Bean Creek (Zayante Creek tributary) facts for kids
Bean Creek is a stream in California. It's about 9.1-mile-long (14.6 km). This creek starts high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It then flows into Zayante Creek. Bean Creek runs through wild, forest-covered areas. It's also a special place where important fossils are found.
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What is Bean Creek?
Bean Creek is a natural waterway. It flows through a beautiful part of Santa Cruz County, California. The creek's journey begins on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It ends when it joins Zayante Creek. The land around Bean Creek is mostly rugged and covered in forests.
How Big is the Bean Creek Area?
The area of land that drains into Bean Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 8.81 square miles (22.8 km2). When there's a lot of rain, the creek can flow very fast. Its fastest recorded flow was 1,380 cubic feet (39 m3) per second. This shows how much water can move through the creek during heavy storms.
Checking the Water Quality
Since 2001, the Scotts Valley Water District has been checking the water in Bean Creek. They have three special spots where they test the water regularly. They look for things like heavy metals and nitrates. This helps make sure the water is clean and healthy. A lot of water from the creek also soaks into the ground. This helps to refill the underground water supply, which is called groundwater recharge.
Discovering Ancient Fossils
Bean Creek is famous for its amazing fossils. These ancient remains are found in a rock layer. This layer is called the Lower Santa Margarita Formation. It's like a window into the past!
What Kinds of Fossils Are Found?
Scientists have found many different kinds of fossils here. Some common ones include ancient sea urchins. One type is called Astrodapsis spatiosus. You can also find rare snails, like Thais cf. lapillis. And for those who love sharks, there are even ancient shark teeth! An example is the tooth from a shark called Isurus hastalis. These fossils tell us about the animals that lived in this area millions of years ago.
