Difference between revisions of "Lower Salinas River Watershed"

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(Disambiguation)
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The [[ The Salinas River | Salinas River]] starts in the La Panza Range, in San Luis Obispo County, and drains into the Salinas River Lagoon.  At times of the year, the Salinas River also flows through a man-made canal, the Old Salinas River, into the Moss Landing Harbor.
 
The [[ The Salinas River | Salinas River]] starts in the La Panza Range, in San Luis Obispo County, and drains into the Salinas River Lagoon.  At times of the year, the Salinas River also flows through a man-made canal, the Old Salinas River, into the Moss Landing Harbor.
  
The waters from a smaller watershed, the Reclamation Canal (or Reclamation Ditch) watershed, also drain into the Moss Landing Harbor. For administrative purposes, the term Lower Salinas River Watershed is sometimes used to encompass both the lower portion of the Salinas River Watershed and the Reclamation Canal Watershed.
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The waters from a smaller watershed, the Reclamation Canal (or Reclamation Ditch) watershed (also known as Gabilan Waterhed), also drain into the Moss Landing Harbor. For administrative purposes, the term Lower Salinas River Watershed is sometimes used to encompass both the lower portion of the Salinas River Watershed and the Reclamation Canal Watershed.
  
== Location ==
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== Location and Description==
 
Located in Monterey County, the Lower Salinas River Watershed is the watershed area of the [[The Salinas River | Salinas River]] from Gonzales Road downstream to its confluence with Moss Landing Harbor.
 
Located in Monterey County, the Lower Salinas River Watershed is the watershed area of the [[The Salinas River | Salinas River]] from Gonzales Road downstream to its confluence with Moss Landing Harbor.
 
== Watershed Description ==
 
The project area is bounded by the Gabilan Range to the east, the Sierra de Salinas range to the west, and the Monterey Bay to the northwest. [[Image:TMDL_project_area.JPG|thumb|TMDL Project Area]] The TMDL study is defined by the lower 400 square miles of the Lower Salinas Valley and includes two major watersheds, the [[The Gabilan / Reclamation Ditch Watershed]] and [[The Lower Salinas Watershed]].
 
  
 
Surface water sources include precipitation, releases from reservoirs, groundwater, and return flows from agricultural irrigation.  Mean annual precipitation in the project area ranges from approximately 13 to 16 inches per year with the majority of precipitation occurring between November and April.  
 
Surface water sources include precipitation, releases from reservoirs, groundwater, and return flows from agricultural irrigation.  Mean annual precipitation in the project area ranges from approximately 13 to 16 inches per year with the majority of precipitation occurring between November and April.  
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The project area is characterized by both ephemeral and perennial stream reaches, as the [[The Lower Salinas Watershed| Lower Salinas River]] runs dry during the summer months, and in comparison the lower [[The Gabilan / Reclamation Ditch Watershed| Reclamation Ditch]] flows year-round.
 
The project area is characterized by both ephemeral and perennial stream reaches, as the [[The Lower Salinas Watershed| Lower Salinas River]] runs dry during the summer months, and in comparison the lower [[The Gabilan / Reclamation Ditch Watershed| Reclamation Ditch]] flows year-round.
  
== Description ==
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== Environmental Concerns ==
  
== Environmental Concerns ==
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Several water bodies in both the Lower Salinas River watershed and in the Reclamation Canal Watershed have been listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act.

Revision as of 22:58, 5 April 2011

The Lower Salinas River Watershed is the name given by the Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Coast Region to the lower portion of the Salinas River and the Salinas Reclamation Canal. Although composed of several sub-watersheds, the name Lower Salinas Watershed is commonly used for administrative purposes.

Disambiguation

The Salinas River starts in the La Panza Range, in San Luis Obispo County, and drains into the Salinas River Lagoon. At times of the year, the Salinas River also flows through a man-made canal, the Old Salinas River, into the Moss Landing Harbor.

The waters from a smaller watershed, the Reclamation Canal (or Reclamation Ditch) watershed (also known as Gabilan Waterhed), also drain into the Moss Landing Harbor. For administrative purposes, the term Lower Salinas River Watershed is sometimes used to encompass both the lower portion of the Salinas River Watershed and the Reclamation Canal Watershed.

Location and Description

Located in Monterey County, the Lower Salinas River Watershed is the watershed area of the Salinas River from Gonzales Road downstream to its confluence with Moss Landing Harbor.

Surface water sources include precipitation, releases from reservoirs, groundwater, and return flows from agricultural irrigation. Mean annual precipitation in the project area ranges from approximately 13 to 16 inches per year with the majority of precipitation occurring between November and April.

Land use in the project area includes intensive agriculture as well as the urban centers of Salinas, Castroville and Prunedale.

The project area is characterized by both ephemeral and perennial stream reaches, as the Lower Salinas River runs dry during the summer months, and in comparison the lower Reclamation Ditch flows year-round.

Environmental Concerns

Several water bodies in both the Lower Salinas River watershed and in the Reclamation Canal Watershed have been listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act.