Ventana Wild Rivers Campaign
San Carpóforo Creek
San Carpóforo Creek flows south out of the Santa Lucia Range in the northern Los Padres National Forest, onto lands owned by the Hearst Corporation and then to the Pacific Ocean. The creek was the route of the historic Portolà Expedition and it was identified as an area of high ecological significance by the Forest Service.
San Carpóforo Creek was not studied by the Forest Service. Conservationists believe that it is free flowing and possesses outstanding values.
Outstanding Values:
Cultural — San Carpóforo Creek was the route of the historic Portolà Expedition of 1769, which led to the establishment of the California Missions and ultimately the European colonization of northern California. According to journal entries by Portolà members, contact between Portolà and native people took place on the banks of the San Carpofóro and therefore, the area is considered to be one of the last primal remnants of the original encounter between indigenous and European consciousness anywhere on the Pacific coast. In addition, a venerable grove of olive trees near the confluence of San Carpofóro and Dutra Creeks marks the location where an outpost of the Mission San Antonio de Padua once stood.
Wildlife — The creek supports one of the few remaining populations of sensitive foothill yellow-legged frogs on the Central Coast, as well as endangered California red-legged frogs.
Fish — The California Department of Fish and Game considers the creek to be one of two of the most important spawning streams for threatened steelhead in San Luis Obispo County (the upper section of the creek on National Forest lands is in Monterey County).
Ecological — The creek was identified as an area of high ecological significance by the Forest Service due to the presence of sensitive and rare frogs and the threatened steelhead.
Comments:
There is a private inholding on the lower segment encompassing the Baldwin Ranch and its access road. The Recreational segment accommodates the ranch and its access road. Designation would not affect access to the property or ranch operations. The lower portion of the creek downstream of the forest boundary is not proposed for designation. The lower creek flows through Hearst lands protected by conservation easements.
Segmentation/Classification:
| Segment 1 | Source to Silver Peak Wilderness boundary | 2.75 miles | Wild |
| Segment 2 | Silver Peak Wilderness boundary to the National Forest boundary | 1.54 miles | Recreational |
| TOTAL | 4.29 miles | ||
