Your Rush Creek Watershed

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR STORM DRAINS FLOW?

The 10 square mile Rush Creek Watershed is at the northern edge of Novato and includes the area of Old Town to the southwest, the Olive Ave. neighborhood to the southeast., Mt. Burdell to the northwest, and Atherton Ave. and Rush Creek Preserve to the northeast. It supports mostly coastal saltwater marsh and coastal brackish-water marsh habitats, providing critical wetland habitat year-round.

Rush Creek is a relatively short stream originating from two forks and one quasi-tributary, Basalt Creek, on the north edge of Novato and flows 1.5 miles northeasterly down through wetlands into Black John Slough and then the Petaluma River. The name is associated with Peter Rush who bought land near Novato in 1862.

Your Rush Creek Watershed

Most of the southern fork’s upper watershed consists of Old Town Novato and the Olive Avenue neighborhood to the east of Hwy. 101. The southern fork is probably easiest to see from Olive Ave. at the intersection with Railroad Ave. From there the creek flows north, working its way between the confines of the railroad tracks and Hwy 101 before crossing under Hwy 101 at the San Marin Dr./Atherton Ave. overcrossing.

The eastern fork begins on the southern slope of Mt Burdell in the Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve just above the Wood Hollow Dr. neighborhood, flowing southeast down through the neighborhood and the former Fireman’s Fund campus before crossing under Redwood Blvd. just south of the SMART Station, and then under Hwy 101, where the two forks meet and then run into and alongside the southeastern edge of Rush Creek Marsh and the Rush Creek Trail.

Basalt Creek is a quasi-tributary and originates on the eastern slope of Mt. Burdell adjacent to the Buck Institute and above the Birkenstocks campus in Olompali State Park. The creek flows down and around the south side of Birkenstocks and crosses under Redwood Blvd., Hwy. 101, and the SMART tracks, where it makes an immediate turn to the south alongside the railroad tracks until it turns to the east and crosses under Binford Ave. The creek then runs into and alongside the north side of Rush Creek Marsh. 

After Rush Creek Marsh the two hydraulically connected, tidal marsh creeks converge into the main stem of Rush Creek, flowing northeast, and curving around the Rush Creek Open Space Preserve where it connects to both Cemetery Marsh and the eastern edge of Bahia Marsh before flowing into to Black John Slough.

The creeks flow through coastal saltwater marsh and coastal brackish-water marsh habitats. The wetlands provide suitable habitat for San Pablo song sparrow, California black rail, saltmarsh common yellowthroat, California brackish-water snail, and Ridgeway’s rail.

In 1999, the Rush Creek/Cemetery Marsh Enhancement Project was completed by the Marin Audubon Society. This project involved the excavation of channels to improve circulation and replacement of tide gates in the 230-acre Rush Creek Marsh and 50-acre Cemetery Marsh. Both marshes are managed by Marin County Open Space District as natural preserves.

Remember, storm drains connect streets to creeks. Simple changes can make a big impact. Rush Creek Watershed is Ours to Protect.

LEARN BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTING OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS HERE >

#OURSTOPROTECT

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