Living on the River

Van Duzen River

We live on the Van Duzen river. Literally. It runs through the middle of our property.
A small stream in this dry end of summer, it becomes a fast moving torrent during the winter rains. Wild & free, it is but a small tributary into the larger Eel River. Part of the Eel River Watershed.

Van Duzen River

Our fresh water is one of the most important resources. Not only to sustain life, but these rivers are the nursery for several species of ocean-going fish, notably Salmon and Steelhead. For many years these fisheries have been dwindling. This year, after stricter rules and moratoriums on Salmon fishing the numbers have rebounded.

The Eel River by Fortuna, Ca

An amazing local artist, Michael Guerriero, has been working with elementary school children to educate them about these fisheries as well as doing art. He has a project going to Celebrate the 2010 Eel River Salmon Run that needs funding.



It is being funded through Kickstarter and the time to donate runs out on Sept 30. Please join us in supporting this wonderful project!

River bummin'

Made it to Fortuna yesterday & while there, walked the puppy, Kumalie, on the Riverwalk Trail. To my amazement, all along this stretch of Eel River there were huge salmon leaping out of the water! I must have seen 20 or so. So very cool. I have never seen them jump in level water and, while some suggested they were being chased, I saw no indication of predators, be it seal, otter or other.

I love Riverwalk. It is, for me, the highlight of the town of Fortuna on the North Coast. A biking, walking trail of some length bordered by the Eel River and pasture. These views are, respectively, looking South, SouthEast, and NorthWest along the river there.

In early summer I saw a congregation of around 75 (!!!) Merganser Ducks on a riverbar there. On the return leg of the walk they had disappeared -  then I spotted them further downriver diving, all in a frenzy.
Obviously they were feeding on something (Anchovies? Sardines? What comes up the Eel?). Very odd to see these loner ducks in a group like that.
Love it.
Nature phenomena of the river habitat.

Besides the ocean and mountains we have 6 rivers that define this area. In addition to the Eel there is the mighty Klamath, the beautiful Smith, Trinity, and Mad Rivers, and the Van Duzen river on which I live. The Van Duzen River has been federally designated as a "National Wild and Scenic River". Here's a view of kids in the Van Duzen in summer.

One last Eel River story for now... When I first lived in this area in the late 1960's I was standing in just-over-the-knee deep water in the Middle Fork when a huge school of shad went upstream. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of medium size shimmering silver fish filling the river, bumping my legs, backs sticking out of the water. This went on for several minutes.
Interestingly, it turns out the American Shad is a non-native species. From the Atlantic coast, they were introduced in the 1800's and are another migratory specie that lives in the sea and journeys upriver to spawn.

Be familiar with your local waterways. There is much to discover there and to enjoy. And knowing them will encourage you to work to keep them healthy.