[2] Washoe Creek rises in the low lying Meacham Hills southwest of the city of Cotati.

[3] The native habitats have been largely altered or replaced, due to the modern uses of grazing, agriculture, and urban development.

In stream nitrate concentrations are noticeably higher for Washoe Creek than other watercourses within the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.

[5] This area was settled at least as early as 2000 BC by the Coast Miwok peoples, who built small villages along the banks of Washoe Creek and other local watercourses.

One of the area's American pioneers was Robert Ayres, who in 1859 built Washoe House near the creek's headwaters.