Scott Creek (Santa Cruz County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scott Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Scotts Creek, Arroyo de Jairo, Arroyo de Jarro |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Santa Cruz County |
| City | Swanton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Big Basin Redwoods State Park Santa Cruz Mountains 1,736 ft (529 m) 37°09′05″N 122°11′57″W / 37.15139°N 122.19917°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 13 ft (4.0 m) 37°02′31″N 122°13′37″W / 37.04194°N 122.22694°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Scott Creek, also known as Scotts Creek, is a cool stream in Santa Cruz County, California. It is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) long. This creek is a popular spot for surfing. You can find it a bit north of Davenport and south of Waddell Creek.
Contents
Discovering Scott Creek: A Look Back in Time
The first Europeans to explore California by land were part of the Spanish Portolá expedition. They traveled along the coast. On October 19, 1769, they camped near where Scott Creek meets Molino Creek. This spot was close to the beach.
They camped in the same place again on November 20, 1769, on their way back to San Diego. A missionary named Juan Crespi wrote in his diary about "two very copious streams" at the foot of the hill.
Scott Creek got its name from Hiram Scott. In 1852, he bought some land that included part of the creek. Scotts Valley is also named after him.
The Scott Creek Watershed
Scott Creek is a small watershed on the coast of California. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or creek. This watershed covers about 75 square miles (194 square kilometers).
The creek flows into the Pacific Ocean. This happens about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of San Francisco. There are large waterfalls on the smaller streams that feed into Scott Creek. These waterfalls act as natural barriers.
Amazing Animals: Fish in Scott Creek
Scott Creek is home to some special fish. These include steelhead trout and coho salmon. These fish are called anadromous. This means they live in the ocean but swim up freshwater streams to lay their eggs.
They can travel about 14.3 miles (23 km) up the main creek and its smaller branches. These branches are Little, Big, and Mill creeks. Natural barriers upstream stop them from going further.
Coho Salmon: A Comeback Story
In 1995, experts looked at coho salmon populations south of San Francisco Bay. They found very few coho salmon left. Most were in Waddell Creek and a small group in Scott Creek. There was also a small group in the San Lorenzo River.
Historically, coho salmon lived in about 50 coastal streams in the area. But by the 1960s, they were only found in 11 streams. In 1995, only about 50-60 adult coho salmon were found in Waddell and Scott Creeks combined. This was a very small number compared to the past.
Thanks to efforts at the Kingfisher Flat Hatchery, coho salmon are returning. This hatchery is on Big Creek, which flows into Scott Creek.
Other Fish in the Creek
Besides steelhead and coho salmon, other fish live in Scott Creek. These include:
- Three-spined stickleback
- Prickly sculpin
- Coastrange sculpin
- Northern tidewater goby
Sometimes, young starry flounder and Pacific staghorn sculpin are seen near where the creek meets the ocean.
The Kingfisher Flat Hatchery
The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP) runs a hatchery on Big Creek. This hatchery helps steelhead and coho salmon. They use eggs and milt (sperm) from wild steelhead trout. This helps make sure the hatchery fish have wild genetics. The hatchery is located at a place historically known as Kingfisher Flats.
Fun at Scott Creek: Surfing
Scott Creek is a great place for surfing, especially in winter. When big waves come from the north, surfers enjoy a large, bowl-shaped right wave. It's a popular spot for many surfers. Some people say it's similar to the Swami's surf spot in San Diego County.
