Zayante Creek

Zayante Creek
Zayante Creek is located in California
Zayante Creek
Location of the mouth of Zayante Creek in California
Native nameSayant (Awaswas language)[2]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Cruz
Physical characteristics
SourceSanta Cruz Mountains
 • locationCastle Rock Ridge[1]
 • coordinates37°9′21.81″N 122°0′4.85″W / 37.1560583°N 122.0013472°W / 37.1560583; -122.0013472[1]
 • elevation1,000 ft (300 m)
MouthSan Lorenzo River
 • location
Felton
 • coordinates
37°2′52.82″N 122°4′4.87″W / 37.0480056°N 122.0680194°W / 37.0480056; -122.0680194[1]
 • elevation
233 ft (71 m)[1]
Length10.3 mi (16.6 km)[1]
Basin features
River systemSan Lorenzo River
Tributaries 
 • leftMountain Charlie Gulch, Bean Creek
 • rightLompico Creek

Zayante Creek (Ohlone: Sayant) is a 10.3-mile-long (16.6 km) stream within the San Lorenzo River watershed in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The U.S. government has designated Zayante Creek as impaired with respect to sediment.[3] Lompico Creek, a tributary of Zayante Creek, is listed for impairment by pathogens.[4] In the period 1998 to 2000 a restoration project was conducted for this stream to improve anadromous fish passage, rearing and spawning.[5] There has been a permanent U.S. Geological Survey gauging station on Zayante Creek which has operated since the year 1959; the mean altitude of the Zayante Basin, carved within the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is 1,000 feet (300 m).[6] Significant tributaries to Zayante Creek are Lompico Creek and Bean Creek.

Geology

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Soils formations along the mainstem of Zayante Creek by ascending altitude are: Monterey Formation, Zayante Formation, Vaqueros Sandstone and Lompico Sandstone;[7] about midway through its course, Zayante Creek is bisected by the Zayante Fault.

Ecology

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Several notable ecological features are present in the Zayante Creek watershed, including the occurrence of a rare forest type: maritime coast range ponderosa pine forest, which contains two endangered arthropods. Regarding specific avafauna species there are sightings of Townsend's warbler.[8]

See also

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References

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