Santa Margarita River

Santa Margarita River
Temecula River
Mouth of the Santa Margarita River
Location of mouth
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Temecula Creek and Murrieta Creek
  locationTemecula, Riverside County
  coordinates33°28′27″N 117°08′26″W / 33.47417°N 117.14056°W / 33.47417; -117.14056
  elevation950 ft (290 m)
MouthPacific Ocean
  location
Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, San Diego County
  coordinates
33°13′55″N 117°24′58″W / 33.23194°N 117.41611°W / 33.23194; -117.41611
  elevation
7 ft (2.1 m)
Length31 mi (50 km)
Basin size723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
Discharge 
  locationYsidora
  average34.2 cu ft/s (0.97 m3/s)
  minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
  maximum44,000 cu ft/s (1,200 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftTemecula Creek, Rainbow Creek, Pueblitos Canyon
  rightMurrieta Creek, Sandia Creek, De Luz Creek, Wood Canyon, Newton Canyon

The Santa Margarita River which with the addition of what is now Temecula Creek, was formerly known as the Temecula River, is a short intermittent river on the Pacific coast of Southern California in the United States, approximately 30.9 miles (49.7 km) long. One of the last free-flowing rivers in Southern California, it drains an arid region at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains, in the Peninsular Ranges between Los Angeles and San Diego.