Anaheim Coves Burris Basin

Welcome to the Anaheim Coves Burris Basin point of interest next to the Santa Ana River Trail.

Burris Basin is the large 125 acre recharge basin on the Eastern edge of the Anaheim Coves trail. It is also known as the Burris Recharge Basin. It is in the 3200 square miles of the Santa Ana River Watershed. The North shores were first used starting in 1928-1950 as a quarry and gravel pit. After 1950 the sand and gravel pit, also known as the Burris Pit moved South along the Western edge of the Burris Basin.

It is currently owned by the Orange County Water District. They acquired the land in 1978. The land started being used to collect rain water. Later the basin was put into use as a groundwater recharge basin. Now over a dozen acres of land around by the Western shore of the Burris Busin, is being leased to the City of Anaheim, for the Anaheim Coves trail.

This is one of the largest basins that the Orange County Water District owns, as they provide water to over 2 million people in 23 cities. When they formed in 1933, Orange County had over 60,000 people and the area was still 86% agricultural.

On the Anaheim Coves trail from the Ball Road entry point, up Phoenix Club Drive and to the area of the second dirt trail from Lincoln Avenue, makes up the 5800 foot long West and East side of the basin. The South and North sides are about 600 across. The depth varies in several different spots ranging from 40- 60 feet.

The basin even has it's own address as 14893 East Ball Road. The southwest corner is separated by the main section of the Burris Basin and is currently being used as a driving range. The Burris Basin Pump Station is right in this area, along with 4 monitering stations throughout the basin.

Also by the Southwestern corner of the Burris Basin, is the 2.4 acre nesting island in the middle of the basin. This is for nesting above the water levels, that are always changing year round. The types of wildlife that have frequented the area include Great blue herons, California least terns, which are endangered, Black skimmers, American avocets, Great egrets, Black- necked stilts, and American white pelicans which have a 108" wing span.

You can get a very good look at the Southern section of the Burris Basin as you go through the Anaheim Coves trail, after you start going East on the trail after coming in the Ball Road gate. From that point you can see the basin very well from the Southwest corner.

Mostly on the Eastern section of the Burris Basin is a .75 acre strip of land, known as a sand bar island, by the shore. The vegetation which is thicker on the West side consists of mixed woodland and non-native vegetation, riparian scrub and riparian woodland.

The Northern section of the Burris Basin, can be seen very well, if you get on the dirt trail, that separates the Burris and Lincoln Basins. This dirt trail can take you to the East side of the Burris Basin. If you're going South along the Eastern shore, there's nowhere to turn off, for a while. If you go North at the end of the dirt trail, that will take you along the Eastern edge of the Lincoln Basin.

At that point you can also go West to the Anaheim Coves trail when you go on the dirt trail, where you see the Northern part of the Lincoln Basin. Lincoln Avenue is also above the dirt trail.

Modified 02/07/2014