins in the watershed(depending on how they are defined andboundaries are drawn); many are inter-related.

Some of the largest groundwater basins includethe Chino Basin (Chino/Ontario/Fontana area),the Orange County basin, the Bunker Hill Basin(San Bernardino) the San Timoteo Basin(Yucaipa/Banning/Beamont area) and the SanJacinto/Hemet Basins.

The upper Santa Ana River retains much more of itshistorical character than does the lower part of the River.Photo courtesy of SAWPA



Agricultural land, such as the citrus groves shown here, is being replaced bydevelopment throughout the watershed.Photo courtesy of SAWPA

Four primary faults transverse the watershed,with other minor faults either branching off of,or running parallel to, the major faults. Withinthe upper watershed, the San Andreas Faultdivides the San Bernardino Mountains from theSan Gabriel Mountains and branches off into theSan Jacinto Fault near San Bernardino. Knownas Southern California�s most active fault, the SanJacinto Fault affects groundwater in the SanJacinto River and the Santa Ana River, forcinggroundwater to the surface at the Bunker HillDike. Toward the central watershed, theElsinore-Whittier Fault passes under the PradoDam from the northwest to the southeast.Toward the coast, the Newport-Inglewood Faultenters the region from the Los Angeles area andpasses offshore near Newport Beach.

Climate

The climate of the watershed is Mediterraneanwith hot, dry summers, and cooler, wetterwinters. The extent of this climate type is limitedworldwide. Other than the central and southcoast of California, it only occurs in coastal zonesalong the Mediterranean Sea, Western andSouthern Australia, the Chilean Coast, and theCape Town region of South Africa. Averageannual precipitation ranges from 12 inches peryear in the coastal plain, to 18 inches per year inthe inland alluvial valleys, reaching 40 inches ormore per year in the San Bernardino Mountains.Most of the precipitation occurs betweenNovember and March in the form of rain withvariable amounts of snow in the highermountains of the watershed. The climatologicalcycle of the region results in high surface waterflows in the spring and early summer period,followed by typically low flows during the dryseason. Winter and spring floods generated byprecipitation in the high mountains are notuncommon. Similarly, during the dry season,

severe thunderstorms in the high mountainshave periodically generated torrential floods inlocal streams.

Land Use

The Santa Ana River watershed is substantiallyurbanized: about 32 percent of the land use isresidential, commercial, or industrial.Agricultural land, once accounting for virtuallyall of the use of the watershed during the days ofthe ranchos, now accounts for a mere 10 percent.Instead of a scattered population of indigenouspeoples, the watershed now supports over 5million people. Refer to Figure 2-3 for a map ofSanta Ana Watershed Land Use.

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Figure 2-3 Santa Ana River Watershed Landuse



Historical logging practices have impacted aquatic species habitat.This area is now under the waters of Lake Arrowhead, adjacent toWatershed boundaries in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The Santa Ana Watershed provides habitat for a wide range of biologicalresources, including the federally endangered Delhi Sands flower-loving fly.Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

B. Biological Resources

Habitat Modification

As noted by Moyle (2002), most of California�sinland waterways today bear little resemblanceto the streams and lakes encountered by the firstEuropean explorers and settlers. In the SantaAna River watershed this observation is certainlytrue. For flood control and channelizationactivities have left portions of streamschannelized and concrete-lined where onceriparian forests grew along a meandering stream,although fortunately only 20% of the Santa AnaRiver is concrete-lined. Dam construction andflood control activities were not the only factorsinfluencing the Santa Ana River watershed inways that adversely impact habitat critical foraquatic resources. The following factors havealso played a role:

! Stream channel alteration

! Draining of streams and lakes, especiallyadjacent wetlands

! Livestock grazing and the impact onaquatic and riparian vegetation,sedimentation, and water pollution

! Historical logging practices

! Mining, particularly instream aggregatemining

! Watershed changes resulting incumulative affects to aquatic resources

Special Status Species

Second only to Hawaii, the State of California ishome to the highest number of endangeredspecies in the United States. As defined withinthe Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, anendangered species is any animal or plant listedby regulation as being in danger of extinction

throughout all or a significant portion of itsgeographical range. A threatened species is anyanimal or plant that is likely to becomeendangered within the foreseeable futurethroughout all or a significant portion of itsgeographical range. Without a special permit,federal law prohibits the �take� of anyindividuals or habitat of federally listed species.In addition to federal laws, the State of Californiahas its own California Endangered Species Act,with a separate listing of species and separate lawsgoverning take of listed species. Enforcementof the Federal Endangered Species Act isadministered by the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService and the National Marine FisheriesService, while the California Department of Fishand Game enforces the California EndangeredSpecies Act. Refer to Figure 2-4 for a map ofCritical Habitat within the Watershed.

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Figure 2-4 Santa Ana River Watershed USFWS Designated Critical Habitat



The Santa Ana sucker is a federally endangered fishnative to the Santa Ana River.Photo courtesy of SAWPA

The varied geography and natural features of theSanta Ana Watershed provide habitat for anumber of federally and/or State-listed species.As the Integrated Watershed Plan focuses on theresources in and around the Santa Ana River,listed species of concern herein are those thatoccupy aquatic, wetland, riparian, or riparian-adjacent areas. Of these, two are plants, the SantaAna River woolly star (Eriastrum densifolium) andslender-horned spine flower (Dodecahemaleptoceras); one fish, the Santa Ana River sucker(Catostomus santaanae); one amphibian, thearroyo toad (Bufo californicus); three birds, theleast Bell�s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus),southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonaxtraillii), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus);two mammals, the San Bernardino kangaroo rat(Dipodomys merriami parvus) and Stephen�skangaroo rat (Dipodomys panamintinus); and oneinsect, the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly(Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis). For a fulllisting of special status species within theWatershed, refer to Appendix F. Any project orpolicy recommended by the Santa AnaIntegrated Watershed Plan will need to assesspotential impacts to listed species, andincorporate measures to avoid impacts to thesespecies.

Current Aquatic Resources

Fishes

As described in Section 1B: Historical Context,the Santa Ana River historically provided habitatfor eight species of native fish (species havemultiple forms). Only four native nongamefreshwater fishes are currently found in non-estuarine waters: arroyo chub, Santa Anaspeckled dace, Santa Ana sucker, and threespinestickleback. All of these remaining fishes havelimited distributions and face possibleextirpation. As previously mentioned, the Santa

Ana sucker is listed by the federal governmentas a �threatened� species pursuant to theEndangered Species Act. Currently, the westernbrook lamprey, steelhead, and unarmoredthreespine stickleback are known to beextirpated from the Santa Ana River watershed.The Pacific lamprey has been observed once inthe past 47 years and it is likely extirpated aswell (refer to Table 1, Appendix G). Introducedforms of the rainbow trout have been extensivelystocked in the watershed for sport fishing forover 100 years, and it is unknown if anygenetically pure rainbow trout stocks endemicto the watershed remain. The partially armoredthreespine stickleback was widely planted in thewatershed for mosquito control in the early 1900sand is now found out of its natural historicalrange, e.g., Big Bear Lake.

In contrast, at least 33 fishes have beenintroduced into the Santa Ana River watershedand are currently present, as shown in Table 2 inAppendix G. Swift et al. (1993) notes that manymore exotic species of fishes have beenintroduced, but do not appear to have survived.New species can be expected to be found at anytime due to interbasin water transfers, ship ballastwater hitchhikers, bait bucket introductions, andhobbyists disposing of unwanted fishes. Many

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Least Bell�s vireo, a federally listed riparian bird speciesPhoto courtesy of the Inland Empire Chapter of AEP.

of the introduced fishes are widespread, while afew are restricted to specific locations or habitats.Of the current inventory of introduced fishes,most were introduced by government agenciesto serve as a food resource, for insect control, forsport fishing, or to serve as forage for sport fishes.A smaller number of fish have becomeestablished after arriving inadvertently viainterbasin water transfers or in ships� ballastwater. For a detailed discussion of theintroduction of fishes to California, the reader isdirected to Dill and Cordone (1997). Additionalinformation about introductions of fishes toSouthern California is presented by Swift et al.(1993). Supplemental records can be found inMoyle (2002).

Amphibians

During the last 50 years, population growth andurban development in Southern California hasdisplaced many amphibian species, andencroached upon much of former amphibianhabitat. Several species are thought to be extinct,and many others have fragmented populations,which are at risk of extirpation. Amphibians areespecially sensitive to environmental changesthat alter the hydrology, ecology, and geology ofa region, because they have evolved highlyspecialized adaptations that have allowed themto exist in these relatively arid regions.Introduced species have also been a majorcontributor to the decline in amphibianpopulations in Southern California. Thesenonnative species increase competition for foodsources, as well as prey upon many of the nativeamphibians.

Reptiles

The California Department of Fish and Gameconsiders the Southwestern pond turtle (Clemmysmarmorata) a species of �special concern.�

Recent reports on C. marmorata in SouthernCalifornia indicate that a few viable populationsremain in the regions (see also Brattstrom 1988).Approximately 6�8 viable populations of theturtle remain south of the Santa Clara Riversystem in California. Four years of drought(1986�90) have exacerbated the negative effectsof habitat alteration accumulated over manyyears over much of this region from changes inland and water use, and abusive grazing practices.In particular, most western pond turtlepopulations examined in this region appear toshow an age structure increasingly biasedtowards adults, indicating little or no recruitmentis taking place. Recent surveys indicate that thesouthwestern pond turtle is also seriouslythreatened throughout most of its range outsideof California.

Birds

Riparian ecosystems harbor the highest numberof bird species in the arid and semi-arid parts ofthe southwestern United States. Riparian habitatprovides productive breeding grounds and offersvital overwintering and migration stopover areasfor migrating birds. Loss and degradation ofriparian habitat have negatively impacted birdpopulations throughout the watershed. Otherfactors affecting bird populations are broodparasitism by the brown-headed cowbird anddisruption of natural hydrological regimes fromdams and levees.



Wetland areas, such as the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Park shown here,provide vital habitat for migrating birds.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

The federally endangered least Bell�s vireo hasexperienced recent population growth within thewatershed due to aggressive managementactivities within Prado Basin and on adjacentlands. Within the basin, the population rose from19 pairs in 1986 to 123 pairs in 1993. By the endof 1996, the count stood at 195 nesting pairs.This stunning recovery is due to the provision ofhigh-quality habitat for the bird species in partdue to invasive species removal, a project in placeto control populations of the predatory cowbird,and efforts on the part of the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, Orange County Water District,a number of Resource Conservation Districts(RCDs), and others.

The federally endangered southwestern willowflycatcher is also affected by cowbird broodparasitism. The implementation of cowbirdmanagement programs in addition topreservation and restoration of ripariandeciduous shrub habitat is needed to reducecurrent populations. The bald eagle, listed bythe USFWS as endangered in 1978 hasexperienced population growth over the past twodecades. The bald eagle could be considered aUSFWS success story: reclassified as�threatened� in 1995 and proposed for delisting

in 2000. Delisting of a species is the USFWS�sultimate goal and only happens when specificrecovery goals have been met for a species.Unfortunately, delisting is an infrequentoccurrence. In the case of the bald eagle, delistinghas been delayed while the USFWS determineshow the species would be managed once it is nolonger classified as threatened.

Factors Affecting AquaticResources

Introduced Species

The 33 species of introduced fishes greatlyoutnumber the four remaining native fish species.The number of species, per se, is not the problembut, rather, the impact that introduced fishes andother aquatic organisms, have on the native fishesof the Santa Ana River watershed. Introducedfishes have dramatically changed thecomposition of the watershed�s fish communityand now act as a deterrent to the restoration andenhancement of the native fishes that remain.The manner in which introduced fishes can affectthe aquatic resources of the Santa Ana Riverwatershed are

! Competition between native andintroduced fishes for food and space

! Predation by introduced species on nativefishes

! Habitat interference by introduced fishesthat change habitat characteristics

! Introduction of disease that may infectnative fish or other aquatic animals

! Hybridization between closely relatedspecies

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Fish native to the Santa Ana River are adapted to clear, unpolluted water.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

Water Pollution

Fortunately, water quality in the Santa Ana Riverhas improved in recent years due to technologicaldevelopments and water quality planning. Mostof the native fishes of the Santa Ana Riverwatershed are adapted to clear, unpolluted waterthat can support food resources and provide thevarious habitat conditions necessary to completetheir respective life cycles. While fish kills dueto the spill of toxic substances into streams aredramatic examples of the effects of pollution,these instances are acute, or short-term, ratherthan chronic. More insidious, however, are thechronic effects on aquatic resources of nonlethalforms of pollution that decrease growth, inhibitreproduction, or impair movement. Chronicelevated water temperatures or high sedimentloads are an example of this type of pollution,even though toxic chemicals are not involved.Other examples include elevated but nontoxiclevels of ammonia, increases in salinity, and lowlevels of dissolved oxygen. Because most of theremaining native freshwater fishes live, at sometime, in treated wastewater, the issue of chronic,low-level pollution is of great concern, althoughthe quality of wastewater has increased markedlyin past years.

Exploitation

Overexploitation of rainbow trout/steelhead,primarily by angling, was a major factor indriving the native populations to low levels, andperhaps to extinction. Over-fishing, in turn, ledto the stocking of hatchery fish and theintroduction of various exotic species as anglingalternatives to the native trout. The intensity ofoverexploitation is illustrated by a report in theJuly 17, 1892, edition of the Citrograph, aRedlands newspaper, which reported that threeboys fishing in Bear Creek, a tributary to theSanta Ana River in San Bernardino County, hadcaught 592 trout in three hours. Similar reportsare common in the historical press.

It was not until 1872 that the CaliforniaLegislature banned the use of nets, weirs,baskets, traps, explosives, and poisons asacceptable means of harvesting trout.Unfortunately, there was no one to enforce thestatute, nor was there any limit on the numberof fish that could be harvested by legal means.The overexploitation of trout became such aproblem in the watershed that in 1894 SanBernardino County, on its own authority, finallytook action and limited the number of trout aperson could catch to 50 per day. The State ofCalifornia did not take similar action until 1905,when the harvest was limited to 50 trout per dayand 25 total pounds. By then, the native stockshad already become depleted in the Santa AnaRiver watershed.

Each of the aforementioned factors have actedin concert over a long period of time to reducethe native fish community of the Santa Ana Riverwatershed to that which remains today. TheSanta Ana River Watershed Plan recognizes thathistory cannot be undone and the aquaticcommunity cannot be restored to its pre-settlement condition; however, a conservation



The upper Santa Ana Watershed provides winter recreational activities,such as sledding (shown here near Crestline).Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:EXAMPLES

Throughout Watershed! Parks

(active andpassive uses)

! Fishing! Hiking! Biking

Big Bear

! Snow Riding! Snowboarding! Ice Skating

Pacific Ocean/Coastal Orange County

! Fishing! Surfing! Boogie-Boarding

Lake Elsinore

! Water-Skiing! Jet-Skiing

Other Lakes and Reservoirs

! Big Bear Lake! Lake Perris

! Horseback Riding! Bird Watching! Nature Observation! Hunting

! Sledding! Fishing

! Sailing! Boating

! Lake Matthews

! Boating

strategy can be implemented that will ensurethe long-term viability of the watershed�s aquaticcommunities

C. Open Space andRecreation

The Santa Ana Watershed possesses a wealth ofnatural resources affording numerous outdoorrecreational opportunities. On a given day, it ispossible to snowboard Big Bear in the morningand surf the �Wedge� in Newport Beach in theafternoon without leaving the Watershed.Varied terrain and a mild climate combine tocreate the perfect backdrop for outdoorrecreation possibilities.

Parkland Ratios

Within the Watershed, parkland totals 75 squaremiles (48,000 acres) of the Watershed whileforest/wilderness areas total 850 square miles.Undeveloped land, while technically open spacebut not included in open-space calculations,totals 687 square miles. Refer to Figure 2-5 for amap of current open space, based on 1993Southern California Association of Governmentsland use information.

The U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD) recommends 2.5 acres ofparkland for every 1,000 residents, althoughmany consider this ratio to be low. Overall, theWatershed residents experience a ratio of 100acres of parkland to every 1,000 residents. Twofacts make it difficult to compare this numberto HUD recommendations. First, HUDrecommendations are for urbanized areas, andmuch of the Watershed is not urbanized. Withsuch a large land area, disparities exist betweenthe ratio of parkland to residents and theaccessibility of parkland to residents. That is,

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Figure 2-5 Santa Ana River Watershed Open Space



Lake Elsinore provides recreational opportunities, such as swimming,boating, and picnicking. Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

not all watershed residents have access to 0.1acre of parkland. The second fact that makescomparison difficult is that forest/wildernesslands are not taken into account in thiscalculation.

Public Access

An important aspect of preserving recreationalopportunities is to ensure access to localwaterways. The Watershed�s rivers, streams,lakes, and beaches are heavily used by watershedresidents and visitors. A visit to the Santa AnaRiver near Van Buren Bridge on a summerafternoon reveals dozens of families picnicking,wading, and swimming in the River, althoughswimming in the River is not necessarilyrecommended. Beach access is mandated by theFederal Coastal Zone Management Act, and is aprimary mandate of the California Coastal

Commission. However, access to lakes and riversis not given as much attention as beach access,and in some cases, river access is prohibited dueto water quality issues. Lake and river accessshould be monitored as the Watershed continuesto urbanize to ensure that homes and

commercial development dedicate lateraleasements for public access to Watershedresources.

Forest Land

The Santa Ana Watershed is fortunate to includetwo national forests: San Bernardino NationalForest and Cleveland National Forest. The SanBernardino National Forest includes thewilderness areas of Cucamonga, San Jacinto, SanGorgonio, and Santa Rosa. The National Forests,managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,provide recreational opportunities for watershedresidents and visitors, such as hiking, camping,and mountain biking. The Santa Ana Riverheadwaters are in the San Bernardino NationalForest. Since most of this land is undeveloped,the high water quality at the headwaters of theRiver provides high-quality habitat for nativewildlife.

Santa Ana River Trail

Many recreational efforts are focused on theSanta Ana River Trail, an important regionalrecreational element. First conceived over acentury ago and formally proposed in 1955, theSanta Ana River Trail is a much-anticipatedproject with watershed-wide support. Withinthe Santa Ana Watershed, no other issue seemsto spark as much enthusiasm or inspire as muchcollaboration between diverse interests as trailplanning. Trails are viewed as valuableresources�providing connectivity,transportation alternatives, scenic relief to urbandwellers, recreational activities, and linearparkways with opportunities for environmentalrestoration as well as education. Opportunitiesfor multi-benefit projects that incorporate trailplanning, open space acquisition, wetlands/habitat enhancement, and educational/interpretive components are desirable.

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The Santa Ana River Trail provides a Class I Bikeway along the river for40 miles, with further segments planned.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

More equestrian connections to the riverbed are needed, such as thisone near Anza Narrows Park in Riverside.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates

Proposed site of Santa Ana River Trail in San Bernardino County.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

Watershed planning participants agree that thetrail should provide access for a wide variety ofusers, including walkers, hikers, joggers,bicyclists, horseback riders, users in wheelchairs,rollerbladers, and skateboarders. Some of theseusers require special features, such as wheelchairaccess or equestrian staging areas.

While the 110-mile trail is far from complete,several segments totaling approximately 40 mileshave been constructed. Plans are almostcomplete for the remaining 70 miles (as well as anumber of feeder trails and connections), andfull funding has been secured for some segments.Refer to Figure 3-3 for a map of the current statusof the Santa Ana River Trail, including planned

segments. One goal of the Santa Ana IntegratedWatershed Plan is to assist in securing funds forthose trail segments that have not yet receivedfunding. For more information on the Santa AnaRiver Trail, refer to Section 3A-3.

Challenges and Opportunities

The Santa Ana Watershed is rapidly urbanizing;Lindell Marsh of the Santa Ana River WatershedGroup (SARWG) refers to the region as the�urbanizing tier of Los Angeles.� As more andmore land is developed for homes andcommercial enterprises, ratios of parkland toresidents become more difficult to maintain.First, there is the direct challenge of maintainingparkland ratios while the number of peopleincreases. Second, planners face an indirecteconomic challenge: urbanization tends to driveup land prices, making land preservation cost-prohibitive. Watershed wide, cities and countiesshould consider the issue of retaining the ratioof 100 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents.This requires a commitment from park plannersand other City and County staff, developers, andnonprofit organizations to maintain or improvecurrent open space ratios, even as populationsburgeon. In addition, urban and park plannersshould work to ensure access to waterwaysincluding lakes, streams, rivers, and the ocean.



The future site of the Orange Coast River Park is the south side of theSanta Ana River mouth .Photo courtesy of SAWPA

Several opportunities exist within the Santa AnaWatershed to expand recreational opportunities.Many of these are either in project developmentstage or currently underway. Notable examplesof these projects include the following.

San Timoteo State Park�This undertaking ofthe Riverside Lands Conservancy among otherswould involve the creation of a new State parkcentered in San Timoteo Creek Watershed. Inaddition to other restoration activities in the areawill increase water quality in San TimoteoCanyon and subsequently the Bunker HillBasins, a major source of drinking water. Thepark will provide a number of linkages with otherhabitat areas in Riverside County, as well asreestablishing, creating, restoring, and protectingwetlands in the floodplains of the canyon and itsmajor tributaries from Loma Linda to I-10.

Orange Coast River Park�The Friends ofHarbors, Beaches, and Parks, with cooperationfrom many partners, including local cities,Orange County nonprofit organizations, andprivate entities, have proposed a large park atthe mouth of the Santa Ana River. The OrangeCoast River Park would link several existingparks, incorporating ponds, boardwalks, andrestoration. The project�s vision is broadeningto include Banning Ranch, which couldpotentially increase the Park from 1,000 to 1,400acres. Implementation of this project will involvecoordination with many agencies, such as theOrange County Sanitation District.

Santiago Creek Parks �Restoration efforts havebeen underway in and along Santiago Creek, theSanta Ana River�s major tributary in the lowerwatershed. Local cities and organizations areacquiring land to add new parks along the Creek.These parks would provide recreational andeducational benefits, in addition to habitat and

water quality benefits. The City of Orange hasrecently acquired land including eight acreswithin the Santiago Creek just north ofChapman. This land will be included in the 42-acre Grijalva Park at Santiago Creek. The Cityalso owns Yorba Park that borders the SantiagoCreek just south of Chapman Avenue and HartPark, which includes several acres ofunimproved land in the creek. The County ofOrange and City of Santa Ana contributeadditional park acreage upstream anddownstream from the City of Orange. Thesethree agencies, along with the City of Villa Park,are working to connect these parks with acontiguous recreational trail system.

Chino Creek Park�The Inland Empire UtilitiesAgency, Orange County Water District, and theWildlands Conservancy are developing anintegrated recreational plan that will link PradoBasin with the Santa Ana River Trail Systemproviding habitat, recreational and educationalopportunities. There will be an educationalcenter at Chino Creek Park and a nurserydesigned specifically to grow native plants forrestoration projects. A Prado Basin interpretative

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center and youth camp for inner-city childrenwill be developed where currently a gun club islocated. This project utilizes a wide-angleintegrated planning approach to integrate habitatprotection and recreational opportunities for thetrail system in the Prado Basin.

D. Water SupplyGroundwater supplies meet most of the directwater demand in the basin, providing 68 percentof the consumptive water needs. Groundwatercomes from the inland and coastal aquifers inthe region, which range from a few hundred toover one thousand feet in thickness. Inlandaquifers, upstream from Prado Dam, underlieabout 1,200 square miles of the Watershed, whilecoastal aquifers downstream from Prado Damunderlie about 400 square miles. Imported waterfrom Northern California and the Colorado Riverprovides about 23 percent of consumptive water

demand. Other sources of supply includesurface water derived from precipitation withinthe basin (5 percent) and recycled water (4percent). Future water supply projectionsindicate a shift from reliance on groundwater andimported water to increases use of recycled andsurface water (refer to Figure 2-6). The amountof groundwater recharged to the Watershed�saquifers is only 37 percent of the volumepumped. Given the imbalance between waterpumped and water recharged, it should not besurprising that, under such intense settlementpressures and water demands, the native aquaticcommunity of the Watershed has beensignificantly impacted. Future water supplyplanning includes increased groundwaterrecharge and measures to reduce impacts tonative aquatic communities, while meetingincreased water demands due to regionalpopulation growth.

Figure 2-6 Water Supply by Source



Figure 2-7 Santa Ana River Watershed Impaired Waterbodies

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Located in the center of the Santa Ana Watershed, the Chino Basin is homethe highest concentration of dairy cows in the world.Photo courtesy of SAWPA

E. Water QualityAlmost a century of agricultural and industrialland use has resulted in salts and other pollutantsinfiltrating many aquifers and streams within theSanta Ana Watershed. These sources of waterquality degradation can be classified into pointand nonpoint sources. Point sources are confinedto point discharges to the soil, groundwater, orstream systems. Examples include conventionalwastewater and industrial discharges to streamsor ponds, and leaky underground storage tanks.Nonpoint sources are areawide discharges to soil,groundwater, and surface waters, such as landapplication of waste and fertilizers, andatmospheric deposition of contaminants to thesoil and water bodies. Point sources can be tracedback to a single source, such as the end of a pipe,while nonpoint sources can rarely be traced backto an individual origin, and require regionalsolutions, including regionwide behavioralchanges, to reduce pollutants.

Within the Santa Ana Watershed, water qualityis generally high in the headwaters and upperwatershed, lessening as the distance from thePacific Ocean decreases. The California WaterResources Control Board and its regional offices(RWQCB) are responsible for enforcing waterquality standards within the state. As mandatedby Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act,the RWQCB maintains and updates a list of�impaired waterbodies� that exceed State andfederal water quality standards. These impairedwaterbodies are shown for the Santa Ana Regionin Figure 2-7. Within the upper Santa AnaWatershed, including the Santa Ana River andLytle Creek, pathogens from unknown nonpointsources are the primary pollutants. Due to urbandevelopment and agricultural operations,pathogens from dairies and other nonpointsources are joined above Prado Dam by high

coliform counts, elevated nutrient levels(especially nitrates), suspended solids, and highsalinity. In coastal areas, common pollutantsinclude metals from urban runoff and boatyards,pathogens from urban runoff and storm sewers,nutrients from agriculture and urban runoff, andpesticides from agriculture, contaminatedsediments, and other unknown nonpointsources.

As the Santa Ana Watershed continues to grow,cities encroach ever closer to dairies and otheragricultural operations. To counter this addedstress to the surface and groundwater supplies,dairy producers and water agencies are workingtogether to develop advanced methods ofreducing the dairies� impacts to water quality.Technologically advanced wastewater controltechniques have been rigorously employed andnegative impacts from agricultural runoffcontinue to be minimized. In fact, the Santa AnaWatershed is considered to be a world leader withrespect to implementation of innovativetechnology to improve water quality and manageorganics from the dairies.



It is estimated that the Santa Ana Watershed will require 59 more desalters,such as the Chino I Desalter shown above, to resolve the region�s salt imbalance.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

For example, Orange County Water District andOrange County Sanitation District state-of-the-art Groundwater Replenishment System wouldpurify for reuse 65,000 acre-feet per year ofwastewater that is currently discharged into theocean. Using water treatment methodsincluding microfiltration, reverse osmosis, andUV disinfection, secondarily treated wastewaterfrom the Sanitation District�s sewage treatmentplant will be purified to levels that far exceeddrinking water standards. The water will thenbe stored in the Orange County GroundwaterBasin either by injection along the coast or bypercolation in ponds near the Santa Ana River.The underground basin provides 75 percent ofthe water used by north and central OrangeCounty cities.

The Chino Basin Dairy Program and OrganicsManagement Center is an example of world-class technology where a closed loop wastemanagement system tackles agricultural waste,produces energy, and provides high-qualityfertilizer products. Nevertheless, the existingsalts and contaminants present in the watershedand adjacent groundwater basins from pastpractices still need to be removed, as improvingwater quality is inextricably linked to improvingwater supplies and implementing acomprehensive groundwater storage program.As regional water leaders seek to develop furthergroundwater storage in the Santa AnaWatershed, steps must be taken to pumpcontaminated water from underground, purifythe water, and perform groundwater rechargewith the purified water.

The Santa Ana Regional Interceptor (SARI) is awaste pipeline designed to convey 30 milliongallons daily (MGD) of nonreclaimablewastewater from the upper Santa Ana Riverbasin to the ocean for disposal, after treatment.To date over 55 miles of the SARI line have been

completed. The upstream extension, completedin 1995, is to the City of San BernardinoWastewater Treatment Plant. An extension ofthe SARI line southerly from Corona throughthe Temescal Canyon to the Lake Elsinore areawas recently completed.

The Santa Ana Watershed�s potential forgroundwater banking is substantial, but thevolume of clean water that can be stored iscommensurate with the amount of salty waterthat can be removed, and the process ofpumping and desalting the old resource will taketime. Before the task can be undertaken, thenecessary infrastructure must be constructed.Two desalters are already operational in theArlington and Chino areas and are processing14 MGD. The current Chino Desalter isundergoing expansion, and a second ChinoDesalter will be built soon. In addition, theTemescal Desalter, serving the City of Corona,has a capacity of 10 MGD and will be expanding

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Watershed residents cool off in the Santa Ana River on a hot summer afternoon,despite the fact that river flow consists almost entirely of effluent in this area.Photo courtesy of EIP Associates.

to 15 MGD. There are numerous additionaldesalters that will be installed as part of theSAWPA program and when these are fullyoperational the basin�s cumulative production ofpurified water from these facilities will be 95MGD.

SAWPA estimates that the Chino Basin will needmany more desalters to solve the saltcontamination problem, and will actively seekfunding and planning for these additionaldesalters in the coming years. Some othercomponents relating to the transportation ofdesalted water, including 22 miles of pipeline and10 pumping stations will also need to be installedin order to get the usable resources to the entitiesthat can best use them.

One of the most challenging problems associatedwith maximizing the use of local water resourcesin the basin will continue to be addressing waterquality elements that exceed public health or

public acceptance standards, such as a high levelof pathogens. The water quality problems canbe addressed by a variety of strategies includingwellhead treatment, blending, dilution orflushing, or even by natural processes such asnative or treatment wetlands. Wellheadtreatment can include a variety of approachesincluding desalination, anion exchange, andcarbon absorption to name a few. In many cases,multiple contaminants can be addressed througha single-treatment strategy.

F. Flood ControlMany of the Santa Ana�s tributaries are whatAustralians would call billabongs and NorthAfricans and Middle Easterners would callwadis�dry riverbeds that only hold waterduring the rainy season. These riverbeds arecompletely parched throughout most of the year,but can quickly become raging torrents. TheSanta Ana Basin is an arid environment and evenqualifies as a desert in many areas. But theWatershed�s close proximity to both the oceanand the mountains at times brings heavy storms,which are problematic from a flood controlstandpoint. Historically, efforts to deal withflooding in the region focused on damage controlto reduce the threat of floodwaters damagingproperties. As the area became urbanized, cityplanners simply channeled the periodic delugesinto the ocean. Urban Southern California�sconcrete-lined creeks and rivers are a legacy tothis way of thinking. While effective atpreventing flooding, flood control channels thatare concrete-lined or absent of riparian vegetationprovide little benefit in the way of groundwaterrecharge, wildlife habitat, or water qualityimprovements. Additionally, these flood controlchannels are considered an eyesore and apotential danger by local homeowners.Fortunately, 80 percent of the Santa Ana River is



Historical flooding, as shown here on River Lane in the City of Santa Ana, hascaused considerable damage-- costing human lives, property, and agriculturalproductivity. Photo courtesy of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society(year of photo unknown, but presumed to be 1938 during the great flood).

Approximately 20 percent of the Santa Ana River is channelized for floodprotection. Most of this channelization is in Orange County, as shown here.Photo courtesy of EIP Assoicates

not a concrete channel. As explained in Section1C, plans to channelize the entire riverbed werethwarted by forward thinking conservationistsin the 1960s and 1970s. In urbanizing SouthernCalifornia, efforts to control flooding must bebalanced by water supply needs, habitatprotection, and human enjoyment of wetlandand riparian areas.

Flood protection agencies, including the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers and local flood controldistricts, are charged with the task of ensuringthat floodwaters do not endanger life andproperty. It is evident that floodwaters can bephysically devastating to homes, farms, andwetlands. Although wetlands are frequentlyinundated under natural conditions, majorflooding events can damage wetlands by causingmassive sedimentation, substrate disturbance,and periods of inundation that last substantiallylonger than many wetlands are capable ofwithstanding. Floods in agricultural andindustrial regions also elevate the potential forhazardous discharges into the Santa Ana Riverand its tributaries. However, given the new eraof groundwater storage, it is no longer recognized

as advantageous to move floodwaters throughan area as quickly as possible. Instead, filteringstormwater runoff through constructedwetlands or native riparian habitat provides bothgroundwater recharge possibilities and habitatopportunities. See Section 3A-1 for moreinformation on constructed wetlands.

Flood control agencies have adopted a moreholistic approach to curbing flooding issues whilecaring for the environment. In fact, flood controlagencies throughout California and NorthAmerica are undergoing a paradigm shift withrespect to structural flood control. Althoughsome areas are still paving their channels,communities such as Berkeley and Santa Barbaraare ripping out concrete and restoring streamsto their natural flow. The most radical exampleof this type of restoration is �daylighting,� which

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The Seven Oaks Dam, completed in 1999, works in conjunction withPrado Dam to provide flood protection for the Watershed.Photo courtesy of SAWPA.

involves the deliberate exposure of a previouslycovered river, creek, or stormwater drainage.The Santa Ana Watershed has not seen anydaylighting to date, but several excellentrestoration opportunities are in the conceptualstage, including projects in Chino Creek andSantiago Creek. The portion of the Santa AnaRiver that is a concrete channel is relatively smallwhen compared to other Southern Californiarivers. However, the channelized portionprovides opportunities for the River to improveboth flood control and its own aesthetic interest,while providing habitat and recreational benefitsto watershed residents.

Major flood control facilities on the Santa AnaRiver include the Prado Dam and the Seven OaksDam. The Prado Dam, located near theintersection of Orange, Riverside, and SanBernardino Counties, was constructed in reactionto the Flood of 1938 and completed in 1941.Prado Dam is a key component for increasinglocal water supplies in Orange County. In thepast, storm flows from the Santa Ana River havebeen lost to the ocean because flood control tookprecedence over water conservation. However,a series of agreements among the Orange CountyWater District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service haveallowed the District to conserve water behindthe dam in a seasonal storage pool. The SevenOaks Dam, located upstream of the City of SanBernardino, was completed in 1999 against someopposition from environmental groups and withaccolades from the engineering community. TheDam, constructed in reaction to both the 1938flood and the later Santa Ana River flood in 1969,was selected as one of six merit finalists for theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers 2002Outstanding Civil Engineering AchievementAward due to its flood protection capacity. TheSeven Oaks Dam is the largest dam in the

country built strictly for flood control, and willsave Watershed property owners millions ofdollars in flood insurance premiums. For moreinformation on planned and future Santa AnaWatershed flood control projects, please refer tothe Integrated Water Resources Plan, publishedby SAWPA in 2002.

G. WatershedDemographics and GrowthPressure Impacts

This section presents population forecasts for theSanta Ana Watershed region with a planninghorizon of 2050. In addition, information on percapita income for watershed households andcurrent population density is briefly presented.Refer to Figure 2-8 for a map of watershedincome by census tract, based on 1999 incomesas collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2000.Figure 2-9 presents a map of population densitythroughout the Watershed. Currently,watershed residents are concentrated in OrangeCounty, with smaller population centers aroundthe City of Riverside, City of San Bernardino,and San Bernardino�Los Angeles County border.



Figure 2-8 Santa Ana River Watershed Household Income

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Figure 2-9 Santa Ana River Watershed Population Density



Mountainous areas and National Forest areas aresparsely inhabited, excepting recreational areassuch as Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

The Watershed has experienced rapid populationgrowth over the past century relative to the restof the nation, and will continue to grow morerapidly than the rest of the State or nation overthe next 50 years. Watershed population, 5.1million in 2002, is expected to reach 9.9 millionby 2050. This population growth will beconcentrated mainly in San Bernardino andRiverside Counties, as Orange County is basically�built out� (i.e., most available land has beendeveloped). Unavailable land includes thoseareas protected as open space or unbuildable dueto steep slopes or other geographic constraints.However, redevelopment projects such as onethat has been proposed in the City of Anaheimhave the potential to increase population in areasthat are considered built out. The conversion ofagricultural lands to urban areas will fuelpopulation growth, particularly in the Chino andOntario Spheres of Influence. Without properplanning, rapid population growth can lead tohabitat fragmentation, waste disposal issues (i.e.,solid waste, biosolids, and wastewater treatmentand disposal), water shortages, and increasedpollution. However, planners within the SantaAna Watershed have the opportunity to balancepopulation growth with open space preservationand implementation of green infrastructure toensure sustainable growth in the region. It isvery important to be proactive in combatingthese future pressures by projecting populationgrowth impacts on existing infrastructure andenvironmental resources. Integrated watershedplanning provides a means by which theseimpacts can be addressed. One example hasbeen the interest in forming a potential biosolidstaskforce (with SAWPA as the administrator) totake a proactive approach to addressing biosolids

and their impacts on the Watershed, both nowand with projected population growth.

Figure 2-10 demonstrates the overall projectedwatershed population growth from 1990 to 2050while Figure 2-11 compares 1990 population bycounty with 2025 population projections.

In 1990, approximately 4.2 million peopleresided in the Santa Ana Watershed:approximately 2.08 million in Orange County,1.1 million in San Bernardino County, 0.9 millionin Riverside County, and 0.2 million in LosAngeles County. By 2010, the population of theWatershed is expected to reach 5.9 million. Therate of growth in San Bernardino and RiversideCounties will be much higher than that in LosAngeles and Orange Counties. While in 1990and 2000 the majority of the population residedin the Los Angeles and Orange Counties portionof the region, by 2010 the population split isexpected to even out between Riverside�SanBernardino Counties and Los Angeles�OrangeCounties. This balance would be due to a declinein the level of population growth in the twocoastal counties while the level of growthremains high in the two inland counties.

From 2010 to 2025, the population is expectedto grow by 1.41 million people, reaching 7.3million. Much of this can be attributed to theavailability of land in the eastern portion of theregion in relation to the unavailability of land insouthern and central Los Angeles County andmost of Orange County. By 2025, the majorityof the population in the Watershed will be inRiverside and San Bernardino County. Of thetotal population, 4.2 million will be located inthese two counties, while the remaining 2.9million will be located in Orange and Los AngelesCounties.

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Figure 2-10 Santa Ana Watershed Population, 1990�2050

Figure 2-11 Santa Ana Watershed Population by County, 1990 and 2025

The primary source data for population forecasts are the Southern California Association of Governments� (SCAG) socio-economic forecast data sets used in the1998 and 2001 Regional Transportation Plans, which included 1990 counts and forecasts to 2025. These forecasts were supplemented with data from the CaliforniaState Department of Finance (DOF) 1998 population projections, DOF projection of population by county to 2040 and Census 2000 information, DOF estimatesof population, housing and households, 2000 Census and employment projections developed by the California State University, Fullerton Institute for Economicand Environmental Studies. These data were used to forecast population, housing, households, and employment for 2030�50.



By 2050, the population of the region is projectedto reach 9.9 million. This figure appears startlingat first, because it would mean that thepopulation will nearly double from what it istoday. The California State Department ofFinance also projects the populations of bothRiverside and San Bernardino to each exceed thatof Orange County. (Currently, their combinedpopulations are about equal to that of OrangeCounty.) A significant portion of the growth inOrange and Los Angeles Counties will be outsideof the Santa Ana Watershed, while a significantportion of the growth in Riverside and SanBernardino Counties will be within theWatershed region.

Documents

SECTION TWO CURRENT CONDITIONSof Santa Ana to the mouth of the River in Huntington Beach. From 17th Street in Santa Ana to the Victoria Street Bridge, the River is ordinarily dry