Garrapata Creek flows year-round. It starts in the Los Padres National Forest in the Santa Lucia Mountains. It flows mostly over privately owned land as it joins with Wildcat Creek and Joshua Creek before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Garrapata Beach State Park  (9.7 miles south of the Rio Road and Highway One in Carmel). Our watershed is approximately 10.6 square miles in size. Click here for "the facts".

   A group of concerned residents, owners and land managers in the our watershed have gathered together to help support the environment surrounding the stream. We value the sparkling water and the spectacular natural setting that make this a unique spot. We are learning ways in which all of us together can improve the water quality now and for the future.

   We have organized ourselves into a community-based group called the Garrapata Creek Watershed Council. This group is made up of all owners, residents, property managers and others interested in the health of the creek and its tributaries. Our first general meeting was held June 3rd 2000. Click here to get more information on this and other meetings.

   We are learning about the condition of our creek through creek walks and inviting educational institutions like C.S.U.M.B. and MPC to to do student projects that help us and the students. We have installed stream gauges to measure the flows of the creek.
We are also learning how privately maintained roads in the watershed can be improved in order to reduce impacts on our steelhead and also reduce road repair costs. We are working with the county on how Garrapatos Road (located off Palo Colorado Road) is being maintained.