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San Tomas Aquino Watershed
The San Tomas Aquino Creek watershed drains approximately 45 square miles. San Tomas Creek originates in the forested foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains flowing in a northern direction through the cities of Campbell and Santa Clara, into the Guadalupe Slough, and finally into the Lower South San Francisco Bay. The major tributaries to San Tomas Aquino Creek include Saratoga, Wildcat, Smith and Vasona Creeks. Of these, Saratoga Creek drains the largest area `17 square miles) and joins San Tomas Creek 1.5 miles upstream of Highway 101. Due to its relatively large size, the Saratoga Creek subwatershed is often viewed as a distinct watershed even though it does not directly discharge to the Lower South San Francisco Bay.
Most of the San Tomas Aquino watershed is developed as high-density residential neighborhoods, with additional areas developed for commercial and industrial uses (see Table #). The majority of the San Tomas Aquino Creek channel has been modified and lined with concrete (from the Smith Creek confluence in the upper reaches downstream to Highway 101).
Hitch is the only native fish captured in San Tomas Aquino Creek.
Saratoga Creek Subwatershed:
Saratoga Creek originates on the northeastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains along Castle Rock Ridge at 3,100 feet in elevation. The mainstem flows for approximately 4.5 miles in an eastern direction through forested terrain, largely contained within Sanborn County Park. It continues for about 1.5 miles through the low-density residential foothill region of the Town of Saratoga and then for another 8 miles along the alluvial plain of the Santa Clara Valley, through the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara characterized by high-density residential neighborhoods.
Major tributaries include San Andres, Bonjetti, and Booker Creeks. Most of the creek contains natural channel with some modifications (e.g., gabion walls) and a few sections of hardened channel.
Three native fish species that have been collected from the creek include California roach, Sacramento sucker and rainbow trout (SCBWMI 2001).
Watershed Facts
- Drainage area: 44.8 square miles
- Number of creeks: 15
- Miles of creek: 50.5
- Miles of Engineered Channel: 15.5
- Miles of Underground Culvert or Stormdrain: 79.3
- Local jurisdictions: Santa Clara County, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, San Jose, Campbell, Santa Clara
- Percent area by land use:
- Residential 53.9%
- Industrial/Commercial 18.8%
- Forest 23.7%
- Rangeland 0.8%
- Other 2.8%
- Percent Impervious Area: 60.1%
- Beneficial Uses: COLD, WARM, WILD, REC-1, REC-2