Why San Luis Rey Watershed? 

 I chose San Luis Rey Watershed as my study area due the superb biodiversity of the area.  It is also helpful to have the study area nearby so that I can take a short walk or a long hike if there’s something that needs additional investigation.

 

San Luis Rey Watershed is located in southern California, in the northern part of San Diego County. The area encompasses approximately 562 square miles with 6,535 feet of overall change in altitude. 

This watershed includes 3 Varied Terrains:

·         Coastal - On its western side is more than 20 miles of coastline

·         Mountains - On its eastern side is Laguna Mountains consists of hills, mesas, and small canyons. Snow-capped (in winter) mountains rise to the east, with the Sonoran Desert farther to the east

·         Desert - Cleveland National Forest is spread across the central portion of the county, while the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occupies most of the northeast

It has Multiple Climates:

·         San Luis Rey Watershed’s climates include mild Mediterranean, semi-arid and desert

·         Temperatures often vary significantly due to topography changes over short geographical distances 

·         It has hot, sunny, and dry summers, and cooler, wetter winters with a range of 57.3 °F in January to 72 °F in August

·         It has an average of 146 sunny days and 117 partly cloudy days a year

·         Average annual precipitation is less than 12 inches. Palomar Mountain, however, has some of the highest rainfall averages reaching up to 30-35 inches/year

San Luis Rey Watershed’s varied terrains and climates make it possible for a rich biodiversity in its 9 Diverse Habitats. Nine!