Cache Creek (Sacramento River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cache Creek |
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Cache Creek, Upper Yolo County section, California
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| Other name(s) | Rivière la Cache |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Yolo County, Colusa County, Lake County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Clear Lake southwest of Clearlake, California 38°56′10″N 122°38′35″W / 38.93611°N 122.64306°W |
| River mouth | Cache Creek Settling Basin east of Woodland, California 30 ft (9.1 m) 38°41′24″N 121°41′30″W / 38.69000°N 121.69167°W |
| Length | 87 mi (140 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,139 sq mi (2,950 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Cache Creek is a stream in California, about 87 miles (140 km) long. It flows through Lake, Colusa, and Yolo counties. This creek is important for local wildlife, recreation, and providing water for farms.
Contents
Journey of Cache Creek
Cache Creek begins at the end of Clear Lake. It has two main branches that feed into it. One is the North Fork, which starts in the Mendocino National Forest. The other is Bear Creek, which begins in Bear Valley.
The creek flows through beautiful areas. You can see it in a scenic canyon along State Route 16. This area includes the Cache Creek Regional Park.
Water for Farms
Near a town called Capay, there is a special dam called the Capay Diversion Dam. This dam helps send water to farms all over Yolo County. The water travels through a big network of canals.
Where it Ends
After flowing through the Capay Valley, Cache Creek reaches the Sacramento Valley. It ends in a large settling basin east of Woodland. If there's too much water, it flows into the Sacramento River through a special flood control canal.
History of the Creek
The name "Cache Creek" comes from old fur trappers. These trappers worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. They used to hide, or "cache," their furs along the Sacramento River and its smaller streams. One of these streams became known as Cache Creek. The trappers originally called it Rivière la Cache, which is French for "River of the Cache."
Earthquake Impact
In 1906, a big earthquake hit San Francisco. This earthquake also caused a landslide near Rumsey. The landslide temporarily blocked Cache Creek. This made the water level fall in some places, even drying out parts of the creek. Later, the creek broke through the landslide, causing floods in Rumsey.
Mercury Levels in the Creek
For many years, from the 1800s to the mid-1900s, people mined for mercury near Cache Creek. Mercury is a metal also known as quicksilver. It was used to help find gold. During this time, not much care was taken for the environment. Mining waste, which contained mercury, got into the water systems.
How Mercury Affects Wildlife
When mercury gets into the water, it can build up in living things. This process is called bio-accumulation. Small creatures absorb mercury, then bigger creatures eat them and absorb even more. This means fish in the creek can have high levels of mercury. Eating fish with too much mercury can be harmful, especially for the nervous systems of young children and unborn babies.
Monitoring and Safety
Since the early 2000s, experts have been studying Cache Creek. They found that it was adding to the mercury levels in the Sacramento River. Now, there are rules and studies to check the mercury levels in the creek. Health officials also give advice about eating fish from Cache Creek. This helps keep people safe.
Fun and Wildlife
Cache Creek is a great place for outdoor activities. A large part of the creek area is a Wildlife Area. Here, you can go hiking and camping. Vehicles are not allowed, which helps protect the natural environment.
Animals and Recreation
The North Fork and Bear Creek are home to Tule Elk. These are a special type of elk found only in California. In winter, you might also see bald eagles here. The area is rugged, which helps keep it wild and peaceful. In 2006, a large part of the area became the federally protected Cache Creek Wilderness.
Many people enjoy water sports on Cache Creek. You can go kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and even inner-tubing. This is especially popular in the summer. The water released from the dams for farming helps keep the creek flowing for these activities.
Fish in the Creek
Sadly, some fish like Chinook salmon and steelhead no longer live in Cache Creek. This is because of changes to the creek from dams and certain plants that have taken over. These changes mean there isn't a good place for these fish to lay their eggs anymore.
Protected River
In 2005, Cache Creek was added to California's Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This means that about 31 miles (50 km) of the river are protected. New dams or major water diversions are not allowed in this protected section. This helps keep the creek natural and healthy for everyone to enjoy.
