Wildcat Creek (California)
Encyclopedia
Wildcat Creek is a 12.5 miles (20.1 km) creek which flows through Wildcat Canyon
situated between the Berkeley Hills
and the San Pablo Ridge
, emptying into San Pablo Bay
in northern California. The creek originates in Tilden Regional Park
just east of the city of Berkeley
. It feeds the artificial Lake Anza
as well as the smaller reservoir Jewel Lake
along its course. In its lower course, it passes through the city of San Pablo
and portions of the city of Richmond
. Where it exits the hills, it passes through Alvarado Park
, which includes a WPA
-constructed stone arch bridge over the creek. It also courses through San Pablo's civic center and Davis Park.
Recently the East Bay has seen a renaissance of the native Rainbow Trout
in the watershed, and some have been spotted in the creek in Downtown Richmond
nesting in submerged shopping carts and other garbage. The fish have also been spotted in Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills near the park's merry-go-round. In September 2010 the City of San Pablo announced that it had received a $1.8 million grant from the state Department of Water Resources to clean up Wildcat Creek.
An 1861 map indicates that Wildcat Creek was called Little San Pablo Creek then. "Big" San Pablo Creek
is located in the next drainage east of the drainage of Wildcat Creek.
Wildcat Canyon
Wildcat Canyon is a narrow linear valley just east of the Berkeley Hills in the San Francisco Bay Area, situated in Contra Costa County, California. The canyon is bounded on its east side by the San Pablo Ridge, and is drained by Wildcat Creek which runs northwest to its outlet in San Pablo Bay. ...
situated between the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
and the San Pablo Ridge
San Pablo Ridge
San Pablo Ridge is a small mountain range in western Contra Costa County from Pinole to Orinda between Wildcat Canyon and San Pablo Canyon. The western flank is part of the Wildcat Creek watershed and the eastern flank is part of the San Pablo Creek watershed. It is used by ranches for...
, emptying into 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...
in northern California. The creek originates in Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park, also known as "Tilden" , is a regional park in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is situated between the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge....
just east of the city of Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. It feeds the artificial Lake Anza
Lake Anza
Lake Anza is a recreational swimming reservoir in Tilden Regional Park, which is located in the Berkeley Hills above Berkeley, California.The lake was developed with the building of a small dam in 1938. It was named by the East Bay Regional Park Board in honor of Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de...
as well as the smaller reservoir Jewel Lake
Jewel Lake
Jewel Lake is a former reservoir and artificual lake along Wildcat Creek, a small stream in Northern California in Tilden Regional Park. It is located in the Wildcat Canyon between the Berkeley Hills and Sobrante Ridge Hills in an unincorporated area closest to Richmond and Kensington, California...
along its course. In its lower course, it passes through the city of San Pablo
San Pablo, California
San Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M....
and portions of the city of Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
. Where it exits the hills, it passes through Alvarado Park
Alvarado Park
Alvarado Park is a subsection of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond, California and is a National Historic Place. It is located at the mouth of Wildcat Canyon is the Alvarado Park section. Between 1909 and 1923, Alvarado Park was a private park that was owned and operated by local...
, which includes a WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
-constructed stone arch bridge over the creek. It also courses through San Pablo's civic center and Davis Park.
Recently the East Bay has seen a renaissance of the native Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
in the watershed, and some have been spotted in the creek in Downtown Richmond
Downtown Richmond, Richmond, California
Downtown Richmond is the old center of Richmond, California. The area is roughly bordered by 6th street to the west, 23rd Street to the east, Barrett Avenue to the north, and Macdonald Avenue to the south. The area once featured major department stores and other chains such as J.C. Penney, S. H....
nesting in submerged shopping carts and other garbage. The fish have also been spotted in Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills near the park's merry-go-round. In September 2010 the City of San Pablo announced that it had received a $1.8 million grant from the state Department of Water Resources to clean up Wildcat Creek.
An 1861 map indicates that Wildcat Creek was called Little San Pablo Creek then. "Big" San Pablo Creek
San Pablo Creek
San Pablo Creek is an creek in Contra Costa County, California, United States, which drains the canyon or valley between the San Pablo Ridge and the Sobrante Ridge, parts of the Pacific Coast Ranges east of San Francisco Bay....
is located in the next drainage east of the drainage of Wildcat Creek.