San Benito River
Encyclopedia
The San Benito River is a river
on the Central Coast of California. From its headwaters near San Benito Mountain
in the Diablo Range
, it flows northwest between the Diablo Range and the Gabilan Range
, traveling for about 109 miles (175.4 km) before its confluence with the Pajaro River
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) upstream from the river's outlet in Monterey Bay
. The San Benito River is longer than the Pajaro River and it drains more area, but it has proportionally lower flows. The streambed is usually dry during the summer, as the Central Coast receives almost all of its rain during the winter. The surrounding mineral soils come from serpentine which has naturally occurring asbestos
. Mining of asbestos
, sand
, gravel
and gypsum
have somewhat degraded the watershed. Benitoite was first discovered in the headwaters of the river and is named after it. There are no major dams on the San Benito River.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
on the Central Coast of California. From its headwaters near San Benito Mountain
San Benito Mountain
San Benito Mountain is a mountain located in the Diablo Range of California. The mountain, which rises to an elevation of , is the highest point in San Benito County and the Diablo Range and is also the highest point in the San Francisco Bay Area, though due to distance from other cities and the...
in the Diablo Range
Diablo Range
The Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
, it flows northwest between the Diablo Range and the Gabilan Range
Gabilan Range
The Gabilan Range or Gabilan Mountains are located on the Pacific Coast Range of California's Central Coast trending in a northwest-southeast direction along the Monterey County and San Benito County line. It is bordered by the Diablo Range, the San Andreas Fault, and State Route 25 to the east and...
, traveling for about 109 miles (175.4 km) before its confluence with the Pajaro River
Pajaro River
The Pajaro River is a river in Northern California, forming part of the border between Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and between San Benito County and Santa Clara County.-History:...
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) upstream from the river's outlet in Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California. The bay is south of San Francisco and San Jose, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey....
. The San Benito River is longer than the Pajaro River and it drains more area, but it has proportionally lower flows. The streambed is usually dry during the summer, as the Central Coast receives almost all of its rain during the winter. The surrounding mineral soils come from serpentine which has naturally occurring asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
. Mining of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
, sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
, gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
and gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
have somewhat degraded the watershed. Benitoite was first discovered in the headwaters of the river and is named after it. There are no major dams on the San Benito River.
See also
- Clear Creek (San Benito River)Clear Creek (San Benito River)Clear Creek is a tributary of the San Benito River in California, in the United States. The creek is the site of a BLM natural recreation area that is currently closed due to an asbestos hazard. The headwaters area of the creek is the only known location of gem quality benitoite, the designated...
- List of rivers of California