Sausal Creek (San Mateo County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sausal Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Arroyo Sausal, Corte de Madera Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | San Mateo County |
| City | Portola Valley, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Northeast slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains Portola Valley 683 ft (208 m)372207N 1221316W 37°22′07″N 122°13′16″W / 37.36861°N 122.22111°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with Corte Madera Creek Border of Portola Valley, California and Stanford University 354 ft (108 m) 37°23′52″N 122°14′36″W / 37.39778°N 122.24333°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Sausal Creek is a stream about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long. It flows northwest through Portola Valley, California, in San Mateo County, California, United States. This creek starts in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Sausal Creek eventually joins other streams to form Corte Madera Creek. This happens in a natural marsh near Searsville Dam on land belonging to Stanford University. Further downstream, Corte Madera Creek combines with Bear Creek to create San Francisquito Creek, which then flows into San Francisco Bay.
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The Story Behind Sausal Creek's Names
Sausal Creek has been known by several names throughout history. These names tell us about the area's past.
Old Names of the Creek
- Arroyo Sausal: This was one of its earliest names. "Sausal" comes from the Spanish word for "willow grove." This suggests that many willow trees grew along the creek.
- Arroyo del Sanjon and Sanjon Creek: These names were also used.
- Corte de Madera Creek: On an old map from 1899, the main part of Sausal Creek was called this. The name "Corte de Madera" means "a place where wood is cut" in Spanish. This shows how important the timber industry was in Portola Valley long ago.
Names of Tributaries
Sausal Creek has smaller streams that flow into it, called tributaries. These also have interesting names:
- Bozzo Gulch: This part of the creek is named after Emmanuel Bozzo. He owned a ranch at the top of the canyon in the 1860s.
- Neils Gulch: This name likely came from David H. Neel, a settler from the 1850s. It was also known as Cañada de Sansevan and Hallidie Gulch.
- Bull Run Creek: This name was given by someone who supported the Southern states during the American Civil War. It was named after the First Battle of Bull Run, a battle where the Union army was defeated in the early 1860s. This creek has also been called Willow Creek, Kelley Gulch, and Smith Gulch.
Where Sausal Creek Flows
Sausal Creek begins west of Willowbrook Drive in Portola Valley. It flows through an area with trails like Spring Ridge Trail and Betsy Crowder Trail. Here, the creek is held back by a small dam, forming Sausal Pond.
Joining Other Streams
As Sausal Creek continues, it receives water from other small streams. These include Bozzo Gulch, Niels Gulch, and Bull Run Creek. The creek flows northwest through the San Andreas Fault zone. After crossing Family Farm Road, Sausal Creek meets about half a dozen other creeks. They all come together in a large natural freshwater marsh. This is where they form Corte Madera Creek.
Dennis Martin Creek also flows into Sausal Creek. This happens just before the water reaches the area of Searsville Dam. Old maps suggest that Dennis Martin Creek and Alambique Creek used to flow into Sausal Creek as well.
Protecting Sausal Creek
For many years, a 630-foot (192-meter) section of Sausal Creek flowed underground in a pipe. This was a problem for the creek's health.
Bringing the Creek Back to Light
People who wanted to protect the creek worked with those who wanted a larger softball field. They found a solution: half of the buried creek was brought back to the surface. This process is called daylighting. It means uncovering a stream that was previously hidden. This project happened when the new Portola Valley Town Center was built. Now, part of Sausal Creek flows openly again, which is better for the environment.
