County of Orange & Orange County Fire Authority

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

County of Orange & Orange County Fire Authority County of Orange & Orange County Fire Authority Local Hazard Mitigation Plan November 2015 This page intentionally left blank. County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan Record of Changes Date of Revision Revision Description Section/Component Revision Completed By This page intentionally left blank. Page ii November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan Board of Supervisors Resolution Page iii November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan This page intentionally left blank. Page iv November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan State OES Formal Review Letter Page v November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan This page intentionally left blank. Page vi November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan FEMA Letter of Acceptance Page vii November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan This page intentionally left blank. Page viii November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan Table of Contents Record of Changes ........................................................................................................................................ ii Board of Supervisors Resolution.................................................................................................................. iii State OES Formal Review Letter ................................................................................................................... v FEMA Letter of Acceptance ........................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Planning Process ................................................................................................................................... 1 Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs Working Group ............................................................. 6 Public Review ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Online Survey Results ........................................................................................................................... 7 Plan Meetings ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Related Documents and Resources ...................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2 Community Profile ....................................................................................................................... 9 History ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Geography and the Environment........................................................................................................ 11 Land Use .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Population and Demographics ............................................................................................................ 13 Employment and Industry................................................................................................................... 15 History of Disasters ............................................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 3 Risk and Vulnerability Assessment ............................................................................................ 18 Overview of the Risk Assessment Process .......................................................................................... 18 Critical Facilities and Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 19 Hazard Identification ........................................................................................................................... 20 Profile of Hazard Events ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Flood/Storm .................................................................................................................................. 23 3.2 Wildland/Urban Fire ..................................................................................................................... 50 3.3 Earthquake .................................................................................................................................... 71 3.4 Dam Failure ................................................................................................................................... 97 3.5 Landslide/Mud Flow/Debris Flow ............................................................................................... 104 Page ix November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan 3.6 Tsunami ....................................................................................................................................... 113 3.7 Drought ....................................................................................................................................... 120 3.8 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................... 126 3.9 Epidemic ...................................................................................................................................... 131 Vulnerability Assessment .................................................................................................................. 143 Chapter 4 Hazard Mitigation Strategy ...................................................................................................... 147 Multi-Hazard Goals and Action Items ............................................................................................... 147 Hazard Mitigation Plan Action Items ................................................................................................ 148 National Flood Insurance Program ................................................................................................... 158 Prioritization ..................................................................................................................................... 160 Benefit Cost Review .......................................................................................................................... 160 Mitigation Action Items .................................................................................................................... 161 Chapter 5 Plan Maintenance .................................................................................................................... 168 Coordinating Body ............................................................................................................................ 168 Convener ........................................................................................................................................... 168 Adopting, Monitoring, and Updating the Hazard Mitigation Plan .................................................... 168 Incorporating Mitigation Into Existing Planning Mechanisms .......................................................... 169 Flood Event Post-Disaster Policies and Procedures / Action Items .................................................. 170 Continued Public Involvement .......................................................................................................... 173 Chapter 6 Local Capability Assessment .................................................................................................... 175 Chapter 7 Plan Resource Directory ........................................................................................................... 181 Chapter 8 Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 199 Appendix A – List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................. 199 Appendix B - Table of Maps ..................................................................................................................... 199 Appendix C - List of Figures and Tables .................................................................................................... 208 Chapter 9 Attachments ............................................................................................................................. 209 Page x November 2015 County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority Hazard Mitigation Plan Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction The County of
Recommended publications
  • The Arkstorm Scenario: California's Other "Big One"
    The San Bernardino County Museum Guest Lecture Series The ARkStorm Scenario: California’s other “Big One” Lucy Jones • U. S. Geological Survey Wednesday, January 25, 2012 • 7:30pm • Free Admission Landslides and debris flows. Coastal innundation and flooding. Infrastructure damage. Pollution. Dr. Lucy Jones will give an overview of the ARkStorm Scenario—catastrophic flooding resulting from a month-long deluge like was seen in 1862, and four larger such events in the past 100 years. This type of storm, resulting from atmospheric rivers of moisture, is plausible, and a smaller version hit San Bernardino in December of 2010 with a week’s worth of rain that impacted Highland and the surrounding communities. The ARkStorm Scenario explores the resulting impacts to our social structure and can be used to understand how California’s “other” Big One can be more expensive than a large San Andreas earthquake. Dr. Lucy Jones has been a seismologist with the US Geological Survey and a Visiting Research Associate at the Seismological Laboratory of Caltech since 1983. She currently serves as the Science Advisor for the Natural Hazards Mission of the US Geological Survey, leading the long-term science planning for natural hazards research. She also leads the SAFRR Project: Science Application for Risk Reduction to apply USGS science to reduce risk in communities across the nation. Dr. Jones has written more than 90 papers on research seismology with primary interest in the physics of earthquakes, foreshocks, and earthquake hazard assessment, especially in southern California. She serves on the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council and was a Commissioner of the California Seismic Safety Commission from 2002 to 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • California Fire Siege 2007 an Overview Cover Photos from Top Clockwise: the Santiago Fire Threatens a Development on October 23, 2007
    CALIFORNIA FIRE SIEGE 2007 AN OVERVIEW Cover photos from top clockwise: The Santiago Fire threatens a development on October 23, 2007. (Photo credit: Scott Vickers, istockphoto) Image of Harris Fire taken from Ikhana unmanned aircraft on October 24, 2007. (Photo credit: NASA/U.S. Forest Service) A firefighter tries in vain to cool the flames of a wind-whipped blaze. (Photo credit: Dan Elliot) The American Red Cross acted quickly to establish evacuation centers during the siege. (Photo credit: American Red Cross) Opposite Page: Painting of Harris Fire by Kate Dore, based on photo by Wes Schultz. 2 Introductory Statement In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and sadly took the lives of 10 people. Shortly after the fire siege began, a team was commissioned by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and OES to gather data and measure the response from the numerous fire agencies involved. This report is the result of the team’s efforts and is based upon the best available information and all known facts that have been accumulated. In addition to outlining the fire conditions leading up to the 2007 siege, this report presents statistics —including availability of firefighting resources, acreage engaged, and weather conditions—alongside the strategies that were employed by fire commanders to create a complete day-by-day account of the firefighting effort. The ability to protect the lives, property, and natural resources of the residents of California is contingent upon the strength of cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local firefighting agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • UUSD Finances Discussed by ROB BURGESS the Daily Journal at the Oct
    Clash of unbeaten: Weekend MURDER TRIAL Patriots vs. Colts entertainment Jury to decide competency ...................Page 6 ..............Page 3 ...................................Page 8 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Plenty of sunshine; H 81º L 40º 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY Nov. 1, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 149 Number 206 email: [email protected] UKIAH MAIN STREET PROGRAM HOSTS DOWNTOWN HALLOWEEN UUSD finances discussed By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal At the Oct. 24 special meeting of the Ukiah Unified School District board at the district office, Cindy Plank, the district’s fiscal services director, presented the 2006-07 unaudited financial reports to the board. “At this point, the 2006-07 financial reports are considered unaudited,” Plank wrote in a let- ter addressed to Lois Nash, superintendent, and members of the board. “The Board What’s next? of Trustees must review and ap- ▲The Ukiah Unified prove the unaudit- School District has ed financial re- scheduled a special ports before the meeting of the board independent audit for tonight at the dis- can be completed. trict office boardroom Once the audit is at 925 N. State St. The completed, the meeting will begin at draft audit will be 5:30 p.m. with a closed submitted to the session, followed by a district for prelim- public session starting inary review and at 6 p.m. comment.” After a presentation by Plank, the board MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal approved the statement unanimously. Delilah Iversen, 6, and Jacob Smith, 7, dressed in Halloween costumes, also serve as mannequins at Liv Fashion Highlights of the report include: Boutique on School Street Wednesday afternoon during Ukiah Main Street’s Downtown Halloween.
    [Show full text]
  • Ebird Top 100 Birding Hot Sots
    eBird Top 100 Birding Locations in Orange County 01 Huntington Central Park 02 San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 03 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 04 Seal Beach NWR (restricted access) 05 Huntington Central Park – East 06 Bolsa Chica – walkbridge/inner bay 07 Huntington Central Park – West 08 William R. Mason Regional Park 09 Upper Newport Bay 10 Laguna Niguel Regional Park 11 Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park 12 Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve 13 Mile Square Regional Park 14 Irvine Regional Park 15 Peters Canyon Regional Park 16 Newport Back Bay 17 Talbert Nature Preserve 18 Upper Newport Bay – Back Bay Dr. 19 Yorba Regional Park 20 Crystal Cove State Park 21 Doheny State Beach 22 Bolsa Chica - Interpretive Center/Bolsa Bay 23 Upper Newport Bay – Back Bay Dr. parking lot 24 Bolsa Chica – Brightwater area 25 Carbon Canyon Regional Park 26 Santiago Oaks Regional Park 27 Upper Santa Ana River – Lincoln Ave. to Glassel St. 28 Huntington Central Park – Shipley Nature Center 29 Upper Santa Ana River – Lakeview Ave. to Imperial Hwy. 30 Craig Regional Park 31 Irvine Lake 32 Bolsa Chica – full tidal area 33 Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve – Muth Interpretive Center area 1 eBird Top 100 Birding Locations in Orange County 34 Upper Santa Ana River – Tustin Ave. to Lakeview Ave. 35 Fairview Park 36 Dana Point Harbor 37 San Joaquin Wildlife Area – Fledgling Loop Trail 38 Crystal Cove State Park – beach area 39 Ralph B. Clark Regional Park 40 Anaheim Coves Park (aka Burris Basin) 41 Villa Park Flood Control Basin 42 Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 43 Upper Newport Bay – boardwalk 44 San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary – Tree Hill Trail 45 Starr Ranch 46 San Juan Creek mouth 47 Upper Newport Bay – Big Canyon 48 Santa Ana River mouth 49 Bolsa Chica State Beach 50 Crystal Cover State Park – El Moro 51 Riley Wilderness Park 52 Riverdale Park (ORA County) 53 Environmental Nature Center 54 Upper Santa Ana River – Taft Ave.
    [Show full text]
  • Sec 05 11 Tribal and Cultural Resources
    Tribal and Cultural Resources 5.11 TRIBAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 5.11.1 PURPOSE This section identifies existing cultural (including historic and archeological resources), paleontological and tribal resources within the Study Area, and provides an analysis of potential impacts associated with implementation of the General Plan Update. Potential impacts are identified and mitigation measures to address potentially significant impacts are recommended, as necessary. This section is primarily based upon the Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources Technical Report for the Rancho Santa Margarita General Plan Update, Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange County, California (Cultural Study), and the Paleontological Resources Impact Assessment Report for the Rancho Santa Margarita General Plan Update, Orange County, California (Paleontological Assessment), both prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) and dated April 2019; refer to Appendix F, Cultural/ Paleontological Resources Assessment. 5.11.2 EXISTING REGULATORY SETTING Numerous laws and regulations require Federal, State, and local agencies to consider the effects a project may have on cultural resources. These laws and regulations establish a process for compliance, define the responsibilities of the various agencies proposing the action, and prescribe the relationship among other involved agencies (i.e., State Historic Preservation Office and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation). The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, the California Environmental
    [Show full text]
  • Alternatives Analysis
    DRAFT NCCP/MSAA/HCP APPENDIX P ‘B’ Alternatives Analysis Note to Reader: The comparative alternatives analyses in this Appendix combine Habitat Reserve and Supplemental Open Space (SOS) acres because both are designated open space. The Habitat Reserve and SOS are identical for all areas outside of Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV) property. The more refined conservation analysis presented in Part I, Chapter 13 for the RMV, County of Orange and San Margarita Water District (SMWD) proposed Covered Activities separates the Habitat Reserve and SOS components because Habitat Reserve open space will be managed under the Habitat Reserve Management Program (HRMP) described in Part I, Chapter 7. SOS will not be subject to management under the HRMP. All figures referenced in this Appendix are located in the NCCP/MSAA/HCP Part IV, Map Book. SECTION 1.0 ALTERNATIVE B-8 SECTION 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE B-8 ALTERNATIVE (FIGURE 129-M) 1.1.1 Overview of Major Landscape and Habitat Reserve Planning Features of the Proposed Habitat Reserve on RMV Property a. Major Landscape Features In comparison with the B-10M and B-12 Alternatives, the B-8 Alternative proposes to maximize the open space on RMV lands with the result that County housing needs are addressed to a far lesser extent than in any of the other Alternatives. Alternative B-8 identifies Chiquita Canyon, Verdugo Canyon and all of the RMV portion of the San Mateo Creek Watershed as open space. All of the habitat linkages and wildlife movement corridors identified in the Draft Southern Planning Guidelines and Draft Watershed Planning Principles would be protected (Figure 156- M).
    [Show full text]
  • 5.4 Hydrology and Water Quality
    5.4 Hydrology and Water Quality City of Lake Forest Portola Center Project Subsequent Environmental Impact Report 5.4 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY This section analyzes potential project impacts on existing drainage patterns, surface hydrology, and flood control facilities and water quality conditions in the project area. Mitigation measures are recommended to avoid potential impacts or reduce them to a less than significant level. The discussion in this section is based on information and conclusions contained in the following studies: . Hydrology Study for TTM 15353 & 17300 (Hydrology Study), prepared by Hunsaker & Associates Irvine, Inc., dated February 19, 2013; refer to Appendix 11.4, Hydrology and Water Quality Assessment. Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) for Portola Center Tentative Tract Map No. 15353 Lake Forest, CA (WQMP TTM 15353) prepared by Hunsaker and Associates Irvine, Inc., dated March 18, 2013; refer to Appendix 11.4, Hydrology and Water Quality Assessment. Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) for Portola Center Tentative Tract Map No. 17300 Lake Forest, CA (WQMP TTM 17300) prepared by Hunsaker and Associates Irvine, Inc., dated March 18, 2013; refer to Appendix 11.4, Hydrology and Water Quality Assessment. 5.4.1 EXISTING SETTING HYDROLOGY AND DRAINAGE CONDITIONS The project site is located within the Aliso Creek and San Diego Creek (also referred to as the Newport Bay) Watersheds. TTM 15353 is located completely within the Aliso Creek Watershed. A majority of TTM 17300 (approximately 98.1 acres) is located within the Aliso Creek Watershed and the remaining area (1.4 acres) is located within the San Diego Creek Watershed. More specifically, the 1.4 acres is in the Serrano Creek drainage area of Watershed F, San Diego Creek Subwatershed.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Flooding
    ATM 10 Severe and Unusual Weather Prof. Richard Grotjahn L 18/19 http://canvas.ucdavis.edu Lecture 18 topics: • Hurricanes – what is a hurricane – what conditions favor their formation? – what is the internal hurricane structure? – where do they occur? – why are they important? – when are those conditions met? – what are they called? – What are their life stages? – What does the ranking mean? – What causes the damage? Time lapse of the – (Reading) Some notorious storms 2005 Hurricane Season – How to stay safe? Note the water temperature • Video clips (colors) change behind hurricanes (black tracks) (Hurricane-2005_summer_clouds-SST.mpg) Reading: Notorious Storms • Atlantic hurricanes are referred to by name. – Why? • Notorious storms have their name ‘retired’ © AFP Notorious storms: progress and setbacks • August-September 1900 Galveston, Texas: 8,000 dead, the deadliest in U.S. history. • September 1906 Hong Kong: 10,000 dead. • September 1928 South Florida: 1,836 dead. • September 1959 Central Japan: 4,466 dead. • August 1969 Hurricane Camille, Southeast U.S.: 256 dead. • November 1970 Bangladesh: 300,000 dead. • April 1991 Bangladesh: 70,000 dead. • August 1992 Hurricane Andrew, Florida and Louisiana: 24 dead, $25 billion in damage. • October/November 1998 Hurricane Mitch, Honduras: ~20,000 dead. • August 2005 Hurricane Katrina, FL, AL, MS, LA: >1800 dead, >$133 billion in damage • May 2008 Tropical Cyclone Nargis, Burma (Myanmar): >146,000 dead. Some Notorious (Atlantic) Storms Tracks • Camille • Gilbert • Mitch • Andrew • Not shown: – 2004 season (Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne) – Katrina (Wilma & Rita) (2005) – Sandy (2012), Harvey (2017), Florence & Michael (2018) Hurricane Camille • 14-19 August 1969 • Category 5 at landfall – for 24 hours – peak winds 165 kts (190mph @ landfall) – winds >155kts for 18 hrs – min SLP 905 mb (26.73”) – 143 perished along gulf coast, – another 113 in Virginia Hurricane Andrew • 23-26 August 1992 • Category 5 at landfall • first Category 5 to hit US since Camille • affected S.
    [Show full text]
  • Attachment B-4 San Diego RWQCB Basin Plan Beneficial Uses
    Attachment B-4 San Diego RWQCB Basin Plan Beneficial Uses Regulatory_Issues_Trends.doc CHAPTER 2 BENEFICIAL USES INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................1 BENEFICIAL USES ..........................................................................................................................1 BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION UNDER THE PORTER-COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT ..1 BENEFICIAL USE DESIGNATION UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT .................................................2 BENEFICIAL USE DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................................3 EXISTING AND POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL USES ..................................................................................7 BENEFICIAL USES FOR SPECIFIC WATER BODIES ........................................................................8 DESIGNATION OF RARE BENEFICIAL USE ...................................................................................8 DESIGNATION OF COLD FRESHWATER HABITAT BENEFICIAL USE ...............................................9 DESIGNATION OF SPAWNING, REPRODUCTION, AND/ OR EARLY DEVELOPMENT (SPWN) BENEFICIAL USE ...................................................................................................11 SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER POLICY ..................................................................................11 EXCEPTIONS TO THE "SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER" POLICY................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Facility Name
    Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Appendix G – Orange County Dams City of Newport Beach, California APPENDIX G: MAJOR DAMS IN ORANGE COUNTY Res. Drainage Crest Free Dam Dam National Latitude, Year Capacity Height Length Width Volume Owner Stream Area Area Elev. Board Type Comments Hazard Name No. ID Longitude Built (Ac-Ft) (Ft) (ft) (ft) (yd^3) (Acres) (mi^2) (ft) (ft) County of 33.688, Agua Chinon Agua Chinon 1012 -017 CA01361 Orange -117.7 Wash 1998 256 16 2.17 636 10.5 41 480 20 ERTH 176,000 Significant Bee Canyon Retention County of 33.708, Bee Canyon Basin 1012-009 CA01360 Orange -117.71 Wash 1994 243 14 1.29 581 11.5 62 570 25 ERTH 66,000 High City of 33.61, Tributary Big Big Canyon 1058-000 CA00891 Newport Beach -117.86 Canyon Cr 1959 600 22 0.04 308 5.5 65 3824 20 ERTH 508,000 High Bonita The Irvine 33.632, Canyon 793-004 CA00747 Company -117.848 Bonita Creek 1938 323 50 4.2 151 8 51 331 20 ERTH 43,000 Brea Dam (Brea Federal - 33.8917, Reservoir) CA10016 USCOE -117.925 Brea Creek 1942 4,018 162.7 22.0 295 16 87 1,765 20 ERTH 680,472 Carbon Federal - 33.915 Carbon Canyon CA10017 USCOE -117.6433 Canyon Creek 1961 7,033 221 19.3 499 24 99 2,610 20 ERTH 150,000 30 MG Central Reservoir 1087-000 CA01113 City of Brea Offstream 1924 92 5 0 392 30 1596 ERTH Metropolitan Water District 33.912, Diemer No.
    [Show full text]
  • This Browser Does Not Support Pdfs. Please
    OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY Audrey Breeding, President Constance Cary, Secretary Bob Mackensen, Vice President Phyllis Smith, Treasurer DIRECTORS Bonnie Ayers–2001* Bob Mackensen-2002 Audrey Breeding–1997 Steve Perry-1994 Constance Cary-1987 Cynthia Pfiester-2004 Tom Crowhurst-1997 Margaret Pursch-2002 Bud Doty-2002 John Reische-2000 Dorothy Ettl-2000 Miles Shafer-2004 Bruce Harter-1991 Phyllis Smith-2000 Helen Heenan-1996 Bill Stenquist-2004 *The year the director joined the Board. The Bulletin is published quarterly by the Historical Society in Yuba City, California. Editors are Sharyl Simmons and Phyllis Smith. Payment of annual membership dues provides you with a subscription to the Bulletin and the Museum’s Muse News and membership in both the Society and the Museum. The 2006 dues are payable as of January 1, 2006. Mail your check to the Community Memorial Museum at P. O. Box 1555, Yuba City, 95992-1555. 530-822-7141 Student (under 18)/ Senior Citizen/Library ...................................... $ 15 Individual .............................................................................. $ 20 Organizations/Clubs .................................................................. $ 30 Family .................................................................................. $ 35 Business/Sponsor ..................................................................... $ 100 Corporate/Benefactor ............................................................... $1000 President’s Message Continuity and our own sense of history benefited greatly
    [Show full text]
  • 3.4 Biological Resources
    3.4 Biological Resources 3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 3.4.1 Introduction This section evaluates the potential for implementation of the Proposed Project to have impacts on biological resources, including sensitive plants, animals, and habitats. The Notice of Preparation (NOP) (Appendix A) identified the potential for impacts associated to candidate, sensitive, or special status species (as defined in Section 3.4.6 below), sensitive natural communities, jurisdictional waters of the United States, wildlife corridors or other significant migratory pathway, and a potential to conflict with local policies and ordinances protecting biological resources. Data used to prepare this section were taken from the Orange County General Plan, the City of Lake Forest General Plan, Lake Forest Municipal Code, field observations, and other sources, referenced within this section, for background information. Full bibliographic references are noted in Section 3.4.12 (References). No comments with respect to biological resources were received during the NOP comment period. The Proposed Project includes a General Plan Amendment (GPA) and zone change for development of Sites 1 to 6 and creation of public facilities overlay on Site 7. 3.4.2 Environmental Setting Regional Characteristics The City of Lake Forest, with a population of approximately 77,700 as of January 2004, is an area of 16.6 square miles located in the heart of South Orange County and Saddleback Valley, between the coastal floodplain and the Santa Ana Mountains (see Figure 2-1, Regional Location). The western portion of the City is near sea level, while the northeastern portion reaches elevations of up to 1,500 feet.
    [Show full text]