South Fork Eel River

South Fork Eel River
Meander in the South Fork Eel River
Map of the Eel River drainage basin showing the South Fork
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBranscomb, California
 • coordinates39°36′46″N 123°29′34″W / 39.61278°N 123.49278°W / 39.61278; -123.49278[1]
 • elevation2,500 ft (760 m)
MouthEel River
 • location
Dyerville/Founders' Grove, California
 • coordinates
40°21′21″N 123°55′10″W / 40.35583°N 123.91944°W / 40.35583; -123.91944[1]
 • elevation
100 ft (30 m)
Length105 mi (169 km)
Basin size689 sq mi (1,780 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationUSGS gage 11476500, near Miranda, CA, river mile 20[2]
 • average1,845 cu ft/s (52.2 m3/s)[2]
 • minimum10 cu ft/s (0.28 m3/s)
 • maximum199,000 cu ft/s (5,600 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftHollow Tree Creek, Bull Creek (California)
 • rightTenmile Creek (South Fork Eel River), Rattlesnake Creek (California), Cedar Creek (South Fork Eel River), East Branch South Fork Eel River
DesignatedJanuary 19, 1981

The South Fork Eel River is the largest tributary of the Eel River in north-central California in the United States. The river flows 105 miles (169 km) north from Laytonville to Dyerville/Founders' Grove where it joins the Eel River. The South Fork drains a long and narrow portion of the Coast Range of California in parts of Mendocino and Humboldt counties. U.S. Route 101 follows the river for much of its length.[3]

The Kai Pomo, a branch of the Pomo people, once lived in the upper portion of the watershed.[4] Before industrial development in the 1800s, many native tribes relied on the river's abundant runs of salmon and steelhead. In the 1920s, a private company built the Benbow Dam, blocking fish migration to a large area of the basin.[5]

The South Fork is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River from the confluence of Section Four Creek to the mouth.

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Fork Eel River, United States Geological Survey, GNIS
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wdr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "South Fork Eel River Basin". California Coastal Watershed Program. coastalwatersheds.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  4. ^ Barrett, p. 279
  5. ^ "Big Problem, Little Dam". North Coast Journal. www.northcoastjournal.com. 5 July 2001. Retrieved 2009-07-04.