Rio Hondo (California)
Rio Hondo | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Santa Anita Creek |
• location | Irwindale, San Gabriel Valley |
• coordinates | 34°05′51″N 118°01′16″W / 34.09750°N 118.02111°W[1] |
• elevation | 320 ft (98 m) |
Mouth | Los Angeles River |
• location | South Gate |
• coordinates | 33°55′56″N 118°10′30″W / 33.93222°N 118.17500°W[1] |
• elevation | 79 ft (24 m) |
Length | 16.4 mi (26.4 km)[2] |
Basin size | 143 sq mi (370 km2)[3] |
Discharge | |
• location | below Whittier Narrows Dam[4] |
• average | 165 cu ft/s (4.7 m3/s)[4] |
• minimum | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
• maximum | 38,800 cu ft/s (1,100 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• right | Santa Anita Creek, Arcadia Wash, Eaton Wash, Alhambra Wash |
The Rio Hondo (
Background
The Rio Hondo has sometimes been described as a second channel of the San Gabriel River. For much of its length, the rivers flow parallel to each other about two miles (3 km) apart. Both rivers pass through the Whittier Narrows, a natural gap in the hills which form the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley. Here, both rivers are impounded by the Whittier Narrows Dam, which the Army Corps of Engineers describes as, "the central element of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA) flood control system". During major storms, the outlet works at Whittier Narrows Dam can direct water to either channel, or runoff can be stored.
The Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River have both been part of a revitalization program called the Emerald Necklace. The goal of this program is to create a "necklace" of parks and reclaimed wild spaces with the two rivers. They are connected by a narrow strip in Irwindale and by Whittier Narrows to give them the appearance of a necklace if viewed from above. The project garnered broad support from organizations such as the Sierra Club along with the governments of the many cities the rivers pass through.[5]
Most of the Rio Hondo is a concrete-lined channel to serve its primary flood control function, but in two places the river flows over open ground: the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Large spreading grounds for water conservation surround much of the river, and its bike paths are very popular.
The river passes through the location of the
Legacy
The Rio Hondo College and Rio Hondo Preparatory School were named after the river.
In what is now the
Parks and recreation
The Rio Hondo River Trail is a multi-use trail that runs parallel to Rio Hondo through the San Gabriel Valley. The northern end starts along the reservoir at the Peck Road Water Conservation Park and continues along the channel to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. The trail is 15.6 miles long. Allowed uses include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and walking dogs on leash. There is also bird and wildlife watching.[11]
Crossings
From mouth to source (year built in parentheses):[12]
- Railroad
- Garfield Avenue (1957)
- Southern Avenue / Stewart and Gray Road (1951)
- Firestone Boulevard(1933)
- Railroad
- Rio Hondo Bicycle Path
- Florence Avenue (1953)
- Suva Street (1954)
- Interstate 5 - Santa Ana Freeway (1953)
- Telegraph Road (1951)
- Railroad
- East Slauson Avenue (1954)
- Railroad: BNSF Railway (former Santa Fe Railway)/Amtrak (Pacific Surfliner/Southwest Chief)/Metrolink (Orange County Line/91/Perris Valley Line)
- Washington Boulevard (1941)
- Bridge to Rio Hondo Bicycle Path
- Railroad: LA&SL), Metrolink Riverside Line
- Whittier Boulevard (1921)
- East Beverly Boulevard (1952)
- Whittier Narrows Dam
- San Gabriel Boulevard (1982)
- State Route 60 / Pomona Freeway (1966)
- Garvey Avenue (1936)
- Rosemead Boulevard/ CA-164 (1937)
- San Bernardino Freeway(1956)
- Rio Hondo Busway (1972)
- Railroad: Metrolink San Bernardino Line
- Valley Mall
- Valley Boulevard (1956)
- Railroad: Union Pacific Railroad former Southern Pacific Railroad/Amtrak Sunset Limited
- Lower Azusa Road (1959)
- Santa Anita Avenue (1959)
- Rio Hondo Bicycle Path at Peck Road Park Lake
See also
References
- ^ a b "Rio Hondo". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 16, 2011
- ^ "USGS Gage #11102500 on the Rio Hondo near Downey, CA". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1928–1979. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ^ a b "USGS Gage #11102300 on the San Gabriel River below Whittier Narrows Dam, CA" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1967–2010. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ^ Zetterberg, Johanna (2005-05-01). "San Gabriel River tour shows leaders river area's potential".
- ^ Grenier, Judson A., ed. (1978). A Guide to Historical Places in Los Angeles County. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.
- ^ Gold, Matea (1997-08-29). "Riverbank's Transformation Into Park Triggers Flood of Memories". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Medina, Daniel (2014-04-17). "Life at Marrano Beach, the Lost Barrio Beach of the San Gabriel Valley". KCET.
- ^ "Bosque del Rio". lamountains.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14.
- ^ "Bosque Del Rio Hondo". KCET. 2011-03-29.
- ^ "Trails - Department of Parks and Recreation". trails.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "National Bridge Inventory Database". Retrieved 2009-10-27.