Aliso Creek (Los Angeles County)

Not to be confused with Aliso Creek (Orange County).
For other uses, see Aliso Creek (disambiguation).
Aliso Canyon Wash
Aliso Creek
Aliso Creek (Los Angeles County) is located in California
Aliso Creek (Los Angeles County)
Location of the mouth in California
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionLos Angeles County
CitiesGranada Hills, Northridge, Winnetka, Reseda
Physical characteristics
SourceAliso Canyon Park
 • locationNear Mission Point, Santa Susana Mountains
 • coordinates34°19′23″N 118°32′45″W / 34.32306°N 118.54583°W / 34.32306; -118.54583[1]
 • elevation2,600 ft (790 m)
MouthLos Angeles River
 • location
Reseda
 • coordinates
34°11′24″N 118°32′30″W / 34.19000°N 118.54167°W / 34.19000; -118.54167[1]
 • elevation
725 ft (221 m)[1]
Length8.5 mi (13.7 km), North-south
Basin size21 sq mi (54 km2)[2]
Discharge 
 • average3 cu ft/s (0.085 m3/s)
Basin features
River systemLos Angeles River
Tributaries 
 • rightWilbur Canyon Wash, Limekiln Wash

Aliso Creek (also Aliso Canyon Wash or Aliso Wash) is a major tributary of the Upper Los Angeles River in the Santa Susana Mountains in Los Angeles County and western San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles, California.

It has a watershed of 21 square miles (54 km2).[2] It is the second major tributary, after Browns Canyon Wash−Creek, to enter the Los Angeles River downstream of its headwaters at the confluence of Bell Creek and Arroyo Calabasas in Canoga Park.[3]

Course

The stream runs about 10 miles (16 km) from Aliso Canyon below Oat Mountain in the Santa Susana Mountains to its confluence with the Los Angeles River.

During its first 1 mile (1.6 km), it is a free-flowing stream mostly contained within Aliso Canyon Park and Eddlestone Park on the border of Granada Hills and Porter Ranch. After it passes under State Route 118 (Simi Valley Freeway) and enters Northridge, it empties into a retention basin and from there on is encased in a concrete flood control channel flowing southward across the San Fernando Valley. Upstream of Plummer Street Wilbur Canyon Wash enters it, and shortly after that downstream Limekiln Wash enters it, both on the right bank.

In Reseda the Aliso Creek channel makes a 90-degree bend to the east, south of Vanowen Avenue and west of West Valley Park, flowing a short distance to its confluence with the Los Angeles River, north of Victory Boulevard between Wilbur Avenue and Reseda Boulevard.[4]

Crossings and tributaries

From the northern Santa Susana Mountains source to the southern mouth (year built in parentheses):

  • Rinaldi Street
  • California State Route 118 - Ronald Reagan Freeway (1980)
  • Concrete flood channel opening
  • San Fernando Mission Road
  • Tribune Street
  • Chatsworth Street
  • San Jose Street [Pedestrian Bridge] (1967)[5]
  • Service bridges
  • Devonshire Street
  • Lemarsh Street
  • Reseda Boulevard (1950)
  • Lassen Street (1966)
  • Yolanda Avenue (1963)
  • Limekiln Canyon Wash enters
  • Wilbur Avenue (1969)
  • Plummer Street (1967)
  • Nordhoff Street (1969)
  • Wilbur Canyon Wash enters
  • Railroad: Union Pacific Railroad Coast Line, Metrolink Ventura County Line
  • Parthenia Street (1955)
  • Chase Street [Pedestrian Bridge] (1958)[5]
  • Roscoe Boulevard (1955)
  • Wilbur Avenue (1955)
  • Strathern Street (1952)
  • Arminta Street [Pedestrian Bridge] (1960)[5]
  • Saticoy Street (1954)
  • Valerio Street [Pedestrian Bridge] (1976)[5]
  • Sherman Way (1954)
  • Hart Street [Pedestrian Bridge] (1954)[5]
  • Vanowen Street (1954)
  • Confluence with the Los Angeles River channel

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Aliso Creek (Los Angeles County)
  2. ^ a b Section 2: Site Descriptions
  3. ^ Friends Of Vast Industrial Concrete Kafkaesque Structures
  4. ^ Google Maps
  5. ^ a b c d e "Council File No. 07-2474 - Status of Bridges and Tunnels in the City of Los Angeles" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. October 2, 2007.