Historically, the Ohlone People did not practice agriculture, but for thousands of years, they altered the land in other ways. Most notably, they used fire to limit chaparral growth, regenerate grasses, and improve environmental conditions for hunting.
Following Portola's expedition in 1769, the Spanish missions established outstations for ranching throughout this area. When the missions were secularized between 1833 and 1836, Californios and other colonizing settlers received land grants. The remaining landless Ohlone from Bay Area missions were often exploited and forced to relocate.
California's gold rush brought a surge of many new settlers to the region, leading to a booming agricultural industry. Alameda Creek and the San Francisco Bay became vital, for transporting produce to market.
In 1869, the first rail services through Niles Canyon linked Oakland with the rest of the country. This expanded the agricultural industry, allowing farmers to efficiently transport perishable food to destinations far beyond the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Bay Area's growing population and agriculture drove an increasing demand for water, leading to several significant engineering projects. By 1900, the Spring Valley Water Works had completed the filter galleries, Sunol Dam, and Sunol Aqueduct.
In 1925, they completed the first Calaveras Dam. These landmarks showcased engineering and architectural achievements of the times.
Today, large areas within the Alameda Creek watershed retain their natural beauty as undeveloped land. Some of the land has been converted to housing and other uses, but much of the watershed is still used for ranching and farming. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission owns and protects over 38,000 acres of the nearly 700 square-mile watershed.