San Mateo Creek (San Francisco Bay Area)

San Mateo Creek (Spanish for: St. Matthew Creek) is a perennial stream that provides the only natural outlet of Crystal Springs Reservoir through the Crystal Springs Dam.

History

Captain Juan Bautista de Anza, after forging the first overland route from Monterey, California to San Francisco Bay, camped on the banks of San Mateo Creek on March 29, 1776, after exploring the peninsula and selecting the sites for Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) and the Presidio of San Francisco. Later, a party of families, soldiers, and priests, on their way to establish San Francisco, also camped here for three days, June 24–27, 1776. A plaque labelled "California State Historial Landmark No. 47 Anza Expedition Camp" is located at Arroyo Court, one block west on West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo.

Watershed

San Mateo Creek's source elevation is at almost 1,000 feet on Sweeney Ridge...
Read More