Rush Creek (Marin County, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rush Creek |
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Marin County |
| City | Novato |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | above Novato, California 20 ft (6.1 m) 38°06′58″N 122°33′53″W / 38.11611°N 122.56472°W |
| River mouth | Black John Slough of the Petaluma River 0 ft (0 m) 38°08′13″N 122°32′50″W / 38.13694°N 122.54722°W |
Rush Creek is a small stream located in eastern Marin County, California, United States. It starts on the northern edge of Novato, California. The creek then flows about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northeast through special wet areas called wetlands. It eventually empties into Black John Slough, which then connects to the Petaluma River. The creek was named after Peter Rush, who bought land near Novato in 1862.
Wildlife and Habitats
Rush Creek flows through two important types of wet habitats. These are coastal saltwater marshes and coastal brackish-water marshes. A marsh is a type of wetland that is often flooded with water.
- Saltwater marshes are areas flooded by ocean tides. They have salty water.
- Brackish-water marshes have water that is a mix of fresh and salty water. This happens where fresh river water meets salty ocean water.
These wetlands are very important homes for many animals. They provide a safe place to live and find food. Some of the special animals that live here include:
- The San Pablo song sparrow
- The California black rail
- The saltmarsh common yellowthroat
- The California brackishwater snail
- The California clapper rail
These animals depend on the unique environment of the marshes to survive.
Protecting Rush Creek
People are working to keep Rush Creek and its wetlands healthy. In 1999, a big project called the Rush Creek/Cemetery Marsh Enhancement Project was finished. The Marin Audubon Society led this effort.
The project helped improve the marshes in a few ways:
- New channels were dug to help water move better through the marshes. This is important for keeping the water fresh and clean.
- Old tide gates were replaced. Tide gates control how much water flows in and out with the tides. New gates help manage the water levels better.
The Rush Creek marsh is about 230 acres (0.93 square kilometers) and Cemetery Marsh is about 50 acres (0.20 square kilometers). Both of these marshes are now managed by the Marin County Open Space District. They are protected as natural preserves, meaning they are kept safe for wildlife and nature.
