“The Vale of the Hogs.” Can you imagine that being the original name for a place like Los Coches Creek near Lakeside? We are standing beside a creek with a history stretching back centuries. This area has seen indigenous settlements. It has seen Mexican land grants. And it has seen modern efforts to protect its water quality.
Los Coches Creek itself is more than just a waterway. It is a thread connecting different eras. Long ago Native American Indians left their mark here. Metate holes in granite boulders serve as silent reminders of their presence. They ground seeds and grains using manos. Pottery shards scattered around tell of their daily lives. Imagine them by the creek, their lives intertwined with its flow.
In 1843, this land became part of a Mexican land grant. Governor Manuel Micheltorena granted 28.39 acres to Apolinaria Lorenzana. This was the smallest grant in the area. Lorenzana was known as “La Beata.” She devoted her life to charity and religion. Rancho Los Coches or “The Vale of the Hogs” supplied food to the San Diego Mission. Hogs grazed here.
The name Los Coches is very old. It hearkens back to a time when this area fed a mission. Over time, ownership changed. Ancleto Lestrada, a Los Angeles priest, later confirmed the title. Today, Los Coches Creek faces modern challenges. Storm water runoff carries pollutants into the creek. Trash, sediment, debris, and bacteria degrade water quality.
San Diego County has implemented a Dry Weather Diversion Pilot Project. It improves water quality in Los Coches Creek. The project includes an underground trash capture device. It removes pollutants from storm water runoff. A pump system diverts dry weather runoff to the sanitary sewer. This enhances water supplies. This pilot project finished in July 2024.
This project is estimated to contribute 1.3 million gallons per year to local water supplies. It is also part of a bigger plan. Beginning in 2025, some of the County’s wastewater will go to the East County Advanced Water Purification Project. This project will treat wastewater to drinking water standards.
So next time when you visit Los Coches Creek, remember its long history. From Native American settlements to Mexican land grants and modern water purification efforts, the creek has seen it all. It is a reminder of our connection to the past. It is a symbol of our commitment to the future.