called spanish canyon cuts southern california united_states directly west city canyon runs northeast southwest drained east tributaries west deeper rugged southwestern end near canyon likely originated millions years ago result cutting san hills diverted stream present course leaving wind gap runs entire length canyon connecting crosses running southeast northwest majority canyon located small portions cities geography geology approximately miles long mile wide widest points city lies northeast east undeveloped west south drainage divide canyon near northern end separates watershed state route locally called winds entire length gorge gorge east west lower section canyon upper section smaller wilderness preserves upper section contains series small natural lakes formed rising local fault line namesake canyon section lower canyon city limits heavily developed northernmost extreme canyon lies near residential area interstate canyon likely formed cutting rising span million years point creek changed course water gap formed walled mountains separate watershed gradient drainage divide separating watershed small allowing canyon modern use transportation route creek begins creek draining west valley floor canyon briefly crosses upper course flows natural channel soon passes receives right creek drains narrow canyon runs miles eastward creek continues southward passes beneath receives short steep tributary right stream runs south twin bridges enters underground beneath foot larger join right miles later creek emerges underground flows lined channel miles receives major tributary creek left creek follows road length drains parts creek turns sharply west south shortly forced concrete lined box carries downtown stretch known diverted completely underground channel winds popular beaches modifications tributaries received flood control modifications include debris basins mouth nearly major tributary stretches lined flood control channels structures debris basins called retention basins circular depressions constructed slow flash floods upper area flood control channels lower creek entirely begins channel transitions concrete improvements help protect infrastructure canyon storm landslide damage little development main canyon creek area primarily residential residential commercial development downstream state route concrete channel area small major floods caused overflow late 1990s wildlife animals area supports variety native southern_california wildlife including large mammals mountain lions deer like south canyon supports species birds endangered species include california orange lakes canyon fish habitat habitat sparse local creeks seasonal flow plants dominant vegetation cover coastal sage typically goes approximately year cycles peak biodiversity reached roughly years beginning new year period periods typically separated clear away dead dying vegetation leave bare ground new growth canyon remaining plants native southern_california approximately species plants native california found laurel willow include monkey flower recreation forms center section approximately acre km2 strip wilderness preserve running northeast southwest pacific_coast canyon covered wilderness park acres km2 bordered south north crystal cove state park parks managed portions owned trail follows main canyon traversed state route trails hiking lead narrow trail connecting trails run east south providing access history lying north area lay tribal boundary native american group territory expanded north central past watershed borders east formed tribal boundary seasonal stream formed springs arising minor fault zone stayed year round native american path ran canyon present day area collected lived villages people wooden framework spanish explorers arrived century named canyon las referring land grant called san occupied canyon area 19th century began draw municipal water springs wilderness park housing development proposed built canyon tentatively called acre km2 community proposed contain housing units number businesses canceled 1990s purchased parcels order provide space wilderness park city purchased opened dedicated occasionally park system augmented donations vacant land proposal stop development supported crowd thousand november large group gathered downtown marched tell photographic mural created area protest called walk save canyon years later thousand gathered protest construction cross canyon highway built eventually massive burned acres km2 ranked canyon fire worst fires history fire caused strong caused flames rose feet high future canyon remaining wild areas strip preserves miles long miles wide recently state route expanded lanes original lanes original road way southbound newly constructed road parallel original road closer recent construction work head near city leveled hills east canyon construction presently stopped plans turn northernmost extreme canyon residential development consisting houses called originally planned open date moved work northern canyon parts impacted development construction state highway buildings canyon miles remaining wild lands found urban runoff resulted pollution downstream organizations working preserving remaining wild lands canyon prominent
Laguna Canyon