Americano Creek

Americano Creek
Avacha River, Estero Americano
stream
Upper reach of Americano Creek
Name origin: Spanish
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sonoma County
City	Bloomfield, California
Source
- location	4 mi (6 km) west of Cotati, California
- elevation	265 ft (81 m)
- coordinates	38°19′18″N 122°46′58″W / 38.32167°N 122.78278°W / 38.32167; -122.78278
Mouth	Estero Americano (below)
- location	1 mi (1.6 km) east of Valley Ford, California
- elevation	20 ft (6 m)
- coordinates	38°19′0″N 122°54′0″W / 38.31667°N 122.90000°W / 38.31667; -122.90000
Length	7.5 mi (12 km)

Americano Creek is a 7.5-mile (12 km) long westward-flowing stream in the California counties of Sonoma and Marin. It flows into the Estero Americano, a 9.2 mi (15 km) long estuary, and thence to the Pacific Ocean. This article covers both watercourses.

Americano Creek springs from low-lying coastal hills 4 mi (6 km) west of Cotati and runs westward, paralleling Roblar Road. It passes a closed landfill and crosses Valley Ford Road. At this point the channel becomes better defined and also deep enough for kayaking in the winter months. Kayakers access the creek here by means of an unpaved boat launch road reachable from Marsh Road.

The lower reach of the creek flows westward past the small community of Bloomfield, paralleling Valley Ford Road, and passes under State Route 1, known locally as the Highway 1 or the Shoreline Highway, at which point it begins to define the Sonoma-Marin county line.

Just west of the highway, the watercourse's official name changes to Estero Americano. It meanders past the town of Valley Ford. Valley Ford-Franklin School Road crosses at the last bridge across the Estero. Shortly thereafter, Ebabias Creek enters from the north. The last 6 mi (10 km) of the Estero are virtually without road access or visibility from public roads.

The Estero continues to define the county boundary until it reaches the coast, where it empties into Bodega Bay about 4 mi (6 km) southeast of the town of Bodega Bay. Its mouth lies near the north end of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

California's 1994 water quality report designated all of Americano Creek and most of the Estero Americano as "impaired" streamways as defined in section 303(d) of the Federal Water Resource Statutes, due to runoff from pasture land and feedlots. As recently as 1987, a single gully near Americano Creek released 4,000 tons/year of sediment, contributing to flooding in downstream communities and making the creek non-navigable. Pollutants found at hazardous level in the creek have included fecal bacteria, copper, ammonia, and zinc.