Santa Ana Watershed and Water Quality

The Santa Ana River Watershed encompasses approximately 2,700 square miles. It is the largest river basin in Southern California. Runoff can be rapid and debris-laden, flowing into valley areas, sometimes causing flooding. Within RCRCD, Temescal Wash is the terminus of the San Jacinto River, the largest tributary to the Santa Ana River.

May contain: outdoors, nature, water, land, and slope

The Story of the Santa Ana Watershed

To learn more about the Santa Ana Watershed watch this beautiful and educational video

Greenbelt Aquatics Facility

The District is developing an aquatic research and native fish breeding facility in the Agricultural Greenbelt area of Riverside. The construction of new raceways at the Greenbelt property will increase capacity to safely hold, rear, and study native fishes, as well as provide greater refugia for rescued fish, frogs, and pond turtles that may be extirpated from their native habitat due to…

Prevent water pollution by disposing of trash, waste, and debris properly, not in a gutter or storm drain.

Trash, a major pollutant in storm water runoff, degrades water quality and habitat.

Preserve Habitat

Native landscapes have been fragmented and dramatically reduced in size. Clearly, the most pressing threat to habitat is conversion to other land uses. Local native habitat lands are also some of the…