List of rivers of Orange County, California
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This is a list of rivers of Orange County, California, which is a small coastal region in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. There are thirteen distinct drainage areas in the watershed and eight large streams, most of which were formerly free-flowing but intermittent. Most of the waterways in the area received their name from Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century. After suburban development of Orange County began in the 1950s, most of its lowland streams were channelized and/or concreted for flood control.
The San Gabriel River and Coyote Creek, drain a large portion of northwest Orange County and also form most of the county's northwestern border. The remainder of western Orange County drains into Anaheim Bay via a few smaller streams. The Santa Ana River flows through the central part of the county, carrying runoff from the distant San Bernardino Mountains. Its tributary, Santiago Creek, drains the northern part of the Santa Ana Mountains, which form the eastern border of the county. A large part of Central Orange County drains into Newport Bay, of which San Diego Creek is the main tributary. Southern Orange County is drained by Aliso Creek, San Juan Creek and a multitude of smaller coastal streams. San Mateo Creek is located in San Diego County but some of its tributaries extend into the southeast corner of Orange County as well.
If a creek passes through a reservoir or lake, that is included. Lakes at the source of a stream are not listed, unless noted. If a creek has a name of Spanish origin, then the translation of that name is given in the Translations section below.
Contents
North of San Diego Creek
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Some rivers begin in Orange County and drain into the San Gabriel River, which forms most of the boundary of Orange and Los Angeles counties.
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These two drainage channels abut the mouth of the Santa Ana River: Some rivers of Orange County flow into the Santa Ana River, which flows from San Bernardino County and Riverside County.
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Irvine Lake, a reservoir on Santiago Creek
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The mouth of Black Star Canyon
San Diego Creek to Aliso Creek
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San Diego Creek is a large watershed that is directly south of the Santa Ana River, draining into Upper Newport Bay. Reservoirs are listed because outflow from them provide much of the flow in the creek's tributaries.
Several small streams, the largest of which is in Laguna Canyon, drain the San Joaquin Hills between the mouths of San Juan and Aliso creeks. |
South of Laguna Canyon, the largest streams flowing into the Pacific are Aliso Creek, Salt Creek and San Juan Creek. |
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Upper Newport Bay, the discharge point of San Diego Creek
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Peters Canyon Reservoir is the beginning of Peters Canyon Wash.
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Aliso Creek upstream of Aliso Canyon
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Salt Creek nearing its mouth
San Juan Creek South to OC Boundary
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South of San Juan Creek the primary streams are Prima Deshecha Cañada and Segunda Deshecha Cañada. Several streams also drain east and south into San Diego County. 
Trabuco Creek near mouth
San Juan Creek in the concrete channel in its lower reaches
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Translations
Translations of creeks with names of Spanish origin are give, in alphabetical order.
- Aliso Creek - Alder Creek
- El Horno Creek - Oven Creek
- El Toro Creek - Bull Creek
- Laguna Canyon - Lagoon Canyon
- Oso Creek - Bear Creek
- Prima Deshecha Cañada - First "Undone" Creek
- San Diego Creek - Saint Diego Creek
- San Juan Creek - Saint John Creek'
- Segunda Deshecha Cañada - Second "Undone" Creek
- Trabuco Creek - Musket Creek or Blunderbuss Creek
