Deep Hole Creek

These proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers in the upper Eel River watershed provide important habitat for threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as wildlife dependent on old growth forests. They also provide outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Deep Hole Creek flows through a proposed addition to the Yuki Wilderness. A tributary of Elk Creek, the stream provides suitable spawning and rearing habitat for coho salmon and steelhead. Federal officials identified the creek as essential for the recovery of threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead. The drainage also provides habitat for the spotted owl.


Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service ~ Six Rivers National Forest, Mendocino National Forest
Bureau of Land Management ~ Arcata Field Office

Location: Trinity & Mendocino Counties, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Upper Eel River

Wild & Scenic River Miles:  4.3 Miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, ecological, wildlife, cultural, scenery, recreation

Big Creek

Located in the King Range Wilderness, this highly scenic stream is part of a unique coastal backcountry backpacking and camping area along the Lost Coast Trail. The stream also provides spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead and federal officials identified the creek as essential for fish recovery.

These proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers flow from the King Range National Conservation Area and Wilderness, providing important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as rare plants. These streams also provide nationally significant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Big Creek is recommended for protection by the BLM and 4.6 miles are proposed for Wild & Scenic River designation.


Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management ~ King Range National Conservation Area
BLM Arcata Field Office

Location: Humboldt County, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Mattole River

Proposed Wild & Scenic River Miles: 4.6 miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, wildlife, botanical, scenery, recreation

Big Flat Creek

Located in the King Range Wilderness, this highly scenic stream is part of a unique coastal backcountry backpacking and camping area along the Lost Coast Trail. The stream also provides spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead and federal officials recently identified the creek as essential for the recovery of threatened steelhead. Several significant prehistoric sites are located near the stream.

These proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers flow from the King Range National Conservation Area and Wilderness, providing important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as rare plants. These streams also provide nationally significant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Big Flat Creek is recommended for protection by the BLM and 7.5 miles are being proposed for Wild & Scenic designation.


Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management ~ King Range National Conservation Area
BLM Arcata Field Office

Location: Humboldt County, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Mattole River

Proposed Wild & Scenic River Miles: 7.5 miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, wildlife, botanical, scenery, recreation

Gitchell Creek

Located in the King Range Wilderness, this highly scenic stream is part of a unique coastal backcountry backpacking and camping area along the Lost Coast Trail. The stream also provides spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead.

The proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers flow from the King Range National Conservation Area and Wilderness, providing important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as rare plants. These streams also provide nationally significant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Gitchell Creek is recommended for protection by the BLM.  3 miles of Gitchell Creek are proposed for Wild & Scenic designation.


Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management ~ King Range National Conservation Area
BLM Arcata Field Office

Location: Humboldt County, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Mattole River

Proposed Wild & Scenic River Miles: 3 miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, wildlife, botanical, scenery, recreation

 

Bear Creek

Bear Creek and its tributaries drain the eastside of the magnificent King Range. They provide suitable habitat for coho salmon and steelhead, as well as old growth forests for northern spotted owl. Federal officials recently identified the creek as essential for the recovery of threatened salmon and steelhead. Significant historic and prehistoric sites are located along the stream and a rare lichen grows there. Campgrounds popular with King Range visitors are located along Bear Creek, which is also the route of the popular Paradise Royale mountain bike trail.

The proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers flow from the King Range National Conservation Area and Wilderness, providing important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as rare plants. These streams also provide nationally significant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Bear Creek is recommended for protection by the BLM.  11 miles of Bear Creek are proposed for Wild & Scenic designation.


Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management ~ King Range National Conservation Area
BLM Arcata Field Office

Location: Humboldt County, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Mattole River

Proposed Wild & Scenic River Miles: 11 miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, wildlife, botanical, scenery, recreation

Honeydew Creek

Honeydew Creek and its tributaries are in the King Range Wilderness. The creek provides suitable stream habitat for anadromous fish and old growth forest habitat for northern spotted owl. Federal officials recently identified the creek as essential for the recovery of threatened salmon and steelhead.

The proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers flow from the King Range National Conservation Area and Wilderness, providing important habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as rare plants. These streams also provide nationally significant outdoor recreation opportunities.

Honeydew Creek is recommended for protection by the BLM.  This proposal designated 10.6 miles.


Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management ~ King Range National Conservation Area
BLM Arcata Field Office

Location: Humboldt County, CA 2nd Congressional District

Watershed: Mattole River

Proposed Wild & Scenic River Miles: 10.6 miles

Outstanding Values: Anadromous fisheries, wildlife, botanical, scenery, recreation

Chinquapin Proposed Wilderness

Trinity_Chinquapin_PWAThe proposed wilderness contains what is possibly the largest, most intact swath of unprotected ancient forest in northern California.

Extremely rich groves of douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, black oak, and incense cedar cover much of the area.

Chinquapin, usually a shrub, grows in an extremely rare tree-form here. Some of these giant chinquapin reach heights of 80 feet or more.

Bald eagle, fisher, marten, Howell’s lewisia (an ornate purple and white flower), Niles’ madia (a yellow-flowered plant with a sage-like smell), pale yellow stonecrop (a succulent), and the tall, slender Umpqua green gentian plant are just a few of the rare or endangered species that call this area home.

According to Forest Service data, Chinquapin is an integral part of the largest and densest populations of northern spotted owls and goshawks in the Trinity side of the two million-acre Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead trout also live in the South Fork Trinity Proposed Wild and Scenic River which bisects the area.

The popular South Fork National Recreation Trail also passes through Chinquapin, following the river and offering excellent swimming, hiking, and horseback riding opportunities.