Tag Archives: Steelhead

•

From the storms that began Sunday morning through today, Wednesday, there is 6.35 inches in my rain gauge. Sometime during the night on Monday or early Tuesday, the Gualala River breached the big sandbar and the yearly ritual occurred. Today, Wednesday, I went to the river to check it out. It's runny muddy and strong!

Steelhead, who were trapped in luxury by the sandbar, were swept out to sea to begin their life in the saltwater. Now other steelhead will enter the river to spawn. It's wonderful to be able to watch this river. The first photo was taken from the Gualala Bluff Trail - there are Harbor Seal on the right side sandbar.  The second was taken from Gualala Point Regional Park. The town of Gualala is on the right.

What a series of storms - it just poured. We are lucky that this particular river doesn't have development in its floodplain. I was told the river was very high Monday morning.

Now we have clear weather predicted through Christmas. I'm looking forward to checking the seasonal creek that crosses Rick's and my land and looking for edible mushrooms!

•

Peter Baye found unique-looking Steelhead in the Gualala. He wrote, “On my list for show and tell is the return of those rare pale juvenile Steelhead that look almost silver-gold ["sub-leucistic"?] on the Wheatfield Fork. I haven't seen any in years. They stand out in dark pools where their typical dark olive-backed peers, other Steelhead parr and Gualala Roach, are well-camouflaged against the dark algae-covered cobbles and gravel."

"In past years, I have seen sub-adults with this pigmentation. More often, if I find atypical adult pigmentation, it's almost blue-black. I think the folk name is actually "blueback" steelhead. The Kingfisher predation seems to be very low this year, so I guess it's not a big hazard to glow in the dark like this! It's from a deep, dark pool with cooler water stratified -layered- at the bottom.”

Here's a photo showing young Steelhead and Gualala Roach.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's sunny, breezy and warm here today!

• 2 Comments

•

Before dusk yesterday, the Gualala River was full nearly to the brim. It looked like it could open at any time. This morning the river was open and Rozanne Rapozo photographed it. Notice the Bald Eagle on the north side of the sandbar.

Those Steelhead I showed you yesterday have surely exited the river, entering their next journey in the Pacific Ocean. Hooray!

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

Another storm is forecast for tonight. Bring it, Mother Nature!

•

Chris Braley spotted a group of Steelhead in the lagoon of the Gualala River last week. The river has been closed to the Pacific Ocean by a big sandbar for many weeks, perhaps two months.

We think these are adults who have already spawned. Steelhead often don't die after spawning, and they return to the ocean after spawning where there is more food for them. Rozanne Rapozo had her long lens on her camera the day after Chris took her photo. Rozanne was only able to get two in her photograph but what a great look at these endangered fish.

We have had a lot of rain overnight and continuing today. It's very possible the Gualala River will breach the sandbar, possibly today. When that happens, these Steelhead will be on to the  next phase of their lives. Live long and prosper, Steelhead!

Thanks to Chris and Rozanne for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

There was a wonderful two inches of rain in the gauge at our house this morning and it's continued to rain. 41.85 inches season to date, with "normal" rain being 50 inches. These storms are a gift for us all from Mother Nature, including the Steelhead.

•

On Wednesday, the Gualala River was flowing over the sandbar. With the very high surf, the river didn't dramatically drain down, as it does most years. It opened and then closed on Thursday, but yesterday, Friday, it was definitely open.

There is a group of Harbor Seals on the right side of the breached sandbar. They love to feast on Steelhead. Steelhead, who have been trapped in luxury in the river, are leaving the river to begin the next stage of their lives. And Steelhead are entering the river to spawn. Lots going on in our favorite river right now!

Rick Jackson took this photo from the Gualala Bluff Trail.