Ventana Wild Rivers Campaign
Big Creek
Big Creek is the only watershed on the Central California Coast dedicated to natural resources research. The upper segments of Big Creek and Devils Canyon are pristine and located on public lands in the Ventana Wilderness. The lower segments of Big Creek and Devils Canyon flow through the 4,000-acre University of California's Big Creek Reserve. Downstream of the UC Reserve, the creek flows into the Big Creek State Marine Reserve in the Pacific Ocean, which was recently expanded from 1,200 acres to 12.35 square miles. Big Creek was not studied by the Forest Service, however, conservationists believe that it is free flowing and possesses outstanding values.
Native American use of Big Creek goes back at least 6,500 years. Shell middens along the creek can be as much as 14 feet deep, indicating a long history of use. In addition, the remains of historic homestead sites still exist, like those of Gamboa and Boronda.
Outstanding Value(s):
Scientific — The Ventana Wilderness, UC Big Creek Reserve, and Big Creek Marine Reserve together provide unique opportunities for natural resources research from the Coast Range crest to the coast and offshore habitats in the Pacific Ocean. The Big Creek watershed offers diverse vegetation types and habitat, including redwood forest, ponderosa pine/mixed hardwood forest, canyon live oak/fir forest, coastal scrub, manzanita and chamise chaparral, and sycamore/riparian forest that support numerous wildlife and plant species. One survey of Big Creek revealed 344 species of plants representing 42 percent of all California plant families. Reserve research identified four newly discovered species of moths and one new walking stick (insect) species. The creek supports a healthy run of threatened Central Coast steelhead and is fed by more than 23 named springs.
Comments:
Federal designation is entirely consistent with the research mission and goals, and conservation purposes of both the UC Big Creek Reserve and the Big Creek State Marine Reserve. Recreational segments accommodate existing reserve facilities and access roads. The Scenic segment accommodates a closed road that formerly provided access to Big Creek Hot Springs. A private inholding is located on Devils Canyon Creek. Designation will not affect this property.
Central Coast Steelhead
Segmentation/Classification:
| Segment 1 | Big Creek main stem from its source to .10 miles upstream of hot springs | 4.9 miles | Wild |
| Segment 2 | Big Creek main stem from .10 miles upstream of hot springs to the Devils Canyon confluence | .87 miles | Scenic |
| Segment 3 | Big Creek main stem from the Devils Canyon confluence to Pacific Ocean | .71 miles | Recreational |
| Segment 4 | North Fork Big Creek from its source to the Big Creek confluence | 3.89 miles | Wild |
| Segment 5 | North Fork Devils Canyon from its source to the private property boundary in Sec. 30, T21S, R3E | 2.89 miles | Wild |
| Segment 6 | North Fork Devils Canyon from the private property boundary in Sec. 30, T21S, R3E to the Big Creek confluence | 1.56 miles | Recreational |
| Segment 7 | Middle Fork Devils Canyon from its source to North Fork confluence | 4.82 miles | Wild |
| Segment 8 | South Fork Devils Canyon from its source to the Middle Fork confluence | 3.99 miles | Wild |
| TOTAL | 23.63 miles | ||
