Calabazas Watershed

The Calabazas Creek watershed encompasses approximately 20 square miles.  The headwaters of this 13.3 mile long creek originate from the northeast-facing slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and flow into the Lower South San Francisco Bay via the Guadalupe Slough.  Major tributaries to Calabazas Creek include Prospect, Rodeo, and Regnart Creeks. Additional sources of water to Calabazas Creek include the El Camino Storm Drain (main and East Branch) and the Junipero Serra Channel (SCBWMI 2001).  The Creek traverses through a small portion of unincorporated County land, and follows through the cities of Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara. 

The Calabazas Creek watershed is highly urbanized, predominantly with high-density residential neighborhoods.   Areas of heavy industry exist between the Highway 101 and Central Expressway corridors.  Commercial development is focused along El Camino Real, Wolfe Road, and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. 

Calabazas Creek experienced extensive residential development during the 1950s and 1960s. This development pattern resulted in highly developed riparian zones and channels that have been extensively modified for flood protection.  Thirty-two percent of its length, approximately 4.2 miles, is classified as “hard bottom” (SCVWD 2005b).  From Guadalupe Slough to Highway 101, Calabazas Creek is an enlarged earthen channel with levees. The reach between Highway 101 and Lawrence Expressway is a trapezoidal, concrete-lined channel. 

Fish are extremely scarce in the mainstem upstream of Bollinger Road.  Only three species have been identified:  goldfish, sculpins, xxx.

Watershed Facts

  • Drainage area:  20.3
  • Number of creeks: 6
  • Miles of creek:  12.9
  • Miles of Engineered Channel:  14.1
  • Miles of Underground Culvert or Stormdrain:  55.5
  • Local jurisdictions:  Santa Clara County, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara
  • Percent area by land use:
    • Residential 54.5%
    • Industrial/Commercial 29.4%
    • Forest 8.8%
    • Rangeland 5.2%
    • Other 2.1%
  • Percent Impervious Area:  69.7%
  • Beneficial Uses:  COLD, WARM, WILD, REC-1, REC-2  (see Table 3)

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