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Photo Tour

The Gualala River enters the Pacific Ocean approximately 110 miles north of San Francisco, marking the border of Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Just past the mouth of the river lies the town of Gualala, a three-hour drive from San Francisco over narrow, twisting roads and stunning ocean and mountain views. Tourism and logging are the primary local industries.

Rainbow over Gualala after severe storm

Rainbow over the Town of Gualala, with the Gualala River estuary, after severe wind storm; February 7, 2024 Rainbow over the Town of Gualala after severe wind storm; February 7, 2024 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson

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There was drama where the Gualala River meets the turbulent Pacific Ocean!

After the storm on December 27, 2023, the Gualala River was running high and fast. The Pacific Ocean was roiled up with huge breakers and the river was full from the rains. Here’s a video of the action. See if you can spot the River Otter swimming in the raging river! Here’s what it looked like on Thursday morning, December …

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Rain falls, River rises, Mouth opens

Gualala River estuary, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River estuary – muddy water after ~6 inches of rain, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River breaches the barrier beach, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River flows to the sea, Dec. 20, 2023 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson

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Gualala River Mouth Before & After Atmospheric River

March 8, 2023, before the atmospheric river: Mouth of the Gualala River on March 8, 2023, before the atmospheric river March 10, 2023, after the atmospheric river: Mouth of the Gualala River on March 10, 2023, after the atmospheric river Mouth of the Gualala River on March 10, 2023, after the atmospheric river

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Gualala River mouth, with Bald Eagles

Gualala River mouth, with Bald Eagles on the right side. Jan. 30, 2023. Photo by Rick Denniston. Here’s a close-up of the mated pair of Bald Eagles on the sand spit > close-up of the mated pair of Bald Eagles on the sand spit

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The River versus the Ocean

Photo of the mouth of the Gualala River on January 5, 2023. At that moment, the sand spit appeared to be the loser! Mouth of the Gualala River on January 5, 2023

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River Sightings: Mouth opens on April 15
– bald eagle stands watching

The mouth of the Gualala River opened today, April 15, 2022, after several inches of rain. Note the bald eagle standing on the beach watching the river flow into the ocean, taking steelhead out to sea. Gualala River mouth opens, bald eagle stands watching; photo by Rozanne Rapozo Gualala River mouth opens, bald eagle stands watching; photo by Rozanne Rapozo

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River Sightings: Steelhead in the Gualala River lagoon

Steelhead in the Gualala River by Rozanne Rapozo

Adult Steelhead in the Gualala River lagoon, April, 2022. Photo by Rozanne Rapozo “There was a school of about 5-6 but my lens was too long to get them all in one photograph! No wind that day made for calm (and very clear) water.” – Rozanne Rapozo School of Steelhead in the Gualala River lagoon, April, 2022. Photo by Chris …

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River sightings: freshwater mussel and magnesite-veined serpentinite

Floater freshwater mussel A live freshwater mussel was spotted in the Gualala River this month (March, 2022). Their shells have been seen in the river in some years, but only occasionally. This time a live one was found with its foot out, stranded in a pool off-channel. It’s a floater mussel, genus Anodonta. Species in flux right now – named …

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Students Protecting the Coast

ACORN Partners in Education’s Students Protecting the Coast program with Pacific Community Charter School 6th-8th grade students and Friends of Gualala River.

ACORN Partners in Education’s Students Protecting the Coast program with Pacific Community Charter School 6th-8th grade students and Friends of Gualala River.

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Ladies’ Day Steelhead – December, 1915

Ladies' Day Steelhead - December 1915; photo courtesy of Will Guyan

  This photo is typical of how it was, back in the day when fishermen could walk across the backs of steelhead and Salmon in the Gualala River. No one considered conservation, because there were so many fish. Unfortunately with habitat degradation and people all killing their limit, things have changed radically. Now that the regulations require catch and release, …

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Importance of the Gualala River Floodplain: Presentation by Dr. Peter Baye

Importance of the Gualala River Floodplain: Presentation by Dr. Peter Baye, March, 2019

Presented at Friends of Gualala River’s Public Forum on March 5, 2019.   Download: Download a pdf version (4 MB) of the presentation: Importance of the Gualala River Floodplain: Presentation by Dr. Peter Baye   Audio excerpts: 1. Peter Baye describes Gualala River floodplain: 2. Peter Baye describes the evolution of the floodplain: 3. Peter Baye explains which agencies are …

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Major Landslide on Wheatfield Fork, Gualala River, closes Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road

Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road, west of landslide near Soda Springs site (USGS map place-name). March 3, 2019.

  February 26-27, 2019, flood triggered a major landslide on the Wheatfield Fork, Gualala River, above and below Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road. The large landslide occurred on steep north-facing slopes near the Soda Springs site (USGS map place-name), near the east end of Fuller Mountain, approximately 2.5 air miles east of the Annapolis Road bridge. The landslide extends from about …

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Steelhead spawning in Fuller Creek

  Fuller Creek, South Fork, is running almost clear on March 3, 2019, less than a week after the record-breaking 14” rainfall on February 26-27, 2019.   A large adult steelhead, about 18” long, was sighted at the west end of Buckeye Forest (formerly Preservation Ranch). It survived the intense floods that scoured the banks of the creek to levels …

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