| Rush Creek | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | California |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Marin County |
| Subdivision Type5: | City |
| Subdivision Name5: | Novato |
| Source1 Location: | above Novato, California |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 38.1161°N -122.5647°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 20feet |
| Mouth: | Black John Slough of the Petaluma River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 38.1369°N -122.5472°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0feet |
Rush Creek is a stream in eastern Marin County, California, United States. It originates on the north edge of Novato, California and flows 1.5miles northeasterly through wetlands into Black John Slough and then the Petaluma River. The name is associated with Peter Rush who bought land near Novato in 1862.[1]
The creek flows through coastal saltwater marsh and coastal brackish-water marsh habitats. The wetlands provide suitable habitat for San Pablo song sparrow, California black rail, saltmarsh common yellowthroat, California brackishwater snail, and California clapper rail.[2]
In 1999, the Rush Creek/Cemetery Marsh Enhancement Project was completed by the Marin Audubon Society. This project involved the excavation of channels to improve circulation and replacement of tide gates in the 230acres Rush Creek marsh and 50acres Cemetery Marsh. Both marshes are managed by Marin County Open Space District as natural preserves.[2]