| Bear Creek | |
| Pushpin Map: | USA California |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the river mouth in California |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | California |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Colusa County (Cache Creek Watershed) |
| Length: | 30miles |
| Discharge1 Location: | Holsten Chimney Canyon Stream Gauge, CA |
| Discharge1 Min: | 0cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 37.5cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 8510cuft/s |
| Source1: | Mill Creek (Mendocino National Forest) |
| Source1 Elevation: | 3830feet |
| Source2: | Bear Creek |
| Source2 Elevation: | 2212feet |
| Source Confluence: | Bear Valley |
| Source Confluence Elevation: | 1331feet |
| Mouth: | Cache Creek |
| Mouth Location: | Cache Creek Canyon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 38.9264°N -122.3333°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 641feet |
| Basin Size: | 130sqmi |
| Tributaries Left: | Sulphur Creek, Trout Creek |
Bear Creek is one of two primary tributaries to Cache Creek in the U.S. state of California, the other being the North Fork of Cache Creek. It is the only tributary to Cache Creek not impounded by a dam; the North Fork is impounded by Indian Valley Dam and Reservoir, while the Cache Creek main stem is impounded by Cache Creek Dam.[1]
Because of elevated mercury levels in fish, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment recommends that no one eat fish or shellfish from this water body.[2]
Bear Creek begins within Bear Valley and flows south for approximately 25 miles draining a watershed of 130 square miles in the lower elevations of the Inner Coastal Range entirely in Colusa County. Bear Creek terminates at the confluence of Cache Creek just before crossing the Yolo County line in Cache Creek Canyon.[3] [4]
Bear Creek provides a perennial habitat for fish to navigate throughout the year. By far the most common fish found in Bear Creek is the native California roach. The creek also provides habitat for a wide assortment of other creatures including amphibians such as the western pond turtle[5] and other water-based organisms. Due to its perennial nature, Bear Creek also provides a reliable water supply to other creatures, thereby attracting large mammals such as deer and the Native California tule elk.[6]