The City of Oceanside is home to a variety of waterbodies, such as rivers, creeks, lakes, lagoons, and the Pacific Ocean. The picturesque climate and proximity to the ocean makes Oceanside an important harbor for aquatic habitat. Oceanside waterbodies are also popular destinations for fishing enthusiasts, boaters, skiers, bathers, and birdwatchers.
Every Oceanside waterbody is part of watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains water to the nearest river, creek, lake, lagoon or ocean. And, each watershed is usually named after the main river to which that water drains. Everyone lives in a watershed.
Watersheds are typically surrounded by land areas of higher elevation that drain rainwater to areas of lower elevation. When water draining from higher elevations flows downhill, it cuts into the earth creating a river, creek, or stream, depending on the amount of water. These rivers, creeks and streams connect together to form a network that channel water into a lake, lagoon or ocean.
Watersheds do not follow political boundaries; therefore, many cities or other jurisdictions are part of multiple watersheds. The City of Oceanside has four watersheds in its City limits: the San Luis Rey Watershed, Loma Alta Watershed, Buena Vista Watershed and Agua Hedionda Watershed. Click here (516 KB) for a map which shows the different watersheds and waterbodies in Oceanside.
Because watersheds are all around us, many of the activities we do at home and work can affect the water quality of our watersheds. For instance, washing your car in the driveway allows soaps, grit, grime, metals, and bacteria to enter a storm drain and eventually flow into a river, creek, or stream untreated. Additionally, commercial businesses that store oil-leaking equipment outside can pollute our waterbodies when rain washes that oil into the nearest waterbody. Everyone can help or hurt the quality of water in Oceanside waterbodies by their chosen activities.
To find out more about how to prevent water pollution, visit the Residential link on this website. It is up to all of us to help protect the water quality of Oceanside’s watersheds for our families and our community. Everyone impacts a watershed, because watersheds are everywhere.