Miller Creek

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Coordinates: 38°1′53″N 122°29′54″W / 38.03139, -122.49833
Miller Creek
stream
Country United States
State California
Region Marin County
City Lucas Valley-Marinwood
Source Big Rock Ridge
 - location southwest of Novato
 - elevation 1,670 ft (509 m)
 - coordinates 38°3′40″N 122°36′48″W / 38.06111, -122.61333 [1]
Mouth San Pablo Bay
 - elevation 0 ft (0 m)
 - coordinates 38°1′53″N 122°29′54″W / 38.03139, -122.49833 [1]

Miller Creek is a stream in eastern Marin County, California, United States. It originates on Big Rock Ridge and empties into San Pablo Bay east of Marinwood.

Contents

[edit] Course

Miller Creek originates on Big Rock Ridge southwest of the city of Novato. It descends southward to Lucas Valley Road, where it turns eastward into Las Gallinas Valley, paralling the road. It passes south of Marin County Hospital and along the northern edge of the Sleepy Hollow Open Space Preserve. It crosses under U.S. Route 101 at milepost 15.35 and empties into the San Pablo Bay State Wildlife Area near the west end of San Pablo Bay.

[edit] History

[edit] Habitat and pollution

The California Coastal Commission considers Miller Creek a Critial Coastal Area because it is an impaired water body (listed under Section 303(d) of the U.S. Clean Water Act) 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.[2]

[edit] Bridges

Miller Creek is spanned by numerous bridges, including:[3]

  • at Lucas Valley Road, a 132-foot (40 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1961 and a 67-foot (20 m) concrete tee beam built in 1959.
  • at U.S. Route 101, a 88-foot (27 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1952 and reconstructed in 1987.
  • at Mount Shasta Drive, a 88-foot (27 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1962.
  • at Mount Lassen Drive, a 78-foot (24 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1965 and a 31-foot (9 m) concrete slab built in 1925.
  • at Mount McKinley Road, a 63-foot (19 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1963.
  • at Bridgegate Drive, a 62-foot (19 m) prestressed concrete tee beam built in 1987.
  • at Las Gallinas Avenue, a 53-foot (16 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1970.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b USGS GNIS: Miller Creek
  2. ^ CCA #89 Miller Creek. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  3. ^ National Bridge Inventory Database.

[edit] See also

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