Whitewater River (California)
| Whitewater River | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of the river as it flows out of the San Bernardino Mountains | |
The course of the Whitewater River highlighted on a map of the Salton Sea drainage basin | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Cities | Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indio, Coachella, Mecca |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of North and Middle Forks |
| • location | Near San Gorgonio Mountain, San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County |
| • coordinates | 34°03′48″N 116°44′50″W / 34.06333°N 116.74722°W |
| • elevation | 4,787 ft (1,459 m) |
| Mouth | Salton Sea |
• location | South of Mecca, Riverside County |
• coordinates | 33°30′30″N 116°03′26″W / 33.50833°N 116.05722°W |
• elevation | −233 ft (−71 m) |
| Length | 53.9 mi (86.7 km) |
| Basin size | 1,500 sq mi (3,900 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Indio |
| • average | 3.53 cu ft/s (0.100 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 11,400 cu ft/s (320 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mission Creek, Garnet Wash, Thousand Palm Canyon Wash |
| • right | South Fork Whitewater River, San Gorgonio River, Chino Wash, Palm Canyon Wash, Cathedral Canyon |
| Type | Wild, Recreational |
| Designated | March 12, 2019 |
The Whitewater River is a small permanent stream in western Riverside County, California, with some upstream tributaries in southwestern San Bernardino County. The river's headwaters are in the San Bernardino Mountains, and it terminates at the Salton Sea in the Colorado Sonoran Desert. The area drained by the Whitewater River is part of the larger endorheic Salton Sea drainage basin.
Initially called Agua Blanco by early Spanish explorers, and later translated into English as white water, the river received its name for its milky appearance created by the silicate and lime sediments it carries. The community of Whitewater was named after the river, and became a key stop on the Bradshaw Trail stagecoach runs.