Cazadero, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Cazadero, California
other_name = Ingram's Station
settlement_type = unincorporated town
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = right
pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of California
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sonoma
population_total = 2347
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 38 |latm = 32 |lats = 0 |latNS = N
longd = 123 |longm = 5 |longs = 7 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = gnis|220749|Cazadero]
elevation_m = 36
elevation_ft = 118
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 95421
area_code = 707
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-12146
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 220749
website = http://www.cazadero.net/

Cazadero is an unincorporated town in western Sonoma County, California, United States with a population of 2,347Fact|date=December 2007. Nearby towns include Jenner, Annapolis, Stewart's Point, Duncans Mills, Villa Grande, Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, and The Sea Ranch. The "downtown" of Cazadero is quite modest, consisting of two churches, a general store, a post office, a hardware store, an auto repair garage with several acres of auto junk yard, the well equipped main station of the Cazadero Volunteer Fire Department and a few homes.

"Cazadero" is generally regarded as the area from the confluence of Austin Creek and the Russian River along California state route 116 along the Cazadero Highway up to the town. Cazadero Highway roughly parallels Austin Creek which is a principal tributary of the lower Russian River. Austin Creek flows southward through the town. Just north of the town, Cazadero Highway is joined by Fort Ross Road which is a winding, narrow road which meanders west before reaching state route 1 on the Pacific Ocean near an old fort established by the Russian trappers in the 19th century. Located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, Cazadero can also be considered part of the Wine Country. Flowers Vineyard and Winery is in Cazadero. Cazadero is approximately convert|10|mi|km from the Pacific Ocean, the rugged Sonoma Coast and the mouth of the Russian River.

Geography

Many creeks in Cazadero join Austin Creek as it makes its way to the Russian River. The principal tributary in the area is Kidd Creek which finds it source on the south east slopes of Pole Mountain which rises to approximately convert|2204|ft|m just a few miles from the Pacific coastline. The rapid rise in elevation from the coast to mountains west of Cazadero ensures that Cazadero receives substantial rainfall as Pacific storms come onshore in spring and winter releasing rain from clouds saturated with ocean moisture. Cazadero receives an average of convert|72|in|cm|-1|abbr=on of rain a year, and is reputed to be the second wettest town in California, after Gasquet. [cite web |url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=4058640 |title=Rainiest Town In The Bay Area Up For Sale |accessdate=2007-12-13 |last=Freedman |first=Wayne |date=2006-04-05 |publisher=KGO-TV News]

The area is home to a number of camps, including the [Cazadero Performing Arts Camp] and Cazadero Baptist Camp, which is owned by the Costa Meda Southern Baptist Association. There are numerous vacation rentals in the area and ample opportunties for recreation in Cazadero, including fishing, huinting, swimming, boating, camping and particularly rich bird watching opportunities. Other diversions in the area include a popular bed and breakfast lodge, the CazSonoma Inn, which is located along Kidd Creek Road at the confluence of the forks of Kidd Creek amid a majestic redwood forest.

Flora and Fauna

Cazadero is characterized by great natural beauty associated with first and second growth forests, year round and seasonal creeks, meadows and rugged terrain sculpted by abundant annual rainfall. Plant life in Cazadero is prolific. Stunning large redwoods as well as bay trees and oaks are commonplace throughout the area. Tanoak is a common species in the area although sudden oak disease has put pressure on this species throughout Sonoma and Marin counties, including Cazadero. Numerous common and rare fern species abound in the redwood forests around Cazadero, especially along the creeks in the area. Other common plants include foxglove (digitalis) and posion oak. Rarer plants include one of California's native orchids, the calypso bulbosa, which can be found in redwood forests and fern glens in the Cazadero area. Locations of colonies of this sometimes solitary orchid are often kept secret given the danger of overharvesting by enthusiasts. Abusive logging practices in Cazadero and throughout the North Coast also threaten the habit of this small but magnificent native California plant.

Wildlife is also abundant in Cazadero. Numerous birds inhabit the forests and open areas of the region. Notable species include Stellar jays, ravens, hawks, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, juncos, sparrows, and white and great and lesser blue herons. Coyote, mountain lion, possum, racoon, mole, squirrel, otter and deer are common. Beavers have also been reported in the area. Aquatic life abounds in Cazadero creeks. Salmon, steelhead, trout, crawfish, salamanders, frogs, lizards, crawfish and newts are all easily found in the area. However, larger anadromous fish, such as coho salmon and steelhead are threatened throughout the region by habitat destruction, destructive logging activities and the pressure of unsustainable overfishing practices. Coho salmon were widely found in Cazadero streams before the 1960's. The reduction in the coho salmon population is controversial. Some contend the reduction is due to many natural and man-made conditions, including long-term trends in atmospheric conditions, such as El Niño, which causes extremes in annual rainfall along the California coast, the predation of coho salmon by the California Sea Lion and Pacific Harbor Seal, and commercial timber harvesting. The ocean going trout commonly known as the "steelhead," is still seen regularly in the streams around Cazadero, although in diminishing numbers. Among others, observations of steelhead in Austin and Kidd Creeks, remain common.

History

Cazadero was the northern terminus of the North Pacific Coast Railroad, originally laid as narrow-gauge track in the 1870s.

References

External links