Morrell Canyon Creek

Last updated
Morrell Canyon Creek [1]
Morrell Canyon
Stream, Valley, Arroyo
Country United States
State California
Region Riverside County
Tributaries
 - leftEast Fork, Morrell Canyon Creek, Decker Canyon Creek, Long Canyon Creek
 - right Bear Canyon Creek
Sourcenortheastern slope of San Mateo Peak, Elsinore Mountains
 - elevation3,080 ft (939 m)
 - coordinates 33°36′49″N117°22′18″W / 33.61361°N 117.37167°W / 33.61361; -117.37167
Mouthhead of San Juan Creek and San Juan Canyon, at the confluence of Morrell Canyon Creek with Bear Canyon Creek, Santa Ana Mountains
 - elevation1,690 ft (515 m)
 - coordinates 33°36′47″N117°26′7″W / 33.61306°N 117.43528°W / 33.61306; -117.43528 Coordinates: 33°36′47″N117°26′7″W / 33.61306°N 117.43528°W / 33.61306; -117.43528
Length6.5 mi (10 km)
Sanjuancreekmap.png
Map of San Juan Creek watershed

Morrell Canyon Creek is a stream or Arroyo, tributary to San Juan Creek, located in the Cleveland National Forest in Riverside County, California, at an elevation of 3,080 ft (939 m), in the Elsinore Mountains northeast of Elsinore Peak. It arises on the eastern slope of San Mateo Peak. [2] An eastern fork draining the Morrell Potrero joins it a little over a mile north of its source and then flows northwestward about a third of a mile where it turns southeast descending the narrow Morrell Canyon east of Lion Spring. After descending 2.5 miles it turns north for half a mile then returns to a southwestern direction for another mile, the canyon widening here until it turns northwestward and down a steep canyon again for half a mile where it takes in from the right Decker Canyon Creek and Long Canyon Creek. It then turns southwestward again into a wider canyon and descends to its confluence with Bear Canyon Creek and becomes the head of San Juan Creek. [3]

Stream A body of surface water flowing down a channel

A stream is a body of water with surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. The stream encompasses surface and groundwater fluxes that respond to geological, geomorphological, hydrological and biotic controls.

Arroyo (creek) A dry creek or stream bed with flow after rain

An arroyo, also called a wash, is a dry creek, stream bed or gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Flash floods are common in arroyos following thunderstorms.

San Juan Creek river in United States of America

San Juan Creek, also called the San Juan River, is a 29-mile (47 km) long stream in Orange County, California, draining a watershed of 133.9 square miles (347 km2). Its mainstem begins in the southern Santa Ana Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest. It winds west and south through San Juan Canyon, and is joined by Arroyo Trabuco as it passes through San Juan Capistrano. It flows into the Pacific Ocean at Doheny State Beach. San Juan Canyon provides a major part of the route for California State Route 74.

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