Novato Creek

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Coordinates: 38°5′43″N 122°29′18″W / 38.09528, -122.48833
Novato Creek
stream
Country United States
State California
Region Marin County
Cities Novato, Bel Marin Keys
Source Burdell Mountain
 - location above Novato, California
 - elevation 1,100 ft (335 m)
 - coordinates 38°8′36″N 122°38′33″W / 38.14333, -122.6425 [1]
Mouth
 - elevation 0 ft (0 m)
 - coordinates 38°5′43″N 122°29′18″W / 38.09528, -122.48833 [1]

Novato Creek is a stream in eastern Marin County, California, United States. It originates on Burdell Mountain above the city of Novato, California and empties into San Pablo Bay south of Petaluma Point.

Contents

[edit] Course

Novato Creek begins on the west side of Burdell Mountain and initially descends to the west. However, it soon turns south, then east to feed into Stafford Lake. It descends through the city of Novato. East of Novato it crosses under U.S. Route 101 and State Route 37 before flowing through Bel Marin Keys and entering the northwest corner of San Pablo Bay.

[edit] History

Land use changes have increased sediment supply and decreased sediment transport, causing the lower reaches of Novato Creek to become shallower. In addition, the construction of Stafford Dam (starting in 1952[2]) increased its drainage area by 5.2 square miles (13 km²).[3]

[edit] Habitat and pollution

[edit] Bridges

Novato Creek is spanned by many bridges, including:[4]

  • at milepost 11.96 of State Route 37, a pair of 720 ft (219 m) prestressed concrete slabs built in 1959
  • at milepost 20.51 of U.S. 101, a pair of 192 ft (59 m) concrete continuous tee beams built in 1974
  • at Redwood Boulevard in Novato, a pair of 187 ft (57 m) concrete tee beams reconstructed in 1988
  • at Novato Boulevard in Novato, a 98 ft (30 m) concrete continuous tee beam built in 1969
  • at Seventh Street in Novato, a 60 ft (18 m) concrete continuous slab built in 1971
  • at Simmons Avenue in Novato, a 36 ft (11 m) concrete tee beam built in 1932 and reconstructed in 1970
  • at Grant Avenue in Novato, a 36 ft (11 m) concrete tee beam built in 1936
  • at Sutro Avenue in Novato, a 33 ft (10 m) concrete slab built in 1935 and reconstructed in 1972
  • at Diablo Avenue in Novato, a 32 ft (10 m) concrete slab built in 1966

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b USGS GNIS: Novato Creek
  2. ^ Novato History Museum. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
  3. ^ Geomorphic Studies by Laurel Collins. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
  4. ^ National Bridge Inventory Database.

[edit] See also

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