Nicasio Creek
Encyclopedia
Nicasio Creek is an 11.9 miles (19.2 km) stream in Marin County, California
, United States
which feeds into Lagunitas Creek
. The Nicasio Reservoir
, formed in 1961 by Seeger Dam, is located on this stream.
, Nicasio Creek descends initially to the south. Approaching Lucas Valley Road, it turns and follows the road as it winds westward, passing south of Skywalker Ranch
to the town of Nicasio
. North of Nicasio, it feeds into Nicasio Reservoir just as Halleck Creek enters from the east. The reservoir drains to the west, through a gap in Bolinas Ridge
. From the dam, Nicasio Creek parallels Point Reyes-Petaluma Road westward about 1 miles (1.6 km), then empties into Lagunitas Creek.
(Lontra canadensis) was collected by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
at the southwest corner of Nicasio Reservoir
in January, 2008.
on a 133 feet (40.5 m) concrete continuous tee beam constructed in 1960, and again 3.2 miles (5.1 km) east of State Route 1 on a 102 feet (31.1 m) concrete tee beam built in 1937.
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...
which feeds into Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek is a stream in Marin County, California and is a major supply of drinking water to the area. The 20-mile long creek's headwaters are in the Coast Range and it flows into the Pacific Ocean, draining 103 square miles .The creek's source is the northern slope of Mount Tamalpais, a few...
. The Nicasio Reservoir
Nicasio Reservoir
Nicasio Reservoir is a shallow, man-made reservoir in the Nicasio Valley region of Marin County, California, United States. It covers and sits in a drainage basin. It was created by the construction of Seeger Dam on the Nicasio Creek in 1961...
, formed in 1961 by Seeger Dam, is located on this stream.
Course
Originating on Big Rock Ridge west 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 ...
, Nicasio Creek descends initially to the south. Approaching Lucas Valley Road, it turns and follows the road as it winds westward, passing south of Skywalker Ranch
Skywalker Ranch
Skywalker Ranch is the name of the workplace of film director and producer George Lucas. It is located in a secluded, but open area near Nicasio, California, in Marin County. The ranch is located on Lucas Valley Road, although Lucas is not related to the road's namesake, who was a...
to the town of Nicasio
Nicasio, California
Nicasio is a census-designated place in Marin County, California. It is located west-southwest of Novato, at an elevation of 194 feet . The population was 96 at the 2010 census....
. North of Nicasio, it feeds into Nicasio Reservoir just as Halleck Creek enters from the east. The reservoir drains to the west, through a gap in Bolinas Ridge
Bolinas Ridge
Bolinas Ridge is a north-south ridge in southwestern Marin County, California. Much of the western side of the ridge is protected parkland in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the eastern side is watershed lands of the Marin Municipal Water District....
. From the dam, Nicasio Creek parallels Point Reyes-Petaluma Road westward about 1 miles (1.6 km), then empties into Lagunitas Creek.
Ecology
A river otterRiver otter
River otter may refer to:*River Otter, a river in Devon*European Otter*Japanese River Otter*Neotropical River Otter*North American River Otter, a common animal in North American waterways*Southern River Otter, found in Chile and Argentina...
(Lontra canadensis) was collected by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology is a natural history museum at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. The museum was founded by philanthropist Annie Montague Alexander in 1908...
at the southwest corner of Nicasio Reservoir
Nicasio Reservoir
Nicasio Reservoir is a shallow, man-made reservoir in the Nicasio Valley region of Marin County, California, United States. It covers and sits in a drainage basin. It was created by the construction of Seeger Dam on the Nicasio Creek in 1961...
in January, 2008.
Bridges
There are at least two bridges spanning Nicasio Creek. Point Reyes-Petaluma Road crosses the creek in two places: once 3.47 miles (5.6 km) east of State Route 1California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
on a 133 feet (40.5 m) concrete continuous tee beam constructed in 1960, and again 3.2 miles (5.1 km) east of State Route 1 on a 102 feet (31.1 m) concrete tee beam built in 1937.