The Santiago Basin is located downstream of Villa Park Dam in City of Orange. There are in fact three basins comprised of Blue Diamond Basin, Bond Basin, and Smith Basin. The reservoirs are recharge basins owned and operated by The Orange County Water District (OCWD). The water comes from storm water collected by Santiago Creek and the Santa Ana River. The recharge basins are used to manage stormwater runoff, prevent flooding and downstream erosion. However, the OCWD also seeks to recharge as much water as possible in the Santiago Basins.
The reservoir is used to percolate water into the groundwater basin, where it becomes a drinking-water supply for Central and North Orange County. After it percolates through sand, the water is shipped to water distributors; some of them further filter the water and some do not. These former gravel pits contain a large percentage of the storage capacity within the OCWD’s recharge system.
The OCWD continually seeks to expand the basin’s annual yield by maximizing the amount of water recharged into the basin, developing new sources of water to recharge the basin, and increasing the effectiveness of the District’s facilities.
The basin also operates as a flood protection facility though it generally remains full year round as a scenic lake. The vertical edges of the basin and loose soils preclude public access to the water. Clusters of native southern California plant communities thrive along the edges of the reservoir.
Why the Santiago Basin Water Levels Change
The basins are pumped down in the summer and fall months in order to create storage for winter rains and storm-water capture.
What is the Official Name of the Basins?
The OCWD refers to the basins as Santiago Basins with each basin named Blue Diamond Basin, Bond Basin, and Smith Basin. Smith is the northern most basin above Villa Park Rd, Blue Diamond is in the middle south of Villa Park Rd and Bond is the southernmost basin located off Hewes and Bond streets.
Other names for the basin has been called are Santiago Creek Recharge Basin, Santiago Creek Basin, Santiago Reservoir, Villa Park Reservoir, Villa Park Basin and Orange Basin. Most other sites, including Google Maps, list the basin as Santiago Creek Recharge Basin.
Santiago Basin History
The Santiago Basin is a former 365 acres sand and gravel pit which was purchased by OCWD in the early 1990s. Prior to the early 1990s, the only source of water to Santiago Basins was runoff from Santiago Creek. In the early 1990s, the Burris Basin Pump Station and Santiago Pipeline were constructed, allowing Santa Ana River water to be pumped to Santiago Basins for recharge. Pumped water can also be diverted to the creek downstream of the basins for recharge.
1991
Santiago Creek recharge project is completed, including purchase and development of Santiago Basins along Santiago Creek, a pump station at Burris Basin, and a pipeline to convey water back and forth from recharge basins along the Santa Ana River and Santiago Basins. Two rubber dams are installed on the Santa Ana River, allowing for more efficient diversion of river water to the downstream recharge facilities. The increased capture of water from the dams paid for the cost of the dams within the first year of operation.
2003
Santiago Basin Pump Station
An underwater pump station was installed in Bond basin to increase recharge capacity. With completion of the Santiago Basin Pump Station in 2003, OCWD enabled the capacity to move water both directions in the Santiago Pipeline. This allowed for faster draining of the Santiago Basins, freeing up storage for stormwater capture and increasing the District’s recharge capacity. During average rainfall conditions, the District captures and recharges an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 afy of storm flow, with much of this recharge taking place in the Santiago Basins.
2012
Santiago Basin Floating Pump Station
The underwater pump station presented some problems and was replaced by a floating pump station. The floating pump station was constructed in 2012 to dewater the Santiago Basins to increase storm flow capture and percolation, to make storage available for winter season use, to provide water to the Santiago Creek for percolation, and to allow for the transfer of stored water from the Santiago Basins to other OCWD facilities. Operation of the pump station for the basins increased recharge capacity and allowed for more flexible and efficient operations. Butier Engineering, Inc. constructed the floating pump station.
Wildlife at the Santiago Creek Reservoir
There are many animals to be found found in and around the reservoirs and some that might surprise you such as mountain lions, bobcats and deer. For a detailed list of sightings check out inaturalist.org.
There are also hundreds different birds around the Santiago Basin including turkey vultures, doves, hawks, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, egrets, herons, sparrows and quail. For a detailed list of sightings check out ebird.org.
There is no fishing allowed in the Santiago Reservoirs which doesn’t mean that people don’t ninja in there and fish the reservoir. Reported fish being caught there are bass, trout, carp and bluegill. Also, look out for the slider turtles in the waters.
How to view the Santiago Basin?
The Santiago Creek Bike Trail (SCBT) has viewing windows through the walls off on the trail on Hewes St and Bond St. The SCBT Cannon St staging area also has views. Driving on Villa Park Rd between the reservoirs provides views and lastly many Orange and Villa Park homes provide excellent views.