Sweetwater River (California)
| Sweetwater River Agua Dulce | |
|---|---|
The river's upper reaches near State Route 79 | |
Map of the river basin | |
| Etymology | Kumeyaay; "Ah-ha Ooo-mulk" meaning "water sweet" Spanish; "Agua Dulce" meaning "sweet water" |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Diego County |
| Cities | Descanso, La Presa, Bonita, National City, Chula Vista |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Upper Green Valley |
| • location | Cuyamaca Mountains |
| • coordinates | 32°59′03″N 116°32′04″W / 32.98417°N 116.53444°W |
| • elevation | 4,809 ft (1,466 m) |
| Mouth | Sweetwater Marsh |
• location | Between National City and Chula Vista |
• coordinates | 32°38′34″N 117°06′53″W / 32.64278°N 117.11472°W |
• elevation | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Length | 55 mi (89 km) |
| Basin size | 230 sq mi (600 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 14.7 cu ft/s (0.42 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 45,500 cu ft/s (1,290 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | North Fork Sweetwater River |
The Sweetwater River is a 55-mile (89 km) long stream in San Diego County, California. From its headwaters high in the Cuyamaca Mountains, the river flows generally southwest, first through rugged hinterlands but then into the urban areas surrounding its mouth at San Diego Bay. Its drainage basin covers more than 230 square miles (600 km2), all of it within San Diego County.
Towns on the river include Descanso, La Presa and Chula Vista. The term "Sweetwater" is a name often given to freshwater which tastes good in regions where much of the water is bitter to the taste. The Spanish called the river "Agua Dulce", a name they applied to good clear water anywhere they lived.