Cañada Gobernadora

Cañada Gobernadora is a tributary to San Juan Creek, about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long, in southern Orange County in the U.S. state of California.

[1] The creek begins in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains (33°38′25″N 117°34′46″W / 33.6402995°N 117.5794921°W / 33.6402995; -117.5794921), at an elevation of 1,040 feet (320 m), and flows south through residential, agricultural and finally undeveloped land, to its confluence with San Juan Creek a few miles upstream of the city of San Juan Capistrano (33°31′24″N 117°35′53″W / 33.5233587°N 117.5981038°W / 33.5233587; -117.5981038).

Cañada Gobernadora forms an unofficial dividing line for the lower portion of the San Juan watershed; most urban development is confined to west of the creek's valley, while agricultural and undeveloped lands lie to the east of the creek.

[3] This latter village became a proposed site for Mission San Juan Capistrano before it was built in the city of the same name.

[4] The upper watershed of the creek is now mostly occupied by suburban residential communities, and the middle and lower portions are given primarily to agriculture.