Los Alamitos Creek

Geobox|River
name = Alamitos Creek
native_name =
other_name =
category = stream
etymology = Spanish language
nickname =


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country = United States
state = California
region = Santa Clara County
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parent =
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tributary_left =
city = San Jose, California
landmark =
river =
source = Almaden Reservoir
source_location = convert|10|mi|km|0|lk=on|abbr=on west of Morgan Hill, California
source_region = | source_country =
source_elevation_imperial =
source_lat_d = 37 | source_lat_m = 9 | source_lat_s = 56 | source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 121 | source_long_m = 49 | source_long_s = 34 | source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note = gnis|218054|Alamitos Creek]
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mouth = Guadalupe River
mouth_location = San Jose, California
mouth_region = | mouth_country =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 194
mouth_lat_d = 37 | mouth_lat_m = 14 | mouth_lat_s = 48 | mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 121 | mouth_long_m = 52 | mouth_long_s = 16 | mouth_long_EW = W
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Los Alamitos Creek or Alamitos Creek is a creek in San Jose, California, USA. It is located in Almaden Valley and begins at Almaden Lake. This creek flows through the Valley's Guadalupe Watershed, which is owned by the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The creek flows in a generally northwesterly direction as it ambles along the northeast side of the Almaden Valley. Its environment has some relatively undisturbed areas and considerable lengths of suburban residential character.

History

The Alamitos Creek banks were inhabited by Native American tribes thousands of years ago and up until the time of Spanish exploration. Evidence of middens and traces of that hunter-gatherer civilisation has been recorded from archeological excavations and surface finds. In the 1940s and 1950s, rapid residential development expanded into this portion of the Almaden Valley including building which encroached into the 100-year floodplain. The Santa Clara Valley Water District began studying this watershed with emphasis upon flood control functions, and made some minor streambed alterations such as energy dissipators. In 1976 the District developed a comprehensive flood control plan and retained Earth Metrics Inc. to prepare an independent Environmental Impact Report. ["Environmental Impact Report for the Alamitos and Calero Creek flood Control Plan", Earth Metrics Inc., California State Clearinghouse (1976)] The resulting study developed the first comprehensive data base of biology, water quality, geology and cultural resources information for Alamitos Creek. In 1989 the city of San Jose undertook an analysis to create a creekside trail from Almaden Quicksilver County Park to a location along Alamitos Creek about .6 mile below the confluence with Calero Creek. ["Feasibility study for providing a trail between Almaden Quicksilver Park and the Almaden Park via the Alamitos Creek", San Jose Parks and Recreation Dept., March, 1989]

Ecology

In the downstream rocky streambed reaches of the creek there are a variety of birds commonly observed including mallard, Black Phoebe, Common Merganser, Red-shouldered Hawk, Snowy Egret, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron. [ [http://home.att.net/~redknot/alamitoscreek.html Along the Alamitos Creek Trail: Birds occurring] ] There are a few mammals on the lower reaches such as raccoon. Vegetation includes upland tree species such as coast live oak and California bay laurel; understory growth such as coyote brush, toyon and poison oak; and riparian vegatation such as red willow and wild blackberry.

In the extreme downstream reaches Rufous-crowned Sparrow, California Thrasher and American Kestrel can be observed on chaparral slopes. In the oak woodlands along the creek, Acorn Woodpecker, California Quail, Anna's Hummingbird, Scrub Jay, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, and Spotted Towhee can be found.

Los Alamitos Creek Trail

The Los Alamitos Creek Trail or Alamitos Creek Trail is a paved, 4.7 mile long pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs along Los Alamitos Creek, from Harry Road (south) to Lake Almaden Park (north). As the trail crosses beneath the Coleman Road bridge, it meets the confluence of Guadalupe Creek and Guadalupe River. A paved trail system continues along the Guadalupe River extending northward to Chynoweth Avenue. By using sidewalks and the signalized intersection of Coleman Road/Almaden Expressway, trail users can follow the Guadalulpe Creek Trail westward to Meridian Avenue (unpaved, interim gravel surface). [citeweb |url=http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.asp |title=Los Alamitos Creek Trail |work=San Jose Trail Network Website |publisher=City of San Jose |accessdate=2008-04-01]

References

ee also

*Almaden Quicksilver County Park
*Guadalupe Watershed
*List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area
*Santa Clara Valley Water District

External links

* [http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/alamitoscreek.html Bay Area Hiker: Los Alamitos Creek Trail]
* [http://pages.prodigy.net/rhorii/losalmts.htm Bay Area Backpages: Los Alamitos Creek Trail]
* [http://www.valleywater.org Santa Clara Valley Water District Homepage]