Noyo River
Encyclopedia
The Noyo River is a river
on the north coast of California in Mendocino County
. The river's headwaters are in the steep Mendocino Range
, but downstream the river flows through gently sloping marine terrace
s before draining into the Pacific Ocean
. The 113 square miles (292.7 km²) watershed
extends east to the small city of Willits
and the river's mouth is at Noyo Harbor
in Fort Bragg
, which uses the river for drinking water
; it is neighbored on the south by the Big River
, on the east by the South Fork Eel River
, and on the north by Ten Mile River
, named for its distance from the Noyo River. The average annual rainfall is between 40 inches (101.6 cm) and 65 inches (165.1 cm).
In the language of the Pomo people
the Noyo River was called tee'mli-bida or Chemli-bida; the name "Noyo" referred to a village several miles north, on Pudding Creek, and by extension to the creek itself. The white settlers to the Fort Bragg area transferred the name from Pudding Creek to the larger river to the south.
The watershed has been logged
for timber
since the 19th century. Historical logging practices, particularly widespread clear-cutting, caused severe erosion
, which lead to excessive sediment
buildup in the river and its tributaries. In addition, large woody debris that trapped sediment was removed from the streambed to improve flows. Noyo River estuary is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy
. In 1998, the river was listed as sediment impaired by the State of California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. The watershed is slowly improving, but it is far from full recovery.
Timber production continues to be the primary land use
in the watershed. About half of the land is owned by Mendocino Redwood Company and Hawthorne Timber Company, which bought its land from Georgia Pacific in 1999. Jackson Demonstration State Forest
, owned by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
, makes up about one fifth of the watershed. The rest of the land is split into smaller parcels, such as ranches and private residences. Public land
is largely limited to the state forest.
(Oncorhynchus kisutch), and Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), which are all listed under the Endangered Species Act. Steelhead are listed as threatened (2000—federal), coho listed as endangered (2005—California and federal), and chinook are listed as threatened (1999—federal). Non-salmonid species in the watershed include the Three-spined stickleback
(Gasterosteus aculeatus), Pacific lamprey
(Lampetra tridentata), and Sculpin
(Cottus spp.).
Birds of special concern include the Marbled Murrelet
(Brachyramphus marmoratus) and Northern Spotted Owl
(Strix occidentalis caurina) because of their close association with old- growth and mature redwood forest, which has been heavily impacted by timber harvest since the late 19th century.
Eighty-two mammal species are predicted to be found in the Noyo River watershed including several rodents, bats, and squirrels, beaver (Castor canadensis), black bear
(Ursus americanus), Ring-tailed Cat
(Bassariscus astutus), American marten
(Martes americana), fisher
(Martes pennanti), weasels, American badger
(Taxidea taxus), Western Spotted skunk
(Spilogale gracilis) and Striped skunk
(Mephitis mephitis), mountain lion (Puma concolor), bobcat
(Lynx rufus), seals and sea lions, Mule deer
(Odocoileus hemionus), and elk (Cervus elaphus). However, recent surveys have found no fishers or martens.
The State Route 1 bridge built in 2005 replaced a deck truss bridge
that was built in 1948. State Route 1 is known as the Shoreline Highway to the south and Main Street of Fort Bragg to the north. Originally proposed in 1998, the bridge was redesigned with railings that allow scenic views to be seen from the bridge after local protest.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
on the north coast of California in Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
. The river's headwaters are in the steep Mendocino Range
Mendocino Range
The Mendocino Range is one of several coastal mountain ranges which compose the Pacific Coast Range. This massive range of coastal mountains was formed during a period of coastal orogeny, millions of years ago. The Mendocino Range is a component of the California Coast Ranges of California...
, but downstream the river flows through gently sloping marine terrace
Marine terrace
A marine terrace, coastal terrace, raised beach or perched coastline is a relatively flat, horizontal or gently inclined surface of marine origin, mostly an old abrasion platform which has been lifted out of the sphere of wave activity . Thus it lies above or under the current sea level, depending...
s before draining into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The 113 square miles (292.7 km²) watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
extends east to the small city of Willits
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
and the river's mouth is at Noyo Harbor
Noyo Harbor
Noyo Harbor is the port and boat docking area for Fort Bragg, California, USA. It is built near the mouth of the Noyo River in the town of Noyo, just south of Fort Bragg. Noyo Harbor is located in Mendocino County northwest of the Port of San Francisco and south-southeast of the port of...
in Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, California
Fort Bragg is a city located in coastal Mendocino County, California along State Route 1, the major north-south highway along the Pacific Coast. Fort Bragg is located west of Willits, at an elevation of 85 feet...
, which uses the river for drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
; it is neighbored on the south by the Big River
Big River (California)
The Big River is a river in Mendocino County, California, draining an area of about . The Big River watershed borders the watersheds of the Noyo River to the north, the Eel River and Russian River to the east, and the Little River, Albion River, and Navarro River to the south.The river's...
, on the east by the South Fork Eel River
South Fork Eel River
The South Fork Eel River is the longest and largest tributary of the Eel River, in the north-central part of the U.S. state of California. The river flows north from Laytonville to Dyerville/Founders' Grove where it joins the Eel River on the left bank...
, and on the north by Ten Mile River
Ten Mile River (California)
Ten Mile River is a river in northern Mendocino County, California, United States. It is named for the fact that its mouth is ten miles north of the mouth of the Noyo River. The middle and north forks of the river are each long, and the river extends for seven more miles from their confluence to...
, named for its distance from the Noyo River. The average annual rainfall is between 40 inches (101.6 cm) and 65 inches (165.1 cm).
In the language of the Pomo people
Pomo people
The Pomo people are an indigenous peoples of California. The historic Pomo territory in northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point...
the Noyo River was called tee'mli-bida or Chemli-bida; the name "Noyo" referred to a village several miles north, on Pudding Creek, and by extension to the creek itself. The white settlers to the Fort Bragg area transferred the name from Pudding Creek to the larger river to the south.
The watershed has been logged
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
for timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
since the 19th century. Historical logging practices, particularly widespread clear-cutting, caused severe erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, which lead to excessive sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
buildup in the river and its tributaries. In addition, large woody debris that trapped sediment was removed from the streambed to improve flows. Noyo River estuary is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy
California Bays and Estuaries Policy
The Water Quality Control Policy for the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California is published by the California State Water Resources Control Board as guidelines to prevent water quality degradation. The policy is revised as needed.-Geography:...
. In 1998, the river was listed as sediment impaired by the State of California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. The watershed is slowly improving, but it is far from full recovery.
Timber production continues to be the primary land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
in the watershed. About half of the land is owned by Mendocino Redwood Company and Hawthorne Timber Company, which bought its land from Georgia Pacific in 1999. Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Jackson Demonstration State Forest is the largest demonstration forest operated by the State of California. The forest is entirely located within Mendocino County on land formerly owned by Caspar Lumber Company along California State Highway 20 between Willits and the coastal city of Fort Bragg. ...
, owned by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is the State of California's agency responsible for fire protection in State Responsibility Areas of California as well as the administration of the state's private and public forests. It is often referred to as The California Department of...
, makes up about one fifth of the watershed. The rest of the land is split into smaller parcels, such as ranches and private residences. Public land
Public land
In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...
is largely limited to the state forest.
Ecology
Three anadromous fish species inhabit the Noyo River: Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Coho salmonCoho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
(Oncorhynchus kisutch), and Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), which are all listed under the Endangered Species Act. Steelhead are listed as threatened (2000—federal), coho listed as endangered (2005—California and federal), and chinook are listed as threatened (1999—federal). Non-salmonid species in the watershed include the Three-spined stickleback
Three-spined stickleback
The three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is a fish native to much of northern Europe, northern Asia and North America. It has been introduced into parts of southern and central Europe.-Distribution and morphological variation:...
(Gasterosteus aculeatus), Pacific lamprey
Pacific lamprey
The Pacific lamprey is an anadromous parasitic lamprey from the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia. It is also known as the three tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey.-Biology:...
(Lampetra tridentata), and Sculpin
Sculpin
A Sculpin is a fish that belongs to the order Scorpaeniformes, suborder Cottoidei and superfamily Cottoidea, that contains 11 families, 149 genera, and 756 species...
(Cottus spp.).
Birds of special concern include the Marbled Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet
The Marbled Murrelet is a small seabird from the North Pacific. It is a member of the auk family. It nests in old-growth forests or on the ground at higher latitudes where trees cannot grow...
(Brachyramphus marmoratus) and Northern Spotted Owl
Northern Spotted Owl
The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, is one of three Spotted Owl subspecies. A Western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males...
(Strix occidentalis caurina) because of their close association with old- growth and mature redwood forest, which has been heavily impacted by timber harvest since the late 19th century.
Eighty-two mammal species are predicted to be found in the Noyo River watershed including several rodents, bats, and squirrels, beaver (Castor canadensis), black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
(Ursus americanus), Ring-tailed Cat
Ring-tailed Cat
The ringtail is a mammal of the raccoon family , native to arid regions of North America. It is also known as the ringtail cat, ring-tailed cat or miner's cat, and is also sometimes mistakenly called a "civet cat"...
(Bassariscus astutus), American marten
American Marten
The American marten is a North American member of the family Mustelidae, sometimes referred to as the pine marten. The name "pine marten" is derived from the common but distinct Eurasian species of Martes...
(Martes americana), fisher
Fisher (animal)
The fisher is a medium-size mammal native to North America. It is a member of the mustelid family, commonly referred to as the weasel family. The fisher is closely related to but larger than the American Marten...
(Martes pennanti), weasels, American badger
American Badger
The American badger is a North American badger, somewhat similar in appearance to the European badger. It is found in the western and central United States, northern Mexico and central Canada, as well as in certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.Their habitat is typified by open...
(Taxidea taxus), Western Spotted skunk
Western Spotted Skunk
The Western Spotted Skunk is a spotted skunk found throughout the western United States, northern Mexico, and southwestern British Columbia. With a total length of , the Western Spotted Skunk is smaller than the Striped Skunk . Their habitat is mixed woodlands, open areas, and farmlands. They...
(Spilogale gracilis) and Striped skunk
Striped Skunk
The striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Found over most of the North American continent north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States.-Description:...
(Mephitis mephitis), mountain lion (Puma concolor), bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
(Lynx rufus), seals and sea lions, Mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
(Odocoileus hemionus), and elk (Cervus elaphus). However, recent surveys have found no fishers or martens.
Bridges
At least six bridges span the river, including:- at State Route 1California State Route 1State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
in Fort Bragg, a 875 feet (266.7 m) prestressed concrete bridge built in 2005 - at Georgia Pacific haul road or "The A&W Logging road" named after the A&W drive in that used to be located near the logging road and state Hwy 1
- at Park Road 320 near Road 300, a 64 feet (19.5 m) wooden bridge built in 1948
- at Park Road 360 north of Road 300, a 40 feet (12.2 m) wooden bridge built in 1958
- at a forest road just west of Jet Road 360, a 37 feet (11.3 m) wooden bridge
- at Forest Road 350 south of Road 300, a 26 feet (7.9 m) metal culvert built in 1987.
- at Camp Noyo (a Boy Scout Resident Camp operated by Redwood Empire Council), a wooden suspension bridge spans the river.
The State Route 1 bridge built in 2005 replaced a deck truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
that was built in 1948. State Route 1 is known as the Shoreline Highway to the south and Main Street of Fort Bragg to the north. Originally proposed in 1998, the bridge was redesigned with railings that allow scenic views to be seen from the bridge after local protest.