San Vicente Creek (Santa Cruz County) facts for kids
San Vicente Creek is a beautiful stream located in Santa Cruz County, in northern California. Its name means "St. Vincent" in Spanish. This creek is about 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) long and flows from the Santa Cruz Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The creek's journey ends near the small community of Davenport. Fun fact: Davenport was actually named after San Vicente Creek!
Contents
The History of San Vicente Creek
How the Creek Changed Over Time
Long ago, the area where San Vicente Creek met the ocean was a tidal marsh. A tidal marsh is a special kind of wetland that is often covered by ocean water during high tide. It's a very important home for many plants and animals.
However, in 1906, big changes happened. Two railroad companies, the Ocean Shore Railway and the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, worked together. They built a large bridge-like structure called a trestle and a rampart (a protective wall) across the marsh.
The Creek's New Path
Because of this construction, the creek's natural path was blocked. So, the companies blasted a tunnel through the nearby rock. This tunnel redirected San Vicente Creek, making it flow through a new, man-made channel instead of its original winding course.
A Creek Beloved by Anglers
Before these changes, San Vicente Creek was famous for its amazing trout fishing. People loved to come here to catch fish, and artists enjoyed painting its beautiful scenery.
When the creek's path was changed and the marsh was filled, many people were upset. A local newspaper, the Santa Cruz Surf, wrote about it. They said that the creek, which anglers and artists loved, was now blocked and forced into a tunnel. The article also mentioned that the creek bed was being damaged, and dirt from a nearby sawmill was making the water dirty. This made it hard for the "gamey trout" to live there.
