Soquel Creek
{{Short description|River of Santa Cruz County, California}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Soquel Creek
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other = Rosario del Beato Serafin de Asculi{{cite web |url=http://www.soquelpioneers.com/history.html |title=Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association |access-date=May 9, 2022}}
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = California
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Santa Cruz County
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| subdivision_name5 = Soquel, Capitola
| length = {{convert|16|mi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite report |title=Soquel Creek Streamflow Assessment Study |author=Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County |date=December 2019 |url=https://www.midcountygroundwater.org/sites/default/files/uploads/SoquelCreekStreamflowAssessmentStudy_FINAL_02-18-2020_v2.pdf |accessdate=May 9, 2022}}
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| discharge1_location= USGS Soquel Creek gage (11160000)
| discharge1_min = {{convert|405|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max = {{convert|15800|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}{{cite report |title=Soquel Creek Watershed Assessment and Enhancement Project Plan |author=Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District |date=January 27, 2004 |url=https://www.rcdsantacruz.org/images/watershed_plans/SCWEP.pdf |accessdate=May 9, 2022}}
| source1 =
| source1_location = Southern Santa Cruz Mountains
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|37|06|37|N|121|54|38|W|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3000|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Monterey Bay
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|36|58|18|N|121|57|07|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|42|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = West Branch Soquel Creek, Burns Creek, Laurel Creek, Hester Creek
| tributaries_right = East Branch Soquel Creek, Fern Gulch, Asbury Gulch, Amaya Creek, Hinckley Creek
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Soquel Creek is a southward flowing {{convert|16|mi|km}} creek that begins in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Cruz County, California and enters Monterey Bay at Capitola Beach in Capitola, California.
History and ecology
The redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests of the middle and upper watershed were heavily logged during the second half of the 1800s, and into the twentieth century. Most of today's forests are second growth, with most trees now over one hundred years old.
Water quality of the creek is measured{{bywhom|date=June 2022}}.{{cite report |title=TMDL Report for the San Lorenzo River, Soquel Creek, and Aptos Creek Watersheds |date=September 2020 |url=https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/85035/637600445841570000 |accessdate=May 9, 2022}}
Watershed and course
Soquel Creek drains the largest watershed of mid-Santa Cruz County, and passes through the communities of Soquel and Capitola. Part of the creek's upper reaches flow through Soquel Demonstration State Forest and the western part of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. About 25% of the headwaters of the watershed are on land protected by the state.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Monterey Bay Area}}
Category:Rivers of Santa Cruz County, California