By James Vanderbilt
World Rivers Day, Sept. 23, highlights the many values of rivers, often called the “arteries” of a nation. It is a celebration to increase public awareness and encourages improved stewardship of rivers around the world.
The Santa Ana River is the largest river entirely in Southern California and one of the largest sources of water to fill the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which is managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD). It provides Anaheim residents with about 75 percent of their drinking water.
The river also hosts Southern California’s largest watershed—the surrounding area that benefits from the river. Created from snowmelt and natural springs, the Santa Ana River flows from the San Bernardino Mountains along a 75-mile journey, through San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange Counties, to its final destination at the Pacific Ocean near Huntington Beach. It meanders through pristine and wild lands, and agricultural areas, to domesticated cities, and parks.
OCWD captures Santa Ana River water behind Prado Dam in Riverside County and, with the collaboration of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, temporarily stores it during storms to help refill the groundwater basin. The Corps owns and operates the Prado Dam and is responsible for providing flood risk management on the Santa Ana River.
River water flows behind the dam through the Prado Wetlands, 450 acres of manmade wetlands—the largest area of its kind in coastal Southern California. They were created and are owned by OCWD to naturally remove nitrogen and other pollutants from treated wastewater in the river before it reaches Orange County.
The District owns a six-mile section of the Santa Ana River from Imperial Highway to Ball Road in Anaheim and, with the help of earthen levees to slow the river and inflatable dams to direct it, OCWD diverts river water into a system of holding facilities or recharge basins that look like dozens of small lakes. Each allows the water to percolate into the groundwater basin, again, naturally purifying it before it is pumped by the city of Anaheim for your use.
A lot of people do not realize that there are a rich variety of plants and animals that benefit from the Santa Ana River. OCWD participates in several environmental programs to enhance wildlife resources in the watershed. Among the forests, channels and ponds that comprise the lush Prado Wetlands, are 311 species of plants, seven species of fish, ten species of amphibians, 20 species of reptiles, 23 species of mammals, and more than 175 species of birds.
OCWD field experts are there providing habitat restoration, wildlife management, public education, and the control of non-native species. The District has spent more than a million dollars to remove the invasive Arundo donax plant that looks like giant bamboo. OCWD has also brought back the nearly extinct least Bell’s vireo songbird with its management programs.
Closer to home in Anaheim surrounding OCWD’s Burris Basin, the District, together with the city of Anaheim, has created the Anaheim Coves nature trails for walking and bike riding. OCWD has dedicated more than 200 acres of its lands for public trails and recreation.
As a watershed guardian, OCWD is ensuring that our natural environment will be accessible to future generations of humans, wild animals and plants.
You can do your part to participate in World Rivers Day by getting involved in events or sponsoring your own. Visit the World Rivers Day website: http://worldriversday.com/ for additional information.
James Vanderbilt is a council member of the City of Anaheim and represents Division 9 of the Orange County Water District. For more information about the District, visit www.ocwd.com. Contact Director Vanderbilt at jvanderbilt@anaheim.net.
