The Eel River is a major river, about 196 miles (315 km) long, in northwestern California. The river and its tributaries form the third-largest watershed entirely in California, draining a rugged area of 3,684 square miles (9,540 km2) in five counties. The river flows generally northward through the Coast Ranges west of the Sacramento Valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles (16 km) downstream from Fortuna and just south of Humboldt Bay. The river provides groundwater recharge, recreation, and industrial, agricultural and municipal water supply.
The river near Dyerville, California
Lake Pillsbury is formed by a dam built in 1921 near the headwaters of the Eel River.
Sediment-laden water from the Eel River after winter storms – NASA satellite image, 2012
The lower Eel River in May
The Coast Ranges of California span 400 miles (644 km) from Del Norte or Humboldt County, California, south to Santa Barbara County. The other three coastal California mountain ranges are the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges and the Klamath Mountains.
Santa Lucia Range
Outer Northern Coast Ranges: King Range meets the sea on the Lost Coast.
Orographic lift of moist air coming off ocean produces clouds along the Santa Lucia Range, of the California Coast Ranges System - NOAA
Monument Peak over Milpitas, California