Lobos Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lobos Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Francisco County |
| City | San Francisco, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | The Presidio The Presidio |
| River mouth | Baker Beach, Pacific Ocean San Francisco, California 0 ft (0 m) |
Lobos Creek is a small, but very important, stream located in the Presidio of San Francisco in San Francisco, California. Its name comes from the Spanish words "lobo marino," which means "sea lion" or "sea wolf." This creek plays a special role in the Presidio, providing water and being a home for wildlife.
Contents
What is Lobos Creek?
Lobos Creek starts from water that runs off the land in the Presidio and Seacliff areas. It also gets water from underground springs that feed Mountain Lake. From there, the creek flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It forms a natural border between two popular beaches: Baker Beach and China Beach.
Why is Lobos Creek Important?
Lobos Creek is super important because it's the main source of drinking water for the Presidio. About one million gallons of water from the creek are used every day. This is about half of the total water that flows through the creek daily. This water is sent to a special treatment facility in the Presidio to make it safe to drink.
Keeping Lobos Creek Healthy
People are working hard to keep Lobos Creek clean and healthy. They are doing many things to help the creek thrive.
- Removing unwanted plants: They are taking out plants that are not native to the area. These "invasive" plants can harm the natural environment.
- Improving water flow: They are also working to make sure the water flows well. Good water flow is important for the creek's health.
- Uncovering the creek: Some parts of the creek used to flow through underground pipes. Efforts are being made to "deculvert" these sections. This means bringing the creek back to the surface. This helps the environment and makes the creek more natural.
Addressing Water Quality
Sometimes, water from broken pipes can get into Lobos Creek. This can make the water dirty, especially near Baker Beach. This area is where many children like to play. Because of this, the water here has sometimes been found to be very polluted. People are working to fix these broken pipes and stop the pollution. This will help make the creek safe and clean for everyone.
