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Mark West Creek
Mark West Creek
Mark West Creek originates in the Mayacamas Mountains in Sonoma County and drains to the Russian River near Forestville, after flowing through the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
Photo credit: Sotoyome Resource Conservation District
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The upper Mark West Creek watershed is an important sub-basin that drains approximately 40 square miles of terrain into the Mark West/Laguna de Santa Rosa system.
Current land uses in the upper Mark West watershed include: agricultural vineyards, timber lands, livestock rangeland, rural residential, as well as recreational and ecologically protected areas. The watershed ranges from 1800' in elevation at the headwaters of Mark West Creek to 40' at the Russian River confluence.
The Mark West Creek watershed supports a number of state and federally protected plant and animal species, including steelhead trout and, recently, coho salmon. Due to the relatively intact habitat and high biological value of the upper watershed, Mark West Creek is a critical link in the efforts to protect steelhead trout and recover coho salmon in the Russian River watershed. This project aims to improve aquatic habitat for spawning and fresh water rearing life stages for salmonids as well as other aquatic species.
The Mark West watershed, and its confluence with the Russian River is very near to the municipal wells which supply clean drinking water for over 600,000 people in three counties. Efforts to restore and conserve lands for agriculture, recreation and biodiversity protection, also help to ensure reliable, clean drinking water for a large population.
The Upper Mark West Creek watershed was selected as a keystone watershed for the Sotoyome RCD Russian River Monitoring and Assessment Program (RRCSP) in 1999. The watershed was selected by a multi-agency Technical Advisory Committee due to the significant aquatic resources and the relatively high interest, awareness and stewardship ethic shown by landowners and residents to restore and protect the watershed. This effort has resulted in the ongoing identification and implementation of habitat restoration projects that address the highest restoration priorities. For more information on the upper Mark West Creek watershed, please visit
www.sotoyomercd.org/watershed/mark-west.html.
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Photo credit: Ruth Ark
Mark West Creek
Photo credit: Sotoyome Resource Conservation District
Mark West Creek
Photo credit: Sotoyome Resource Conservation District
Mark West Creek
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