# Santa Rosa Creek

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River in California, United States

Santa Rosa Creek Middle reach of Santa Rosa Creek Location of the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek in California Etymology Spanish Location Country United States State California Region Sonoma County City Santa Rosa Physical characteristics Source Hood Mountain • location 5 km (3 mi) west of St. Helena, California • coordinates 38°31′10″N 122°32′56″W / 38.51944°N 122.54889°W / 38.51944; -122.54889[1] • elevation 1,940 ft (590 m) Mouth Laguna de Santa Rosa • coordinates 38°27′5″N 122°50′3″W / 38.45139°N 122.83417°W / 38.45139; -122.83417[1] • elevation 49 ft (15 m) Length 22 mi (35 km) Basin features Tributaries • left Matanzas Creek • right Piner Creek, Brush Creek

Santa Rosa Creek and trail system Legend Hood Mountain SR 12 Melita Road Annadel State Park Spring Lake Montgomery Drive Mission Boulevard Brush Creek Yulupa Avenue SR 12 Farmers Lane Alderbrook Drive Talbot Avenue Montgomery Drive Matanzas Creek Brookwood Avenue E Street City Hall Santa Rosa Avenue Prince Greenway A Street US 101 Convention Center Railroad Street SMART Joe Rodota Trail West 3rd Street Peterson Street North Dutton Avenue Stony Point Road Fulton Road Piner Creek Peterson Creek Weldon Creek Willowside Road Laguna de Santa Rosa

**Santa Rosa Creek** is a 22-mile-long (35 km) [stream](/source/Stream) in [Sonoma County, California](/source/Sonoma_County%2C_California), which rises on [Hood Mountain](/source/Hood_Mountain) and discharges to the [Laguna de Santa Rosa](/source/Laguna_de_Santa_Rosa) by way of the **Santa Rosa Flood Control Channel**.[2] This article covers both the creek and the channel.

## Description

Though it begins as a wild stream in the [Mayacamas Mountains](/source/Mayacamas_Mountains), Santa Rosa Creek is [culverted](/source/Culvert) for part of its course through [the city of Santa Rosa](/source/Santa_Rosa%2C_California)'s downtown. The [riparian](/source/Riparian) area has a rich [prehistoric](/source/Prehistoric) past with settlement of the Southern [Pomo people](/source/Pomo_people) on much of the middle and lower reach banks. A significant stream restoration project was created in the downtown Santa Rosa reach in the late 1990s, allowing [steelhead](/source/Rainbow_trout) and [coho salmon](/source/Coho_salmon) to migrate to productive upstream [spawning](/source/Spawn_(biology)) areas. Major tributaries to Santa Rosa Creek include [Brush Creek](/source/Brush_Creek_(Sonoma_County%2C_California)), [Piner Creek](/source/Piner_Creek), [Matanzas Creek](/source/Matanzas_Creek) and Colgan Creek. Annual [precipitation](/source/Precipitation_(meteorology)) in the Sonoma Creek [watershed](/source/Drainage_basin) is about 24 to 38 inches (61 to 97 centimeters). [Water quality](/source/Water_quality) sampling in the Railroad Square area of Santa Rosa indicate [coliform](/source/Coliform) [bacteria](/source/Bacteria) standards are often exceeded.[3]

## History

Flat Rocks [boulder](/source/Boulder) formation in the [confluence](/source/Confluence) zone of Brush Creek into Santa Rosa Creek

[Archaeological](/source/Archaeological) data demonstrates the habitation of Pomo [tribes](/source/Tribe) on the lower reaches of Santa Rosa Creek, while a branch of the [Yuki](/source/Yuki_tribe) tribe lived near the [headwaters](/source/Headwaters) on the slopes of [Hood Mountain](/source/Hood_Mountain). In the vicinity of the confluence of [Brush Creek](/source/Brush_Creek_(Sonoma_County)) there is a noteworthy [rock](/source/Rock_(geology)) formation known as "Flat Rocks"; adjacent was a native Pomo village, presumably because the resources of the confluence area as a suitable place for [fishing](/source/Fishing), bathing, washing and providing [drinking water](/source/Drinking_water). Near this location in the year 1828, Padre Juan Amorós, a Franciscan from Mission San Raphael, [baptized](/source/Baptism) a Pomo [maiden](/source/Maiden) on the feast day of Saint [Rose of Lima](/source/Rose_of_Lima); he named the woman "Rosa" and the location "Santa Rosa," establishing there a mission outpost (una asistencia). The "asistencia de Santa Rosa" became the center of the colonial settlement that would eventually become the town of Santa Rosa.

In the city of Santa Rosa, remains of the [Carrillo Adobe](/source/Carrillo_Adobe_(Santa_Rosa%2C_California)) attest to [Spaniards](/source/Spain) as [settlers](/source/Settler) in the middle reaches of Santa Rosa Creek. As the city of Santa Rosa developed more intensively, political pressure arose in the 1960s to channelize much of the creek in the core area of the city. This action led to a greatly reduced capability for [anadromous](/source/Anadromous) fish to reach [spawning](/source/Spawn_(biology)) areas upstream. Consequently, by the 1990s, planning began for a creek restoration project to tear out much of the channel concrete lining, provide re-vegetation and create a new low flow channel to accommodate [steelhead](/source/Rainbow_trout) and [coho salmon](/source/Coho_salmon) spawning runs to the middle and upper reaches (i.e. above the downtown area of the city of Santa Rosa). As of July 2008, much of the renovation has been largely completed west of Santa Rosa Avenue, with the Prince Memorial Greenway extending along the creek west from Santa Rosa Avenue through downtown. This includes paved bicycle and pedestrian paths, creek access points, and substantial planting of vegetation. However, the portion between Santa Rosa Avenue and E Street is still contained within a covered culvert despite long-term plans to reopen the portion of it currently under city hall.

Prince Memorial Greenway is a bicycle and pedestrian path along the Santa Rosa Creek through downtown Santa Rosa and a key element of the creek's restoration.

January 2017 high water where Prince Memorial Greenway passes under [U.S. Route 101](/source/U.S._Route_101)

## Geology

The headwaters of Santa Rosa Creek rise on the northern slopes of Hood Mountain, where the soils at the headwaters consist of soils of the Goulding cobbly clay loam association, which are well-drained gently to very steep [loams](/source/Loam) and [clay](/source/Clay)-loams situated upon upland formations. The lower elevations of the Hood Mountain headwaters consist of the Boomer soil association, which group has well-drained loams over a clay-loam subsoil.[4] Considering the steepness of much of the [terrain](/source/Terrain) there is a remarkable lack of erosion, primarily because [human access](/source/Freedom_to_roam) has been historically low, and [vegetative](/source/Vegetation) cover has been kept intact.

As Santa Rosa Creek descends toward the valley floor Falta very gravelly loam is encountered, which has scrubby [Valley Oak](/source/Valley_Oak) cover. On the gentle rolling slopes that join the valley are Haire series moderately well drained clay loam soils, which are used for dry-farm [pasture](/source/Pasture) and some [vineyards](/source/Vineyard). On the valley floor Santa Rosa Creek flows under [State Route 12](/source/State_Route_12) and runs along Melita Road, thence somewhat more northerly and parallels the south side of Route 12. Over this middle reach the soils are typical of alluvial fans, consisting of Yolo silt loams and clay loams of less than two percent slope. Historically this soil has served pasture uses with some orchards. Currently most of this area is developed with medium density residential uses.

Below the downtown confluence with [Matanzas Creek](/source/Matanzas_Creek), which drains the northern slopes of [Sonoma Mountain](/source/Sonoma_Mountain), can be considered the lower reach of this watershed. Most of the soils extending some distance from Santa Rosa Creek are Yolo [sandy](/source/Sand) loam overwash. This zone is especially subject to [flooding](/source/Flood), and historically has served as pasture, [orchard](/source/Orchard) and vineyard. Erosion potential is slight due to the less than five percent slope of this reach.

## Ecology

[Mayacamas Mountains](/source/Mayacamas_Mountains) headwaters reach area of Santa Rosa Creek

The upper reaches and headwaters of Santa Rosa Creek are on Hood Mountain on the western slopes of the southern [Mayacamas Mountains](/source/Mayacamas_Mountains). Much of the [ecosystem](/source/Ecosystem) of the headwaters is relatively dense mixed [oak](/source/Oak) [woodland](/source/Woodland), which has a [canopy](/source/Canopy_(forest)) of [coast live oak](/source/Coast_live_oak), [Douglas fir](/source/Douglas_fir), California buckeye (*[Aesculus californica](/source/Aesculus_californica)*) and [bigleaf maple](/source/Bigleaf_maple).[5] In these oak woodlands, the dominant [understory](/source/Understory) plants are [toyon](/source/Toyon), [blackberry](/source/Blackberry), [western poison-oak](/source/Western_poison-oak) and in occasional drier patches some [coyote brush](/source/Coyote_brush). In some of the steeper, cooler [riparian zones](/source/Riparian_zone) there are a high concentration of [California bay laurel](/source/California_bay_laurel). Common animals observed include [California mule deer](/source/California_mule_deer), [gray squirrel](/source/Western_Gray_Squirrel), [raccoon](/source/Raccoon), [skunk](/source/Skunk), [Western pond turtle](/source/Western_pond_turtle), [river otter](/source/North_American_river_otter) and [opossum](/source/Opossum). Less frequently [tiger salamander](/source/Tiger_salamander), [bobcat](/source/Bobcat) and [mountain lion](/source/Mountain_lion) are seen. There is abundant [birdlife](/source/Bird) including the [scrub jay](/source/Scrub_jay), [Steller's jay](/source/Steller's_jay), [acorn woodpecker](/source/Acorn_woodpecker) and [junco](/source/Junco).

As Santa Rosa Creek reaches the valley floor near Melita Road, the creek is choked with [red willow](/source/Cornus_sericea), and also has [coast live oak](/source/Coast_live_oak), [bigleaf maple](/source/Bigleaf_maple), [California laurel](/source/California_laurel) as well as a few [Douglas fir](/source/Douglas_fir) and [huckleberry oak](/source/Huckleberry_oak), *Quercus vacciniifolia*. This middle reach of the creek has more of a suburban character compared to the wild headwaters area. The middle reach continues as a richly vegetated [riparian zone](/source/Riparian_zone) from Melita Road westerly to Farmers Lane. The reach at the confluence of [Brush Creek](/source/Brush_Creek_(Sonoma_County%2C_California)) is particularly notable for the large boulder formation, known as "Flat Rocks". Below Farmers Lane the creek becomes channelized and much of the natural character is lost, until the creek begins to exit the west side of the city of Santa Rosa.

## See also

- [Annadel State Park](/source/Annadel_State_Park)

- [List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area](/source/List_of_watercourses_in_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-1) [U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Santa Rosa Creek](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/232563)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *Santa Rosa Quadrangle*, Fifteen minute series, [USGS](/source/USGS) Quadrangle Map, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC (1958)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The Sonoma County Environmental Health Department water quality sampling data"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061004022519/http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb1/programs/sampling/santa_rosa_creek.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb1/programs/sampling/santa_rosa_creek.html) on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2006-11-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *Soil Survey, Sonoma County, California*, [U.S. Department of Agriculture](/source/U.S._Department_of_Agriculture), [Soil Conservation Service](/source/Soil_Conservation_Service), Government Printing Office, Washington DC, May 1972

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Ecology of the southern Mayacmas Range*, Lumina Technologies, Santa Rosa, Ca., May 11, 2005

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Santa Rosa Creek](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Santa_Rosa_Creek).

v t e Russian River Watershed Tributaries Atascadero Creek Austin Creek Big Sulphur Creek Blucher Creek Brush Creek Copeland Creek Crane Creek Dry Creek Dutch Bill Creek Five Creek Foss Creek Green Valley Creek Hinebaugh Creek Laguna de Santa Rosa Maacama Creek Mark West Creek Matanzas Creek Piner Creek Santa Rosa Creek Spring Creek Washoe Creek Windsor Creek Communities Asti Calpella Camp Meeker Cazadero Cloverdale Cotati Duncans Mills Forestville Fulton Geyserville Graton Guerneville Guernewood Park Healdsburg Hopland Jenner Korbel Mark West Mark West Springs Monte Rio Occidental Potter Valley Redwood Valley Rio Nido Rohnert Park Santa Rosa Sebastopol Talmage Ukiah Windsor Parks and natural features Alexander Valley Annadel State Park Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Austin Creek State Recreation Area Doyle Community Park Dry Creek Valley Fountaingrove Lake Frog Woman Rock Lake Ilsanjo Lake Mendocino Lake Ralphine Lake Sonoma Spring Lake Regional Park Taylor Mountain Other Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport Highway 101 Joe Rodota Trail Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Santa Rosa Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Creek) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Creek?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.