Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio

Geobox|River
name = Arroyo Corte Madero del Presidio
native_name =
other_name =
category = stream
etymology = Spanish language
nickname =

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image_caption = Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio near Richardson Bay
country = United States
state = California
region = Marin County
district =
municipality =
parent =
tributary_left =
tributary_right =
city = Mill Valley, California
landmark =
river =
source = Knob Hill
source_location = convert|2.5|mi|km|0|lk=on|abbr=on west of Corte Madera, California
source_region = | source_country =
source_elevation_imperial = 880
source_lat_d = 37 | source_lat_m = 56 | source_lat_s = 3 | source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 122 | source_long_m = 33 | source_long_s = 52 | source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note =gnis|254575|Arroyo Corte Madera Del Presidio]
source1 =
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source1_lat_d = | source1_lat_m = | source1_lat_s = | source1_lat_NS =
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source_confluence =
source_confluence_location = | source_confluence_region = | source_confluence_country =
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source_confluence_long_d = | source_confluence_long_m = | source_confluence_long_s = | source_confluence_long_EW =
mouth = Richardson Bay
mouth_location = convert|2|mi|km|0|lk=on|abbr=on south of Corte Madera, California
mouth_region = | mouth_country =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 0
mouth_lat_d = 37 | mouth_lat_m = 53 | mouth_lat_s = 27 | mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 122 | mouth_long_m = 31 | mouth_long_s = 25 | mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
length_imperial =
length_orientation =
width_imperial = | width_orientation =
depth_imperial =
volume_imperial =
watershed_imperial = 8
discharge_imperial =
discharge_max_imperial =
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free = | free_type =


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Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio (Spanish for: Fort Woodcutting Creek) is a year-round stream in southern Marin County, California, USA. This watercourse has a catchment basin of about convert|8|sqmi|km2|0|lk=on and drains the south-eastern slopes of Mount Tamalpais and much of the area in and around the town of Mill Valley; this stream discharges to Richardson Bay.

A 1965 stream survey indicated presence of steelhead within convert|100|ft|m|-1|abbr=on of the dam. A 1990 study indicated the water quality of upper Richardson Bay below the discharge of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio to be impaired by high nutrient and coliform levels; [C.Michael Hogan, Gary Deghi et al., "Environmental Impact Report for the Whalers Point Hotel Project on Richardson Bay", Earth Metrics Inc., Report No. 7980, California State Clearinghouse, County of Marin, California (1990)] This same study indicated that Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is subject to periodic flooding.

A private organization, the "Mill Valley Streamkeepers", is active in research and conservation of this creek. Some historic information about Arroyo Corte Madera concerning water quality and fish habitat is found at the KRIS (Klamath Resource Information System) website [http://www.krisweb.com/kris_ems/krisdb/webbuilder/selecttopic_arroyo_corte_ma.htm Klamath Resource Information System: Arroyo Corte Madera] ]

Fish stream surveys

The first recorded stream survey occurred in the year 1946; this survey by the California Department of Fish and Game found some healthy "Oncorhynchus mykiss" within the stream. [http://www.cemar.org/pdf/marin.pdf Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio watershed stream surveys] ] The next Department of Fish and Game survey transpired in 1963, finding numerous steelhead of lengths varying between convert|2|in|cm|0|lk=on and convert|6|in|cm|0; this survey concluded that the lower convert|3.5|mi|km|0 of the creek represented an important nursery and rearing habitat for steelhead and possibly for Coho salmon. The next survey in August 1965 concluded that the habitat was an excellent resource, with deep shaded pools and an average of 75 steelhead per convert|100|ft|m|-1 of lineal stream. In 1984, steelhead were still found to be present. A 1991 stream survey documented the historical presence of Coho salmon. [ [http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/marin.pdf Historic stream surveys in Marin County] ] The next survey in 1994 found abundant steelhead, ranging from densities of 0.1 to 0.6 fish per square yard (0.1-0.7 per square meter). [http://www.cemar.org/pdf/marin.pdf Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio watershed stream surveys] ] The 1997 stream survey found densities of steelhead ranging from seven to twelve fish per 100 lineal feet (30 lineal meters), depending on stream reach. In its 2004 "Recovery Strategy for California Coho Salmon" the California Department of Fish and Game recommends restoration of Arroyo Corte Madera's historic coho salmon habitat. This is one of only two San Francisco Bay Area streams considered in the Department's Strategy to be essential to the recovery of coho salmon in California. [ [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/pubs/2004/CohoRecovery/CohoRecoveryStrategy.pdf State of California Coho Recovery] ]

Land uses

The stream's discharge location, into Richardson Bay occurs within the Mill Valley municipal Bayfront Park. The Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio enters Richardson Bay from the west, while Mill Creek enters Richardson Bay nearby from the north via Bothin Marsh. Bayfront Park features many active uses including a bicycle path, walking paths, a dog park and picnic areas. The park also features a pedestrian/bicycle bridge across the tidal portion of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio, which is the best single viewing location of the creek in its lower reaches. Slightly further upstream the stream winds through moderately dense single family development, with backyards offering terraces and decks on the banks of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio.

Role of Mill Valley Streamkeepers

The Mill Valley Streamkeepers is a private non-profit organization established to promote research, awareness and conservation of streams in the Mill Valley area. This group includes scientists and laymen and has participated in the following specific studies involving Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio: [ [http://www.millvalleystreamkeepers.org/newsletter6-fall2005.pdf Mill Valley Streamkeepers organization newsletter] ]
*"Feasibility Study to Rehabilitate the Fishery Resources of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio"
*"Bio-assessment of four Marin County Watersheds"
*"Macroinvertebrate Sampling and Identification Study, Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio and Old Mill Creek"
*"Salmonoid Habitat Survey and Erosion Survey, Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio and Old Mill Creek"
*"Preliminary Fish Barrier Culvert Modifications and Flood Assessment, Arroyo Corte Madera/Old Mill Creek, Mill Valley, California. [ [http://www.krisweb.com/biblio/nsfb_mvsk_leventhal_2005_acmbarriers.pdf Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling in the Arroyo Corte Madera Del Presidio Watershed, Marin County, California, Spring, 2005] ] [ [http://www.krisweb.com/biblio/nsfb_mvsk_reedy_2005_bmi.pdf KRIS website: 2005 Data] ]
*"Index of Sediment Impairment to Stream Habitat in the Arroyo Corte Madera Del Presidio Watershed, Marin County, California" [ [http://www.krisweb.com/biblio/nsfb_mvsk_reedy_2005_vstar.pdf KRIS Website: Arroyo Corte Madera Del Presidio, Sept, 2005] ]

ee also

*Bay mud
*List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area
*Richardson Bay

References

External links

* [http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/marin.pdf California Coastal Salmon and Steelhead Stream Habitat Distribution Table: including data for Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio]