Volume 15, No. 2, Fall 2004

We envision as a thriving corridor of native riparian and aquatic ecosystems connecting the Coast Ranges to the and the Delta. We envision a Putah Creek watershed community of people who value their creek and are committed to its stewardship. Updates Around the Creek Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee: Grants and Dams Rich Marovich CALFED Grant On April 6, the State Water Resources Control Board announced an award to the LPCCC of $992,236 from the Prop 50 CALFED Watershed Program to continue the PCC Adopt-A-Reach Project (volun- teer activism), continue the Putah Creek Above: The Spring Cleanup gathered Discovery Corridor Project (public edu- this recliner, among other things. cation opportunities on public lands), de- Right: Tom Cahill speaks to a good velop bioindicators of restoration success crowd during the June field trip. (UC Davis studies), update the PCC guide to Putah Creek, and update the Watershed Putah Creek Council: Restoration, Cleanup, and Education Management Action Plan. Dawn Lindstrom Putah Creek Council Website Coast and Creek Cleanup for the past 6 Wildlife Conservation Board Gets a Facelift! years and has been the lead organization Grant If you have not had the opportunity to for Yolo County for the past two years. On August 12, the WCB approved $1,207 take a look at the redesigned Putah Creek On September 18, 2004, volunteers along million for implementation projects in the Council website, you will be surprised at Putah Creek went to sites at Yolo Housing Lower Putah Creek Watershed, including the wealth of knowledge you will find. Authority, Winters Nature Park, and Lake the following: The new website was developed by Chuck Solano Park to scour the Creek for trash. • Restore natural stream dimensions and Lundgren, of Iris Software out of Chico, From these locations, volunteers split into augment spawning gravel for salmon. as part of a Sacramento River Watershed work teams and went to a total of five sites • Stabilize the south bank of Putah Creek at Program website grant to the Putah Creek along Putah Creek. They removed 2500 the Dry Creek Confluence. Council. On the new website you’ll find an pounds of trash and 1100 pounds of recy- • Control invasive weeds throughout the overview of Putah Creek and the PCC, our clables. The Putah Creek Cleanup was a channel. mission statement, information on how to partnership between Putah Creek Council, Cal/EPA Integrated Waste Man- become a member, and back issues of PC Winters Putah Creek Committee, Lower agement Board Farm and Ranch Putah Creek Coordinating Committee, News. The website also includes featured Cleanup Program stories, a calendar—including upcoming Yolo County, City of Winters, This program has funded the removal of projects on Putah Creek—and the most re- Park, and the Yolo Housing Authority. seven cars and over 1,000 tons of waste cent Putah Creek news items. Take a look at A Watershed Fair at Lake Solano followed concrete from Putah Creek, on the south- www.putahcreekcouncil.org. the cleanup, with a barbecue, band, and wa- ter activities for all Yolo and Solano County ern side (Solano County). It will support 20th Annual Coast and Creek cleanup participants. The Solano Resource the first project to infill riparian vegeta- Cleanup Conservation District and Community Al- tion along the top of the bank to deter fu- The Putah Creek Council has participated liance with Family Farmers sponsored the ture dumping. Unlike fences that are eas- in the Coastal Commission’s fair. ily defeated, riparian vegetation provides See PCC Update, p. 2 See LPCCC Update, p. 2 2 Fall 2004 Putah Creek News PCC Update, from p. 1 between Winters and Davis. Adopt-A-Flat Spring Cleanup 2004 Spring Workshops The Putah Creek Council and the UC Davis For the past 14 years the Putah Creek Two workshops were held this past spring. Riparian Reserve are beginning a new proj- Council has sponsored a spring cleanup A workshop on beaver behavior and their ect called Adopt-A-Flat. We will provide along Putah Creek. In 2004, over 3.5 tons impacts on the creek riparian ecosystem native grass seed, trays, soil, fertilizer, and of trash and 28 tires were collected at the was led by Mary Tappel. In early June, Tom instructions for volunteers who would like Putah Creek Council’s Spring Cleanup on and Ginny Cahill led an exciting field trip to raise flats of native grass plugs for winter Saturday May 17th. Fifty volunteers par- with geologists Eldridge Moores and Bob and spring restoration projects at the UCD ticipated in the three-hour long event to Matthews to the wild south side of the Pu- Riparian Reserve. The project will involve beautify Putah Creek; they removed trac- tah Creek canyon west of Winters. Eldridge a series of field days to spread the seed, tor tires, rusted oil drums, and various other Moores explained the geology of the Putah learn about raising the grass plugs, and to items. Volunteers worked from Mace Bou- Creek canyon and the rare salt water springs return and plant the grass plugs. levard toward the Yolo Bypass, clearing found there, Bob Matthews discussed land There are two initial dates set to spread away trash items along the banks of Putah stability, and Tom and Ginny showed the the grass seed in the flats and learn about Creek as well as in the creek itself. At the effects of a August 2003 wildfire on a re- raising grass plugs: Sunday, October 17 end of the day, volunteers were rewarded covering stand of native grasses. and Saturday, November 13. We will be with lunch and prizes for their hard work seeding the flats at the fire ring on the UCD and dedication to a cleaner and more beau- Oak Watering Riparian Reserve from 9:30 to 11:00 AM on tiful environment along Putah Creek. For the past two years, a group of about both dates. Volunteers only need to come 10 dedicated PCC volunteers has been wa- to one of the dates. In February and March Restoration Projects tering valley oaks at the UC Putah Creek we will schedule planting days to plant the Over the past two years, the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve in conjunction with the plugs on the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Council has led or co-led 12 restoration Society for Conservation Biology and UC grassland restoration area. If you are inter- projects along Putah Creek. Sites included Davis. We would like to thank those vol- ested, contact Dawn Lindstrom (see below) are the Winters Putah Creek Nature Park, unteers for their dedication and hard work. so supplies can be ordered. Creekside Way property in Winters, UC Thanks to their commitment, the valley To learn more about or become in- Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Mace Bou- oaks are taking off and were able to survive volved in any of these projects, please levard, John Vickerey’s property in Win- the harsh summer temperatures. Next oak contact Dawn Lindstrom, PCC Pro- ters, Ethel Hoskins’s property along Pleas- watering dates are Sunday, October 17, and gram Coordinator, at (530) 757-2776 or ant’s Creek, and the Stevenson Bridge area Saturday, November 13. [email protected]

LPCCC Update, from p. 1 about one mile east of 505. With 125 units, have dumped large quantities of sediment a three-dimensional, self-repairing bar- it is the highest density housing on Putah and organic debris below the dam. Periodi- rier to dumping. Almost all of the ongoing Creek. The creek frontage has long been ne- cally this sediment and debris is removed dumping is associated with gaps in the ri- glected and the vegetation consists almost to maintain a clear channel for flows below parian vegetation along the top of the bank entirely of weeds, chiefly eucalyptus, tree- the dam. The study was designed to deter- near public roads. By filling in this wall of of-heaven, Himalayan blackberry, arundo, mine how the dam could be operated in a vegetation, roadside trash will remain on and a variety of thistles. The project in- way to minimize sediment and debris ac- the top of the bank where it can be more cludes cleanup of trash, removal of weeds, cumulation. However, the study found that easily removed. The plantings will also en- repair of over-widened reaches and gravel flood carrying capacity of Putah Creek be- hance the continuity of riparian cover for additions for support of salmon spawning low the dam has changed substantially since dispersal of wildlife. habitat on one-half mile of creek frontage. the dam was built. Vegetation—including Our latest application to this program pro- Boundaries of the project are being negoti- many invasive weeds—has congested the poses additional cleanup efforts: ated with neighboring landowners. A com- channel between the dam and Winters to • Removing several large culverts that re- munity liaison, Olga Garzon of UC Davis the extent that the channel can no longer main from old gravel mining operations. Public Service Research Program (Joyce convey flows that are consistent with de- • Removing a truck cab west of Winters. Gutstein) has been interviewing YHA resi- sign specifications of the dam. In a future • Cleaning up two dump sites east of 505. dents and drafting a grass roots restoration high flow event there is increased risk that • Removing the car at Stevenson Bridge. plan that will encourage YHA residents to flood flows would back up over the earthen All of these projects are administered by take a continuing interest in Putah Creek wall on the north end of the dam, causing Solano Resource Conservation District. A when the restoration work is completed. the earthen wall to wash out on the reced- similar proposal is in development for the Putah Diversion Dam ing limb of the flood. Yolo side. This could damage the dam itself. Several Maintenance Yolo Housing Authority management alternatives are under consid- Solano County Water Agency has funded a eration pending a determination by the U.S. The YHA project through the CALFED study by PWA, a geomorphic engineering Bureau of Reclamation on the acceptability Watershed Program (Prop 13 funds) has company, of Putah Diversion Dam to de- of current flood capacity below the dam. been contracted with State Water Resources termine ways to reduce its long term main- Control Board. YHA is a public housing tenance costs and minimize disturbance of facility on the north bank of Putah Creek riparian habitat. Recent high flow events Putah Creek News Fall 2004 3 Biomonitoring and the New Zealand Mud Snail Rich Marovich and Dawn Lindstrom Right: These tiny The Progress of the Snail Stream Biomonitoring juvenile mud The LPCCC and Solano County Water Since native aquatic insects are the first snails travel by Agency (SCWA), with support from U.S. animals likely to be affected by NZMS and drifting down- Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bu- since they are the primary food of native stream on the reau of Reclamation, have funded delinea- fishes, the LPCCC and SCWA have com- current. tion studies of New Zealand Mud Snail (to missioned a first-ever inventory of aquatic determine the boundaries of its infestation) invertebrates in Putah Creek, particularly and a photo-inventory of aquatic inverte- stream benthic macroinvertebrates (stream brates (insects and native aquatic snails). bugs you can see). Going beyond the usual As recently as February 2003, NZMS precision of such studies, which often stop was not known to occur in Putah Creek at at the genus level, the Putah Creek aquatic Fishing Access #3, an area that is now the invertebrate inventory will include identi- epicenter of the infestation. By October fication down to species. So far, approxi- 2003, NZMS at low densities (hundreds mately 50 species have been identified. per square meter) had spread throughout a Each live specimen will be magnified and one mile reach centered on Fishing Access photographed with identifying features #3. Very high flows (12,000 cfs) last win- highlighted. ter distributed the snails six miles down- Without this baseline inventory, the effect Above: Cherie Davis and Greg stream. They are now found throughout of NZMS on native invertebrates might not Bonovich do D-net sampling in Lake Solano and three miles downstream. be measurable. The inventory also allows Putah Creek. The downstream occurrences are scattered measurement of increases in aquatic inver- Below: Some of our photogenic and typically limited to one or two snails tebrate richness from gravel augmentation invertebrates: per rock. projects that are planned to improve salmon Siphlonurus nymph (Gray Drake) Meanwhile, the population at Fishing Ac- spawning habitat. While salmon may not Unidentified Damselfly nymph cess #3 continues to increase and is now up return to Putah Creek in large numbers for Corophium spinicome (Scud) to 5,000 snails per square meter in some lo- several years, aquatic invertebrates can re- cations. The undersides of individual rocks spond to new habitat in a matter of weeks. are encrusted with snails that not only com- Biomonitoring Volunteers pete with native invertebrates that graze on Putah Creek Council is organizing volun- algae, but also physically displace them. teers to participate in the aquatic inverte- The impact of NZMS on native aquatic brate inventory and NZMS monitoring ef- insects and fish in Putah Creek is unknown. fort. The NZMS population continues to rise The first meeting of people interested in exponentially, as is common with invasive stream biomonitoring on Putah Creek was species that have been released from natu- held on Saturday, August 28, and we now ral controls (predators, parasites and dis- have a committed group of volunteers to eases). It remains to be seen how resilient start the biomonitoring group. Volunteers Putah Creek will be to this invader. Our na- will get to know the creek from the founda- tive signal crayfish and red-ear sunfish like tion of the food chain and experience the to eat snails but may not be able to keep up amazing, often overlooked richness of life with NZMS populations. Chemical control in Putah Creek. The group will be receiving is not practical. training on the types of stream monitoring Introduced biological control may be and how to perform the bioassessments. practical in the future. Dr. Mark Dybdahl of They will help with drift studies, D-net as- Washington State University has collected sessments, cage assessments, and invento- a trematode parasite of NZMS from New rying and identifying stream benthic mac- Zealand and Australia and has isolated a roinvertebrates. strain that is effective against the western The group will be monitoring Putah Creek U.S. clone of NZMS. The parasite steriliz- once a month and working with PCC, es NZMS. Much study remains to be done LPCCC, and independent biologist Ken to make certain that any introduced para- Davis on this project. The group will moni- site would not impact native snails or other tor sites along Putah Creek with a focus native species. The parasite appears to be on inventorying the benthic macroinverte- highly selective for clones of NZMS and brates along the entire length of Lower Pu- is therefore very promising as a biological tah Creek and especially sites that may be agent for control of NZMS. infested by the New Zealand Mud Snail. All photos this page © Ken W. Davis 4 Fall 2004 Putah Creek News

Gary Godefroy on an easy section of Putah Creek

an amazing atmosphere of isolation and solitude. I began at Lake Solano and paddled down the lake to the dam, portaging over it on the north side. On the south side of the dam, the majority of the water flowing into Lake Solano is diverted into Solano County for agricultural use via an aqueduct. Due to the efforts of the Putah Creek Council and oth- ers, there is now enough flow remaining in Putah Creek for anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead that formerly used the creek to return again and spawn. Below the dam I encountered easy pad- dling, but also sections that narrowed, with the current cutting into the bank around turns and flowing under dense, prickly blackberry bushes. On one of my first ex- From Berryessa to Bypass by Kayak cursions I capsized my kayak in this stage. Gary Godefroy I lacked the experience to put all my ma- If you are interested in having fun on a summer temperatures provides a habitat terials in a dry sack and tie it securely to creek with family and friends, including that grows record-sized rainbow and brown the inside of the kayak. I was dumped into modest, unobstructed rapids and beautiful trout. Unfortunately, it is not a great habitat waist-deep water and had to scramble to scenery, I recommend Cache Creek in the for kayaks. Fallen logs and dense vegeta- retrieve my paddle, lunch, binoculars, and Capay Valley. If you’re contemplating a tion create hazards that can capsize a kayak articles of clothing as they floated down similar experience on Putah Creek, beware as easily as a plunging rapid. I carried my stream. I quickly learned to store my sup- and read on. kayak around two rapids and still capsized plies securely and be alert to surprises that Beginning at the base of it twice. Tramping through poison oak can can be waiting around the most innocuous- as a tumbling mountain stream, Putah be another unavoidable inconvenience. appearing corner. After about four hours of Creek carves its way through a canyon un- Reports of smashed canoes and harrowing paddling, I reached the Winters Bridge and til it reaches Lake Solano. Below the lake, trips in inflatable “lake” rafts confirm that pulled my kayak up the bank on the north the creek meanders across the Sacramento only those experienced in Class II-III river side of the creek to the road. Valley until it merges with the Sacramento runs should even think about this stretch. River via sloughs in the Yolo Bypass and Eventually I reached smooth water that Stage 3: Winters Bridge to south. led into Lake Solano. This is an excellent Stevenson Bridge A couple years ago I decided to kayak location for family picnics and safe kayak- This was the shortest run in terms of time, from the base of Monticello Dam to the ing. One can paddle Putah Creek upstream about 2 to 3 hours, but it is one of the long- Sacramento River, or at least the Yolo By- for about a half mile and downstream an- est in terms of distance and includes the pass. I didn’t realize then that it would take other mile or so to the diversion dam with- steepest and narrowest passages. At least me almost two years in 6 separate stages, out difficulty. one canoe was lost in this reach during averaging between three to six hours per Stage 2: Lake Solano to the Town high flows last year. The run includes a few stage, and more than 24 hours of accumu- short riffles and the usual fallen log or two lated paddling to complete the trip. The of Winters to climb over or around. From here to Mace This begins the nearly flat course of the following is a description and assessment Boulevard (Stage 4) one can see occasional creek as it winds its way across the valley of each stage as I traversed this unique and otters, muskrats, and beavers. I’ve even towards the Sacramento River. It is also the varied watershed. Note on creek access: If seen two minks. Birds are plentiful. Black- more remote stretch of the creek. There is a put-in or take-out wasn’t clearly public crowned night herons, wood ducks, great little public access except for an occasional land I stayed clear, as all should to fully re- blue herons, great egrets, green-backed her- bridge or the section that runs through UC spect private property. ons, and raptors such as great horned owls, Davis. The riparian vegetation is usually red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, Stage 1: The Base of Monticello dense and impenetrable, and I was often 15 and (in the summer) Swainson’s hawks can Dam to Lake Solano feet or more below the surrounding agricul- often be seen. Many smaller birds, includ- Water from is released from tural land in a channel carved by the creek. ing black phoebes, are present. Others are the base of the dam providing a cold, con- I entered an essentially isolated world and there but are not as obvious. For a take-out, tinuous flow 365 days a year. A combination encountered virtually no human life ex- I found a trail under Stevenson Bridge on of cold water and warm, insect-breeding cept at the bridge accesses. This created the south side of the creek that led up the Putah Creek News Fall 2004 5 bank to Stevenson Bridge Road. branches I had to continually brush aside as head and it aborted the dive about ten feet Stage 4: Stevenson Bridge to Old I waded through waist-deep water pulling above me. I never saw a nest, but I did see my kayak behind me. The Mace Boulevard its mate, and the bird continued to screech Davis Road Bridge didn’t come soon enough. until I left the area. As with much of the creek below Lake Stage 6: Mace Boulevard to the A few hundred yards downstream from Solano, I traveled through private land. that incident I noticed four wild turkeys at One should not and cannot legally explore Yolo Basin’s East Toe Drain and the edge of a ten foot bank above the wa- these areas adjacent the creek. An excep- on to Lake Washington ter, but these birds glanced at me, totally tion is where the creek passes through UC The final leg of the trip was long, about six uninterested, and continued to forage. I Davis. At the foot of Hopkins Road there hours. There was little chance of capsizing, had lunch on the bypass a couple hours are picnic tables, fire pits, and wide slow but I soon encountered the largest beaver later, and as I climbed out of the channel, water that is excellent for boating, flatwater dam I’d seen on the creek. It was about I saw about a hundred Angus cattle grazing kayaking, fishing, and exploring. One can five feet higher than the water level on placidly nearby. I could see Highway 80 travel up or downstream for half a mile in the downstream side and created a signifi- a few miles to the north. It was a wonder- either direction. Along with Lake Solano, cant barrier. I carried my kayak around it ful, remote feeling sitting there, eating my this is an excellent location to bring family without seeing the perpetrators, but freshly lunch with the cattle, far from any human and friends for an outing. chewed cottonwoods were nearby. beings. After lunch I portaged over a small A word of caution, however: From the check dam, and from there the creek was road this area is easy to locate, but from the basically a narrow ditch until it reached the creek it may be missed since one is down toe drain. The toe drain is a wide, manmade in the stream channel, unable to see above channel at the eastern edge of the Yolo Ba- the riparian vegetation. After a few miles, sin that parallels the Sacramento River un- or even a few hundred yards, most of the til merging with it miles to the south. shoreline looks the same. Bridges are the Originally, I had planned to paddle down most reliable landmark and the next one af- the toe drain to the river, but the wind was ter Hopkins Road is the Interstate 80 over- blowing strongly from the south and I was pass. Not far beyond are Old Davis Road concerned about finding a landmark that Bridge and the nearby UC Davis Raptor my wife could reach by automobile. I saw Center. Pulling out on the north side of the no convenient bridges on my map, and creek near the Interstate 80 Bridge, I was since discretion is the better part of valor, able to find a trail to the road. A little farther downstream a Swainson’s and I was tired, I paddled upstream instead Stage 5: Old Davis Road to Mace hawk started screeching from atop a tall to Interstate 80 (at the Toe Drain), carried Boulevard dead tree as I approached. I thought I was my kayak over the bordering north levee too inconspicuous to be the object of its This was the most unpleasant stretch for and dropped into the west end of Lake discontent, but as I was perusing my bird me. There was abundant willow growth Washington. A few minutes later I was at field guide in the middle of the creek, I was that clogged the creek, making paddling the Enterprise Avenue Bridge that crosses startled by a very loud whoosh as my flop- impossible at times. I recall pulling my the lake. I pulled my kayak out, settled py hat was dislodged and pushed onto my kayak through some of the overgrowth and down on a lawn under the shade of a tree, forehead. I looked up to see the hawk ris- feeling like Humphrey Bogart in the classic called home on my cell phone, and waited ing from his dive. It was amazing the force movie The African Queen as he and Kath- for my wife to arrive. My mission was ac- that the wind created. The bird had flown in erine Hepburn tried to find Lake Victoria. complished—Lake Berryessa to the Yolo from behind and caught me completely un- Fortunately I didn’t encounter the leeches Bypass by kayak. It was quite an adventure awares. I decided I’d better be more alert, he and Katherine did, but there were plenty but not recommended as a fun outing for and sure enough, it began a second dive of long-legged spiders in the low-hanging family and friends. from behind me. I waved my paddle over- Beaver photo courtesy Mary Tappell Sightings Hanging Out by Putah Creek with From Rich Marovich: On March 31, Den- From Peter Moyle: The creek was hard to Younger Poets nis Kilkenny saw what appeared to be a sample this spring because of high water, large black house cat. Suddenly it jumped but my salmon crew (leader Katie Small, Sitting on the dusty into the water and Dennis exlaimed, “it’s a assisted by students John Jacobson and dry-leaf crackly ground, mink!” According to Melanie Truan, there David Epstein) still found lots of healthy freeway rumble south, were reports of mink on Putah Creek but juveniles in the creek in mid April. Most black walnut shade, no one had seen any in recent years. Minks had already left by that time. There is every crosslegged, hot, are small but fierce predators known to reason to think that it was a good year for exchanging little poems. prey on animals larger than themselves. salmon in Putah Creek. It has been a good Andy Engilis listed mink among the mam- year for other native fish as well, with lots Gary Snyder, from Danger on Peaks mals he expected to find on Putah Creek, of small pikeminnows, suckers, and tule but Dennis was the first to report one. perch present. 6 Fall 2004 Putah Creek News Thank You to Our Supporters in 2003 and 2004

pecial thanks to all our supporters! M. Kim Fondrk Stephen Newman We had a record-breaking fundraiser Peter Foster Jane Newton Carolyn and Andrew Fulks Lynn and Bill O’Leary Sthis year, with nearly $10,000 dollars Maria Melendez and John Gallagher John Ott raised to fund our projects (see Dawn Lind- Gary Godefroy Dottie and Dennis Pendleton strom’s update to see what your money is Nathan Goedde Diane Mitchell and Michael Perrone, Jr. helping to accomplish!) The many hours Nancy and David Gray Dana Stokes and Tom Phillips Joyce Gutstein Robert L. Powell spent by our volunteers have also helped Charles Halsted Caroline and David Pratt us to protect and enhance Putah Creek. Regina and John Hamel Turid and Michael Reid Lassie and Bruce Hammock Warren Roberts Genevieve Hasbrook Kathleen and Paul Robins Amy and Daniel Abramson Erin and John Hasbrook Andy Rockriver Debbie Dillon and Warren Adams Rick Hein Arnold Roessler Karen and Steve Adams Ruth Holm Evelyne and Richard Rominger A.B. and F.T. Addicott Betty Houston Janet and Mike Rushton Leslie Snow and Jim Allen Jack Howarth Craig and Chris Rust Pat and Tom Allen Steve Hoyt Teresa Sackett Holly Crosson and Lars Anderson Anne Huber Claudia and Roger Salquist Lorraine Anderson Jean Jackman Sherri Sandberg Rachel Aptekar Joan Brenchley and Kevin Jackson Mary and John Sawyer Audubon California Larry Jahn Greg Schmidt Valerie Whitworth and Michael Barbour Robin Kulakow and Bill Julian Liz Merry and Bob Schneider Mickey Barlow Nancy and John Jungerman William Schoeningh Kim Ohlson and Allen Barnes Barbara Kendrick Pete Schulz Charles Barquist Amy Gilreath and Paul Keyser Gregg Schwab Racine Barton Jessica and Dennis Kilkenny Carol and Ed Scianna Lawrence Bazel Charlotte Ann Kimball Mitch Sears Lois Beazell Mary Kimball Barbara and Walt Sherwood Linda and Henry Bennett Marianne Kirkland Jeanie Sherwood Bob Berman Mick Klasson Allegra Silberstein Elizabeth Berteaux Mitch Korcyl Diane and Gary Simon Hannah and Ernst Biberstein Margaret and Bill Kralovec Melody and Dean Simonton Rick Bierman Neal Kroll Kay Smith Rachael Blake Janet and Joe Krovoza Robert Snyder Greg Bonovich Rosemarie and Walter Krovoza Ted Sommer Margaret and Robert Boshoven Kelly McGuire and Carmen Kuffner Nicole Starsinic Susie Boyd Jaimie Madison and Manfred Kusch Susanne Rockwell and Brian Sway Amy Boyer Lillian and Fayne Lantz Anne and Ted Swift Brooke and Clay Brandow Larry Walker and Associates Elizabeth Eklund Tara Dorothy and Robert Brazelton Dr. G. Fred Lee Suzanne and Larry Teuber John Brinley Martha Lennihan Craig Thomsen Graham Calciano Eve Lance and Greg Leo The Honorable Helen Thomson Susan Carlson Dan Leroy Judy Boshoven and Marcelo Tognelli Diane and Keith Cary Margaret Leavitt and Alan Lilly Joe Ellen Ryan and Gene Trapp Marcia and Mark Cary Camille and Vic Lim Robert Traut Mary and Joseph Cech, Jr. Dawn Lindstrom Nika and Michael Turelli Susan Schiller and Steve Chainey Kim Longworth Petra and Ron Unger John Chiles Nancy and Jim Lyons Ann and Ernst Von Kugelgen Laura Hogan and Steve Cohen Marla Macoubrie Bill Wagman Rebecca and Ron Cole Marjorie March Keith Wagner Genevieve Colborn Donna and Rich Marovich Naomi Walker Brian Collett Barbara Martinez Donna and Clint Winger Val Conner Holiday and Robert Matchett Robert Weidenfeld Shelia and Bob Cordrey Patricia Erigero and Tom Matoff James Wellington Ann and Fred Costello Kate Mawdsley Sandra F. and Robert D. Westfall Helen Roland and James Cramer Andrea and Jim Mayer Marth and John Westgate Elizabeth and Darryl Davis Julie and Craig McNamara Judy and John Whitcombe Bev and Ed Dawkins Annette and Ken Mercurio Ann Huber and John Whitehead Bruce Dawson Beth and Rick Mercurio Kathryn Radke and John Williams Mary Dawson Cheryl Mercurio Valerie Williamson Debra Denton Janet Mercurio Kevin Wolf Christy and Chris Dewees Brett Moffatt and Family The Honorable Lois Wolk Marguerite DiGiorgio Jennifer Moller Mary Bourguignon and Rick Wood Natalie and Bob Dorn Rosa Maria and Paul Moller Rachel and Patrick Wright Pat Dressendorfer Diane Moore Judy and Richard Wydick Harrison C. Dunning Sally and Peter Moore Janet Yates Wendy Cohen and Jim Eaton Judy and Eldridge Moores Lizzy McCarthy and Gus Yates Sid England Marilyn and Peter Moyle Gary Zamzow Hazel and Emanuel Epstein Glenn Nedwin Collette and Cedrik Zemitis Marilyn Whitney and John Fawcett Marcia Gibbs and Pierre Neu Irene and Haig Zeronian Sarah and Chris Fischer Cathy Neuhauser Kathleen and David Zezulak Putah Creek News Fall 2004 7 Reading the Rocks of Putah Creek Amy Boyer On a midsummer day, a journey along the The upturned baked banks of Putah Creek looks nothing rocks at like a journey to the bottom of the sea— Devil’s Gate and yet, in a sense, it is just that. Nowhere once were sea is that more evident than at the salt seep on floor; now Tom Cahill’s property, on the south side of they are Putah Creek, just above Lake Solano. The evidence of brackish, sulfur-smelling water is trapped, plate chemically altered sea water, oozing from tectonics. rock that once was sea floor, and pressed Photo © out by the forces of plate tectonics. Cynthia The geology of Putah Creek is the tale Moore of 3 or 4 tectonic plates. Davis sits on the Great Valley/Sierra Nevada microplate, part of the jigsaw that makes up California. As the Coast Ranges rise, Putah Creek about one hundred million years later, is Once part of the North American Plate, it keeps cutting downward through them. It pressed to the surface as though the rock rubs along between that plate and the Pa- is probably older than the mountains that were a recalcitrant (and smelly) grape. cific Plate, moving slowly northwest rela- surround it, just as it is much older than the If you keep going past Monticello Dam tive to the North American Plate. Before Plainfield Ridge. Therefore, if you drive and turn north toward Lake Berryessa, you the Pacific Plate and the North American along Route 128, you can see the rock of come to a shiny outcropping of serpentine, Plate crunched together, a third plate, the the mountains, progressing from terrestrial California’s state rock. In that area it tends Farallon Plate, was moving into and under rock to sea floor. Old stream deposits ap- to be gray-green on black. Here is where the North American Plate. The rock from pear between Winters and Solano Lake, as we meet the bottom of the sea; indeed, we the Farallon Plate that went below the sur- if Putah Creek were cutting down through meet rock of the oceanic crust itself. Ser- face went down far enough to be partially its old bed. Layered among these deposits pentine is, roughly, peridotite with water melted to form magma. The magma rose, is our very own Putah Tuff, volcanic ash added, and peridotite forms as far down in then cooled, and became the enormous that welded together as it cooled, probably the earth’s mantle as rocks can get and still granite batholiths found in the Sierras. The from volcanoes near Calistoga. Visible make it up to the surface. It’s full of mag- same movement scraped rock off the Far- west of it are older volcanic rocks, basalts nesium and iron and weathers into harsh allon Plate and produced the Franciscan similar to those visible near Oroville. They soil that is difficult or impossible for most mélange in the western Coast Ranges. The may be the remains of a geologic “hot plants to grow in—which means that the Farallon Plate was an oceanic plate, so all spot,” like the one that created the island Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada foot- of this rock was once sea floor. Between the arc of Hawai’i, though this one seems to hills, where serpentine is also found, are granite and the mélange are rocks, called have made its way to Yellowstone. home to many of California’s rarest plants, the Great Valley sequence, that formed in It’s at Monticello Dam that sea floor be- those that can make it on serpentine. a trough, the so-called “arc-trench gap” be- comes especially visible—and so do the If you continue west, beyond the serpen- tween the subduction zone where the Faral- forces of plate tectonics. Those steeply tine, you come to Franciscan mélange, a lon Plate slid under North America and the tilted rocks once were nearly horizontal, geologist’s term for “the incredibly mixed- magmatic zone of the Sierra Nevada. gathering sand and silt in deep water at the up rock that occurs near San Francisco.” If we travel west from the Toe Drain along edge of the continent. Rocks of the same When you get to road cuts that look as Putah Creek, we are, roughly, travelling composition, formed at the same time, lie swirly as a fingerprint, you’ve hit Francis- back in time. The soil that makes up Pu- beneath the nearly horizontal floor under- can mélange. Ths consists of a chaotic mix- tah Creek’s banks from Winters eastward neath the alluvium. But ture of sea floor rocks that got scraped off is alluvium deposited by streams coming the strains of plate interactions have shoved the Farallon plate, and it contains all kinds down off the Coast Ranges. The alluvium these particular rocks to their current up- of different rock. Trying to account for how has been coming down for a few million right position. Their striped look comes they got mixed together was nearly impos- years now, and it is very thick. A mile west from bands of relatively soft shale between sible before the theory of plate tectonics of Cactus Corners, near Roads 97 and 96 harder bands of sandstone. The shale erodes provided a mechanism. along road 32, the Plainfield Ridge raises faster than the sandstone, so the sandstone Taken all together, the rocks of California, the alluvium, and believe it or not, the little gradually becomes more prominent. These from the batholiths of the Sierras to the ser- rises just south of Road 32 along Pierce bands of rock run from a bit west of Pleas- pentine and mélange of the Coast Ranges, Ranch Road and at Road 96 are probably ants Valley Road to the dam (and beyond) represent—literally—the textbook example the youngest of the Coast Ranges, so young and account for the characteristic sharp, of what happens when one plate bends un- that they only rise a few feet above the sur- jagged tops of the ridges. It’s within these derneath another, and many of these rocks rounding countryside. bands that salt water was trapped and now, are visible right here, along Putah Creek. Putah Creek Council NONPROFIT ORG. P.O. Box 743 U.S.POSTAGE Davis, CA 95617 PAID DAVIS, CA PERMIT NO. 196 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Putah Creek News Fall 2004

Putah Creek News Join us! Volume 15, No. 2 Help protect and Season 2004 restore a unique Putah Creek Council local resource. Become P.O. Box 743, Davis, CA 95617 a member of the Putah Putah Creek News is a periodic publication of the Creek Council today! Putah Creek Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Putah Name: ______Creek and its tributaries through advocacy, education and community-based stewardship. Address: ______To become involved in Putah Creek Council projects City: ______State:______Zip:______or to be added to our listserve, please contact Dawn Phone (eve,):______(day) ______Lindstrom, Program Coordinator, at (530) 757-2776 or [email protected] Email (will not be shared): ______Donors of $35 will receive a copy of the new guidebook Putah Creek Council Board of Directors “Exploring Putah Creek.” Donors of $50 or more will re- Allen Barnes (Chair) ceive both the book and a Putah Creek Council T-shirt (please Gary Godefroy (Secretary-Treasurer) specify size). Barbara Kendrick Here is my contribution: Friend $25 ($15 senior/student) Joe Krovoza Family $35 Sponsor $250 Daniel Leroy Supporter $50 Patron $500 Ron Unger Contributor $100 Make checks payable to Putah Creek Council. Submissions welcome. Please query Putah Creek Contributions tax-deductible to extent allowable by law. News Editor: Amy Boyer ([email protected])