The Sweetwater River is a long stream in
San Diego County, California.
From its headwaters high in the
Cuyamaca Mountains, the river flows generally southwest, first through rugged hinterlands but then into the urban areas surrounding its mouth at
San Diego Bay. Its
drainage basin
A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
covers more than , all of it within San Diego County. Towns on the river include
Descanso Descanso may refer to:
* Descanso (roadside memorial)
* ''Descanso'' (spider), a genus of jumping spider
* Descanso, California, an unincorporated community in the United States
* Descanso, Santa Catarina, a town and municipality in Brazil
* Des ...
,
La Presa and
Chula Vista
Chula Vista (; ) is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fifteenth largest city in the state of California, and the 78th-largest city in the United States. The popu ...
.
The term "Sweetwater" is a name often given to freshwater which tastes good in regions where much of the water is bitter to the taste.
The Spanish called the river "Agua Dulce", a name they applied to good clear water anywhere they lived.
Course
The river rises as an intermittent trickle flowing out of
Upper Green Valley, deep in the semi-arid
Cuyamaca Mountains near Stonewall Peak. It flows south-southwest, receiving Harper Creek from the left and Stonewall Creek from the right, then coursing through narrow valleys and passing the small town of
Descanso Descanso may refer to:
* Descanso (roadside memorial)
* ''Descanso'' (spider), a genus of jumping spider
* Descanso, California, an unincorporated community in the United States
* Descanso, Santa Catarina, a town and municipality in Brazil
* Des ...
. As the river enters the
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres (), mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the forest. It is the southernmost U.S. National Forest of California. It is administered by ...
, it cuts through a steep and spectacular rocky gorge and crosses under a high bridge of
Interstate 8. Shortly after leaving the national forest, it flows into
Loveland Reservoir, formed by
Loveland Dam
Loveland Dam (also called Sweetwater Falls Dam) is a dam across the Sweetwater River (California), Sweetwater River in San Diego County, California, San Diego County, California. The dam forms long, narrow Loveland Reservoir which stores of water ...
, the first of two major dams along the Sweetwater.
Continuing westwards, it receives the North Fork from the right, travels by the city of
Rancho San Diego and passes through the Rancho San Diego Golf Course. The river then enters
Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir is a artificial lake in San Diego County, California, formed by the Sweetwater Dam on the Sweetwater River. Construction of the dam was completed in 1888.
Environment
The area surrounding the reservoir is home to several s ...
, which is formed by the
Sweetwater Dam. Below the dam, the Sweetwater flows through
Sweetwater Regional Park in a generally suburban area, passing the unincorporated town of
Bonita. Bending northwest, the river enters a
flood control channel
Flood control channels are large and empty basins which let water flow in and out (except during flooding) or dry channels that run below the street levels of some larger cities, so that if and when a flood occurs, the water will run into these ch ...
and passes between
National City and
Chula Vista
Chula Vista (; ) is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fifteenth largest city in the state of California, and the 78th-largest city in the United States. The popu ...
.
California State Route 54
State Route 54 (SR 54) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that consists of two segments in San Diego County. The westernmost part of the highway is known as the South Bay Freeway, beginning at Interstate 5 (I-5) in Nation ...
straddles the river, with eastbound lanes to the south and westbound lanes to the north, for a few miles between
I-5
Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels through the states of Californi ...
and
I-805
Interstate 805 (I-805) is a major north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass auxiliary route of I-5, running roughly through the center of the Greater San Diego region from San Ysidro (part of the c ...
. The tidal portion of the river, which starts roughly here, is called the
Sweetwater Marsh. The river empties into
San Diego Bay about southeast of downtown
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
.
Watershed
This river drains a long, narrow basin of in extreme southern California, with its mouth less than north of the
United States-Mexico border
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
. Much of the river's watershed is mountainous, and the highest point is above sea level at
Stonewall Peak
Stonewall Peak is a prominent mountain located in San Diego County within Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. It is east of the city of San Diego and south of Julian.
The summit is accessible froPaso Picacho Campground which is accessed by California S ...
in the Cuyamacas Mountains. A large portion of the drainage lies within the
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres (), mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the forest. It is the southernmost U.S. National Forest of California. It is administered by ...
, but few trees are actually supported by the arid climate. The Sweetwater is the largest river flowing into
San Diego Bay.
Most of the drainage, nearly 64 percent, comprises wilderness or designated parks and open space. However, approximately 30% is urban development and part of the San Diego metro area. Native American reservations also occupy part of the land.
The watershed has a human population of over 300,000;
mostly residing in the residential cities of
Chula Vista
Chula Vista (; ) is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fifteenth largest city in the state of California, and the 78th-largest city in the United States. The popu ...
,
National City, and others such as
La Presa,
Bonita and
Rancho San Diego, all in the less rugged western portion of the basin.
The eastern drainage divide of the Sweetwater watershed lies on the main divide of the Cuyamacas, which also separates streams of the Pacific slope from streams draining to the
endorheic basin
An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...
of the
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, landlocked, highly saline body of water in Riverside and Imperial counties at the southern end of the U.S. state of California. It lies on the San Andreas Fault within the Salton Trough that stretches to the Gulf ...
farther to the east. To the north, the Sweetwater basin shares borders with those of the
San Diego River
The San Diego River is a river in San Diego County, California. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains northwest of the town of Julian, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the river ...
and the smaller streams that drain portions of National City and San Diego. On the south, it is bordered by the
Otay River
The Otay River () is a river in southern San Diego County, California. The river begins at San Miguel Mountain, flows through the Upper and Lower Otay Reservoirs, and continues on between the southern part of the Chula Vista and the Otay Mesa ...
and
Tijuana River
, name_etymology =
, image = Presa Tij 1.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = Dam on the Tijuana River in Mexico.
, map = Tijuana River Basin.svg
, map_size = 250
, map_caption ...
drainages – specifically for the Tijuana, the subwatershed of Cottonwood Creek, the river's main tributary in the U.S.
Before reaching San Diego Bay, the river flows into ''Sweetwater Marsh'', a part of the
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Adjacent to the marsh is the ''Chula Vista Nature Center'' hosting nature walks and an aviary with native birds such as burrowing owls, egrets and herons.
History
In pre-American times, the Sweetwater River was a small but year-round stream, lined on both banks by extensive
riparian forest
A riparian forest or riparian woodland is a forested or wooded area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered chann ...
s,
marsh
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found a ...
es and
floodplain
A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river which stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls, and which experiences flooding during periods of high discharge.Goudi ...
s. It is believed that humans first arrived in the San Diego Bay area between 20,000 and 30,000 years ago. The
Kumeyaay called this river Ah-ha-ooo-mulk, meaning "water sweet". The villages they had included Sekwan and Hamacha on the middle portion of the stream; Amotaretuwe to the north, and Ekwiamak in the headwaters portion.
The first European to arrive in the region was probably
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who sailed his ship, the ''San Salvador'', into San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. Cabrillo did not stay in the area for long, but his visit helped
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
lay claim to the area. The Spanish established settlements in the area in the 1760s mainly clustering around
Mission San Diego de Alcala
Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to:
Organised activities Religion
*Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity
*Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
, calling the river Agua Dulce. From 1795, the lower part of the watershed was part of the Rancho del Rey (Ranch of the King) under Spain, this land south of the
Presidio of San Diego, that later became the
Rancho de la Nación Rancho de la Nación was a Mexican land grant in present-day southern San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John (Don Juan) Forster. The grant encompassed present-day National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Sunnys ...
. In an attempt to save some of the lands of the
San Diego Mission from secularization, their lands in the middle reach of the Sweetwater were given by the mission padres to
Apolinaria Lorenzana in 1833. These lands became the
Rancho Jamacha Rancho Jamacha was a Mexican land grant in present-day San Diego County, California given in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Apolinaria Lorenzana. Jamacha is an Indian name. The grant extended eastward from Rancho de la Nación along the Sweet ...
and
Rancho San Juan de Las Secuas. Later, after passing from the hands of
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, emigrants began arriving in the San Diego area in great numbers, many of them settling along the Sweetwater, establishing irrigated farms. The
Sweetwater Dam was built in 1888 to provide storage for agricultural and municipal uses. By the late 1800s, the stream was described as having "practically no living water, except at its extreme sources and for 10 or 20 miles down from the summit of the range" presumably because of the large irrigation diversions.
Dams
On its journey to the sea, the Sweetwater is interrupted by three dams. The first is Palo Verde Dam, a small rockfill structure about southeast of
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
, serving mainly for recreation and flood control. Several miles below Palo Verde lies the much larger
Loveland Dam
Loveland Dam (also called Sweetwater Falls Dam) is a dam across the Sweetwater River (California), Sweetwater River in San Diego County, California, San Diego County, California. The dam forms long, narrow Loveland Reservoir which stores of water ...
(Sweetwater Falls Dam), which forms
Loveland Reservoir. Below here, the Sweetwater is free flowing until about above the mouth, where the
Sweetwater Dam forms the last and largest,
Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir is a artificial lake in San Diego County, California, formed by the Sweetwater Dam on the Sweetwater River. Construction of the dam was completed in 1888.
Environment
The area surrounding the reservoir is home to several s ...
.
Loveland and Sweetwater are both operated by the
Sweetwater Authority
Sweetwater or Sweet Water may refer to:
* Freshwater
Places In the United States
* Sweet Water, Alabama
* Sweetwater, Arizona
* Sweetwater River (California), San Diego County
** Sweetwater Dam, a dam across the Sweetwater River
** Sweetwat ...
. The former serves mainly for flood control while Sweetwater functions as a reserve water storage facility for the cities downstream, including San Diego, National City and Chula Vista and also as a terminus for piped-in water from the
San Diego Aqueduct
The San Diego Aqueduct, or San Diego Project, is a system of four aqueducts in the U.S. state of California, supplying about 70 percent of the water supply for the city of San Diego. The system comprises the First and Second San Diego Aqueducts, ...
.
Ecology
Recently the surprising discovery of a
western pond turtle
The Western pond turtle (''Actinemys marmorata''), also known commonly as the Pacific pond turtle is a species of small to medium-sized turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the western coast of the United States and Mexico, r ...
(''Actinemys marmorata''), an
IUCN Red List endangered species
On 29 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 5220 (2754 animals, 1 fungus, 2464 plant, 1 protist) endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.
For IUCN lists of endangered species by kingdom ...
, in a tributary of the Sweetwater River near
Jamul, California
Jamul (; Kumeyaay: ''Ha-mul'', meaning "sweet water") is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California, United States. Jamul had a population of 6,163 at the 2010 census.
Jamul suffered from the Valley Fire, one of the 2020 Calif ...
alerted wildlife officials that the turtle is still extant in the area. The nearby San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is home to endangered birds such as the
least Bell's vireo (''Vireo bellii pusillus'') and
California gnatcatcher
The California gnatcatcher (''Polioptila californica'') is a small long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan ...
(''Polioptila californica'') and the rare
Quino checkerspot (''Euphydryas editha quino'') butterfly.
It has been controversial whether
beaver (''Castor canadensis'') were native to San Diego County. However, a report on the fauna of the county by Dr. David Hoffman in 1866 stated "Of the animal kingdom we have a fair variety: the grizzly bear, the antelope, the deer, the polecat, the beaver, the wildcat, the otter, the fox, the badger, the hare, the squirrel, and coyotes innumerable." Indirect evidence of beaver in San Diego County includes a creek named ''Beaver Hollow'' which runs 3.25 miles into the Sweetwater River about 6.5 miles southwest of
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
. Beaver Hollow is named on the
USGS
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, a ...
Topo Map for
Cuyamaca in 1903, which is twenty years before
California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), formerly known as the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), is a state agency under the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages and protec ...
began beaver re-introductions in California.
The upper (above
Descanso, California
Descanso (Spanish for "Rest"; Kumeyaay: ''Wataay'') is a small unincorporated community in the Cuyamaca Mountains, within the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The community's name is a Spanish word meaning "rest fr ...
) Sweetwater River and several small tributaries hold wild
rainbow trout (''Oncorhyncus mykiss'') populations, including Cold Springs Creek, Harper Creek, Japacha Creek, Jauquapin Creek, and Stonewall Creek.
Recreation
In the narrow area west of Sweetwater Reservoir and east of the 125 lay
Sweetwater County Park and
Sweetwater Regional Park, the latter located just southeast of the former. These parks have trails ranging along the east rim of a canyon, at the bottom of which runs the second San Diego aqueduct. These trails are open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians. There is a footbridge at the northern end running from Quarry Rd to the trails.
The canyon is vegetated by palm trees, cottonwoods, arroyo willows and eucalyptus. Cactuses include desert barrel and teddy-bear cholla.
Closer to the ocean is the
Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The
Chula Vista Nature Center is located inside the refuge. The nature center is oriented towards elementary school children. Inside are terrariums and aquariums. Outside are aviaries containing injured birds.
The refuge can only be accessed by bus. At the entrance is a parking lot, where one can wait for the bus to arrive. Inside the reserve there are well-maintained trails leading down to the bay. Commonly seen birds include the great egret, osprey, towhee, mallard, pintail, white-crowned sparrow and dowitcher.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the Sweetwater are listed from mouth to source:
*
Rice Canyon
*
Long Canyon
Long may refer to:
Measurement
* Long, characteristic of something of great duration
* Long, characteristic of something of great length
* Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate
* Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...
*
Spring Creek (San Diego County)
*
Dehesa Creek
*
Harbison Canyon
*
North Fork Sweetwater River
*
Beaver Hollow Creek
*
Lawson Creek (San Diego)
*
Taylor Creek (California)
*
Viejas Creek
*
Samagatuma Creek
*
Descanso Creek
*
Juaquapin Creek
*
Japacho Creek
*
Cold Stream (San Diego)
*
Harper Creek
*
Stonewall Creek
Picture gallery
Image:Sweetwaterriver1.jpg, Sweetwater Reservoir
Image:Sweetwaterriver2.jpg, Bridge upstream from Sweetwater Reservoir
Image:Sweetwaterriver3.jpg, Boat launch ramp near mouth
Image:Sweetwaterriver4.jpg, Near Second Ave. in National City
Image:Sweetwaterriver5.jpg, Mouth of river
Image:Sweetwaterriver6.jpg, Near State Highway 79
Image:Sweetwaterriver7.jpg, Near Green Valley Campground
Image:PostcardSanDiegoCASweetwaterDam1907.jpg, Sweetwater Dam, about 1907
References
External links
Sweetwater Authority*
ttp://www.bartleby.com/69/54/S18054.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America
{{Authority control
Rivers of San Diego County, California
Cuyamaca Mountains
San Diego Bay watershed
Geography of San Diego
Chula Vista, California
National City, California
Rivers of Southern California