San Luis Creek (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Luis Creek |
|
|---|---|
 Location of the mouth of San Luis Creek in California
|
|
| Other name(s) | Arroyo de San Luis Gonzaga |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Merced County, Stanislaus County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | source 1000ft. northwest of Mariposa Peak, 3448ft, on the Merced - San Benito County boundary and 7.4 mi south of Pacheco Pass., Merced County 2,800 ft (850 m) 36°57′34″N 121°12′32″W / 36.95944°N 121.20889°W |
| River mouth | mouth at the confluence with Los Banos Creek, 3.6 miles east of Ingomar, California., Merced County 79 ft (24 m) 37°11′00″N 120°54′13″W / 37.18333°N 120.90361°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
San Luis Creek, originally called Arroyo de San Luis Gonzaga, is a small stream in Merced County, California. A stream is like a small river.
This creek starts high up in the Diablo Range mountains. It flows into the San Luis Reservoir, which is a large lake created by a dam. Below this lake, it forms another smaller lake called O'Neill Forebay. From there, San Luis Creek continues flowing east. It eventually joins with Los Banos Creek about 3.6 miles east of Ingomar, California. Los Banos Creek then flows into the San Joaquin River.
Contents
History of San Luis Creek
How San Luis Creek Got Its Name
The original name for San Luis Creek was Arroyo de San Luis Gonzaga. Arroyo is a Spanish word for a small stream or dry creek bed. The creek was named after Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. He was an Italian saint who lived in the 1500s.
San Luis Creek as a Travel Stop
Long ago, Arroyo de San Luis Gonzaga was an important watering place. It was a spot where travelers could get water along a historic route called El Camino Viejo. This old road went through the San Joaquin Valley. The creek was located between two other creeks, Arroyo de Romero and Arroyo de Los Baños.
Old Buildings Near the Creek
There was once an old building called an adobe along the creek. An adobe is a type of building made from sun-dried earth and straw. This adobe was part of a large ranch called Rancho San Luis Gonzaga. Today, this old building site is covered by the waters of the San Luis Reservoir. It is now behind the dam that holds back the water.
Where San Luis Creek Begins and Flows
The Source of the Creek
San Luis Creek starts at about 2,850 feet (869 meters) high. Its source is located about 1,000 feet northwest of Mariposa Peak. Mariposa Peak is a mountain that is 3,448 feet high. The creek's starting point is near where three counties meet: Merced, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties.
The Creek's Journey
At first, San Luis Creek flows north. Along the way, it gets water from a smaller stream called Spicer Creek. Then, the creek turns east and flows towards the San Luis Reservoir.
Before it reaches the reservoir, San Luis Creek gets more water from other streams:
- Salt Creek, which comes from Pacheco State Park. Salt Creek also has a tiny branch called Hidden Creek.
- Portuguese Creek, which joins from the right side of San Luis Creek.
Inside the San Luis Reservoir, San Luis Creek receives water from Cottonwood Creek. This area is known as the Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area. The place where Cottonwood Creek used to join San Luis Creek is now underwater in the reservoir. This area is now called Cottonwood Bay.
