Branciforte Creek

Branciforte Creek (Longitude: -122.0222; Latitude: 36.9740) is a 5.8 mile long [ [http://www.water-programs.com/wqpt/HSA.asp?HSA=304.12 California State University, Sacramento: Profiles of Santa Cruz County Watersheds] ] watercourse in Santa Cruz County, California, USA. Branciforte Creek rises on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and discharges to the San Lorenzo River, which in turn empties into the Pacific Ocean. Within the State of California Branciforte Creek is classified within the Central Coast Basin. [ [http://iaspub.epa.gov/tmdl/enviro.control?p_list_id=CAR3041205119990223104548 Branciforte Creek classification within California watersheds] ] As of the year 2002, the State of California has designated Branciforte Creek as impaired with respect to turbidity and pathogens. The Branciforte watershed consists of 6231 acres, approximately 70 percent of which is covered with mixed evergreen forest, conifer forest and other undisturbed habitats. [C.Michael Hogan, Leda Patmore, David Crimp et al., "San Lorenzo Basin Groundwater Recharge and Water Quality Study", Earth Metrics Incorporated, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, July 7, 1978]

In 2001 a stream restoration project was funded by the State of California to remove barriers to anadromous fish migration in Branciforte Creek, with emphasis upon enhancing juvenile migration. ["Senate Bill 271", State of California, Sacramento, Ca. (2001)] [ [http://gis.ca.gov/catalog/BrowseRecord.epl?id=27537 State of California Stream Restoration Project: Branciforte Creek] ] Ongoing flood control maintenance is performed on certain lower reaches of Branciforte Creek. [AMBAG, "Clearinghouse Newsletter: 2004 Federal Flood Control Program for Branciforte Creek" (2004)]

ee also

*Carbonera Creek
*Sediment
*Steelhead
*Zayante Creek

References