California Water Science Center
This webcam is located beside the USGS stream-gaging station on the Santiago Creek at Modjeska (see map), on the western slope of the Santa Ana Mountains in eastern Orange County. The gage provides continuous monitoring of river flow, stage, and precipitation. The flow at the gage is slightly regulated by the Modjeska Reservoir, located about 1.5 miles upstream in Harding Canyon. In October 2007, over 28,000 acres of the drainage area above this gage were burned by wildfire, making it a high-risk site for flooding. The webcam's visual record of flooding and potential debris flows provides valuable research data for the USGS. Monitoring and research data are being collected in partnership with the National Weather Service and Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Environmental Resources Division (ERD). The National Weather Service uses USGS stream flow and rain data, and County ERD ALERT rain data, in analyzing flood potential and issuing Flood Watches and Warnings. FEMA and the State OES are coordinating recovery and risk assessment efforts in all burn areas in Southern California. This webcam installation is part of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project. |
Latest Gage Readings*
*Gage records are provisional and subject to revision. |
Stage (Gage Height) (Streambed: 3.40 ft) |
2013-02-14 08:00 PST | 7.88 feet (graph) |
USGS Gaging Station ![]() This houses the electronic equipment which records certain river and environmental parameters. These data are continually transmitted to the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). |
Modjeska Canyon ![]() Modjeska Canyon is named after the Shakespearean actress, Helena Modjeska, who settled in the canyon in the late 19th century. Her house, Arden, is a National Historic Landmark. The canyon is the location of the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Much of the canyon is surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest. |