The Eel River has stopped flowing - 9/3/14 - Stienstra's on it - help blow it up

So do you blame the diversion at van arsdale or the water thieving dope growers?

Anytime you can blame a Van Arsdale I'd take that as the most likely source.

I don't blame anyone, but it's quite obvious that the river is not being treated like its flows are important.

I like the work that ERRP is doing.  It's about awareness across the watershed - pollution issues, toxic algae, flow issues, salmon monitoring, grassroots informational meetings in smaller communities...  It's a non-advocacy focus in that advocacy for environmental issues brings conflict with big money and/or government, so the information gathering and data production focus is aimed at strengthening local awareness and support, which should hopefully lead to some level of justice down the road - not just for the river and its inhabitants but also for those of us who wish to live in an environment that is being treated like it's important and beautiful and not just a resource to be tapped out for the "greater good" of millions of people south of here.

That's sad.  We have had a dry year so this could happen without water diversions .

Very sad to hear that.

Anytime you can blame a Van Arsdale I'd take that as the most likely source.

I get it!

Sad and pathetic to see.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/09/opinion/endangered-river-ctl/


 Here is another one. That is a great little vid you put together. This years run is doomed. Its sad to know that economy trumps nature. This year will change a lot of peoples lives. Lost farms. Dead fish. Read the one I posted in its entirety.

 

Wow this is bad. Some how the people down here need to see that. This is the first I heard of the eel River not running. How do we Balance the three things out. Ag related uses. Fish, And people. Not to mention recreation uses. I know for a fact that Golf courses can use a million gallons A day. That information was furnished to me by an Employee at Hunter Ranch Golf Course. And we have several more in our county. The best on is the Links they are a natural style I do not know what it is called. But they do not water the course only the greens. That video makes my stomach turn. I put Cactus in my yard no water and no up keep. So I can fish more was the plan. My back yard has gone to the dogs. I use Roundup to water my back yard.   

Makes me sick to my stomach Eric.  We saw a few spots on the Eel on our drive back from the Big K that looked dry as well,  not far upstream from where your video was taken.  The Yurok and neighboring tribes succesfully demanded releases for the Klamath, why can't we get them to stop sucking from the Eel?

Yea, that is a kick in the gut. The CNN SJ writeup was very depressing as well. Thank goodness for beer.

What does the Eel have besides Pillsbury to store water? The water going into the Russian comes from Pillsbury I think. Is that right? So the south fork and the north fork have no diversion? Is that right?

This is indeed distressing. The dams & diversions are a nightmare for the Eel.

Anytime you can blame a Van Arsdale I'd take that as the most likely source.

I get it!

I swear I had nothing to do with it. 

That was a longer read than I expected Craig, but I enjoyed it. As much as you can enjoy learning about how bad that river is.

What does the Eel have besides Pillsbury to store water? The water going into the Russian comes from Pillsbury I think. Is that right? So the south fork and the north fork have no diversion? Is that right?

That's correct, Craig.  The middle fork (Yolla Bolly Wilderness) and the south fork (drainages up through Legget, Willits, Laytonville...etc.) do not have diversions and could certainly dry up in a year like this.

Fact:  oldgrowth drainages are still leaking water out - intact forests do hold water.

Fact:  the main stem, fed by Pillsbury, is anchored by 7000+' peaks in the Snow Mountain Wilderness, north of Clear Lake.  Lots of water is diverted south to Mendo, Sonoma and Marin counties.

This is a tough situation, and I'll be on a fact finding mission, documenting conditions on the river and giving other information as I can.