Hell Bridge
In 1977, a 90-foot redwood suspension bridge was built 15 feet over the creek. It soon became a popular site for local teenagers who found the swing and give of the bridge entertaining, earning it the nickname, "Hell Bridge." The city eventually removed it over safety concerns. The original concrete pad that anchored and stabilized it can still be seen today.
Bleuts
Narrow-winged damselflies (Enallagma ebrium), or bleuts, are bright blue-and-black striped damselflies that are hard to miss! Bluets are usually found in lakes, ponds, and marshes, because of their preference for alkaline waters. The Sausal Creek Watershed measures a pH range 8-9, the perfect habitat for these vibrant insects. Common throughout the summer months, these thin, rod-shaped damselflies can often be found flitting about vegetation or preying on various larvae or smaller insects. During mating season, male bluets set up specific breeding sites where they will mate with a female, who will then go on to lay eggs underwater.
Banded Alder Borer
If you're out walking and hear a hissing sound (much like air being let out of a bike tire), it migh've come from a banded alder borer (Rosalia funebris). The wing casings and antennae of this striking beetle are dark with white bands, making them a hard-to-miss insect. They are found in the spring and summer on the bark of alder trees in Sausal Creek where they lay their eggs in bark crevices or on the petals of the flowers they consume.
Redwood Sorrel
As you walk along the trail, look for the redwood sorrel's (Oxalis oregana) small pink and white flowers. This perennial herb grows very low to the ground and favors shady spots, especially at the base of redwood trees. The redwood sorrel's leaves, stems, and flowers are all edible raw or cooked, and have a tangy lemon-like flavor. They are a beautiful and unique addition to salads, soups, and rhubarb pies.
Inspiration Lake
In 1946, William Mott, Jr. made plans to build a 350-foot long and 80-foot high dam in Dimond Canyon to harness the water from several creeks and create Inspiration Lake and recreation area. Plans changed when Highway 13 began construction and in 1961 the Montclair Golf Course was built. Instead of creating an place for aquatic creatures to inhabit and the public to enjoy, the project paved over Sausal Creek. Though golf courses technically provide green spaces, they require significant amounts of water and heavy machinery to maintain, disrupting local ecology.
Western Honey Bee
The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honey bee across the world. One of the first domesticated insects, it can be found on every continent except Antarctica. These bees create colonies with a single fertile queen bee, many infertile female workers, and few fertile males. They communicate through pheromones (chemical production) and dance language. Western honey bees swarm in the spring and early summer when there is an abundance of blooming flowers from which they collect nectar and pollen. Unfortunately, the nonnative species is damaging to the local bee population, whom they outcomplete for resources.
Brittlestems
You can find brittlestem mushrooms (Psathyrella candolleana) from June to November appearing in either small groups or alone in woodland or in well-shaded grassland. The Ohlone people once gathered these mushrooms, and mushroom hunters continue to identify and pick them today. Brittlestems feature clay-brown caps and an umbrella-like appearance.
Artist's Bracket
The artist's bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum), sometimes called artist's conk, is found in most parts of the U.S., across Canada, and on other continents. It grows slowly within the wood of living and dead trees, typically found on hardwood logs or stumps. It is a perennial fungus, which allows it to grow larger every year. Much like a tree, the mushroom’s age can be determined by cutting it in half and counting the number of pore layers it has. Related to Reishi, it has medicinal properties when consumed in tea or tincture.
Armenian Blackberry
The Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), also called Himalayan blackberry, is native to Armenia and Northern Iran, but grows abundantly in this area. It produces sweet edible fruits in the summer and prickly vines all year long. This aggressive plant is considered an invasive species in many parts of the world, including in the San Francisco Bay Area. Birds and other animals eat the fruit and then spread its seeds, making it very difficult to contain.
Kashmir Balsam
Kashmir balsam (Impatiens balfourii) is sometimes called the "Poor Man's Orchid." Native to the Himalayas, particularly Kashmir and surrounding areas, it normally grows at elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. It was brought by Europeans as a garden plant and soon became popular in the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of the United States. This plant prefers to grow in wetlands, marshes, upland forests, and riversides. You can spot it easily by looking for its two lower yellow dotted pink or lavender petals and whitish upper petals that extend from its opening. This plant reproduces effortlessly at large distances because the seed pods burst from the wind or light touch when they are ready and can launch up to 20 feet!
Waxcaps
Waxcaps or waxy caps, (Hygrophoraceae) are a family of gilled mushroom that grow in the meadows surrounding Sausal Creek. Waxcaps are only able to identified to the family level, because definitive species classifications have not yet been determined. Sometimes, mushrooms like these are able to be identified through DNA sampling or "barcoding." These ground-dwelling fungi boasts bright colors ranging from yellow to red, and slimy, cone-shaped caps. Waxcaps are found all over the world and have been continuing to spread. They are favored by local mushroom hunters here in the San Francisco Bay Area because of the vibrant hue of their caps. While the fruit bodies of these fungi are edible, they are not commonly eaten because of their lack of distinctive flavor and viscous texture.
Seasonal Ohlone Travel
A Huichin Ohlone tribelet traveled seasonally up and down Sausal Creek for hunting and gathering—they would hunt deer, fish for trout, and forage many wild edible plants like tarweed and blue elderberry. They cared for their home, practicing controlled burns to prevent larger wildfires. Two known Ohlone villages were located along the watershed. One was located in Indian Gulch along what is now Park Blvd in the Trestle Glen district. The other village was located where Holy Names University currently sits.
Drainage to Prevent Erosion
Various drainage pipes and systems have been installed in the Sausal Cerek watershed to minimize erosion from seasonal rains (usually in Winter). Different soil types and plants make sections of the area more or less prone to erosion. In particular, strategic planting of shrubs and trees plays an important role in holding dirt in place on the hillside. Stormwater is a relatively new problem for this area — natural landscapes shift hydrologically over time, and erosion is a part of this process. However, urbanization and nonpermeable pavement limits where stormwater can join the groundwater system. As stormwater traverses urban areas, it can become polluted or, in severe cases, result in flooding. Specific studies and plans can be found on the Friends of Sausal Creek website.
Green moss
Green moss can be found throughout Sausal Creek and the Bridgeview Trail. Mosses are nonvascular, flowerless plants whose leaves tend to be about a cell thick. These plants play a role in releasing nutrients for other plants and helping to prevent soil erosion. They can be found in large patches at the bases of trees, growing on rocks, and often on the hillsides along Bridgeview trail due to its woodland and forest terrain. A species of small moss that thrives along Sausal Creek, thanks to its shaded banks and redwood forest habitat, is Tozer’s thread-moss (Epipterygium tozeri). Some distinctive features of the moss include its pale green color, spearhead-shaped leaves, and reddish stems.
Dimond Canyon in the 1800s
Sausal creek was once a very popular place for Fruitvale-area residents to visit in the late 1800s. Horsedrawn streetcars and carriages brought people up to Dimond Canyon and other areas in the hills for Sunday outings and picnics alongside the creek, where picnickers enjoyed the delicious berries growing alongisde the creek.
Pacific Gopher Snake
Did you know the pacific gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) can live anywhere from 12-15 years? These long-living snakes are usually 3-7 feet long with dark brown spots. They enjoy the dry meadows surrounding Sausal Creek where they feed on small mammals, birds and their eggs, and insects. Gopher snakes are non-venomous and generally not harmful to humans. When threatened, a Pacific gopher snake will inflate its body, flatten its head, shake its tail, and produce a loud hissing sound, mimicking a venomous rattlesnake. They are excellent for rodent control and welcome neighbors.
Culvert opening
At this point, Sausal Creek reappears from the underground culvert and runs above ground. Above the culvert, the trail splits in two — on the right, you'll find the Bridgeview Trail. The trail is lined with bushes and ivy, while graffiti adorns the visible sides of the culvert. The water flow is weaker here than in other places along the creek due to the dam located a few yards upstream.
Willow Tree
The arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) grows in riparian (river) areas and stabilizes river banks against erosion. This tree gave Sausal Creek its name — the Spanish word sauzal means willow grove. Willows produce nectar in the spring which provides food for pollinators, like native bees. Willows were extremely useful to the native Ohlone people. A stand of willows suggests a reliable source of water, as willows require a lot of moisture. Willow branches are ideal for basket weaving because of their remarkable flexibility. In addition, willow leaves and bark can be brewed into tea to reduce pain and fever due to the presence of salicin, the active ingredient in aspirin. At the time of colonization, Sausal Creek did not reach the San Francisco Bay, but ended in a huge grove of willow trees.
Western Fence Lizard
If you ever seen a brown or black lizard with dark stripes down its back darting around your home, you're probably already familiar with the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). These lizards are ubiquitous across the San Francisco Bay Area, as California is located at the heart of their range. Adults have a distinctive blue throat and abdomen and can grow up to 8 inches in length. Western fence lizards occupy a variety of habitats such as grasslands, woodlands, and coniferous forests at elevations from sea level to 11,000 ft, and are found in the meadows surrounding Sausal Creek.
Steller's Jay
Closely related to a blue Jay, the Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a deep blue bird with a black head and crest. Native to western North America, it is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains. They are often heard throughout Sausal Creek with their distinguishable trumpet-like call. More specifically, females produce a rattling sound, while males sing a high-pitched cheep.
Erosion Control Check Dam
This check dam near the beginning of Bridgeview Trail emerges shortly after Sausal Creek appears from a tunnel. The dam comprises a mixture of stone and wood and has been graffitied over the years, as most man-made structures along the creek are. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built this check dam in the late 1930s as part of the city's efforts to control the flow of Sausal Creek. Check dams work by reducing water velocity, which in turn minimizes erosion. They work best in concert with other erosion control practices, such as embankment stabilization by deep root systems. Surrounding this dam is an abundance of invasive English Ivy (Hedera helix), whose shallow roots do little to combat erosion.
Tarweed
Coastal tarweed (Hemizonia corymbosa) features small yellow flowers and a turpentine smell that gives the plant its name. With deep roots and small leaves, tarweeds can tap moisture held deep in the heavy soils, allowing these summer-flowering plants to grow long after the last rains have fallen. By flowering late in the season they are essential for pollinators like native bees. Tarweed seeds were also a staple of many Native American tribes, who collected and ground them into pinole or meal.
Sausal Creek Native Plant and Pollinator Garden
One of the problems affecting Sausal Creek Watershed is the widespread growth of invasive, nonnative plants, some of which were planted many generations ago. These plants steal nutrients from native plants which negatively impacts the health of the wildlife that rely on the native plants for food and shelter. Friends of Sausal Creek Native Plant Nursery propagates and grows approximately 150 of the 240 different species of plants native to the Sausal Creek Watershed. Seeds are collected regularly on seed hikes and brought back to the nursery for planting. In addition to sowing seeds and transplanting, volunteers spend time watering, weeding, and pruning.
Southern Alligator Lizard
The southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) can be found in woodland microhabitats formed by eucalyptus litter in Sausal Creek. Ranging from brown to gray and green, they can grow up to 1 foot in length. Native to the Pacific Coast, they are also found in coastal shrubs such as California sagebrush and coyote brush, often near human habitation. In California's dry climate, they seek moist areas, usually near streams. These lizards forage in mornings and evenings for slugs, other lizards, small mammals, and occasionally young birds and eggs.
