Walking Waterhoods: Temescal Creek — Rockridge Preview

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Temescal Creek Tributary at Roble

This unnamed tributary flows through a Claremont neighborhood before dropping into a concrete culvert as it nears the highway. It drops underground to meet the main Temescal branch flowing along State Route 24 towards San Francisco Bay. Although it is only briefly seen above ground, this is one of the few remaining sections of natural creek in the Temescal Creek Watershed.

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Great Horsetail

Great horsetails (Equisetum telmateia) are commonly found in damp shady places growing in clusters, perfect for the Temescal headwaters. The giant horsetail is an herbaceous perennial plant. It has separate green photosynthetic sterile stems, and pale yellowish non-photosynthetic spore-bearing fertile stems. The plant can also reproduce by rhizomes deep underground.

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Raccoon

Raccoons (Procyon lotor), are a mammal native to North America. They grow 16 to 28 inches in length, usually weighing 12-25 lbs. With overall gray fur, their distinctive features are a black eye-mask, a ringed tail, and front paws whose prints look like tiny human hands. Originally raccoon habitat was forests, but they have adapted to other settings, including urban environments. Raccoons are nocturnal and omnivorous, traditionally eating fruit, acorns, crayfish, fish, turtles, eggs, frogs and insects. They feature prominently in stories and mythology of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, for whom they were also a food source. Raccoon remains are found in local Ohlone shellmounds.

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Grove Shafter Freeway (Highway 24)

This section of the Grove Shafter Freeway (which links the communities on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel with the I-80 freeway) was completed in 1969. Its construction was highly controversial with numerous local organizations for the destructive effects it would have on residential and commercial neighborhoods in the area, which used to function more like small towns than they do today. Some opponents were appeased by the plan to include the BART rail lines in the middle of the freeway.

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California Buckeye

Native to California, the California buckeye (Aesculus californica) can live 300 years.The pollen and nectar of the buckeye flowers are consumed by native bees and butterflies, but toxic and deadly to the European honeybee. During times of oak acorn scarcity, the Ohlone used buckeye seeds as a food source. They would crack open the seed, remove the shell, and then pound the seed into a flour-like consistency. Once the material was properly processed to remove poisons, the meal was cooked and eaten. Smashed nuts were also used for hemorrhoids and bark was used for toothaches. Additionally, the young shoots of this plant were sometimes used to create fire-making kits.

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Black-Tailed Bumblebee

Black-tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) is an orange and yellow bumblebee with a black tip, native to western North America from British Columbia to California, and as far east as Idaho. This native bumblebee feeds on many different plants and nests underground or in structures above ground like birdhouses, mail boxes, and other cozy spots. They are fun pollinators to watch.

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Yellow Nutsedge

The yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), is a perennial herb that's native to the southern United States. It has the ability to survive in all kinds of soils due to its tuberous roots that store energy. In fact, certain parts of the tuberous roots called "esculentus" are edible and are sometimes called the "Earth almond." Once the plant's roots are removed from the soil, the tubers can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a nutty taste that can be made into beverages, olive oil, or a coffee substitute.

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Common/Spring Vetch

Common vetch (Vicia sativa) is a nitrogen fixer in the pea family that was introduced to the U.S. from Europe and North Africa.It's sometimes used to reclaim burned or disturbed land, as well as an winter crop to add nitrogen to soil. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in both dry and moist habitats. Wild animals benefit from this plant as a source of nourishment, and it's frequently incorporated with hay to feed livestock.

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French Broom

French Broom (Geninsta monospessulana) was introduced to the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1800s. Initially used as an ornamental plant, French Broom ranks high on the invasive species list due to the amount of seeds it produces, along with its ability to grow back after being completely cut down. With its upright form and dense foliage, this plant easily outcompetes other native plants along roadsides and highways, literally dominating the area. The dead and dry branches are highly flammable, it poses a severe fire hazard. It is pollinated by native and nonnative insects.

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History of Rockridge Park

The area you find yourself in is part of the Rockridge Park development, which was created and sold in the 1920s as a cheaper alternative to Claremont and Piedmont. It was an explicitly white-only neighborhood where "No Negroes, no Chinese, and no Japanese" were permitted to purchase property. The racial demographics of the neighborhood remain more white than most of Oakland. Like neighboring Temescal, it was a thriving Italian community until Highway 24 was constructed, which disrupted the neighborhood and killed local commerce. Much of the commercial area you know as Rockridge today was boarded up and vacant.

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Claremont Water Tunnel

The Claremont Tunnel, built in 1929 and owned by EBMUD, is a 18,000-foot long tunnel that carries treated water from the eastern Orinda Filtration Plant, through the Berkely Hills, to three western distribution aqueducts located in and around Oakland. The water that's transported through this tunnel flows from the Mokelumne River and serves more than 70% of East Bay. EBMUD completed a seismic upgrade of the tunnel in 2007. Learn more about where your water comes from and how you can conserve it here.

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Temescal Branch Gate

A population boom on the eastern side of the hill in Orinda and Walnut Creek drove the desire for a highway connecting Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Engineers used the natural depression of Temescal Creek's main branch to build State Route 24. The construction of the highway forced the creek underground; however, there are culverts and open grates that run along Hwy 24 where you can still see the creek.

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Creton Mallow Tree

Cretan tree-mallow (Malva multiflora) is a small pale pink to whitish flower native to the Mediterranean and naturalized in places with a Mediterranean climate, including California. The plant forms deep roots which allows it to access water even in hot and dry places.

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Cabbage White

Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) is a butterfly with black spots on its white wings. Believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe, it has spread to North America and other continents with plants like cabbages brought by humans. Its caterpillar form is considered a pest because it lays eggs in the plants, and the larvae then eat the cabbage as they grow.

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Western Gumbo Gym

Western gumbo gym (Gymnopilus ventricosus) is a fungi. They grow in stumps and logs and taste extremely bitter.

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White-Crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a medium-sized bird native to North America. They are brown- and gray, with black and white streaks on their head. Unlike migratory populations of the same species, many Bay Area white crowns stay year-round. They are known for their songs unique to specifc places, with distinct regional "dialects". Researchers are studying how increasing urban noise is impacting the sparrows' songs.

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Mourning Dove

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is considered one of the most abundant bird species in North America—but it is also the most hunted. These birds are gray brown and have black spots with a fan shaped tail and pink legs. They are found almost anywhere whether it be on telephone lines, parks, or even people's backyards. Mourning doves are considered year-round residents in the San Francisco Bay Area, but some do migrate farther south. They mate for life.

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California Slender Salamander

California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) is found primarily in coastal mountain areas of Northern California. A lungless salamander, it breathes through its skin. With a narrow body and head, the slender salamander is 3 to 5 inches long and has four toes on each foot. From approximately October to March, the California slender salamander seeks cover near streams and other moist environments, and can often be found under rotting logs or rocks.

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Omnivorous Looper

Omnivorous looper (Sabulodes aegrotata) is a moth found in northwestern North America. Northern California is the southern part of its habitat. The moth is mostly tan to orangish on top, with a black stripe across the middle of its wings. Also called avocado looper, it feeds on several dozen plant species including avocado. Females live 2 to 3 weeks, and lay eggs in clusters of 3 to 80 on the underside of leaves. Hatched larvae grow to 2 to 2.5 inches long and are mostly yellow to pale green or pink, with a gold-colored head. Numbers increase with warmer temperatures in spring. Omnivorous looper is considered a pest in California. Spiders, wasps, and some flies are important looper predators.

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Mica Cap

Mica cap (Coprinellus micaceus) is a mushroom-forming fungus, with mushrooms that typically grow in clusters on or near rotting tree stumps or tree roots. Its nutrients come from dead and decomposing organic matter. In an early stage, the mushroom cap is shiny, like mica. These small mushrooms are commonly found, and will dissolve into an inky liquid a few hours after being picked. They are edible if cooked before they start to dissolve, and have a delicate flavor.

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Mourning Cloak

The mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is a very distinctive butterfly. Just like any other butterfly, it closes its wings when at rest, and opens up the wings when in action. The wings very dark with golden or yellowish edges that looks like a cloak. Mourning cloaks are unique in overwintering as adults rather than spending winter as eggs, larvae, or pupae. The adults live for 8-12 months, much longer than most butterflies, which tend to live for just 2-6 weeks as adults.

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Common Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a native perennial plant with a large distribution and comes in many colors, from pink, yellow to white. The flower consists of many clusters of 15 to 40 tiny disk flowers surrounded by several white to pink ray flowers are then arranged in a flat-topped inflorescence. The leafs are feathery and arranged in a spiral around the stem. The Ohlone used Yarrow tea for treating stomach aches, as well as washing skin sores. They applied heated leaves to wounds to prevent swelling and also alleviated toothaches.

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Open Culvert at Presley Way

Presley way contains another exposed portion of the main branch of Temescal Creek. This culvert is the last place you are able to see it before it merges with the Harwood branch of the creek near Frog Park. Also in this picture are vines of invasive English Ivy, which threatens all levels of vegetation, especially trees. Ivy grows up tree trunks and blocks sunlight from the host's foliage which prevents photosynthesis and sends the host into decline.

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Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. Its large size and distinct markings of dark maroon or brown, with pale-yellow edges and bright blue spots, make it easily distinguishable from other butterflies. Mourning cloak butterflies can be seen throughout the year. Their primary food source is decidous trees, meaning they are sometimes a destructive pest.

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Western Sword Fern

The western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) has a wide distribution, ranging from southeast Alaska to southern California. It is prefers to live in the understory, in cool dark places. It can be identified by its dark green color and single, pinnate frond. The ferns grows in clumps and reproduces by spores. Native Ohlone likely ate the roots of ferns and the leaves/fronds of the plant were used to line cooking pits and baskets, beds and floors.