Cordilleras Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cordilleras Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Arroyo de los Cadillos, Finger's Arroyo, Cordillas Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Mateo County |
| Cities | Redwood City, San Carlos |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains San Carlos, California 424 ft (129 m) 37°28′39″N 122°17′55″W / 37.47750°N 122.29861°W |
| River mouth | Smith Slough in west San Francisco Bay Redwood City, California 13 ft (4.0 m) 37°29′55″N 122°14′28″W / 37.49861°N 122.24111°W |
Cordilleras Creek is a stream in California. It flows north for about 3.8 miles (6.1 km). The creek starts in the Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. This area is in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cordilleras Creek forms part of the border between San Carlos and Redwood City. These cities are in San Mateo County, California. The creek's water eventually flows into Smith Slough. From there, it reaches San Francisco Bay.
History of Cordilleras Creek
The creek has had several names over time. Long ago, it was known as Arroyo de los Cadillos. This Spanish name means "Cockleburr Creek."
In 1855, a man named Simon Theodore Finger settled near the creek. He planted a vineyard and olive trees. People started calling the creek Finger's Arroyo or Finger's Creek.
The Spanish name "Arroyo de los Cadillos" was often misspelled as Cordillas. By 1877, maps showed it as Cordillas Creek. In 1888, a map for the Wellesley Park area called it Cordilleras Creek. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) officially accepted this name in 1895. However, many local people still called it Finger Creek for many years.
Where Cordilleras Creek Flows
Cordilleras Creek begins in the Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. This is in San Carlos, near Interstate 280. The creek gets more water from other small streams. Some of these come from Edgewood County Park.
The creek then flows northwesterly along Edgewood Road. After passing under U. S. Highway 101, Cordilleras Creek flows into Smith Slough. This is near the San Carlos airport. From Smith Slough, the water moves into Steinberger Slough. Finally, it reaches San Francisco Bay. The area that Cordilleras Creek drains is about 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2).
Animals and Plants in the Creek
Scientists studied the creek in 1981 to see if steelhead trout lived there. They did not find any steelhead at that time. It was not clear if steelhead had ever lived in Cordilleras Creek.
However, in 2002, a possible steelhead was found in the creek. Experts now believe Cordilleras Creek could be a good place for steelhead to return. There is a moderate to high chance that efforts to bring steelhead back to the creek could work.
