california mile tributary state california draining square miles km2 residential land southern largest tributary creek watershed large shallow sea covered southern california rose river sediments deposited land gradually emerged form present day coast located hilly area southern range formed differently continuous mountain chain north historically south watershed territory semi nomadic group conquered spanish 17th 18th centuries renamed 19th century watershed creek form surrounding hills leveled residential communities constructed area following 60s 70s creek basin eventually cities small portion increasing urban runoff 1960s caused flow creek unnatural creek length prevent floods roads houses line banks creek watershed includes parts regional park despite heavy pollution increasing population exotic species length creek corridor course creek begins storm exiting daylight downstream shopping center near intersection crown valley parkway drive flows generally south concrete storm channel diverted takes underneath small access road miles creek parallels crown valley parkway winds west south valley entirely filled residential development creek flows concrete channel regaining natural creek enters creek park follows corridor turns west northwest upstream regional park receives small tributaries storm drain unnamed creek flowing spring left bank creek enters box cut concrete channel takes acre km2 lake miles long formed dam north end lake small unnamed tributary filled canyon east joins creek exits dam concrete east flowing small valley inside regional park miles downstream receives water large storm drain right bank storm drain responsible pollution problems watershed flows past small mountain north known diverted large underneath drains small canyon creek flows outside boundary geology million years ago western southern coastal southern_california warm shallow sea sea time leaving large flat coastal plain million years ago began blind thrust fault stretches north eventually rising average feet sea level highest peaks topping feet rising feet thousand years series marine formed hills changed course run north instead flowing south watershed river sediments helped create broad flat terrain river valleys higher east watershed located southern area san hills smaller hills formed wider area instead single tall narrow mountain chain lower hills composed primarily rocks date period oldest rocks area referred younger named hilly area drained northwest south small unnamed coastal southwest small tributaries east area located northwest valley southeast valley west drainage watershed covers percent entire watershed encompassing square miles km2 corner square mile km2 basin primarily residential bordered north drainage area tributary south southwest basin west watershed tributary basin creek watershed basin hilly mountainous creek largely changed human occupation originally drained creek filled material excavated surrounding mountain tops creating terrain present day storm drains follow original course percent creek course inundated formed 1950s large dam broad north valley creek watershed long history water pollution attributed residential development raw sewage flows creek creek contaminated large quantities urban runoff paved surfaces collects pouring creek large storm drain outlets pour directly runoff caused increasingly harm creek remaining biodiversity factor standing water suffered primary source bacteria contamination largest tributary underground channel joins creek far mouth proved percent severely degraded history located southwest historically lay territory group main population center actually farther south confluence san_juan creeks nearby village located near mouth likely near confluence present day takes settlement renamed spanish priests 18th century established mission present day location following spanish arrival mission south like widespread villages likely abandoned soon trace remaining 1960s entire land area known mexican land grant originally belonging eventually passing ranch purchased expanded acres km2 1960s bought large portion ranch family later donated county recreational use upper lower sections creek county ownership managed 1950s large dam feet long feet high raised lower create known flooded miles acres km2 original course creek creating acre foot lake annually stocked fish 1960s residential communities began rise hills west main southward flowing segment creek increasingly contaminated urban runoff began contribute creek flow hills originally consisted high narrow ridges steep shallow short leveled way buildings acre km2 established lower creek course covering extent creek head creek crosses parkway large final reach creek wildlife flora historically creek watershed hilly terrain consisting coastal sage native vegetation likely consisting live oak namesake spanish translation small trees lined small flowing creek fish likely historic watershed perennial trout found inhabited flow periods despite claims residents wildlife creek detailed explanation absence introduction non native species predominantly giant reed tobacco tree native plant species watershed began die giant reed suitable habitat species areas infested giant reed dead comparison unaffected areas grow extremely fast removing water creek flood events parts giant reed wash downstream establish new colony increasing problem increasing concentrations nutrients substances contained runoff began hurt water quality creek especially historically seasonal creek replaced constant flow water large storm drains smaller ones fish limited time introduction perennial flows devastating floods end 20th century floods wiped remaining areas lining waterways watershed despite massive environmental degradation watershed dead supports native species work way watershed remove non native species restore native vegetation located lower extreme supports far native species watershed wildlife creek detail recreation primary recreational facility watershed said largest fisheries lake annually stocked bass aside reservoir body water watershed parks watershed paved trail follows near terminus near mouth parkway etymology lists spanish variant translated valley salt lower section creek names dating spanish times imply creek naturally south bears similar meaning storm channel occupies lower section prehistoric watershed proof salt concentrations linked watershed
Sulphur Creek (California)