"Unseen Marin: The Waterways of Marin County" is California author and photographer Marques Vickers' visual examination of fourteen water tributaries flowing through the Marin County region at the base of prominent Mount Tamalpais. The creeks that eminently flow throughout Marin County are important draining outlets originating from the elevated mountain ranges that frame the skeleton of the region. The Coastal Miwok tribe inhabited the region for hundreds of years harvesting and gathering crops, hunting and fishing for salmon and steelhead trout. Their lands stretched from Marin to southern Sonoma county and Bodega Bay. European diseases with the Spanish establishment of Missions San Francisco de Asis and San Rafael decimated the native population. Following Mexican independence, the missions were closed and the lands divided into two prominent land grants. Over the subsequent two centuries, the region would evolve into upscale suburban enclaves. Corte Madera Creek Corte Madera Creek extends approximately 4.5 miles beginning at a conjuncture with Ross Creek in the town of Ross. The creek passes through Kentfield and continues straddling the cities of Larkspur and Corte Madera. Ross Creek Ross Creek originates just south before Phoenix Lake, whose overflow spills into its waters. The creek flows through the town of Ross before emptying into a concrete aqueduct and the convergence of the Corte Madera and San Anselmo Creeks. Larkspur Creek Larkspur Creek flows 3.5 miles originating from the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve before passing through the town of Larkspur and merging into the Corte Madera Creek. Tamalpais Creek Along an elevated hillside in Kentfield, the Tamalpais Creek winds eastward before emptying into the Corte Madera Creek. San Anselmo Creek Cascade Falls begins the southern descent of the San Anselmo Creek. The creek forms the southern sector of the Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve and continues into the town of San Anselmo until converging with the Ross and Corte Madera Creeks in the town of Ross. Mill Creek Mill Creek originates as a draining outlet on the eastern slope of Mount Tamalpais, converging with Cascade Creek at Cascade Falls. The creek flows through the downtown where an original Sawmill dating back to the 1830s remains. Pickleweed Inlet Pickleweed Inlet is a small bay that begins at Roque Moraes Drive and widens southward through a parkland basin area that includes Hauke and Bayfront Parks. Corte Madera del Presidio Corte Madera del Presidio originates as a draining outlet on the eastern slope of Mount Tamalpais running southbound through the downtown. The 4.1-mile-long creek then splits and absorbs Mill Creek. The creek passes into a watershed park area before emptying into the Pickleweed Inlet. Coyote Creek Coyote Creek begins on Coyote Ridge at the south end of the Bothin Marsh and follows the course of Tennessee Valley Road. Las Gallinas Creek The Las Gallinas Creek begins in the hills of Terra Linda and continues skirting along the periphery of San Rafael and then flows into the Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve. The Santa Venetia Marsh The Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve is a 33-acre salt marsh surrounded by a levee. The region is part of the Las Gallinas creek delta watershed that drains the Terra Linda valleys. The surrounding area is now a patchwork of channels, marshland and flood control areas. San Rafael Creek San Rafael Creek originates within the downtown before passing under an overpass on Interstate Highway 101. The creek then widens into a causeway lined on both sides by commercial constructions. Fairfax Creek Fairfax Creek commences near the Loma Alta Open Space Preserve and weaves into downtown Fairfax where it terminates. Sleepy Hollow Creek Sleepy Hollow Creek begins on the outskirts of San Anselmo and empties into San Anselmo Creek just south of Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo.
About the Author: Visual Artist, Writer and Photographer Marques Vickers is a California native presently living in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, Washington regions. He was born in 1957 and raised in Vallejo, California. He is a 1979 Business Administration graduate from Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. Following graduation, he became the Public Relations and ultimately Executive Director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce between 1979-84. He subsequently became the Vice President of Sales for AsTRA Tours and Travel in Westwood between 1984-86. Following a one-year residence in Dijon, France where he studied at the University of Bourgogne, he began Marquis Enterprises in 1987. His company operations have included sports apparel exporting, travel and tour operations, wine brokering, publishing, rare book and collectibles reselling. He has established numerous e-commerce, barter exchange and art websites including MarquesV.com, ArtsInAmerica.com, InsiderSeriesBooks.com, DiscountVintages.com and WineScalper.com. Between 2005-2009, he relocated to the Languedoc region of southern France. He concentrated on his painting and sculptural work while restoring two 19th century stone village residences. His figurative painting, photography and sculptural works have been sold and exhibited internationally since 1986. He re-established his Pacific Coast residence in 2009 and has focused his creative productivity on writing and photography. His published works span a diverse variety of subjects including true crime, international travel, California wines, architecture, history, Southern France, Pacific Coast attractions, auctions, fine art marketing, poetry, fiction and photojournalism. He has two daughters, Charline and Caroline who presently reside in Europe.