Bollinger Canyon Creek

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Bollinger Canyon Creek is an approximately 6.72 mile long (10.8 km)[1] stream in Contra Costa County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a tributary of San Ramon Creek which is part of the Walnut Creek watershed.

Bollinger Canyon Creek
Bollinger Creek
Upper Bollinger Canyon Creek shaded by mature California Bay and Coast live oak in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (December 19th, 2021)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionBay Area
DistrictContra Costa County
Physical characteristics
MouthSan Ramon Creek
Length~6.76 miles
Basin features
River systemWalnut Creek Watershed
CitiesSan Ramon, CA

Course

Bollinger Canyon Creek begins as a number of ephemeral streams emitting from a canyon in the highest reaches of the Berkeley Hills, in Contra Costa County, California. Many of its tributaries do not have water during the dry season.

The highest point in the drainage is around 2,000 feet above sea level. From a low divide which separates it with Las Trampas Creek, it runs southward through Bollinger Canyon, gradually descending in altitude until abruptly turning to the east near Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon, California. Shortly after, it is confined to concrete channels and it joins with San Ramon Creek near the city's downtown.

Geography

Bollinger Creek exhibits a character similar to many other streams in Central California. The region surrounding the creek has a cool-summer mediterranean climate which generally keeps temperatures mild[2]. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the creek and its watershed are often inundated with fog.

 
One of the many small tributaries flowing out of the walls of Bollinger Canyon into Bollinger Creek. Many only have water on the surface for short periods. (December 19th, 2021)

Virtually the entirety of the creek's course upstream from San Ramon, California is undeveloped, with ranching and open space making up the majority of land use. Bollinger Creek's headwaters lie in the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, which is a popular area among locals for hiking, biking, birding and geology.

  1. ^ "Contra Costa County Watershed Atlas" (PDF). www.cccleanwater.org. Contra Costa County Public Works Department. 2004.
  2. ^ "Mean Seasonal Isohyets compiled from precipitation records". www.contracosta.ca.gov. 1977.