The first European land exploration of
Alta California, the Spanish
Portolà expedition, passed through the area on its way north, camping near the creek on October 27, 1769. They stopped for the night at an abandoned
Torose village at the northern side of the stream, close to the coast. The guides told them that the villagers had moved into the mountains. The stream was named Saint Ives. "...where we came upon an empty village; those belonging to the preceding place said they had moved into the mountains. We were accompanied by four heathens belonging to the spot we set out from." - Journal of Fray Juan Crespí. "The country had a gloomy aspect; the hills were bare and treeless, and, consequently, without fire-wood. On the northern side of this stream there were some abandoned Indian huts; all who had the curiosity to look in to see these were covered with fleas. On the road we had to dig a very long slope over which we had to make a passage in order to descend to a small stream where it empties into the sea." - Diary of Miguel Costansó. ==Tributaries==