Bitterwater Creek

Bitterwater Creek, formerly Arroyo de Matarano (Matarano Creek), is a stream with its source located at the junction of Walnut Creek and Yeguas Creek in San Luis Obispo County, west of the Temblor Range and east of the Carrizzo Plain in the San Andreas Rift Zone. It flows northwest in the Rift Zone then northeast through the Temblor Range, passing south of the Shale Hills, into Antelope Valley 4 miles southeast of Point of Rocks.^[2]

History

Arroyo de Matarano was a place on El Camino Viejo between Aguaje Del Diablo to the south and Las Tinajas de Los Indios to the north, east of Point of Rocks.^[1] This stream was named for Juan Matarano, a well known mid 19th century mesteñero or "mustang runner" of the west side of the southern San Joaquin Valley region. The Corral de Matarano named for him,^[5] lay below the mouth of the Arroyo. It was in a sandstone formation that made a natural stone corral. Openings in the enclosure were blocked by man made low stone walls, and was used to corral horses, cattle and sheep. Water here could usually only be found up stream eight miles to the west, at Ceder Canyon, a mile more distant than the water at Las Tinajas de Los Indios.^[6] Later the name of the Creek was officially made Bitterwater Creek for the taste of its waters, in March 1909 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.^[2]

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