Pictures: Reclaiming San Diego's Vital Rivers

The Source

Photograph by Shannon Switzer, National Geographic

Where it begins: Snowmelt in the picturesque Volcan Mountain Range feeds both the San Diego and San Dieguito Rivers.

(Related: "New Mexico's Threatened Gila River")

Published September 27, 2011

Humble Beginnings

The watershed begins with streams and wandering tributaries, which eventually find one of the four major rivers in San Diego County: San Luis Rey River, San Dieguito River, San Diego River, and the Tijuana River.

(Related: "How Water Pollution Affects Human and Animal Health")

Published September 27, 2011

Lakeside's River Park

Like many American waterways, the San Diego River flows through a wide mix of private and public lands. Part of the stretch was restored as Lakeside's River Park, thanks to the San Diego River Conservancy and funds raised from a sand mining company.

(Related: "Freshwater Hero Shannon Switzer")

Published September 27, 2011

For the Birds

Clean water and natural wetlands, protected from development, provide a home and mating ground to hundreds of bird species. In San Diego County, 480 species of birds have been identified.

(Related: "Air Pollution and Acid Rain")

Published September 27, 2011

Shadows and Reflections

A quiet spot in the reclaimed Lakeside's River Park, on the San Diego River, affords a moment of contemplation.

(Related: "Amazing Freshwater Insect Photos")

Published September 27, 2011

Natural Playground

Protected wetland areas also provide a healthy space for families to play together and learn about the natural world around them.

(Related: "Top Ways to Stop Global Warming")

Published September 27, 2011

Threats to Water Quality

Unfortunately, the watershed also faces several challenges. Trash chokes a tributary of the Tijuana River after a storm. It flows from the heart of Tijuana south of the border into the U.S., before empting out at Imperial Beach.

(Related: "How Pollution Affects Living Things")

Published September 27, 2011

Minefields

Photograph by Shannon Switzer, National Geographic

Mining along rivers can also compromise water quality and change the dynamics and structure of the channel. This sand mining operation has dammed part of the San Diego River and created deep pools from extraction over the years. The sand has been used to help build the city of San Diego, including Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park.

(Related: "Nonrenewable Energy Sources")

Published September 27, 2011

Farm Waste

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, agricultural runoff is the worst polluter of our nation's rivers and streams. The story is the same in San Diego, where agricultural pollutants like cow manure enter the watershed, rendering the water undrinkable downstream due to the presence of E. coli and other harmful bacteria.

(Related: "Understanding Organic Agriculture Standards")

Published September 27, 2011

Cleaner Transportation

Photograph by Shannon Switzer, National Geographic

By taking trains like the Amtrak Coaster, commuters help reduce the amount of pollutants that hit the roads...and ultimately end up in the waterways.

(Related: "How to Green Your Transportation Choices")

Published September 27, 2011

California Icon

Photograph by Shannon Switzer, National Geographic

The 101 highway is a local fixture, and is shown here running between a popular surf spot, Cardiff Reef, and the San Elijo Lagoon.

(Related: "How to Calculate Energy Savings From Carpooling")

Published September 27, 2011

The Mouth

Surfers paddle out to catch some waves in Ocean Beach, just south of the San Diego River mouth. Unfortunately, sewage spills happen there with some regularity.

(Related: "Strange-Looking Sea Creatures")

Published September 27, 2011