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List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area facts for kids

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The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many amazing waterways, like rivers, creeks, and sloughs. These waterways are grouped by where they flow into larger bodies of water, such as the Pacific Ocean or San Francisco Bay. Smaller streams that flow into bigger ones are called "tributaries." They are listed here starting from the ones closest to the ocean or bay.

Pacific Coast North of the Golden Gate Bridge

This section explores the waterways that flow into the Pacific Ocean north of the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Sonoma Coast Waterways

These waterways are found in Sonoma County and flow into the Pacific Ocean. They are listed from north to south.

The Gualala River and Its Branches

The Gualala River is a major river in this area. It has several important branches, or forks, and many smaller creeks that feed into it.

  • Gualala River
    • North Fork – This branch starts in Mendocino County.
    • South Fork
      • Big Pepperwood Creek – This creek also starts in Mendocino County.
      • Rockpile Creek – Another creek from Mendocino County.
      • Buckeye Creek
        • Little Creek
        • North Fork Buckeye Creek

*Osser Creek *Roy Creek

*Sullivan Creek *Boyd Creek *North Fork Fuller Creek *South Fork Fuller Creek

*Soda Spring Creek *Allen Creek *Pepperwood Creek **Danfield Creek ***Cow Creek **Jim Creek **Grasshopper Creek *Britain Creek *Cedar Creek

        • Wolf Creek
        • Tombs Creek
      • Marshall Creek
        • McKenzie Creek

Other Northern Sonoma Coast Waterways

Many other creeks and gulches flow directly into the Pacific Ocean along the Sonoma Coast, between the Gualala and Russian Rivers. They are listed from north to south.

  • Deadman Gulch
  • Cannon Gulch
  • Chinese Gulch
  • Phillips Gulch
  • Miller Creek
  • Warren Creek
  • Wildcat Creek
  • Stockhoff Creek
  • Timber Cove Creek
  • Kolmer Gulch
  • Fort Ross Creek
  • Russian Gulch Creek
    • East Branch Russian Gulch
      • Middle Branch Russian Gulch
      • West Branch Russian Gulch

The Russian River and Its Many Tributaries

The Russian River is a very important river that starts in Mendocino County. Many creeks flow into it, making it a large river system.

  • Russian River
    • Willow Creek
    • Sheephouse Creek
    • Orrs Creek
    • Freezeout Creek
    • Austin Creek
      • Kohute Gulch
      • Kidd Creek
      • East Austin Creek
        • Black Rock Creek
        • Gilliam Creek

*Schoolhouse Creek

        • Thompson Creek
        • Gray Creek

*Lawhead Creek

        • Devil Creek
        • Conshea Creek

*Tiny Creek

        • Sulphur Creek
      • Ward Creek
        • Big Oat Creek
        • Blue Jay Creek
        • Pole Mountain Creek
      • Bearpen Creek
      • Red Slide Creek
    • Dutch Bill Creek
      • Lancel Creek
        • North Fork Lancel Creek
    • Smith Creek
    • Hulbert Creek
      • Mission Creek
    • Livereau Creek
    • Fife Creek
      • Redwood Creek
    • Pocket Canyon
      • Mays Canyon
    • Hobson Creek
    • Green Valley Creek
    • Mark West Creek

*Abramson Creek *Piner Creek **Paulin Creek *Santa Rosa Creek **Matanzas Creek ***Spring Creek ***South Fork Matanzas Creek **Brush Creek **Salt Creek

*Crane Creek

*Gossage Creek

*Norton Slough

      • Mill Creek
        • Felta Creek
        • Wallace Creek
        • Palmer Creek
      • Pine Ridge Canyon
      • Kelley Creek
      • Crane Creek
      • Grape Creek
        • Wine Creek
      • Peña Creek
        • Chapman Branch
        • Boyer Creek
        • Pechaco Creek
        • Redwood Log Creek
      • Dutcher Creek
      • Fall Creek
      • Schoolhouse Creek
      • Warm Springs Creek
        • Little Warm Springs Creek
        • Picnic Creek
        • Seven Oaks Creek
        • Bear Creek
        • Rancheria Creek

*Little Rancheria Creek

        • Strawberry Creek
        • Little Strawberry Creek
        • Willow Springs Creek
        • Wild Cattle Creek
        • Bearpen Creek
        • Fall Creek
      • Brush Creek
        • Yorty Creek
      • Smith Creek
      • Cherry Creek
      • Galloway Creek – This creek starts in Mendocino County.
      • Rail Creek
    • Maacama Creek
      • Franz Creek
        • Bidwell Creek
      • Redwood Creek
        • Foote Creek
        • Kellogg Creek
        • Yellowjacket Creek
      • Briggs Creek
        • Little Briggs Creek
        • Coon Creek
      • McDonnell Creek
    • Sausal Creek
      • George Young Creek
      • Burns Creek
      • Grapevine Creek
    • Gird Creek
    • Miller Creek
    • Gill Creek
    • Crocker Creek
    • Barrelli Creek
    • Porterfield Creek
    • Cloverdale Creek
    • Big Sulphur Creek
      • Little Sulphur Creek
        • North Branch
        • Lovers Gulch Creek
        • Anna Belcher Creek
      • Frasier Creek – This creek starts in Mendocino County.
      • Squaw Creek
        • Alder Creek – This creek starts in Mendocino County.
        • Hummingbird Creek – This creek starts in Mendocino County.
    • Ash Creek – This creek starts in Mendocino County.

Central Sonoma Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean in Sonoma County, between Goat Rock Beach and Bodega Head. They are listed from north to south.

  • Scotty Creek
    • Rough Creek
  • Salmon Creek
    • Finley Creek
    • Coleman Valley Creek
    • Fay Creek
    • Tannery Creek
    • Nolan Creek
    • Thurston Creek

Bodega Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into Bodega Bay, a beautiful bay on the coast. They are listed clockwise around the bay.

Marin Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean in Marin County, south of Sand Point. They are listed from north to south.

Tomales Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into Tomales Bay, a long, narrow inlet. They are listed clockwise around the bay.

  • Walker Creek
    • Keys Creek
    • Chileno Creek
    • Frink Canyon
    • Verde Canyon
    • Salmon Creek
    • Arroyo Sausal
  • Millerton Gulch
  • Grand Canyon
  • Tomasini Canyon
  • Lagunitas Creek
  • White Gulch

Point Reyes Peninsula Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean between Tomales Point and Bolinas. They are listed from north to south.

  • Home Ranch Creek
  • Glennbrook Creek
  • Santa Maria Creek
  • Coast Creek
  • Alamere Creek
  • Arroyo Hondo

Bolinas Lagoon Waterways

These waterways flow into Bolinas Lagoon, a tidal estuary. They are listed clockwise around the lagoon.

Southern Marin Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean between Stinson Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge. They are listed from north to south.

  • Webb Creek
  • Lone Tree Creek
  • Cold Stream
  • Redwood Creek
    • Fern Creek
  • Tennessee Valley

San Francisco Bay and Its Tributaries

This section covers the many waterways that flow into the large San Francisco Bay and its connected bays.

Northern San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into San Francisco Bay and its smaller bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and Point San Pedro. They are listed from south to north.

Northern San Pablo Bay and Carquinez Strait Waterways

These waterways flow into San Pablo Bay or the Carquinez Strait (a narrow channel) between Point San Pedro and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. They are listed from west to east.

*Schell Slough **Schell Creek ***Arroyo Seco Creek ****Nathanson Creek ****Haraszthy Creek

  • Napa River
    • Napa Slough
      • Devils Slough
      • Huichica Creek
    • White Slough
    • American Canyon Creek
    • Carneros Creek
    • Suscol Creek
    • Tulucay Creek
      • Kreuse Creek
      • Murphy Creek
    • Milliken Creek
      • Sarco Creek
    • Napa Creek
      • Redwood Creek
    • Soda Creek
    • Dry Creek
    • Conn Creek
      • Rector Creek
      • Sage Creek
        • Clear Creek
      • Chiles Creek
        • Moore Creek
    • Bale Slough
    • Sulphur Creek
    • York Creek
    • Mill Creek
    • Ritchey Creek
    • Nash Creek
  • Southampton Creek

Lake Berryessa Waterways

These waterways flow into Lake Berryessa, a large reservoir. They are listed clockwise from the Monticello Dam.

  • Wragg Creek
  • Capell Creek
  • Smittle Creek
  • Trout Creek
  • Pope Creek
    • Maxwell Creek
      • Hardin Creek
      • Burton Creek
  • Stone Corral Creek
  • Butts Creek – This creek starts in Lake County.
    • Routan Creek – This creek also starts in Lake County.
    • Snell Creek
  • Putah Creek – This creek starts in Lake County.
    • Hunting Creek
  • Cement Creek
  • Dyer Creek
  • Eticuera Creek
    • Adams Creek
    • Nevada Creek
    • Zim Zim Creek

Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay. They are listed clockwise from Benicia to Martinez.

To learn more about the smaller streams that flow into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, you can look up List of rivers in California.

  • Mount Diablo Creek
  • Hastings Slough
    • Seal Creek
  • Pacheco Creek
    • Grayson Creek
      • Murderer's Creek
    • Walnut Creek
      • Galindo Creek
      • Grayson Creek
      • San Ramon Creek
        • Las Trampas Creek

*Grizzly Creek *Lafayette Creek *Tice Creek

        • Green Valley Creek
        • Sycamore Creek
        • Bollinger Canyon Creek
  • Peyton Creek

Southern Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the Carquinez Strait or San Pablo Bay between the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and Point San Pablo. They are listed from east to west.

Northeastern San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the east side of San Francisco Bay between Point San Pablo and the Bay Bridge. They are listed from north to south.

Eastern San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the east side of San Francisco Bay between the Bay Bridge and the San Mateo–Hayward Bridge. They are listed from north to south.

  • Glen Echo Creek
  • Indian Gulch
  • Sausal Creek
    • Shephard Creek
    • Palo Seco Creek
  • Peralta Creek
  • Lion Creek
    • Arroyo Viejo
  • Elmhurst Creek
  • San Leandro Creek
    • Redwood Creek
    • Miller Creek
    • Kaiser Creek
      • Buckhorn Creek
    • Moraga Creek
    • Indian Creek
  • San Lorenzo Creek
    • Castro Valley Creek
      • Chabot Creek
    • Crow Creek
      • Cull Creek
      • Norris Creek
      • Bolinas Creek
    • Palomares Creek
    • Eden Canyon Creek
  • Sulphur Creek
  • Ward Creek

Southeastern San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the east side of San Francisco Bay between the San Mateo–Hayward Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge. They are listed from north to south.

*Arroyo Seco

*Long Branch *Bonita Creek

        • Smith Creek

*Sulphur Creek

Southern San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the San Francisco Bay south of the Dumbarton Bridge. They are listed clockwise around the bay.

*Arroyo de los Coches *Piedmont Creek

Western San Francisco Bay Waterways

These waterways flow into the west side of San Francisco Bay between the Dumbarton Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. They are listed from south to north.

Pacific Coast South of the Golden Gate Bridge

This section covers the waterways that flow into the Pacific Ocean south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean between the Golden Gate Bridge and Thornton Beach.

Northern San Mateo Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean between Thornton Beach and Miramontes Point. They are listed from north to south.

Central San Mateo Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean between Miramontes Point and Pigeon Point. They are listed from north to south.

  • Cañada Verde Creek
  • Purisima Creek
    • Whittemore Gulch
    • Walker Gulch
    • Grabtown Gulch
    • Soda Gulch
  • Lobitos Creek
    • Schoolhouse Creek
    • Rogers Gulch
  • Tunitas Creek
    • Dry Creek
    • East Fork
    • Rings Gulch
    • Mitchell Creek
  • San Gregorio Creek
  • Pomponio Creek
  • Long Gulch
  • Dairy Gulch
  • Pescadero Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
    • Butano Creek
      • Little Butano Creek
      • South Fork
    • Bradley Creek
      • Chandler Gulch
    • Honsinger Creek
      • Windmill Gulch
      • Big Chicken Hollow
      • Little Chicken Hollow
    • Newell Gulch
    • Roy Gulch
    • Bloomquist Creek
    • Peterson Creek
    • McCormick Creek
    • Hoffman Creek
    • Jones Gulch
    • Harwood Creek
    • Dark Gulch
    • Carriger Creek
    • Keyston Creek
    • Tarwater Creek
    • Rhododendron Creek
    • Peters Creek
    • Fall Creek
    • Slate Creek
    • Oil Creek
    • Little Boulder Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
    • Waterman Creek
  • Arroyo de los Frijoles
  • Spring Bridge Gulch
  • Yankee Jim Gulch

Southern San Mateo Coast Waterways

These waterways flow into the Pacific Ocean south of Pigeon Point. They are listed from north to south.

  • Gazos Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
    • Old Womans Creek – This creek also starts in Santa Cruz County.
    • Old Womans Creek
  • Whitehouse Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
  • Cascade Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
  • Green Oaks Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
  • Año Nuevo Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
    • Cold Dip Creek – This creek also starts in Santa Cruz County.
  • Finney Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.
  • Elliot Creek – This creek starts in Santa Cruz County.

See also

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List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.