Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arroyo Corte Madero del Presidio |
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 Location of the mouth of Arroyo Corte del Presidio in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Marin County |
| City | Mill Valley, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Knob Hill, Marin County 2.5 mi (4 km) west of Corte Madera, California 880 ft (270 m) 37°56′3″N 122°33′52″W / 37.93417°N 122.56444°W |
| River mouth | Richardson Bay 2 mi (3 km) south of Corte Madera, California 0 ft (0 m) 37°53′27″N 122°31′25″W / 37.89083°N 122.52361°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is a stream in southern Marin County, California. It flows all year round and is about 4.1-mile-long (6.6 km). This stream is sometimes called Corte Madera Creek. However, there's another stream with that name further north.
This stream collects water from an area of about 8 square miles (21 km2). It drains the lower parts of Mount Tamalpais and much of the town of Mill Valley. The stream then flows into Richardson Bay.
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History of the Stream's Name
The name Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio comes from Spanish words. Corte de madera means "a place where wood is cut." This wood was used to build the Presidio of San Francisco, which was a Spanish fort.
In 1834, the governor of Alta California, José Figueroa, gave the first land grant in Marin to John T. Reed. This land was called Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio.
Wildlife and Water Quality
This stream is home to fish like steelhead. Surveys from the 1960s showed that steelhead were present in the stream.
Later studies in 1990 looked at the water quality of Richardson Bay where the stream enters. They found high levels of certain substances, which meant the water wasn't as clean as it could be. The stream also sometimes experiences flooding.
A local group called the Mill Valley Streamkeepers works to protect this creek. They do research and help keep the stream healthy for fish and other wildlife.
Where the Stream Flows
Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is joined by another stream called Old Mill Creek in Mill Valley. Old Mill Creek, along with its branch Cascade Creek, starts high up on Mount Tamalpais.
Cascade Creek has a small dam and a reservoir. These were built a long time ago by an engineer named Michael O'Shaughnessy. They helped provide water to Mill Valley.
How People Use the Area
The stream flows into Richardson Bay at a place called Bayfront Park in Mill Valley. Another stream, Mill Creek, also enters Richardson Bay nearby.
Bayfront Park is a popular spot for many activities. People can ride bikes, walk on paths, use a dog park, and have picnics. There's also a bridge for walking and biking over the stream's lower part. This bridge is a great place to see the creek. Further upstream, the stream flows through neighborhoods where houses have backyards right on its banks.
Fish Surveys in the Stream
Scientists have studied the fish in Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio for many years.
- 1946: The first survey found healthy steelhead in the stream.
- 1963: Another survey found many steelhead, from 2 inches (5 cm) to 6 inches (15 cm) long. It showed that the lower 3.5 miles (6 km) of the creek was important for young steelhead to grow. It might also be important for Coho salmon.
- 1965: This survey said the stream was an excellent place for fish. It had deep, shady pools and many steelhead.
- 1984: Steelhead were still found here.
- 1991: This survey showed that Coho salmon had been present in the past.
- 1994: Many steelhead were found, showing the stream was still a good habitat.
- 1997: Steelhead were still present in good numbers.
In 2004, the California Department of Fish and Game suggested restoring the stream's habitat for coho salmon. This stream is considered very important for helping coho salmon recover in California.
Mill Valley Streamkeepers
The Mill Valley Streamkeepers is a non-profit group. They work to learn more about, raise awareness for, and protect the streams in the Mill Valley area. This group includes both scientists and local people.
They have worked on several studies about Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio, including:
- Looking into how to bring back fish to the stream.
- Studying the health of four watersheds in Marin County.
- Identifying small creatures living in the stream, which helps show how healthy the water is.
- Surveying fish habitat and checking for erosion.
- Looking at ways to change culverts (tunnels for streams) that block fish.
- Studying how much sediment (dirt and sand) affects the stream's habitat.
Images for kids
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Cascade Creek, a branch of Old Mill Creek.
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Old Mill Creek tributary with the old mill in the background.
