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.

Click here to see research on steelhead distribution in the Eel River watershed, including an interactive map showing the historical presence of steelhead.

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
(scroll to page 41 for Eel River specific 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

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

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

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.

Eel River Ecology and Significant Species: anatomy of a river