Arroyo Grande Creek
| Arroyo Grande Creek | |
|---|---|
Lopez Lake and Dam on Arroyo Grande Creek | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Santa Lucia Range |
| • location | North of Huasna |
| • coordinates | 35°11′55″N 120°23′00″W / 35.19861°N 120.38333°W |
| • elevation | 1,307 ft (398 m) |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
• location | Pismo State Beach |
• coordinates | 35°06′03″N 120°37′52″W / 35.10083°N 120.63111°W |
• elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Length | 22 mi (35 km) |
| Basin size | 153 sq mi (400 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | above Arroyo Grande |
| • average | 19.7 cu ft/s (0.56 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 5,400 cu ft/s (150 m3/s) |
Arroyo Grande Creek is a major stream in San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast of California. The creek flows 22 miles (35 km) in a southwesterly direction, from the Santa Lucia Range to the Pacific Ocean. It is a major source of water supply for southern San Luis Obispo County.
The creek's name is derived from the Spanish for "large watercourse", and was sometimes called the "Roaring Grande" in the 19th century due to its propensity for flooding. The city of Arroyo Grande, established in 1867, was named after the stream.