Watersheds of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Fred Mc Pherson 9-2018
With input from Nicole Martin
This list of Watersheds includes the watersheds of the major rivers, streams, creeks that run to the ocean or bay from the Santa Cruz Mountains in alphabetical order. Also included are major aquifer basins that do not drain into the ocean or bay.
Adobe Creek
Ano Nuevo Creek
Aptos Creek
Arana Gulch
Arana Gulch-Rodeo
Arroyo de los Frijoles Creek
Barron Creek
Baldwin Wilder
Butano Creek
Calabazas Creek
Cascade Creek
Davenport Creek
Denniston Creek
Green Oaks Creek
Frenchmans Creek
Gazos Creek
Guadalupe River (Includes: Alviso Slough, Campbell Creek?, Los Gatos Creek,Trout Creek, Hendly's Creek, Ross Creek, Pheasant Creek, Rincon creek, Herbert Creek, Golf Creek, Lexington Reservoir, Calero Resovoir, Almaden Reservoir, Vasona Reservoir, Alamitos Creek)
Laguna Creek
Liddell Creek
Lobitas Creek
Lobos Creek
Majors Creek
Martini Creek
Matadero Creek
Medio Creek
Pajaro River (Includes Llagas Creek, Uvas Creek, Little Arthur Creek, Carmenetos Creek, Corralitos Creek)
Permanente Creek
Pescadero Creek
Pilarcitos Creek
Pomponio Creek
Purisima Creek Physical Components
San Andreas
San Francisquito Creek
San Gregorio Creek
San Lorenzo River (Includes Eagle Creek, Zayante Creek, Fall Creek, Newell Creek, Love Creek, Bear Creek, Boulder Creek, Two Bar Creek, Kings Creek)
San Pedro Creek
San Vicente Creek
Saratoga Creek (includes: Guadalupe Slough, San Thomas Aquino Creek, Smith Creek, Wildcat creek, Booker Creek, Calabazas Creek, Rodeo creek, Sunnyvale East channel, Sunnyvale West channel)
Scotts Creek (Little Creek, Big Creek, Mill Creek)
Soquel Creek
Swanton Bluffs
Stevens Creek
Tunitas Creek
Watsonville Sloughs
Waddell Creek
West Basin Aquifer (Lake Merced Area)
Whitehouse Creek
In the future the following tributary characteristics matrix will be added under each crrek on the list as information becomes available. The following is an example:
Physical Components
1. Approximate size of the watershed:
2. Approximate length of the tributary:
3. Elevation change in the watershed (watershed gradient map):
4. Geographical orientation:
5. Geological formations/substrate materials:
6. Water flow rates and characteristics (hydrology):
7. Water quality information:
Living Components
8. Adjoining Riparian communities:
9. Characteristic plants and animals in the water (nekton and plankton):
10. Characteristic plants and animals on the water (neuston):
11. Characteristic plants and animals on the bottom (benthos):
12. Endangered, threatened, and rare species:
13. Extinct plants and animals:
14. Evolutionary history and connection with other tributaries:
Human Uses and Impacts
15. Land-use history:
16. % of river/stream length in relatively "undisturbed" (un-channeled and un-built upon) condition:
17. 200 years ago (What did it probably look like?):
18. Major resource management issues (biggest threats):
19. Nature centers (places where it can still be seen and studied):
20. References:
21. Resources (people, helpful organizations, etc.):