San Antonio Creek (Vandenberg Air Force Base) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Antonio Creek(Vandenberg Air Force Base) |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Arroyo De Los Alamos, Guaymas Creek, Guaymas River, Jesus Maria Creek, Jesus Maria River, Las Alamos Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Santa Barbara County |
| City | Los Alamos, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Solomon Hills 1,400 ft (430 m) 34°44′50″N 120°08′17″W / 34.74722°N 120.13806°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 7 ft (2.1 m) 34°48′00″N 120°37′16″W / 34.80000°N 120.62111°W |
San Antonio Creek is a natural waterway, or creek, in Santa Barbara County, California. It starts in the Solomon Hills and flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
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Journey of San Antonio Creek
This creek begins about 10 miles (16 km) east of the town of Los Alamos, California in the Solomon Hills. From there, it flows west through several valleys. These include the Los Alamos Valley and the San Antonio Valley.
The creek also passes through a marshy area called the Barka Slough. Eventually, it reaches the Pacific Ocean north of Purisima Point. The creek flows right through the town of Los Alamos. Further downstream, it goes through Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Water Flow and Use
The lower part of San Antonio Creek, especially within Vandenberg Air Force Base, always has water flowing in it. This is called a perennial flow. Some of this water comes from irrigation, which is water used to help crops grow.
A special natural feature also helps. There's a crack in the Earth's crust at Barka Slough. This crack causes underground water to rise to the surface, keeping the creek flowing.
Farmers in the area grow vegetables in the flat fields near the creek. They also grow winegrapes on the hillsides. All these crops get their water from underground sources called aquifers. In 1996, most of the water used by Vandenberg Air Force Base came from the San Antonio Aquifer. About 36% of the area that drains into San Antonio Creek is inside the Air Force Base.
Wildlife and Environment
San Antonio Creek is home to some special animals. West of Barka Slough, you can find the endangered Unarmored Three-spined stickleback. This is a type of small fish. Because this fish is endangered, people are not allowed to do much work or maintenance on the stream. This helps protect the fish's home.
Another endangered fish, the Tidewater goby, also lives here. It can be found in the slightly salty water near the coast. It also lives several miles upstream in parts of the creek where California Golden beavers have built dams. These dams create calm, slow-moving water, which is perfect for the gobies.
Unfortunately, some parts of San Antonio Creek have pollution. From the Rancho del las Flores Bridge to the Railroad Bridge downstream, the water is affected by boron, ammonia, and nitrite. These substances can harm the creek's environment.
History of the Creek Area
The first Europeans to explore Alta California were part of the Spanish Portolà expedition in 1769. They camped near San Antonio Creek on August 31. A missionary named Juan Crespi wrote in his diary that they found a "large pond of fresh water." Today, that large pond has mostly filled in. Now, there are a series of smaller ponds and marshy areas upstream from where the creek meets the ocean.
When Mission La Purisima was built in 1787, the land around San Antonio Creek became part of the mission's grazing areas for animals. Later, in 1837, after the missions were no longer controlled by the church, this area became part of a Mexican land grant called Rancho Lompoc.
