Guadalupe Valley Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guadalupe Valley Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Cañada de Guadalupe |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Mateo County |
| City | Brisbane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | San Bruno Mountain San Mateo County, California 980 ft (300 m) 37°41′09″N 122°25′48″W / 37.68583°N 122.43000°W |
| River mouth | Brisbane Lagoon Brisbane, California 20 ft (6.1 m) 37°41′16″N 122°05′29″W / 37.68778°N 122.09139°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Guadalupe Creek or Guadalupe Valley Creek is a small stream in California. It flows east from San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County. The creek runs through San Bruno Mountain State Park and the city of Brisbane, California. Finally, it empties into the Brisbane Lagoon.
Contents
History of Guadalupe Creek
The area around Guadalupe Valley was once known as Cañada de Guadalupe. This name was part of a large land grant given out in 1841. A land grant is like a big piece of land given by the government to a person. This particular grant was called Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe la Visitación y Rodeo Viejo.
How Guadalupe Creek Flows
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single stream, river, or lake. The Guadalupe Creek watershed starts on the northeast side of San Bruno Mountain.
Where the Water Begins
The creek's journey begins with a stream called Devil's Arroyo. This stream flows quickly downhill to the start of Guadalupe Valley. At about 200 feet high, Devil's Arroyo joins another stream called Wax Myrtle Ravine. This is where Guadalupe Creek officially begins.
Creek's Path to the Bay
For much of its path, Guadalupe Creek flows through underground pipes and ditches. It comes out into the open just east of Bayshore Boulevard. From there, it flows a short distance into Brisbane Lagoon.
The Brisbane Lagoon used to be part of San Francisco Bay. It became a lagoon when a big road, U. S. Highway 101, was built. This road created a barrier, separating the lagoon from the rest of the bay. Over time, parts of the lagoon were filled in with trash and other materials.
Other small streams, like Owl Canyon and Buckeye Canyon, also add water to Guadalupe Creek. After the creek's water enters the lagoon, it passes through a tunnel under the freeway and finally reaches San Francisco Bay.
The Larger Valley Area
Guadalupe Creek is part of a bigger area called the Visitacion-Guadalupe Valley Watershed. This large bowl-shaped area covers parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County, California. It collects water from Bayview Hill, McLaren Ridge, and San Bruno Mountain. San Bruno Mountain is the tallest point, reaching 1,314 feet high.
Guadalupe Quarry
The Guadalupe Quarry is a large rock pit dug into the side of San Bruno Mountain. It is located on the north-eastern slope, within the city of Brisbane, California.
Animals and Plants of Guadalupe Valley
San Bruno Mountain is home to several rare and endangered species. The Guadalupe Valley provides a special home for these animals.
- Mission blue butterfly (Aricia icarioides missionensis): This beautiful blue butterfly lives only in a few places, including San Bruno Mountain.
- San Bruno elfin butterfly (Callophrys mossii bayensis): This small, brown butterfly is also very rare.
- Callippe silverspot butterfly (Speyeria callippe callippe): This butterfly has orange and black wings with silver spots underneath.
- San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia): This snake is known for its bright red, black, and blue stripes. It is one of the most endangered snakes in North America.
These species need the special habitat of Guadalupe Valley to survive.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Guadalupe Quarry, located in Brisbane, California
