Eel River (California)

Geobox | River
name = Eel River
category = River


image_size =
image_caption =
etymology =
country = United States
country_

state = California
district_type = County
district = Humbolt Country
district1 = Lake Country
district2 = Mendocino Country
district3 = Trinity Country
parent =
tributary_left = South Fork Eel River
tributary_left1 =
tributary_right = Middle Fork Eel River
tributary_right1 = North Fork Eel River
tributary_right2 = Van Duzen River
city = Fortuna
landmark =
source = Pacific Coast Ranges
source_location =
source_region = Mendocino County
source_state = California
source_elevation_imperial = 6245
source_elevation_note = Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.]
source_length_imperial =
source_lat_d = 39
source_lat_m = 36
source_lat_s = 51
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 122
source_long_m = 58
source_long_s = 12
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note = [GNIS|251974|Eel River Note that the "source" coordinates given, as well as the final "Sequence 29" coordinates are clearly an error. Used "Sequence 28" coordinates instead.]
mouth_name = Pacific Ocean
mouth_location = Humboldt County
mouth_district =
mouth_region =
mouth_state = California
mouth_country =
mouth_note =
mouth_lat_d = 40
mouth_lat_m = 38
mouth_lat_s = 29
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 124
mouth_long_m = 18
mouth_long_s = 44
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note = GNIS|251974|Eel River]
mouth_elevation_imperial = 0
length_imperial = 200
length_round = 0
length_note =
watershed_imperial = 3684
watershed_note = [http://www.eelriver.org/engine.php?bit=eelriver About the Eel River] , Friends of the Eel River]
discharge_location = Fortuna
discharge_imperial = 7335
discharge_round = -2
discharge_max_imperial = 648000
discharge_min_imperial = 12
discharge_min_round = 1
discharge_note = [http://web10capp.er.usgs.gov/adr_lookup/wdr-ca-05/index.jsp Water Data Report CA 2005] , USGS Water Resources Data. Discharge data at Scotia, CA, upstream from Van Duzen River]


map_size =
map_caption =
map1 = California Locator Map.png map1_size = 300
map1_caption = Location of the mouth of the Eel River River in California
map1_locator = California
website =
footnotes =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 river has both State (1972) and Federal (1981) Wild and Scenic River status. There are convert|97|mi|km classified as Wild and convert|28|mi|km classified as Scenic along the river's course."National Wild and Scenic Eel River", "The Eel River Reporter", Friends of the Eel River publication Vol.VIII, Summer 2005 p.14]

The Eel River's watershed of 3,684 square miles (9,537 km²) is the third largest in California. The river and its tributaries total 3,448 river miles (5,548 km), flowing through five counties.

Course

The river originates on the southern flank of Bald Mountain in northeastern Mendocino County. It flows southeast, 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. [Course info for main Eel River and its Forks mainly from: cite book | title = California Road & Recreation Atlas | edition = 4nd | year = 2005 | publisher = Benchmark Maps | isbn = 0-929591-80-1 ]

The Northwestern Pacific Railroad follows a portion of the Eel River.

North Fork

The North Fork Eel River rises in Hettenshaw Valley of 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. It drains 286 square miles and is 33 miles in length.

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. It is the largest of the tributaries and drains 753 square miles.

outh 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. The drainage area for the South Fork is 689 square miles.

Van Duzen

The Van Duzen River rises in the Hettenshaw Valley and joins the main Eel River south of Fortuna in Humbolt county. It drains 420 square miles.

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.

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. [ [http://sunnyfortuna.com/explore/_eel_river.htm 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.

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 and is known as the Potter Valley Project (PVP).

ee also

*List of rivers in California

References

External links

* [http://www.eelriver.org/ Friends of the Eel River]
*Gnis|253918|South Fork Eel River, USGS, GNIS
*Gnis|255113|North Fork Eel River, USGS, GNIS
* [http://www.bartleby.com/69/74/E00974.html Eel River] , The Columbia Gazetteer of North America