The term "receiving water" is used by the California State Water Resources Control Board to refer to surface waters (creeks, ditches, ponds, and so on) that receive discharges from activities on land.
Visalia has a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4 for short, which conveys urban runoff to the local receiving waters and storm water basins. Depending on where runoff enters the system, it can end up in several different places:
Rivers, Creeks, Ditches, & Canals
All of the rivers, creeks, ditches, and canals that pass through and around Visalia are distributaries of the Kaweah River, which drains from the west face of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The waterways in Visalia primarily flow westward. Visalia is part of the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District.
Use the USGS National Map View to explore the waterways below or here.
Rivers & Creeks
St Johns River
The St Johns River splits off from the Kaweah River at McKay's Point, roughly 12 miles northeast of Visalia. The river is listed on the Clean Water Act (CWA) 303(d) list of Impaired Water Bodies for Toxicity. Click Here for an overview of CWA Section 303(d), or Here for the Central Valley Water Board impaired waters page.
Mill Creek
The Kaweah River splits into Mill Creek and Packwood Creek roughly one mile east of Visalia, between Rd 156 and Rd 158. Mill Creek runs through Downtown Visalia, and is listed on the CWA 303(d) list for Ammonia and Toxicity. Click Here for an overview of CWA Section 303(d), or Here for the Central Valley Water Board impaired waters page.
Packwood Creek
Packwood Creek crosses under Hwy 198 near the eastern City limits, then flows southwest through the south side of Visalia. Packwood Creek is listed on the CWA 303(d) list for Toxicity. Click Here for an overview of CWA Section 303(d), or Here for the Central Valley Water Board impaired waters page.
Cameron Creek
Cameron Creek borders the southeast quadrant of Visalia.
Irrigation Ditches & Canals
Visalia is surrounded by farmland, much of which relies on surface water for irrigation. Water is conveyed to farmers from Lake Kaweah through rivers and creeks to irrigation ditches and canals.
Modoc Ditch
The Modoc Ditch branches off the St Johns River just west of N Burke St.
Jennings Ditch
The Jennings Ditch is no longer used for irrigation directly, and functions primarily as a runoff conveyance. Jennings Ditch merges with Mill Creek just east of N Burke St.
Persian Ditch
The Persian Ditch branches off of Mill Creek just east of Linwood St.
Evans Ditch
The Evans Ditch branches off Mill Creek just east of N Mc Auliff St.
Tulare Irrigation Canal
The Tulare Irrigation Canal branches off of the Kaweah River east of Visalia. The Tulare Irrigation Canal belongs to the Tulare Irrigation District.
Basins
Many areas of Visalia are served by basins, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many of our parks are also basins. Many of the basins overflow into the rivers, creeks, ditches and canals listed above, while others hold runoff until it either evaporates, is used by nearby plants, or percolates into the ground.
Click Here to learn more about groundwater, or Here to learn about the Urban Water Cycle as seen in Fresno and Clovis. The urban water cycle in Visalia is very similar, but includes Lake Kaweah and the waterways listed above instead of Millerton Lake and the San Joaquin River.
View Visalia's Park/Ponds Below:
Note: contours provided on below exhibits are from the 2008 FEMA update, and may not be representative of current conditions. Contours are provided for general reference only.
