September 01, 2010

Lagunitas -- the busy creek


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

The mighty Lagunitas Creek flows at a pretty good clip all year around. Water releases are mandated by the government in order to provide for the Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout population.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Numbers of spawning salmon have declined steeply over the years -- only two or three hundred Coho Salmon return to the creek at the end of their four year cycle.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

A lot of activity has centered on the Lagunitas Creek over the past 150 years. A freight and passenger train snaked through the canyon, stopping at the Redwood studded Samuel P. Taylor's Resort and Dance Hall. A dynamite factory was located along the creek -- I suppose they used water-power for their machinery.

A tremendous amount of Redwood was felled and sent to San Francisco to build the City, and to re-build the City after the 1906 earthquake. Almost all of the old growth trees have been cut, but the Redwoods have regenerated themselves remarkably well over the past 150 years. Sprouts pop up from around felled trees.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

But the Lagunitas is most famous for the water-powered and later steam-powered papermill that was Samuel P. Taylor's pet project. Nearby fir trees were harvested and used in the papermaking process -- I don't believe Redwood makes very good paper -- but what do I know...

Here, have some bubbles.



CLICK to visit my Daily-Duo.
CLICK to visit KittyBLOG -- the daily doings of my cat.
CLICK for what I call my BIG site.


Your comments are invited and welcome.

2 comments:

photowannabe said...

Nice rushing water. Glad the Salmon get some of it.

Marcie said...

The perfect moment - just as the sun peeks over the line of the horizon. Gorgeous banner image!!

 
under construction