Eel River (California)
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| Eel River | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Major city | Fortuna |
| Length | 200 mi (322 km) [1] |
| Watershed | 3,684 sq mi (9,542 km²) [2] |
| Discharge at | Fortuna |
| - average | 7,335 cu ft/s (200 m³/s) [3] |
| - maximum | 648,000 cu ft/s (18,300 m³/s) |
| - minimum | 12 cu ft/s (0.3 m³/s) |
| Source | Pacific Coast Ranges |
| - location | Mendocino County |
| - coordinates | [4] |
| - elevation | 6,245 ft (1,903 m) [5] |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| - location | Humboldt County |
| - coordinates | [1] |
| - elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Major tributaries | |
| - left | South Fork Eel River |
| - right | Middle Fork Eel River, North Fork Eel River, Van Duzen River |
The Eel River is a major river system of the northern Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. Approximately 200 miles (322 km) long, it drains a rugged area in the California Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean. For most of its course, the river flows northwest, parallel to the coast.
The Eel River's watershed of 3,684 square miles (9,537 sq km) is the third largest in California. The river and its tributaries total 3,448 river miles (5,548 km), flowing through five counties.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Course
The river originates on the southern flank of Bald Mountain in northeastern Mendocino County.[1] It flows south, then west, through Mendocino National Forest and Lake County. It is impounded in Lake Pillsbury, the reservoir created by Scott Dam.
Below Lake Pillsbury the Eel River re-enters Mendocino County, turning northwest approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Willits. It flows northwest in a long isolated valley, collecting many tributaries including the Middle Fork Eel River and the North Fork Eel River. Between these two tributaries the Round Valley Indian Reservation lies east of the Eel River.
After the North Fork confluence, the Eel River flows through the southwestern corner of Trinity County then crosses Humboldt County from the southeast to northwest, flowing in a winding course past a series of small mountain communities. The South Fork Eel River joins as the river valley widens. U.S. Route 101 runs along the South Fork Eel River and then the main Eel River's lower course.
After passing Rio Dell, the Eel River is joined by the Van Duzen River. Below that confluence, the Eel passes Fortuna and enters the Pacific in central Humboldt County, approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Eureka.[6]
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad follows a portion of the Eel River.
[edit] North Fork
The North Fork Eel River rises in Trinity County west of Mad River Ridge. It flows south through Six Rivers National Forest and the Round Valley Indian Reservation. In its lower course the North Fork Eel River enters Mendocino County before turning west to join the Eel River.
[edit] Middle Fork
The Middle Fork Eel River rises in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness of Mendocino National Forest, near the Trinity County/Tehama County line. It flows southwest and south along the eastern edge of Round Valley, collecting many tributaries such as the North Fork Middle Fork Eel River, Balm of Gilead Creek, Black Butte River, and Elk Creek. The Middle Fork Eel River then flows west for about 15 miles (24 km). It is paralleled by State Route 162 along its last few miles. It meets the main Eel River at Dos Rios.
[edit] South Fork
The South Fork Eel River rises in Mendocino County, southwest of Laytonville. It flows generally north, past Branscom, Leggett, Piercy, and Benbow. At Benbow, there is a small dam which forms Benbow Lake. Below the dam, the South Fork flows north past Garberville Airport in Garberville, Redway, and Miranda before joining the main Eel River.
At Phillipsville, a small town near Miranda, the Avenue of the Giants begins paralleling U.S. Route 101 as they follows the South Fork through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The Avenue of the Giants was once part of U.S. Route 101 until a freeway bypass was built.
[edit] Recreation
The three forks of the Eel and their tributaries provide many opportunities for whitewater kayaking and rafting on their upper sections. There are also many miles of river suitable for flatwater boating in the downstream sections. Fishing in the Eel River Valley includes rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, and the largest steelhead run in California. Camping and hiking are popular in Richardson Grove State Park, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Six Rivers National Forest and Mendocino National Forest.
[edit] River modifications
There are two hydroelectric dams on the Eel, 130-foot (39 m) Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury, and 50-foot (15 m) Cape Horn Dam, which forms Van Arsdale Reservoir just north of Potter Valley. At Cape Horn Dam, a portion of the water is diverted through a tunnel and hydroelectric plant, and then to the headwaters of the Russian River in Potter Valley.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c USGS GNIS: Eel River, USGS, GNIS
- ^ a b About the Eel River, Friends of the Eel River
- ^ Water Data Report CA 2005, USGS Water Resources Data. Discharge data at Scotia, CA, upstream from Van Duzen River
- ^ Topozone.com, Bald Mountain, Hull Mountain Quad
- ^ Google Earth elevation for source coordinates
- ^ Course info for main Eel River and its Forks mainly from: (2005) California Road & Recreation Atlas, 4nd, Benchmark Maps. ISBN 0-929591-80-1.
