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Matadero Watershed
The Matadero Creek watershed drains about 14 square miles, of which approximately 11 square miles are mountainous land, and 3 square miles are gently sloping valley floor. Matadero Creek originates in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and flows in a northeasterly direction for approximately eight miles until it discharges into the Palo Alto Flood Basin, and then drains into the Lower South San Francisco Bay. Major tributaries to Matadero Creek are Arastradero and Deer Creeks.
Through the foothills Matadero Creek traverses through low-density residential development in the town of Los Altos Hills. As it nears the valley floor it flows through the Stanford University Preserve and Campus, and then through residential, commercial, and industrial areas of Palo Alto. The portions of the watershed that fall in the northern part of City of Palo Alto are predominantly residential, commercial and public/institutional.
Downstream of Foothill Expressway Matadero Creek has been greatly modified for flood protection. From Highway 101 to El Camino Real the Creek flows through a concrete trapezoidal channel. During large storm events flow may be diverted to the Creek from Barron Creek via the Barron Diversion Channel.