Peter J. Caprio (talk | contribs) Expanded Ecology section and added more citations Tag: Visual edit |
Peter J. Caprio (talk | contribs) Tag: Visual edit |
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== Ecology == |
== Ecology == |
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[[File:Redwood Creek Riparian Habitat.png|left|thumb|Redwood Creek is well-shaded and densely vegetated for much of its length (June 25th, 2022)]] |
[[File:Redwood Creek Riparian Habitat.png|left|thumb|Redwood Creek is well-shaded and densely vegetated for much of its length (June 25th, 2022)]] |
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Redwood Creek is incredibly unique among streams of the [[East Bay]] in that it is primarily forested with Coast Redwood. While common in areas closer to the coast, redwoods are absent from the rest of the East Bay and the inland [[South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|South Bay]] due to the area's generally hot climate and lower precipitation than areas closer to the coast. A low break in the [[Berkeley Hills]] allows for frequent infiltration of maritime fog into the canyon of Redwood Creek. This fog, in addition to high average precipitation, supports the redwoods which are able to absorb water through their leaves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chrobak |first=Ula |date=2022-06-01 |title=Redwoods Grow Weird Leaves to Suck Water from Air |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/redwoods-grow-weird-leaves-to-suck-water-from-air/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}</ref> |
Redwood Creek is incredibly unique among streams of the [[East Bay]] in that it is primarily forested with Coast Redwood. While common in areas closer to the coast, redwoods are absent from the rest of the East Bay and the inland [[South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|South Bay]] due to the area's generally hot climate and lower precipitation than areas closer to the coast. A low break in the [[Berkeley Hills]] allows for frequent infiltration of maritime fog into the canyon of Redwood Creek. This fog, in addition to high average precipitation, supports the redwoods which are able to absorb water through their leaves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chrobak |first=Ula |date=2022-06-01 |title=Redwoods Grow Weird Leaves to Suck Water from Air |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/redwoods-grow-weird-leaves-to-suck-water-from-air/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}</ref> |
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[[File:Lady Bugs on Redwood Creek.png|thumb|A group of [[Hippodamia convergens]], also known as ladybugs, using habitat found along Redwood Creek to hibernate (January 3rd, 2024)]] |
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Vegetation typical of the [[Redwood Forest|redwood forest]] habitat grows along Redwood Creek, including California Bay ([[Umbellularia|Umbellularia Californica]]), California Hazel ([[Corylus cornuta|Corylus cornuta var. Californica]], Pacific Madrone ([[Arbutus menziesii]]), Western Sword Fern ([[Polystichum munitum]]), California Blackberry ([[Rubus ursinus]]) and Redwood Sorrel ([[Oxalis oregana]]) are commonly found. |
Vegetation typical of the [[Redwood Forest|redwood forest]] habitat grows along Redwood Creek, including California Bay ([[Umbellularia|Umbellularia Californica]]), California Hazel ([[Corylus cornuta|Corylus cornuta var. Californica]], Pacific Madrone ([[Arbutus menziesii]]), Western Sword Fern ([[Polystichum munitum]]), California Blackberry ([[Rubus ursinus]]) and Redwood Sorrel ([[Oxalis oregana]]) are commonly found. Redwood Creek hosts a consistent population of hibernating lady beetles ([[Hippodamia convergens]]) each winter which can be seen in a number of places along its course. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Lovely Ladybugs: The Annual Gathering at Reinhardt Redwood |url=https://www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/lovely-ladybugs-annual-gathering-reinhardt-redwood |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=East Bay Parks |language=en}}</ref> |
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[[Exotic Species|Exotic]] and [[invasive species]] of plants, which compete with [[native species]] are also prevelant in the Redwood Creek catchment, especially Himalayan Blackberry ([[Rubus armeniacus]]) which covers large swaths and grows rapidly. |
[[Exotic Species|Exotic]] and [[invasive species]] of plants, which compete with [[native species]] are also prevelant in the Redwood Creek catchment, especially Himalayan Blackberry ([[Rubus armeniacus]]) which covers large swaths and grows rapidly. |
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[[Black-tailed deer]], [[Coyote|Coyotes]], [[Raccoon|Raccoons]] and a wide variety of other mammals utilize Redwood Creek and the habitats found in its watershed year-round. Redwood Creek provides ample shade and cool, consistent flow through the summer, a rarity in the hills of Contra Costa County. |
[[Black-tailed deer]], [[Coyote|Coyotes]], [[Raccoon|Raccoons]] and a wide variety of other mammals utilize Redwood Creek and the habitats found in its watershed year-round. Redwood Creek provides ample shade and cool, consistent flow through the summer, a rarity in the hills of Contra Costa County. |
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=== Rainbow Trout Population === |
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Redwood Creek is home to a rare and endangered population of [[Coastal rainbow trout]], which have been extirpated from the majority of their former habitat in the San Francisco Bay area and in-fact much of [[Coastal California]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Leidy |first=Robert |title=Historical Distribution and Current Status of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Streams of the San Francisco Estuary, California |url=http://www.cemar.org/pdf/wholedoc2.pdf |website=www.cemar.org |pages=55-58}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 04:11, 20 March 2024
| Redwood Creek | |
|---|---|
 A tributary joins Redwood Creek in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park near Canyon, California | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Contra Costa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Redwood Regional Park |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 37.79166°N 122.13097°W |
| Length | 3 mi |
Redwood Creek is an approximately 4 mile-long perennial creek in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named for the redwood forest where it originates.
Course
Redwood creek begins as two spring-fed branches in Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park near Canyon and Moraga, California. It flows generally south through its narrow and densely-wooded canyon for the entirety of its course. It receives numerous intermittent tributaries originating out of the canyon. Historically, Redwood Creek was a tributary to San Leandro Creek, but following the construction of the Upper San Leandro Reservoir in 1926, the creek became a tributary to the lake.
Geography
Redwood Creek is located in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Though the redwood creek watershed itself has very little development, it is surrounded by a rapidly-encroaching network of suburbs.
It is located in the westernmost of a series of linear north-south canyons in the Berkeley Hills. Located directly across the San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate, the low hills where Redwood Creek originates are subject to frequent low fog which provides conditions suitable for Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in an environment with otherwise too little precipitation to support them. On average the watershed receives 27.5" of rainfall in a year.[1]
Redwood Creek is paralleled by the Stream Trail in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park for much of its length and can be accessed from a number of trailheads on Skyline Road.[2]
Ecology
Redwood Creek is incredibly unique among streams of the East Bay in that it is primarily forested with Coast Redwood. While common in areas closer to the coast, redwoods are absent from the rest of the East Bay and the inland South Bay due to the area's generally hot climate and lower precipitation than areas closer to the coast. A low break in the Berkeley Hills allows for frequent infiltration of maritime fog into the canyon of Redwood Creek. This fog, in addition to high average precipitation, supports the redwoods which are able to absorb water through their leaves.[3]
Vegetation typical of the redwood forest habitat grows along Redwood Creek, including California Bay (Umbellularia Californica), California Hazel (Corylus cornuta var. Californica, Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) and Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana) are commonly found. Redwood Creek hosts a consistent population of hibernating lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens) each winter which can be seen in a number of places along its course. [4]
Exotic and invasive species of plants, which compete with native species are also prevelant in the Redwood Creek catchment, especially Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) which covers large swaths and grows rapidly.
Black-tailed deer, Coyotes, Raccoons and a wide variety of other mammals utilize Redwood Creek and the habitats found in its watershed year-round. Redwood Creek provides ample shade and cool, consistent flow through the summer, a rarity in the hills of Contra Costa County.
Rainbow Trout Population
Redwood Creek is home to a rare and endangered population of Coastal rainbow trout, which have been extirpated from the majority of their former habitat in the San Francisco Bay area and in-fact much of Coastal California.[5]
References
- ^ "Mean Seasonal Isohyet Map". contracosta.ca.gov. Contra Costa County Public Works Department. 1977.
- ^ "Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park Map" (PDF). www.ebparks.org.
- ^ Chrobak, Ula (2022-06-01). "Redwoods Grow Weird Leaves to Suck Water from Air". Scientific American. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Lovely Ladybugs: The Annual Gathering at Reinhardt Redwood". East Bay Parks. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ Leidy, Robert. "Historical Distribution and Current Status of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Streams of the San Francisco Estuary, California" (PDF). www.cemar.org. pp. 55–58.