Sightings

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It's no surprise the Gualala River would be flowing quickly into the Pacific Ocean. We've had a ton (almost) of rain this past week. Thursday morning found the mouth open and a very muddy river. Karen Wilkinson photographed the sight.

A big sandbar "closes" the river to the ocean when the spring rains are done. Any Steelhead in the river are trapped in luxury! When the autumn or winter rains have fallen, the lagoon fills up like a bathtub with a plug. The river floods into its floodplain. With enough rain, and perhaps help from the tides, the river bursts through the sandbar. The Steelhead will be propelled out to their next life phase, which is in the ocean. Steelhead waiting to return to the river to spawn can now do so.

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

It rained pretty steady for most of today, Monday. Rain total since last Wednesday is a hefty 17.71 inches. Yikes!

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Bill Budge photographed the Supermoon as it was descending. Its moonlight on the Pacific Ocean looks like it's pointing at Castle Rock. With the wispy clouds, there is a moodiness to Bill's beautiful photo.

Castle Rock is off the north end of Gualala. Thanks to Bill for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It was sunny this morning, very welcome after all the rain! This afternoon clouds moved in and it's begun to lightly rain.

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The wave action during the King Tides was amazing. Cindy Morey caught some of the beauty and power for you to see.

Thanks To Cindy for allowing me to share her photo with  you here. I can almost hear that wave crash.

Today, Saturday Nov. 23, we are catching a break from the torrential rains. The rain total at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay for the three days is 16.59 inches! That's incredible! Season to date is 20.81. A "normal" rain total here for a season is 50 inches.

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Rozanne Rapozo goes the extra mile to get her photo of the Supermoon. She wrote, "I’ve been watching the movement of the Moon over the last month hoping when it was full, it would line up with either Gualala Point Island or Fish Rock.  Never got past 297 degrees so I thought the best chance to get the shot would be GPI. Got up around 4:15am and set out to meet Chris Beach at the north end of Sea Ranch to wait for the Moon to set.  Almost got the shot we both had  envisioned but the billowy clouds had a different idea! They moved in just as the Moon was beginning to set."

"Oh well, to steal a line from an old movie maybe we’ll try it the ‘same time next year.’”

I love Rozanne's photo and I bet you will enjoy it too. Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Are you ready for this rain report? The storm began a little after midnight on Wednesday Nov. 20th. It's rained steadily since then. At Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay, 640 feet elevation, by 2:40 pm Thursday Nov. 21st, we've received 12.51 inches. Yes, over a foot of rain and IT'S STILL RAINING! The Gualala River burst through the sandbar and was flowing into the Pacific Ocean this morning. Early this afternoon the Garcia River flooded Highway One. It's pretty wild here - a good day to stay home!

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Jennifer Smallwood was at Arena Cove last weekend during the very low tides, the opposite of the King tides. The intertidal zone revealed quite a few Abalone in that cove.

Here's a look at a Red Abalone waiting for the tide to come back, taken a few years ago by Chris Wall.

And here is the short video Jennifer took of the Abalone "on the move." Abalone slowing moving by Jennifer Smallwood

Thanks to Chris for allowing me to share her photo and to Jennifer for allowing me to share her video with you here.

Rain total from yesterday was 0.32 inches. Season to date 4.54 inches. Cold today (43 degrees this morning) with quite a few clouds this afternoon. A big river-of-rain event is headed our way beginning late Tuesday night. The fire department is warning folks to stay off the roads Wednesday and Thursday. YIKES!