The County of Riverside and the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District are separate legal entities even though the Riverside County Board of Supervisors members are the board members for both agencies. Flood control district staff requested that the county quitclaim its easement interests in portions of Tucalota Channel in the Murrieta Hot Springs area, and on October 6 the county supervisors voted 5-0 to set a November 17 hearing date to approve the execution of quitclaim deeds.
In the mid-1990s real property interests in portions of the Tucalota Channel, which crosses Willows Avenue east of Winchester Road, were conveyed to the county for public road and utility uses. A 2001 agreement between the county and the flood control district included a clause that the county would convey portions of the Tucalota Creek Channel for ownership, operation and maintenance.
The Tucalota Channel is not currently maintained by the county. Quitclaiming the land to the flood control district would not eliminate access to any parcels, and vacating the public road and drainage easements will not impact residents or businesses. The county’s Transportation Department reviewed the proposed vacation and had no objections.
