San Vicente Creek (San Mateo County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Vincente Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 3.9 miles (6.3 km) |
San Vicente Creek is a small river in California. Its name means "St. Vincent" in Spanish. This creek is about 3.9-mile-long (6.3 km) and flows entirely within San Mateo County. It starts high up on the west side of Montara Mountain and flows into the Pacific Ocean near the town of Moss Beach.
The creek's mouth is part of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. This area is very important for nature. Long ago, there was a special wet area called a tidal marsh where the creek met the ocean. Some of this marsh was changed when West Point Drive was built. The creek's lower part is very rich in wildlife and plants. This is one big reason why the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve was created on August 5, 1969. The reserve is named after James V. Fitzgerald.
Creek History
People have lived near San Vicente Creek for a very long time. Native American people lived along the creek's banks as early as 3800 BC.
The first European explorers to visit this part of California were from Spain. The Portolá expedition passed through the area on October 30, 1769. They even camped near the creek as they traveled north.
In 1933, a very rare plant was found near the lower part of the creek. It was called Hickman's potentilla. Sadly, this plant has not been seen in this location since the 1970s.
