Sunol Valley

Sinbad Creek

Sinbad Creek drains the valley formed by Sunol Ridge and Pleasanton Ridge. Sinbad Creek is a tributary to lower Arroyo de la Laguna, just upstream of its confluence with Alameda Creek in Sunol. The creek runs along Kilkare Road. Local residents have photographs of steelhead trout and salmon caught in the creek during the 1940s and 1950s. Read a report on potential steelhead habitat in Sinbad Creek written by a U. C. Berkeley hydrology class.

Steelhead trout caught in Sinbad Creek 1940s

Salmon caught in Sinbad Creek 1950s

Sunol resident Randy Mills with steelhead trout caught in Sinbad Creek 1953

PG&E Crossing

A cement armored PG&E gas pipline crossing of Alameda Creek in the Sunol Valley poses a barrier for fish migration at most water flows. PG&E has identified four potential alternatives for fish passage projects at this site.

Potential Restoration of Alameda Creek in the Vicinity of Sunol Gravel Quarries

The SFPUC is in the process of renewing a gravel quarry lease for mining in the southern end of the Sunol Valley. The SFPUC has proposed permit terms and conditions to to inlcude creek restoration and environmental enhancements within the Sunol Valley mining reach, inlcuding:

coordinating with PG&E to modify their pipeline crossing so it is no longer a barrier to upstream fish passage;

restoring riparian vegetation on the right bank of Alameda Creek and the left bank of San Antonio Creek adjacent to the mining pit;

accommodating possible future public access trails through the area that may be desired by the East Bay Regional Park District; and

istalling a cutoff wall around the quarry adjacent toAlameda and San Antonio Creeks to eliminate or minimize percolation loss of stored water to be released as creeks flows for fishery management purposes.

More information on this potential restoration coming soon

Welch Creek

Welch Creek is a small tributary to Alameda Creek in the upper Sunol Valley paralled by Welch Creek Road. Volunteers with the Alameda Creek Alliance surveyed lower Welch Creek in December 2003 to assess fish passage and fish habitat. Read the Welch Creek stream survey.