Eel River Wildlife Area

A long, narrow spit, to the north of the mouth of the Eel River, this is the largest publicly held land area in the Eel River Delta. The area is primarily low sand dunes, steep-sided on the west and sloping to the east. They are not as stable as those to the south of the river mouth. (The mouth of the Eel has changed location three times since 1970.)

Vegetation is less dense than on the southerly dunes and includes European dune-grass, Ammophila arenaria, bush lupine, Lupinus sp., beach strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis, sand verbena, Abronia latifolia, dune tansy, Tanacetum camphoratum, and beach morning-glory, Convolvulus soldanella. At the northern end there is some riparian woodland.

With the ocean to the west and North Bay and McNulty Slough to the east, a variety of duck, shorebirds and other water-associated species is observed.

The red-tailed surf perch, Amphistichus rhodoterus, is the most commonly caught fish in sports fishery here. Dungeness crabs, Cancer magister, are also sought.

Integrity: Undeveloped; driftwood coming down river piles up on the spit.

Use: Educational, observational, light recreational.

Ref: Monroe, G. W. and F. Reynolds, 1974. Natural Resources of the Eel River Delta. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game Coast. Wetland Ser. #9, 108 pp.

November 1975