Basins and Ranges of Los Angeles

Geology of Southern California - Physiographic provinces

click on maps to enlarge:


The Central Transverse Ranges sit above the Los Angeles Basin.

Map source: http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/socal/geology/index.html Go there to learn more Geology of Southern California

Great image of the Coastal Plain, the Los Angeles basin ringed by transverse ranges to the north: San Gabriel Mts, Santa Monica Mts and Santa Susanna Mts.

All are components of the Los Angeles Basin watershed.

My new favorite map showing the ground water in the different sub-basins of the Los Angeles groundwater basin.

A basin can have many aquifers and aquilades (the clay or rock that separates the aquifers) which are the subterranean portions of the watershed.

Note the Los Angeles Forebay and
the Montebello Forebay, these are groundwater formations.






click map to image enlarge there is great detail here.



Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers - surface water.

Ground water basins mapped.

Swift Water Rescue Story Pictures - Follow up from Jan 27th Storm

The Los Angeles Fire Department and their Swift Water Rescue team
pulled a car out of the Arroyo Seco Jan 27, 2008: © Photo by Mike Meadows

A Los Angeles Fire Department swift water rescue team looks on as the LAFD Heavy Rescue unit lifts a crushed car out of the Arroyo Seco near Avenue 42 on January 27, 2008. Two persons in the car were rescued, treated and transported to an area hospital.

See Prior Post on the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles River CONFLUENCE ( where two rivers meet) for pictures of the high water.