These photos show damage to the Mojave River Watershed in the San Bernardino Mountains from
the Grass Valley Fire. This fire was started Oct. 22, 2007 by power lines damaged by strong Santa
Ana winds. The fire destroyed nearly 200 homes. The photos show the type of damage that can occur
in a watershed from placing power lines through the forest. The LEAPS project proposes to run a
transmission line corridor through the Santa Ana Mountains in the Cleveland National Forest across 22
blue line streams that drain into the Santa Ana River and Santa Margarita watersheds. Click on any photo
to see it doubled in size. (Back to LEAPS page)

Large portions of the Grass Valley Creek drainage have been completely denuded by this fire, just before winter. This area receives about 40 inches of precipitation each winter. In 2005, this area received twice that amount. If even normal precipitation occurs this year, the Mojave River will be impacted by ash, sediment and urban runoff.	This photo shows what a power line-caused fire can do to peoples' lives and the watershed. Sediment and urban runoff from these destroyed properties will flow down into Grass Valley Creek and the Mojave River—a major water source for Southern Mojave Desert communities.
Looking at this photo, you can imagine that whatever polluted household runoff comes from this destroyed home will end up in Grass Valley Creek and eventually in the Mojave Forks Reservoir and the Mojave River.	Polluted runoff from this destroyed home will likely end up going down the street and into Grass Valley Lake.
Urban runoff from these destroyed properties will drain directly into Grass Valley Lake.	Another shot of destroyed properties at Grass Valley Lake in Lake Arrowhead.
More photos of denuded hills above Grass Valley Creek.	These forests in the Grass Valley Creek watershed are no longer able to control runoff.