Tag: rivers

San Diego River animals gather under city bridge.

Cars zoom west down Friars Road, beneath the Morena Boulevard bridge.
Cars zoom west down Friars Road, beneath the Morena Boulevard bridge.

Should you ever drive west down Friars Road approaching Mission Bay, you might see a collection of native animals gathered under the Morena Boulevard bridge. They seem to like the place, because they never leave!

The west end of Mission Valley contains an open space preserve, where some wild animals live in the midst of a big city. The wildlife mural, designed in 2007 by lead artist Julia C. R. Gray, was a public art project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.

This mural is a project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.
This mural is a project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.
A bobcat lurks under the busy city bridge!
A bobcat lurks under the busy city bridge!
So does a skunk! I didn't smell this critter, however.
So does a skunk! I didn’t smell this critter, however.
Fish in dry water, painted on a mural near the San Diego River.
Fish in dry water, painted on a public art mural near the San Diego River.
Horned toad and raccoon, samples of wildlife that live in the Mission Valley preserve.
Horned toad and raccoon, samples of wildlife that live in Mission Valley preserve.
Frog in a painted mural, created by artist Julia C. R. Gray in 2007.
Frog in a painted mural, created by artist Julia C. R. Gray in 2007.
A rabbit that's still enough to be captured by my camera!
A rabbit that’s still enough to be captured by my camera!
It's very rare to see a fox in the developed parts of San Diego.
It’s very rare to see a fox in the developed parts of San Diego.
Second mural painted on south side of Friars Road also shows a river scene.
Second mural painted on south side of Friars Road also shows a river scene.
Beyond lies actual open space. Lush vegetation provides shelter for wildlife near river.
Beyond lies open space. Lush vegetation provides shelter for wildlife near river.

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Microburst destroys trees along San Diego River.

Large trees by San Diego River snapped by sudden violent microburst winds.
Large trees by San Diego River snapped by sudden violent microburst winds.

Late yesterday, a few minutes after five o’clock, a violent microburst tore through Mission Valley, several miles north of downtown San Diego. Similar microbursts occurred elsewhere around the city and county, bringing thunder and lightning, torrential downpours and extremely violent winds. San Diegans saw on the news how many small airplanes parked at Montgomery Field in Kearny Mesa (a few miles farther north) were thrown through the air and overturned like mere toys.

I was fortunate. I left the place where I work in Mission Valley half an hour early. Many of my coworkers weren’t so fortunate. One, walking to the Hazard Center trolley station, took shelter in a grocery store while the wind, sounding like an oncoming tornado, knocked over sturdy steel shopping cart corrals in the parking lot with ease. He reported the fury of the storm only lasted a few minutes.

Early this morning I walked along the pathway that follows the north side of the San Diego River. For better than a mile, from Qualcomm Way west well past Mission Center Road, I photographed the aftermath of the terrifying microburst. The amount of damage to the river’s lush canopy of trees was indescribable. Hundreds of trees, large and small, were torn to pieces or uprooted by the brief microbust.

These pics aren’t so cool, but they are interesting…

Popular pathway through Mission Valley is covered with miles of fallen trees.
Popular pathway through Mission Valley is covered with miles of fallen trees.
Walking along the river required fancy footwork the morning after the freak storm.
Walking along the river required fancy footwork the morning after the freak storm.
One of many trees torn to pieces next to residential buildings.
One of many trees torn to pieces next to residential buildings.
The late summer microburst came on a very hot, humid San Diego day.
The late summer microburst came on a very hot, humid San Diego day.
San Diego River seen behind devastated trees near walking path.
San Diego River seen behind devastated trees near walking path.
This hurricane-like rainstorm ended so quickly no severe flooding occurred.
This hurricane-like rainstorm ended so quickly no severe flooding occurred.

This sign talks about the history of flooding in Mission Valley, and how nature occasionally flushes out accumulated debris and keeps the river healthy. Because the storm was so brief, nature didn’t create much flooding yesterday–but it certainly created quite a bit of debris!

Many trees around the developed parts of Mission Valley were also uprooted!
Many trees around the developed parts of Mission Valley were also uprooted!

Tree trimming businesses and city workers converged in full force on Mission Valley today! Many truckloads of branches were hauled off from all over!

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Beautiful photo of San Diego River.

the beautiful san diego river

This photograph was taken several mornings ago while I walked through Mission Valley. It looks west from Mission Center Road along the San Diego River.

The bright green, I believe, is Yerba Mansa.

People are often surprised that such a beautiful, peaceful scene can be found in a busy city. Had I turned the camera in any other direction, I might’ve captured buildings, shopping centers, cars and several freeways. So much depends on the direction in which we turn…

Here are two more pics which I took in late February 2015…

The San Diego River Trail follows natural beauty through Mission Valley.
San Diego River Trail follows natural beauty through Mission Valley.
Taking a look at the river from the other side of Mission Center Road.
Taking a look at the river from the other side of Mission Center Road.