Miller Creek
Encyclopedia
Miller Creek is a 7.6 miles (12.2 km) stream
in eastern Marin County, California
, United States
. It originates on Big Rock Ridge and empties into San Pablo Bay
east of Marinwood
.
. It descends southward to Lucas Valley Road, where it turns eastward into Gallinas Valley
, paralleling the road to Miller Creek Road. There it crosses Lucas Valley Road and jogs northward through Marinwood Park before turning east again along the southern edge of Marinwood. It crosses under U.S. Route 101
at milepost 15.35 and flows through channels in McInnes County Park to empty into the west end of San Pablo Bay
.
in 1845.
, Marin County Public Works and California Department of Fish and Game
for restoration potential for trout because it has high quality connected riparian habitat, minimal barriers to fish passage and no reservoirs.
) which adjoins the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
. Livestock have grazed on the watershed since the 1800s, causing widening and downcutting of the creek. It continues to carry a heavy load of sediment from grazing activity, and its lower reaches are also impacted by suburban development.
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...
in eastern Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It originates on Big Rock Ridge and empties 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...
east of Marinwood
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California
Lucas Valley-Marinwood is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,094.-History:...
.
Course
Miller Creek originates on Big Rock Ridge southwest of the city of NovatoNovato, California
Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. Novato is located about north-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 30 feet above sea level . The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the city population to be about 51,904. Novato is about ...
. It descends southward to Lucas Valley Road, where it turns eastward into Gallinas Valley
Las Gallinas Valley
Las Gallinas Valley or Gallinas Valley is a geographical valley landform of Marin County, California, USA formed by Miller Creek. It is also the name of a major planning area of Marin County....
, paralleling the road to Miller Creek Road. There it crosses Lucas Valley Road and jogs northward through Marinwood Park before turning east again along the southern edge of Marinwood. It crosses under U.S. Route 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...
at milepost 15.35 and flows through channels in McInnes County Park to empty into the west end of 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...
.
History
The name honors James Miller, an Irishman who settled on part of Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las GallinasRancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas
Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Timothy Murphy . Las Gallinas means "the hens" in Spanish...
in 1845.
Ecology
In recent years, Steelhead trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) of multiple ages have been identified in Miller Creek. It has been identified by EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, Marin County Public Works and 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...
for restoration potential for trout because it has high quality connected riparian habitat, minimal barriers to fish passage and no reservoirs.
Habitat and pollution
The California Coastal Commission considers Miller Creek a Critical Coastal Area because it is an impaired water body (listed under Section 303(d) of the U.S. Clean Water ActClean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
) which adjoins the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in California established in 1970. It extends along the northern shore of San Pablo Bay from the mouth of the Petaluma River to Tolay Creek, Sonoma Creek and ends at Mare Island...
. Livestock have grazed on the watershed since the 1800s, causing widening and downcutting of the creek. It continues to carry a heavy load of sediment from grazing activity, and its lower reaches are also impacted by suburban development.
Bridges
Miller Creek is spanned by numerous bridges, including:- at Lucas Valley Road, a 132 feet (40 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1961 and a 67 feet (20 m) concrete tee beam built in 1959.
- at U.S. Route 101, a 88 feet (27 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1952 and reconstructed in 1987.
- at Mount Shasta Drive, a 88 feet (27 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1962.
- at Mount Lassen Drive, a 78 feet (24 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1965 and a 31 feet (9 m) concrete slab built in 1925.
- at Mount McKinley Road, a 63 feet (19 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1963.
- at Bridgegate Drive, a 62 feet (19 m) prestressed concrete tee beam built in 1987.
- at Las Gallinas Avenue, a 53 feet (16 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1970.