Uvas Creek
| Uvas Creek | |
| stream | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Region | Santa Clara County |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Little Uvas Creek, Hay Canyon, Sycamore Creek, Burchell Creek, Carnaderos Creek |
| - right | Swanson Canyon, Alec Canyon, Croy Creek, Eastman Canyon Creek, Solis Creek, Little Arthur Creek, Bodfish Creek, Ousley Canyon Creek, Gavilan Creek, Tick Creek, Tar Creek |
| City | Gilroy, California |
| Source | On the eastern flank of Loma Prieta Peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains |
| - elevation | 3,250 ft (991 m) |
| - coordinates | 37°06′42″N 121°50′20″W / 37.11167°N 121.83889°W |
| Mouth | Confluence with Pajaro River just after becoming Carnadero Creek |
| - elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| - coordinates | 36°58′19″N 121°32′48″W / 36.97194°N 121.54667°WCoordinates: 36°58′19″N 121°32′48″W / 36.97194°N 121.54667°W |
Uvas Creek is a 29.5-mile-long (47.5 km) mainly southward-flowing stream originating on Loma Prieta peak of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The creek descends through Uvas Canyon County Park into Uvas Reservoir near Morgan Hill, and on through Uvas Creek Preserve and Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. Upon passing U.S. Highway 101 it is known as Carnadero Creek (also known as lower Uvas Creek), shortly before the confluence with the Pajaro River at the Santa Clara County - San Benito County boundary.
Uvas Creek got its name from the 1842 Rancho Las Uvas Mexican land grant. The Spanish name for grapes, "uvas", is preserved in a number of place names, all apparently referring to the abundance of wild grapes (Vitis californica) along the area's main watercourses. "Carnadero" probably means "butchering place".
The Uvas Creek watershed drains the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains in southern Santa Clara County. On the upper section of the creek is Uvas Canyon County Park. Uvas Reservoir, built in 1957, drains 32 square miles (83 km2) and is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) upstream of the City of Gilroy and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) upstream of the Pajaro River confluence. Significant tributaries include Croy Creek, Little Uvas Creek, Little Arthur Creek, Bodfish Creek and Gavilan Creek. Below Uvas Reservoir the creek is very low gradient. After Uvas Creek crosses Highway 101 and becomes Carnadero Creek (aka lower Uvas Creek) it is joined from the right by Gavilan Creek, Tick Creek and then Tar Creek. Uvas Creek is the only stream in the Pajaro River watershed, and in Santa Clara County, whose water right specifies minimum winter and summer releases for maintaining fish resources.
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Wikipedia