Outlet Creek

Outlet Creek
Outlet Creek at Longvale, California
Location
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Mendocino County
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Willits, California
• coordinates	39°27′03″N 123°20′54″W / 39.45083°N 123.34833°W / 39.45083; -123.34833[1]
• elevation	1,342 ft (409 m)
Mouth	Eel River
• coordinates	39°37′37″N 123°20′43″W / 39.62694°N 123.34528°W / 39.62694; -123.34528[2]
• elevation	1,014 ft (309 m)
Length	17 mi (27 km)

Outlet Creek is an Eel River tributary draining the Little Lake Valley northerly through a canyon of the California Coast Ranges.^[3] The Northwestern Pacific Railroad bridges the creek twelve times, following it through the canyon.^[4] California State Route 162 bridges the creek once, following the canyon closely downstream of Longvale, California, and U.S. Route 101 bridges the creek twice, paralleling it less closely upstream of Longvale. After leaving Quaternary alluvium of the Little Lake Valley, the canyon exposes undivided Cretaceous marine sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks upstream of Longvale and Franciscan Assemblage downstream of Longvale.^[5] Outlet Creek provides groundwater recharge, recreation, and agricultural and industrial water supply plus wildlife habitat including cold freshwater habitat for fish migration and spawning.^[6]