San Pedro Creek Testing Sites
San Pedro Creek is a year-round stream in the Linda Mar section of Pacifica. It flows 2.5 miles to its mouth at the south end of Linda Mar Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The pollution found at the beach and in the ocean comes from the creek. The watershed map shows storm sewers, most of which empty into the creek, in black. Upstream of the populated area is relatively pristine parkland and the creek's spring-fed sources on the Middle and South Forks.
We sample for fecal indicator bacteria at four sites within the urban area of Linda Mar:
-
Linda Mar Bridge (LMMS)
-
Adobe Sanchez (ADMS)
-
Peralta Bridge (PRLT)
-
San Pedro Creek Mouth (SPCM)
Sample sites (yellow) in the San Pedro Creek watershed
The map below provides a clearer picture of the storm sewers emptying into San Pedro Creek. In addition to fecal bacteria, everything else that gets washed into gutters and down the storm drains ends up in the creek, and eventually, the ocean at Linda Mar beach.
Storm sewers in the Linda Mar neighborhood of Pacifica
The creek is home to steelhead trout. Steelhead are rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean, and then come back to the creek after 2 or so years to spawn. After spawning, they may return to the ocean (unlike salmon). They are not bothered by fecal bacteria, but may be affected by other pollutants, for example by a chemical found in tire dust.
San Pedro Creek mouth (SPCM)
Coordinates: 37.59625° N, 122.50550° W
The creek flows under 2 bridges and through a wetland next to the shopping center parking lot. The sampling site is located as the creek crosses Linda Mar beach just before it empties into the ocean.
John Keener (SPCWC) Taking a Sample
Peralta bridge (PRLT)
Coordinantes: 37.58852° N, 122.49930° W
John Keener (SPCWC) Taking a Sample
Adobe Sanchez (ADMS)
Coordinates: 37.58687° N, 122.49490° W
Linda Mar bridge over creek (LMMS)
Coordinates: 37.58151° N, 122.47870° W
(All images courtesy Bill Schwegler)