Lower Silver Creek (Coyote Creek tributary)

Lower Silver Creek is a 4.7 mi northwest and westward-flowing stream currently originating just north of Lake Cunningham in Evergreen Valley in southeast San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. It is tributary to Coyote Creek, whose waters flow to south San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

History
Historically, Silver Creek was known as Arroyo de Socayre and ran through the Rancho Socayre. Silver Creek was probably named for its silvery appearance, although the word "silver" may have been used to indicate nearby quicksilver (mercury ore) deposits.

Watershed and course
The creek currently drains an area of over 43 sqmi with its source in the Edenvalle Hills of southeast San Jose, California. Upper Silver Creek and Thompson Creek both begin in the Edenvale Hills, and historically sank into the alluvial basin of Evergreen Valley in southeast San Jose. Then they resurfaced and flowed into a large freshwater marsh known historically as Laguna Socayre, and referred to more recently as Silver Creek Marsh. In 1978, Silver Creek Marsh was excavated into a flood water detention pond or reservoir, now known as Lake Cunningham. Thus, Lower Silver Creek used to begin southwest of where Lake Cunningham is today, but now its source is regarded as just north of this artificial lake by the Santa Clara Valley Water District (now Valley Water) at the confluence of Thompson Creek and Flint Creek. In the 1970s, Upper Silver Creek flows were shunted due west into a flood control channel discharging directly to Coyote Creek south of Singleton Road.

After its current source at the confluence of Flint Creek and Thompson Creek, Lower Silver Creek tributaries include South Babb Creek, North Babb Creek, and Miguelita Creek. In the 1970s, the East Zone Flood Project connected many of these tributaries to Lower Silver Creek to provide storm drainage for urban development. Lower Silver Creek ends at its confluence with Coyote Creek at Watson Park, northwest of McKee Road.

Ecology and conservation
In 1962 Lower Silver Creek was reported as an historical migration route and habitat for steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Lower Silver Creek photo gallery: