Uvas Creek
Encyclopedia
Uvas Creek is a 29.5 miles (47.5 km) mainly southward-flowing stream
originating on Loma Prieta peak
of the Santa Cruz Mountains
, in Santa Clara County, California
, United States. The creek descends through Uvas Canyon County Park
into Uvas Reservoir
, and upon passing U.S. Highway 101
is known as Carnadero Creek (also known as lower Uvas Creek), shortly before the confluence with the Pajaro River
at the Santa Clara County - San Benito County boundary.
Mexican land grant. The Spanish name for grapes, "uvas", is preserved in a number of place names, all apparently referring to the abundance of wild grapes
(Vitis californica) along the area's main watercourses. "Carnadero" probably means "butchering place".
. Uvas Reservoir, built in 1957, drains 32 square miles (82.9 km²) and is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) upstream of the City of Gilroy
and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) upstream of the Pajaro River confluence. Significant tributaries include Croy Creek, Little Uvas Creek, Little Arthur Creek, Bodfish Creek and Gavilan Creek. Below Uvas Reservoir the creek is very low gradient. After Uvas Creek crosses Highway 101 and becomes Carnadero Creek (aka lower Uvas Creek) it is joined from the right by Gavilan Creek, Tick Creek and then Tar Creek. Uvas Creek is the only stream in the Pajaro River watershed, and in Santa Clara County, whose water right specifies minimum winter and summer releases for maintaining fish resources.
(DPS), which is listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act
. The year before Uvas Creek Dam was constructed in 1957, the Santa Clara Valley Water District
(SCVWD) agreed with the California Department of Fish and Game
(CDFG) in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) to maintain flows sufficient to protect Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations below Uvas Reservoir and to collect and truck returning adults above the dam to spawn upstream, however this latter promise was not kept.
A non-profit volunteer organization called CHEER (Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Restoration) founded by Herman Garcia, transports steelhead stranded in drying pools to reaches of Uvas Creek that are perennial. In 2008, Garcia's organization transported more than 23,000 steelhead, a dramatic number compared to the 100-200 fish reported in the entire Pajaro River system in 1991. Two tributaries of Uvas Creek are also steelhead spawning and rearing streams, Bodfish and Little Arthur Creeks.
The northwest to southeast orientation of Uvas Reservoir is in line with prevailing winds which drive the warm surface layer (epilimnion) down into the cool bottom layer (hypolimnion), so that by late summer the bottom water is warm and anoxic. The result is that no wild or planted trout survive the summer in the reservoir. Landlocked steelhead above Uvas Dam take the rainbow trout form, and genetic studies of these fish in upper Uvas Creek above Uvas Road show that they are of native, and not hatchery stock.
Other native fish species in the Uvas Creek watershed include Sacramento sucker
(Catostomus occidentalis), Sacramento pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus grandis), California roach
(Lavinia symmetricus), Riffle sculpin
(Cottus gulosus), Pacific lamprey
(Lampetra tridentata), and Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Prickly sculpin
(Cottus asper) and Hitch
(Lavinia exilicauda) are also present, but are relatively scarce. Non-native fish are uncommon in Uvas Creek.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
originating on Loma Prieta peak
Loma Prieta
Loma Prieta is a Northern California mountain located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The peak is located on private property, about west of Morgan Hill and within the boundaries of Santa Clara County...
of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
, in Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
, United States. The creek descends through Uvas Canyon County Park
Uvas Canyon County Park
Uvas Canyon County Park is part of the Santa Clara County Park System. This natural park is located in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and has several small waterfalls, some of which flow perennially. It is also very close to San Jose and Silicon Valley. It...
into Uvas Reservoir
Uvas Reservoir
Uvas Reservoir is a reservoir in Santa Clara County, California, U.S.A., created in 1957 by the construction of Uvas Dam across Uvas Creek.-See also:*List of lakes in California*List of lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, and upon passing U.S. Highway 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
is known as Carnadero Creek (also known as lower Uvas Creek), shortly before the 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:...
at the Santa Clara County - San Benito County boundary.
History
Uvas Creek got its name from the 1842 Rancho Las UvasRancho Las Uvas
Rancho Las Uvas was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Lorenzo Pinedo . The name means "ranch of the grapes" and is derived from an abundance of wild grapes along the area's main watercourses...
Mexican land grant. The Spanish name for grapes, "uvas", is preserved in a number of place names, all apparently referring to the abundance of wild grapes
Vitis californica
Vitis californica is a wild grape species native to most of California and southwestern Oregon. It is a deciduous vine which can grow to over 10 m in length. It climbs on other plants or covers the ground with twisted, woody ropes of vine covered in green leaves...
(Vitis californica) along the area's main watercourses. "Carnadero" probably means "butchering place".
Watershed and Course
The Uvas Creek watershed drains the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains in southern Santa Clara County. On the upper section of the creek is Uvas Canyon County ParkUvas Canyon County Park
Uvas Canyon County Park is part of the Santa Clara County Park System. This natural park is located in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and has several small waterfalls, some of which flow perennially. It is also very close to San Jose and Silicon Valley. It...
. Uvas Reservoir, built in 1957, drains 32 square miles (82.9 km²) and is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) upstream of the City of Gilroy
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) upstream of the Pajaro River confluence. Significant tributaries include Croy Creek, Little Uvas Creek, Little Arthur Creek, Bodfish Creek and Gavilan Creek. Below Uvas Reservoir the creek is very low gradient. After Uvas Creek crosses Highway 101 and becomes Carnadero Creek (aka lower Uvas Creek) it is joined from the right by Gavilan Creek, Tick Creek and then Tar Creek. Uvas Creek is the only stream in the Pajaro River watershed, and in Santa Clara County, whose water right specifies minimum winter and summer releases for maintaining fish resources.
Ecology
Uvas Creek supports a self-sustaining population of steelhead that is part of the Southern Central California Coast Distinct population segmentDistinct population segment
A distinct population segment is the smallest division of a taxonomic species permitted to be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Species, as defined in the Act for listing purposes, is a taxonomic species or subspecies of plant or animal, or in the case of vertebrate species, a...
(DPS), which is listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
. The year before Uvas Creek Dam was constructed in 1957, the Santa Clara Valley Water District
Santa Clara Valley Water District
The Santa Clara Valley Water District provides stream stewardship, wholesale water supply and flood protection for Santa Clara County, California, in the southern San Francisco Bay Area. The district encompasses all of the county’s and serves the area’s 15 cities, 1.7 million residents and more...
(SCVWD) agreed with the California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
(CDFG) in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) to maintain flows sufficient to protect Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations below Uvas Reservoir and to collect and truck returning adults above the dam to spawn upstream, however this latter promise was not kept.
A non-profit volunteer organization called CHEER (Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Restoration) founded by Herman Garcia, transports steelhead stranded in drying pools to reaches of Uvas Creek that are perennial. In 2008, Garcia's organization transported more than 23,000 steelhead, a dramatic number compared to the 100-200 fish reported in the entire Pajaro River system in 1991. Two tributaries of Uvas Creek are also steelhead spawning and rearing streams, Bodfish and Little Arthur Creeks.
The northwest to southeast orientation of Uvas Reservoir is in line with prevailing winds which drive the warm surface layer (epilimnion) down into the cool bottom layer (hypolimnion), so that by late summer the bottom water is warm and anoxic. The result is that no wild or planted trout survive the summer in the reservoir. Landlocked steelhead above Uvas Dam take the rainbow trout form, and genetic studies of these fish in upper Uvas Creek above Uvas Road show that they are of native, and not hatchery stock.
Other native fish species in the Uvas Creek watershed include 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), Sacramento pikeminnow
Sacramento pikeminnow
The Sacramento pikeminnow is a large cyprinid fish of California. It is native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin , Pajaro-Salinas, Russian River, Clear Lake and upper Pit River river basins.-References and external links:*...
(Ptychocheilus grandis), 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), Riffle sculpin
Cottus (genus)
Cottus is a genus of the sculpin family Cottidae. It is often referred to as the "freshwater sculpins", as the principal genus of sculpins to be found in fresh water.They are mostly small fish, rarely reaching more than 15 cm in length.-Species:...
(Cottus gulosus), Pacific lamprey
Pacific lamprey
The Pacific lamprey is an anadromous parasitic lamprey from the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia. It is also known as the three tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey.-Biology:...
(Lampetra tridentata), and Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Prickly sculpin
Cottus (genus)
Cottus is a genus of the sculpin family Cottidae. It is often referred to as the "freshwater sculpins", as the principal genus of sculpins to be found in fresh water.They are mostly small fish, rarely reaching more than 15 cm in length.-Species:...
(Cottus asper) and Hitch
Hitch
Hitch may refer to:* Hitch knot, a knot used to attach a rope to a fixed object* Tow hitch, a construction on a truck or car to attach a trailer* Hitches, fish in the genus Lavinia including Lavinia exilicauda...
(Lavinia exilicauda) are also present, but are relatively scarce. Non-native fish are uncommon in Uvas Creek.