Eel River Species
Protecting Eel River Species
The Eel River provides habitat for five distinct salmonid species, including the southernmost species of Northern California summer steelhead, the culturally significant pacific lamprey which helped the river earn its name, green sturgeon, and at least 15 other species of native freshwater fish. We leverage legal protections, invasive species removal, and habitat improvement to advance the recovery of the Eel River’s native fish.
Part of protecting species also means ensuring it has widespread support. So educating the public about the unique species in the Eel and ensuring that the next generation cares about their protection is an important part of this work.
Eel River Ecology and Significant Species
The spectacular Eel River provides habitat for a variety of species, including the Pacific Lamprey which earned the river one of its many names. Scroll down to learn about several significant Eel River species and their listing status.
The Eel River is the third largest entirely in California and has the highest recorded average suspended sediment yield per drainage area of any river of its size in the United States.
Harmful Algal Blooms
A large number of environmental factors lead to bloom increases and toxin production. These include climate change, nutrient over-enrichment (nitrogen and phosphorus), higher temperatures, salinity, water residence time (stagnation), vertical lake stratification, organic matter enrichment, and high pH (more alkaline). Learn more about or report algal blooms: California Water Quality Monitoring Council.
Freshwater Fishing Regulations
California Coastal Chinook
- Most plentiful of the remaining salmonid species in the Eel River
- 3 – 5 year life cycle
- Listed as Threatened under Federal ESA
Saltwater
Spawning Female
Spawning Male
Southern Oregon/Northern California Coho (SONCC)
- Coho in South Fork Eel River are a “critical population”, emphasizing their necessity for recovery of Coho in the entire region
- 3-year life cycle
- Listed as Threatened under California and Federal ESA
Saltwater
Spawning Female
Spawning Male
Northern California Steelhead
- There are two Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs) in Eel River – Summer & Winter varieties.
- Sexually mature at 2 – 3 yrs, may spawn multiple times in life
- Listed as Threatened under Federal ESA
Northern California Summer Steelhead
- Listed as Endangered under California ESA
Saltwater
Spawning Female
Spawning Male
Pacific Lamprey
Pacific Lamprey are one of the oldest fish species, relatively unchanged for 360 million years. These ancient fish have 8X the fat content/weight and 20% more protein than salmon. Thus, they are a significant part of historic indigenous diets. When Lamprey disappear from the ecosystem, salmon are impacted both by the loss of a food source and by greater predation from other animals. Learn more about the Pacific Lamprey from the Wiyot Tribe’s Natural Resources Department.
Green Sturgeon
Green Sturgeon in the Eel River are not protected, however their population is near extirpation. They historically relied on deep pools throughout the river, holes which have now been filled in by several major floods and high levels of sediment running off the geologically fragile hills. Learn more about Green Sturgeon from the Wiyot Tribe’s Natural Resources Department.
Northern California Summer Steelhead
Friends of the Eel River Ask State, Feds to Protect Northern California Summer Steelhead
Friends of the Eel River submitted both federal ESA and CESA petitions to list Northern California Summer Steelhead as an Endangered Distinct...
Contact Us
Membership forms and other printed material may be mailed to:
Friends of the Eel River
PO Box 4945
Arcata, CA 95518
Email: foer(at)eelriver.org
Phone: (707) 798-6345
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