Garrapata Creek

Several plant communities are found along the lower and middle reaches of Garrapata Creek. Near the mouth there are coastal strand and coastal sage communities. Among the plants present are black sage, Salvia mellifera, California sagebrush, Artemisia californica, and Lupinus arboreus. The rare manzanita, Arctostaphylos edmundsii, reaches its northern limit in the canyon of the creek. Inland, along the canyon wall, is an excellent redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, forest.

Animal life is abundant in the area and typical of the central coastal region. The stream is permanent and is utilized by several anadromous fish including the steelhead rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnerii gairdnerii.

The canyon has been cut through the Mesozoic granites of the Santa Lucia Range and parallels to the north the Palo Colorado Fault which cuts to sea in the immediate vicinity of the mouth of the Creek. At the mouth there is a Pleistocene marine terrace approximately 15 meters (50 feet) in elevation.

Integrity: There are some buildings, artificial fish ponds and a road. Highway 1 crosses near the mouth.

Use: Private

July 1976