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31-679: Lake Pillsbury is a lake in the Mendocino National Forest of Lake County, California , created from the Eel River and Hull Mountain watershed by Scott Dam. Elevation is 1,818 ft (554 m) with 65 mi (105 km) of shoreline and covering 2,003 acres (811 ha). Activities in the Lake Pillsbury Recreation Area include powerboating , fishing, swimming, sailing, picnicking, hiking and hang gliding. There are two main access roads to

62-965: A marina with rentals, boat slips and supplies. All types of boating are allowed, including boat camping. California Department of Fish and Game stock the lake with trout annually. Other fish include black bass , steelhead , and pikeminnow . The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Lake Pillsbury based on levels of mercury or PCBs found in fish caught from this water body. In 2022, Lake County health officials reported that recent testing found concerning levels of cyanobacteria in Lake Pillsbury. The toxic chemicals sometimes produced by these algal blooms are referred to as “cyanotoxins.” Exposure to these toxins causes sickness and other severe health effects in people, pets, and livestock. Those who plan to recreate in or on Lake Pillsbury should look for informational signs posted throughout

93-463: A self-sustaining population of wild rainbow trout . More than 500 species of plants have been identified in the wilderness as well as 122 species of wildlife. The highest elevations have a subalpine environment with barren, rocky slopes and stunted red fir trees, while middle and lower elevations have stands of mixed conifers such as white fir , Jeffrey pine and incense cedar as well as black oak . Mountain mahogany grows on exposed ridges in

124-565: Is 35 acres (140,000 m ) in size and has hiking trails, campgrounds and is close to trailheads into Snow Mountain Wilderness. Other lakes include Plaskett Lakes in the middle of the forest, Howard , Hammerhorn, Square and Long Lakes near Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness in the northern portion. In 1905 the first surveys of public domain lands were conducted by Professor Lachie of the University of California, Berkeley, working under

155-688: The California Gold Rush era, the animals were reintroduced to the Lake Pillsbury Basin in the late 1970s by the California Department of Fish and Game , and the herd has steadily grown, numbering around 80 in 2007. The elk live on the north shore of the lake at the bottom of Hull Mountain, and consume wild clovers and grasses, along with the green summer and fall foliage around Lake Pillsbury's edges. Mendocino National Forest and Los Padres National Forest are

186-571: The Mendocino Complex Fire burned approximately 284,000 acres (1,150 km ) in the southern portion of the forest, or around one-third of the forest's total area. One firefighter was killed by falling debris near Lake Pillsbury on August 13. The burned area included the entire Snow Mountain Wilderness. Originating as 38 separate fires started by lightning on August 16 and 17, 2020, the August Complex Fire became

217-624: The Snow Mountain Wilderness located east of Lake Pillsbury. The Bloody Rock historic area is located within the wildlife refuge north of the lake as well as the Eel River and the Wild and Scenic Black Butte River. The tule elk is one of the largest land mammals native to California, with cows weighing up to 350 pounds (160 kg), and the largest bulls weighing roughly 500 pounds (230 kg). Hunted to near extinction during

248-783: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission they would not seek to re-license the Potter Valley project noting the project was no longer economically viable. As part of PG&E's divestment of the Potter Valley Hydropower Project, PG&E will need to submit a decommissioning plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when the Project's license expires in April 2022. PG&E has stated that their plan for decommissioning

279-406: The Lake Pillsbury Basin in the late 1970s by the California Department of Fish and Game , and the herd has steadily grown, numbering around 80 in 2007. The elk live on the north shore of the lake at the bottom of Hull Mountain, and enjoy wild clovers and grasses, along with the green summer and fall foliage around Lake Pillsbury's edges. Mendocino National Forest and Los Padres National Forest are

310-490: The Project "will include the removal of in water facilities such that no feature will continue to impound water and the natural flow of the river will occur.". If this plan is approved, it would restore the Eel River to a free flowing state making it the longest un-dammed river in California. There are five campgrounds, two group campgrounds, two paved boat ramps and a resort at the lake. The Lake Pillsbury Resort operates

341-548: The Russian River. Part two of the project was building the dam which created Lake Pillsbury, located 12 miles (19 km) upstream. Scott Dam was completed in 1921 (103 years ago)  ( 1921 ) as a concrete gravity structure, 138 feet high, 805 feet long at its crest, and impounding a maximum capacity of 86,400 acre-feet . It maintains water flow to the hydroelectric plant during times of low water runoff. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) acquired

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372-607: The Yolla Bolly - Middle Eel Wilderness and Snow Mountain Wilderness, and established the two new wilderness areas in the Mendocino National Forest. Rivers include: Eel River , Rice Fork Eel River, Middle Fork Eel River , Black Butte River , and Stony Creek (Sacramento River) . Lake Pillsbury is the largest recreational lake in the forest at 2,280 acres (9.2 km ) and offers boat ramps, camping and resorts. Letts Lake, southeast of Lake Pillsbury

403-466: The county and avoid contact with water that, looks like spilled green or blue-green paint; has surface scums, mats, or films; has a blue or green crust at the shoreline; is discolored or has green-colored streaks; or has greenish globs suspended in the water beneath the surface. Hiking trails at the lake include an interpretive nature trail at Sunset Campground and the 4-mile (6.4 km) Lake Shore Loop Trail. Other nearby recreational opportunities include

434-927: The crest of this North Coast Range mountain divide for 13 miles (21 km) and the summit area includes two peaks, East (7,050 ft ) and West (7,021 ft ). On October 17, 2006 the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act was signed into law ( Public Law No: 109-362) which added 23,706 acres (95.93 km ) to the Snow Mountain Wilderness. In July 2015, the area became part of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument . The Trough Fire burned 24,970 acres (101.1 km ) of Snow Mountain Wilderness and national forest land in August 2001. More than 12 million dollars

465-685: The direction of Gifford Pinchot , Chief of the United States Forest Service , to determine what land should be included in a forest reserve. In 1905 the U.S. Congress moved the reserves from the General Land Office in the Department of the Interior to the new Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture. The Division of Forestry became the U.S. Forest Service. President Theodore Roosevelt set aside

496-484: The east side of the wilderness and crosses the southern and western slopes of Saint John Mountain (6,719 ft ). The Milk Ranch Loop Trail is nine miles (14 km) long and crosses privately owned land of the Milk Ranch. Permission from the owner allows using the trail, but no camping. The name "Milk Ranch" comes from one of the first settlers to the mountain in the late 19th century, a Mrs. Tobobin who operated

527-720: The former guard stations now being utilized as "work centers" that are primarily staffed by fire crews. Two areas managed by the Mendocino National Forest are outside the contiguous boundaries and they are the Genetic Research Center in Chico, California, and the Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area in central California. Acquired by the Forest Service in 1974, it was originally a plant breeding research and plant introduction facility that

558-481: The lake. At the north end of the lake is a small gravel airstrip. About 400 vacation cabins including National Forest Recreational Residences (private cabin leases of public lands) ring the lake. In 1906, W.W. Van Arsdale formed the Eel River Power and Irrigation Company and contracted with the city of Ukiah for a hydroelectric generating station to increase electricity supply for the city. A diversion dam

589-404: The largest wildfire in California history. The fire was primarily burning through the Mendocino National Forest, and grew to over 1,026,000 acres. The tule elk is one of the largest land mammals native to California, with cows weighing up to 350 pounds, and the largest bulls weighing roughly 500 pounds. Hunted to near extinction during the state's gold rush era, the animals were reintroduced to

620-556: The only two national forests in California to have tule elk, thought 22 herds are found across the state. There is a ten-day hunting season beginning on the second Wednesday in September each year. Mendocino National Forest The Mendocino National Forest is located in the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California and comprises 913,306 acres (3,696.02 km ). It is the only national forest in

651-666: The only two national forests in California to have tule elk. There is a 10-day hunting season beginning on the second Wednesday in September each year. An estimated 60,000 acres (240 km ) of old growth occur here, including forests of Coast Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ), Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus ponderosa ), White Fir ( Abies concolor ), Tanoak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus ), and Pacific madrone ( Arbutus menziesii ). Snow Mountain Wilderness Elevations are from 1,800 feet (500 m) to 7,056 feet (2,151 m). The wilderness covers

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682-583: The project in 1933, and maintains the facilities. The lake is named for one of the founders of Snow Mountain Water and Power Company. The Pillsbury hydroelectric plant is the only one in the north coast region of California operated by PG&E. In 1969, performers Jack Haley and Jackie Gleason purchased the Fuller Ranch and created the Pillsbury Ranch subdivision. In 2019, PG&E notified

713-664: The reserve (as authorized by the Forest Reserve Act of 1891 ) on February 6, 1907, as the Stony Creek Forest Reserve and one month later, the reserve was added to the national forest system as the Stony Creek National Forest . Because of the difficulty of managing such a large tract of land, the northern portion was reassigned to Trinity National Forest , then the final boundaries of the new Stony Creek forest were drawn and

744-920: The state of California without a major paved road entering it. There are a variety of recreational opportunities — camping , hiking , mountain biking, paragliding, backpacking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study, photography , and off-highway vehicle travel. The forest lies in parts of six counties. In descending order of forestland area they are Lake , Glenn , Mendocino , Tehama , Trinity , and Colusa counties. Forest headquarters are located in Willows, California . There are local ranger district offices in Covelo , Upper Lake , and Stonyford. The forest includes four wilderness areas : The Sanhedrin and Yuki wildernesses were signed into law on October 17, 2006. This legislation, entitled " Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act ", added areas to both

775-541: The tragedy resulted in major changes in firefighting strategy and training. The firefighters are memorialized at the Rattlesnake Fire Memorial overlooking Rattlesnake Canyon. Access to it can be found off of Forest Highway 7 on County Road 307/Alder Springs Road. The Trough Fire burned almost 25,000 acres (100 km ) of the Mendocino National Forest in 2001 including land in the Snow Mountain Wilderness. Between late July and early September 2018,

806-488: The wilderness and is a food source for the black-tailed deer . Rare native plants include Sonoma manzanita ( Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. sonomensis ) on Snow Mountain East, on St John's Mountain is the endemic annual herb bentflower fiddleneck ( Amsinckia lunaris ). Other wildlife include black bear , mountain lion , spotted owl and game birds like California quail , sooty grouse and bandtailed pigeon. Activities in

837-534: The wilderness include day hiking , backpacking , skiing , fishing and horseback riding. The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment . There are 37 miles (60 km) of maintained trails and 18.5 miles (29.8 km) of unmaintained trails. Eight trailheads provide access with four of those being above 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The lower elevation trails are Trout Creek and Bearwallow trail. The trailhead of Bearwallow begins on

868-551: Was built on the Eel River and a mile-long tunnel was constructed to divert water into the Russian River. A powerhouse was constructed in Potter Valley. It was called the Potter Valley Project or Eel River Project. Later that year, the Snow Mountain Water and Power Company incorporated and took over the project from Van Arsdale's company. By 1908 water was being diverted to the power plant and then to

899-678: Was signed into law by executive order of the president on July 2, 1908, and renamed the California National Forest . "In order to avoid the confusion growing out of the state and a national forest therein having the same name" President Herbert Hoover signed executive order 5885 renaming California National Forest to Mendocino National Forest on July 12, 1932. The development of the forest increased to 81 offices, lookouts and guard stations until improvements in transportation and communications allowed some offices to be closed. Today there are three ranger districts, with some of

930-578: Was spent to contain the wildfire even though most of the area was within the wilderness boundary. This human-caused wildfire started near Fouts Springs, an off-road vehicle recreational area in Mendocino National Forest. The Middle and South Forks of Stony Creek flow down the east side of the divide. The west slopes are drained by the main Eel River and the Rice Fork of the Eel. Other tributaries are Bearwallow Creek and Thistle Glade Creek. Stony Creek has

961-675: Was started in 1904 on a 209-acre (0.85 km ) site under the Agriculture Research Service. The center's research gradually changed to developing and producing genetically improved plant material for the reforestation program of the Pacific Southwest Region. Major work is done in the areas of biological, chemical, and clinical research on anti-cancer drugs derived The infamous Rattlesnake Fire occurred here in 1953. One Forest Service employee and 14 volunteer firefighters perished. The circumstances of

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