Eel River Habitats

The Eel River Watershed is a host to many different species of plants and animals. Essentially there are three habitats in the region; the river, the woodlands, and the surrounding prairies. The meeting between each of these areas is called an ecotone and is very rich in animal life. The diversity of environment comfortably provides food and water as well as shelter. The result of these factors is known as "edge effect."

Small mammals benefit from the ecotone areas, raccoons often travel from river bank through prairie to residential areas and back on any day. After dark mice and wood rats hunt for food trying to avoid the the clutches of the owls also preying at night.		Marbled Murrelets and grey squirrels scurry about. Jack rabbits hopping to and fro, while foxes bound and skunks scamper.
	Deer, mountain Lions, and bears are among the larger mammals surviving in the watershed.
A variety of bird species inhabit the area; some reside here all the time like the Bald Eagle, while some, like the heron come only for food, living mainly nearer the sea.
	The Sage Grouse is one of the small game birds in the watershed, also there are; Ring-Necked Pheasants, Mourning Doves, and Quail. The Northern Spotted Owl is perhaps the most famous feathered friend of the watershed although they are now listed under the Endangered Species Act due to loss of habitat. They are indigenous to old-growth forests which have been removed on a large scale by the timber industry.

	According to National Marine Fisheries Service, the Eel was once the largest producer of Chinook and Coho Salmon in the state, and second largest of Steelhead Trout. Commercial fishing along the Eel was once a millon dollar industry. The canneries of the lower Eel reported 100,000 salmon per year with a maximum annual harvest estimated at 500,000 fish in the early 1900's. In 1988 the Department of Fish and Game estimated there were 31,000 fish in the entire Eel river System. They are now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Richard White reported 70% of the watershed to be moderate to heavily forested, 20% grazing land covered with native grasses and brush, and the remaining 10% considered pasture lands for cattle.
Although California Redwoods and Douglas Firs dominate the area surrounding the South fork, the region also supports significant numbers of Oregon Oak. Around the base of the Redwoods, shade-enduring grasses bracken and ferns live comfortably. Sycamores have two to three trunks from the same root system that grow together into one large tree. They are found near streams along with Willow, Alder, Dogwood, and Big-Leafed Maple. Many wild berries including blackberries, strawberries, huckleberries, and rasperries grow below the forest canopy providing food for many animals. Native herbs and wildflowers also help to make up the understory of the forests within the watershed.		Madrone are usually 20 to over 100 feet tall, with glossy leather leaves. Its bark is smooth orange-red, but peels off dry and brown to expose bright green fresh wood. Manzanita is a small tree of bush with simple oval-like leaves. It produces flowers that range from white to light pink and eventually small red berries with stone like seeds. Both are evergreen.
	There are 6 species of Oak resident along the Middle Fork Eel. Poison Oak to the right and Interior Live Oak to the left are among them. Blue, Black, Canyon, and Oregon are other oak species found in the area.