Final Destination and Quiz

Now that you have complete the Google Earth field trip of our watershed, complete the online quiz located in the link below

Quiz

Dana Point MPA

Dana Point has a Marine Protected Area, next to the Ocean Institute. You can visit it any time, but at low tide you can see more of the organisms that live there such as the hermit crab, black turban snail, mussels and sea anemone. These organisms are part of our community, because no matter where we live we are linked together by our watershed.   Click on the link below to learn more about the organisms in the tidepools in Dana Point

Intertidal Organisms

Bolsa Chica Estuary

Bolsa Chica Estuary is a restored wetland where saltwater from the ocean meets the freshwater from land.  It is also an important stop for many migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.  Over 200 species of birds can be found here. 

This strip of land is very important, it provides a natural flood control and helps to purify water and the atmosphere. It provides habitat and a breeding place and a nursery for many organisms. Besides being an important part of our ecosystem, it is an interesting place to visit. 

Click on the interactive map and explore the wetlands to learn about some of the organisms.

Interactive map 

Centennial Park

The largest stream in Southern California, the Santa Ana River, runs through our city.

The watershed we live in drains to the ocean through rivers, estuaries and even underground. What we do on the surface, such as keeping harmful pollutants like paint, oil, pet waste, leaves, grass, litter and plastics out of gutters and storm drains will help keep oceans cleaner.  Another thing we can do is to not waste water. Use the minimum amount of water needed when you wash your car or water plants outside and inside turn off the faucet when your not using it.

 

 Santa Ana River is not only an important part of our watershed it is as great recreation place too

Mouth of the Santa Ana River

After traveling over 100 miles the water flows into the Pacific Ocean near Brookhurst Street and Pacific Coast Highway.  It has traveled through an area where over 4 million people live.

There is also a bike path that runs along this river. You can ride all the way to Corona near Prodo Dam on it, a ride of 30 miles and there are plan to complete the "Crest-to Coast Trail 110 miles in all.  To check out the path see the map at 

http://www.sawpa.org/projects/planning/Maps/1334_SART_map_07.pdf

San Gorgonio Peak

San Gorgonio Peak is the highest point in our watershed.  Everything from here flows west to the Pacific Ocean. San Gorgonio Peak is located in the Transverse Range near the bottom of the map. Santa Ana is located between the San Gorgonio Peak and the Pacific Ocean.

Century High School is part of the Santa Ana River Watershed. This is one of the smaller and drier watersheds of California, but it has the highest density of people living in it. 

What is a watershed?

How big is the Santa Ana River Watershed?

Where does it start?

To learn more about our watershed, click on the link

Santa Ana Watershed

Century High School, Santa Ana CA

Century High School

This virtual field trip of the watershed of Century High School is designed to help you learn how what we do at our school and in our neighborhood affects the Marine Protected Areas of California and the rest of the world.

Century High School is a very large urban school located in Santa Ana, California. It may seen very large with about 2,500 students, but we are just an average sized school in Santa Ana.  Our district has 5 high schools and Santa Ana High School is the largest at 5,000 students.

Our quad  pictured here, where 2500 students have lunch each day, looks clean in this picture. Keeping it clean every day will help keep our oceans clean too.  Think about it,  just about everything we do affect something.  With all of us working together, anything is possible.