Blue Rock Springs Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Rock Springs Creek |
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Country | United States |
State | California |
Region | Solano County |
City | Vallejo |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | Sulfur Springs Mountain 10 miles (16 km) east of Vallejo 400 ft (120 m) 38°6′43″N 122°11′4″W / 38.11194°N 122.18444°W |
River mouth | Rindler Creek Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo 85 ft (26 m) 38°7′51″N 122°13′40″W / 38.13083°N 122.22778°W |
Blue Rock Springs Creek is a small stream in Solano County, California. It is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) long. The creek starts on Sulfur Springs Mountain. It then flows towards Vallejo.
You can find a bicycle path along some parts of the creek. This path is great for riding bikes and enjoying nature.
Contents
About Blue Rock Springs Creek
Blue Rock Springs Creek is an important part of the local environment. It flows through an area that has changed a lot over time. People have built homes and businesses near the creek.
Water Quality and Environment
The water in Blue Rock Springs Creek has faced some challenges. In the past, there was mining in the area. This mining affected the creek's water quality.
A chemical called diazinon was also found in the creek. Diazinon is a pesticide, which is a chemical used to control pests. It was once used on golf courses. The 36-hole Blue Rock Springs Golf Course is in this area. Even though diazinon is no longer allowed for golf course use in the U.S., it can stay in the environment for a long time.
Preventing Floods
Engineers have studied Blue Rock Springs Creek carefully. They used special computer models to understand how water flows. This helped them predict if the creek might flood during heavy rains.
In the late 1900s, some parts of the creek were changed. This was done to help manage water flow. These changes also helped protect nearby areas as more buildings were constructed.
History of Mining
Long ago, in the early 1900s, people mined for a mineral called cinnabar near the creek. Cinnabar is an ore that contains mercury. This mining took place at places like the Hastings Mine and St. John's Mine.
Mining shafts, which are like deep tunnels, were built around 1918. However, mining in this area stopped by 1930. The mining activities from that time had an impact on the creek's environment.