The Rio Hondo (Spanish translation: Deep River) is a tributary of the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles County, California, approximately 20 miles (32 km) long. As a named river it begins in Irwindale and flows southwest to its confluence in South Gate, passing through several cities (though not the City of Los Angeles).
The Rio Hondo has sometimes been described as a second channel of the San Gabriel River. For much of its length, the rivers flow parallel to each other about two miles (3 km) apart. Both rivers pass through the Whittier Narrows, a natural gap in the hills which form the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley. Here, both rivers are impounded by the Whittier Narrows Dam, which the Army Corps of Engineers describes as, "the central element of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA) flood control system". During major storms, the Whittier Narrows Dam can direct water to either channel, as well as store runoff.
Most of the Rio Hondo is a concrete-lined channel to serve its primary flood control function, but in two places the river flows over open ground: the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Large spreading grounds for water conservation surround much of the river, and its bike paths are very popular.
The river passes through the location of the Battle of Rio San Gabriel, fought in 1847, and which resulted in a U.S. victory. Although the battle was actually fought on the present day Rio Hondo, the battle is named after the San Gabriel, which at that time flowed along these banks. A flood in 1867 caused the San Gabriel to change course, which it retains at present. The old San Gabriel was renamed the Rio Hondo after this flood.
The Rio Hondo College and Rio Hondo Preparatory School were named after the river.
Contents |
Crossings
From mouth to source (year built in parentheses):[1]
- Railroad
- Garfield Avenue (1957)
- Southern Avenue (1951)
- Firestone Boulevard (1933)
- Railroad
- Rio Hondo Bicycle Path
- Florence Avenue (1953)
- Suva Street (1954)
- Interstate 5 - Santa Ana Freeway (1953)
- Telegraph Road (1951)
- Railroad
- East Slauson Avenue (1954)
- Railroad: Amtrak / Metrolink Orange County Line, 91 Line
- Washington Boulevard (1941)
- Bridge to Rio Hondo Bicycle Path
- Railroad: Amtrak / Metrolink Riverside Line
- Whittier Boulevard (1921)
- East Beverly Boulevard (1952)
- Whittier Narrows Dam
- San Gabriel Boulevard (1982)
- State Route 60 / Pomona Freeway (1966)
- Garvey Avenue (1936)
- Rosemead Boulevard / CA-164 (1937)
- Interstate 10 / San Bernardino Freeway (1956)
- Rio Hondo Busway (1972)
- Railroad
- Valley Mall
- Valley Boulevard (1956)
- Railroad
- Lower Azusa Road (1959)
- Santa Anita Avenue (1959)
- Rio Hondo Bicycle Path at Peck Road Park Lak
See also
References
- ^ "National Bridge Inventory Database". http://www.nationalbridges.com/. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
External links
- Army Corps of Engineers - Whittier Narrows Dam
- LA Bike Paths - Rio Hondo
- Rio Hondo Preparatory School
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