Garrity Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garrity Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Contra Costa County |
| City | Richmond, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | El Sobrante, California 37°58′49″N 122°18′14″W / 37.98028°N 122.30389°W |
| River mouth | San Pablo Bay Pinole, California 7 ft (2.1 m) 38°0′11″N 122°19′43″W / 38.00306°N 122.32861°W |
Garrity Creek is a small creek, about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) long, located in Richmond, California. It flows through the Hilltop neighborhood and eventually empties into San Pablo Bay. Sometimes, people call it Hilltop Creek.
Contents
Where Garrity Creek Begins
Garrity Creek starts from two separate springs in El Sobrante, California. These two parts join together to form the main creek.
A Special Place for Native People
For hundreds of years, the area around Garrity Creek was very important to the Huchiun Band of the Native Ohlone people. It was a sacred place for fishing and hunting. The creek provided many kinds of food.
Food from the Creek and Land
The Huchiun people gathered acorns from oak trees like tanbark, valley, coast, and live oaks. They also collected nuts from buckeye trees. They harvested seeds, berries, greens, and roots from the land. They would travel along Garrity Creek to fish for steelhead, salmon, and sturgeon. These fish swam up the creek to lay their eggs.
How Development Changed the Creek
Over time, major parts of Garrity Creek have been greatly changed by building and development. Much of the creek's path to the bay is now underground. It flows through large pipes called culverts.
Creek Sections Now Underground
The creek runs under the Hilltop Green homes. It also flows under Highway 80 and the Hilltop Mall. Just north of the Hilltop Mall, the water collects in a place called "Hilltop Lake."
Hilltop Lake's History
Hilltop Lake is a lake made by people. It was first created by the Standard Oil company in the early 1900s. They used it as a fun place for their employees. Today, this lake and the area around it are known as Hilltop Lake Park.
Protecting Garrity Creek's Future
For almost 20 years, the area where Garrity Creek begins was at risk from new building plans. Many people worked to stop this.
Community Efforts to Save the Creek
Local residents, neighborhood groups, and environmentalists opposed the plans. An organization called Friends of Garrity Creek was very active. They argued that the proposed building on the 10-acre site was against county rules. These rules said that building was not allowed on slopes steeper than 26 feet (7.9 meters).
How the Creek Was Saved
Eventually, the company planning the development went out of business in 2010. This meant the creek was saved from those building plans, at least for a while.
A New Beginning for the Creek
In 2011, something very good happened for Garrity Creek. A group of organic farmers bought the 10-acre property. They have planted over 1,000 fruit trees and shrubs there.
Helping Water Quality and the Springs
These new plants are in special ditches called "swales." These swales help protect the water quality of Garrity Creek. They also help to put water back into the ground. This groundwater then supports the springs that feed the creek.
