Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio
| Arroyo Corte Madero del Presidio | |
| stream | |
| Name origin: Spanish language | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Region | Marin County |
| Tributaries | |
| - right | Old Mill Creek |
| City | Mill Valley, California |
| Source | Knob Hill, Marin County |
| - location | 2.5 mi (4 km) west of Corte Madera, California |
| - elevation | 880 ft (268 m) |
| - coordinates | 37°56′3″N 122°33′52″W / 37.93417°N 122.56444°W |
| Mouth | Richardson Bay |
| - location | 2 mi (3 km) south of Corte Madera, California |
| - elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| - coordinates | 37°53′27″N 122°31′25″W / 37.89083°N 122.52361°WCoordinates: 37°53′27″N 122°31′25″W / 37.89083°N 122.52361°W |
| Basin | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |
Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is a 4.1-mile-long (6.6 km) year-round stream in southern Marin County, California, United States. This watercourse is also known as Corte Madera Creek, although the actual stream of that name flows into San Francisco Bay further north at Point San Quentin. This watercourse has a catchment basin of about 8 square miles (21 km2) and drains the south-eastern slopes of Mount Tamalpais and much of the area in and around the town of Mill Valley; this stream discharges to Richardson Bay.
Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is named for the Spanish corte de madera meaning "a place where wood is cut". In this case the wood was cut for the building of the Presidio of San Francisco. In 1834, the governor of Alta California José Figueroa awarded to John T. Reed the first land grant in Marin, Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio.
A 1965 stream survey indicated presence of steelhead within 100 ft (30 m) of the dam. A 1990 study indicated the water quality of upper Richardson Bay below the discharge of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio to be impaired by high nutrient and coliform levels; This same study indicated that Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio is subject to periodic flooding.
A private organization, the Mill Valley Streamkeepers, is active in research and conservation of this creek. Some historic information about Arroyo Corte Madera concerning water quality and fish habitat is found at the KRIS (Klamath Resource Information System) website.
Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio Creek is joined by Old Mill Creek on the right in Mill Valley. Old Mill Creek, and its Cascade Creek tributary, begin high on the east peak of Mt. Tamalpais. Cascade Creek has a small dam and reservoir which was built by noted engineer Michael M. O'Shaughnessy for The Tamalpais Land & Water Co. for water supply to Mill Valley.
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