Colma Creek

History

The large delta the creek once supported was an important stop for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. However, like many urban creeks, Colma Creek has been surrounded by flood control walls, buried in some parts, and had much of its large delta filled in by developers. Most of the lower parts of the creek are devoid of native vegetation due to the flood control project, reducing the habitat of the endangered California clapper rail and other species that use the creek.

The headwaters of the creek are lined with non-native trees like eucalyptus, cypress, and Himalayan blackberry, displacing the native riparian plants like dogwood and willow. The creek sometimes runs dry due to the non-native vegetation lowering the water table at the source. In 2005, Shelterbelt Builders developed a habitat restoration plan to return the creek to its former state by removing invasive and non-native plants and replanting native, riparian plants at the source. In addition, in South San Francisco, new wetland was created to mitigate wetland lost to floodwall construction and improvements. The California clapper rail is expected to reinhabit the new salt and freshwater wetland, along with other species displaced by the flood control works.

The United States Geological Survey operated a stream gauge on Colma Creek from 1963 to 1996 (gage 11162720). It recorded a peak gage height of 7.53 feet and a peak flow of 3,560 cfs on Dec. 8, 1987.

Watercourse gallery

|File:Colma Creek at Woodlawn.jpg|On the west side of El Camino Real in front of Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, looking northwest|File:Colma Creek by South San Francisco BART station.jpg|By the South San Francisco BART station, looking northwest along the border with Colma|File:Colma Creek at Chestnut Ave.jpg|At Chestnut Ave, looking southeast, just above where Twelve Mile Creek joins from the right|File:Twelve Mile Creek (Colma Creek tributary) at Antoinette Lane.jpg|Twelve Mile Creek at Antoinette Lane, South San Francisco, looking southwest, upstream|File:Colma Creek at Orange Memorial Park.jpg|At Orange Memorial Park, South San Francisco, looking northwest into the park|File:Colma Creek at S. Linden Ave.jpg|At S. Linden Ave, South San Francisco, as the creek approaches the railroad tracks and US 101 on its way to the bay|title=}}

References

References

1. {{Cite GNIS
2. "Colma Creek, USGS San Francisco South (CA) Topo Map". TopoQuest.com.
3. "Colma Creek Watershed". Museumca.org.
4. "Colma Creek Restoration Plan, Shelterbelt Builders, Inc.".
5. "San Mateo County Department of Public Works".
6. USGS 11162720 COLMA C A SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CA, https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/dv?referred_module=sw&site_no=11162720