Branciforte Creek

Branciforte Creek
A channelized stretch of Branciforte Creek within Santa Cruz
Location of the mouth of Branciforte Creek in California
Location
Country	United States
State	California
Counties	Santa Cruz
Physical characteristics
Source	Santa Cruz Mountains
• location	near Laurel
• coordinates	37°5′1.81″N 121°58′12.85″W[1]
• elevation	1,000 ft (300 m)
Mouth	San Lorenzo River
• location	Santa Cruz
• coordinates	36°59′12.82″N 122°0′49.87″W[1]
• elevation	43 ft (13 m)[1]
Length	9 mi (14 km)[1]
Basin size	7.1 sq mi (18 km^2)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Crystal Creek
• right	Blackburn Gulch, Tie Gulch, Granite Creek, Redwood Creek, Carbonera Creek

Branciforte Creek is a 5.8-mile (9.3 km) long[2] watercourse in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. Branciforte Creek rises on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and discharges to the San Lorenzo River, which in turn empties into the Pacific Ocean. Within the State of California Branciforte Creek is classified within the Central Coast Basin.[3] As of the year 2002, the State of California has designated Branciforte Creek as impaired with respect to turbidity and pathogens. The Branciforte watershed consists of 6,231 acres (25.22 km^2), approximately 70 percent of which is covered with mixed evergreen forest, conifer forest and other undisturbed habitats.[4]

In 2001, a stream restoration project was funded by the State of California to remove barriers to anadromous fish migration in Branciforte Creek, with emphasis upon enhancing juvenile migration.[5][6] Ongoing flood control maintenance is performed on certain lower reaches of Branciforte Creek.[7]

See also

• Sediment
• Steelhead

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Branciforte Creek
2. California State University, Sacramento: Profiles of Santa Cruz County Watersheds Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
3. Branciforte Creek classification within California watersheds
4. C.Michael Hogan, Leda Patmore, David Crimp et al., San Lorenzo Basin Groundwater Recharge and Water Quality Study, Earth Metrics Incorporated, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, July 7, 1978
5. Senate Bill 271, State of California, Sacramento, Ca. (2001)
6. State of California Stream Restoration Project: Branciforte Creek Archived September 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
7. AMBAG, Clearinghouse Newsletter: 2004 Federal Flood Control Program for Branciforte Creek (2004)

36.9740°N 122.0222°W / 36.9740; -122.0222