San Timoteo Creek

San Timoteo Creek
San Timoteo Wash
Map of the Santa Ana River drainage basin
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountiesSan Bernardino, Riverside
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Little San Antonio Creek and Noble Creek
  locationSan Bernardino Mountains
  coordinates33°56′28″N 117°0′22″W / 33.94111°N 117.00611°W / 33.94111; -117.00611
  elevation2,430 ft (740 m)
MouthSanta Ana River
  location
Near Loma Linda
  coordinates
34°04′10″N 117°16′50″W / 34.06944°N 117.28056°W / 34.06944; -117.28056
  elevation
1,004 ft (306 m)
Basin size125 sq mi (320 km2)
Discharge 
  locationnear Loma Linda
  average4.29 cu ft/s (0.121 m3/s)
  minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
  maximum15,000 cu ft/s (420 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftCoopers Creek
  rightNoble Creek, Little San Gorgonio Creek, Yucaipa Creek

San Timoteo Creek (also called San Timoteo Wash, colloquially known as San Tim) is a stream in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in southern California, United States. A tributary of the Santa Ana River, it flows through San Timoteo Canyon. San Timoteo Creek has a drainage basin of about 125 square miles (320 km2). The creek receives most of its water from headwater tributaries flowing from the San Bernardino Mountains near Cherry Valley, as well as Yucaipa Creek, which flows from Live Oak Canyon.

In the past the creek was intermittent. Today it flows year-round due to agricultural runoff and secondary treatment discharge from a water treatment plant in Yucaipa.

The name "San Timoteo" was given to the creek and canyon around 1830. It is Spanish for Saint Timothy.