Surveying and Geomatics

Oak Glen Creek Detention Basins

Working closely with the city of Yucaipa, DEA’s civil engineers and landscape architects transformed a portion of Oak Glen Creek into a public asset that provides multiple benefits to the built and natural environments.

A tributary of Wilson Creek, Oak Glen Creek originates in the San Bernardino Mountains. It drains a watershed of approximately 4,500 acres and flows through the city of Yucaipa. Seasonal flows, exacerbated by the springtime melting of the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, often result in flood damage to residences, schools, and commercial businesses in Yucaipa.

In 2007, the city obtained federal funding to develop a flood control project that would reduce flooding, recharge the groundwater, preserve habitat, and filter water, while providing recreational amenities to assist in public awareness.

DEA civil engineers and landscape architects prepared plans for a series of three detention/desilting basins along Oak Glen Creek to provide flood protection and create recreational opportunities for the community. Hiking trails, picnic areas, informational kiosks, staging areas, and a parking area were identified as first priorities for construction once the detention basins had been built. The DEA team worked closely with biologists to identify critical habitat areas while developing appropriate strategies for mitigation. The project provided a successful solution to filtering urban runoff through a natural wetland habitat while minimizing pollutant loading.