Pinole Creek
Encyclopedia
Pinole Creek is a creek in western Contra Costa County, California
originating on Costa Peak on the west side of Briones Regional Park
and flowing 10 miles (16.1 km) westerly through the town of Pinole, California
and emptying into the San Pablo Bay
, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Pinole Point. It is one of the last watersheds in the San Francisco Bay Area
to retain a mostly rural lifestyle.
. He built the first adobe in Pinole Valley and brought his family to settle the property with livestock and orchards.
, and El Sobrante
. The watershed follows the regional geologic northwest-southeast orientation (similar to the orientation of the Berkeley Hills), and is located just northeast of the Sobrante Ridge. The watershed is approximately 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²) in area, extending from Costa and Duarte Peaks (in the Briones Hills) at the headwaters, northwest to the San Pablo Bay just east of Wilson Point. The average annual rainfall for the Pinole Creek watershed is 610 mm (24 in), with 90% falling between November and April. There are twelve minor, locally-named tributaries and the gradient is 1%. In 1965, the Army Corps of Engineers armored the creek channel between Interstate 80 and San Pablo Bay for flooding control. However, this removed riparian vegetation and tree cover needed for food, shelter and shade for fish and other wildlife.
(EBMUD) have observed Steelhead trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) in the Pinole Creek watershed of multiple ages. Genetic studies by EBMUD in 1999 suggest that the trout are native Central California stock and not introduced. Perennial flows are jeopardized by water usage in the upper watershed but the creek may have the best trout restoration potential in the East Bay because large portions of the watershed are in open space. However, the I-80 crossing may be a significant obstacle to upstream trout migration.
Pinole Creek supports a mostly native fish assemblage including rainbow/steelhead trout, California roach
(Lavinia symmetricus), Sacramento sucker
(Catostomus occidentalis), Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Prickly sculpin
(Cottus asper). Mosquitofish
(Gambusia affinis) and Carp
(Cyprinus carpio) are nonnative fishes found predominately in the lower section of Pinole Creek, below Interstate 80.
Invasive plant species such as Giant reed (Arundo donax), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) and many others are established in segments of Pinole Creek.
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
originating on Costa Peak on the west side of Briones Regional Park
Briones Regional Park
Briones Regional Park is a park maintained and operated by the East Bay Regional Park District in the U.S. state of California. The park is located in the rolling, grassy hills between the eastern and western regions of Contra Costa County near Lafayette, Orinda, Pleasant Hill and Martinez...
and flowing 10 miles (16.1 km) westerly through the town of Pinole, California
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
and emptying into the San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Pinole Point. It is one of the last watersheds in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
to retain a mostly rural lifestyle.
History
The name Pinole is from the Spanish term for "parched corn", which the Mexicans ground for eating. In 1823, the Mexican government granted 17000 acres (68.8 km²) of land to a Commandant of Presidio San Francisco, Don Ignacio Martinez. The land grant was initially known as El Rancho de La Nuestra Sonora de Merced and later named Rancho El PinoleRancho El Pinole
Rancho El Pinole was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Martinez...
. He built the first adobe in Pinole Valley and brought his family to settle the property with livestock and orchards.
Watershed
The upper watershed contains large areas of open space and managed grazing lands, ranching and agricultural activities, and ranchettes focused upon equestrian activities. The lower watershed contains historic Old Town District of Pinole, and quiet suburban neighborhoods of Pinole, HerculesHercules, California
Hercules is a city in western Contra Costa County, California. Situated along the coast of San Pablo Bay, it is located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about northeast of San Francisco. The city has a 2010 population of 24,060 according to the U.S...
, and El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
. The watershed follows the regional geologic northwest-southeast orientation (similar to the orientation of the Berkeley Hills), and is located just northeast of the Sobrante Ridge. The watershed is approximately 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²) in area, extending from Costa and Duarte Peaks (in the Briones Hills) at the headwaters, northwest to the San Pablo Bay just east of Wilson Point. The average annual rainfall for the Pinole Creek watershed is 610 mm (24 in), with 90% falling between November and April. There are twelve minor, locally-named tributaries and the gradient is 1%. In 1965, the Army Corps of Engineers armored the creek channel between Interstate 80 and San Pablo Bay for flooding control. However, this removed riparian vegetation and tree cover needed for food, shelter and shade for fish and other wildlife.
Ecology
Biologists from the East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictEast Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District , colloquially referred to as "East Bay Mud", provides water and sewage treatment for customers in portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County in California, on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, including the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, Hercules,...
(EBMUD) have observed Steelhead trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) in the Pinole Creek watershed of multiple ages. Genetic studies by EBMUD in 1999 suggest that the trout are native Central California stock and not introduced. Perennial flows are jeopardized by water usage in the upper watershed but the creek may have the best trout restoration potential in the East Bay because large portions of the watershed are in open space. However, the I-80 crossing may be a significant obstacle to upstream trout migration.
Pinole Creek supports a mostly native fish assemblage including rainbow/steelhead trout, California roach
California roach
The California roach, Hesperoleucus symmetricus, is a cyprinid fish native to western North America and abundant in the intermittent streams throughout central California. It is the sole member of its genus....
(Lavinia symmetricus), Sacramento sucker
Catostomidae
Catostomidae is the sucker family of the order Cypriniformes. There are 80 species in this family of freshwater fishes. Catostomidae are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia...
(Catostomus occidentalis), Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Prickly sculpin
Cottus
Cottus may mean:*Cottus, one of the Hecatonchires of Greek mythology*Cottus, a genus of sculpin fish....
(Cottus asper). Mosquitofish
Mosquitofish
The mosquitofish is a species of freshwater fish, also commonly, if ambiguously, known by its generic name, gambusia. It is sometimes called the western mosquitofish, to distinguish it from the eastern mosquitofish . It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes...
(Gambusia affinis) and Carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
(Cyprinus carpio) are nonnative fishes found predominately in the lower section of Pinole Creek, below Interstate 80.
Invasive plant species such as Giant reed (Arundo donax), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) and many others are established in segments of Pinole Creek.