{{Short description|River in California, United States of America}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Navarro River | name_native = {{langx|es|Río Navarro}}{{disputed inline|talk=WT:CAL#Native names for landforms in California|date=March 2019}} | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Navarro_River.jpg | image_size = 270 | image_caption = The Navarro River near its mouth | map = Navarro River watershed.jpg | map_size = 270 | map_caption = Navarro River watershed ([https://mghydro.com/watersheds/shared/E5F996.html Interactive map]) | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = California | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Mendocino County | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = Navarro, California | discharge1_min = {{convert|0.23|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = {{convert|500|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max = {{convert|64500|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->| source1 = Rancheria Creek, Mendocino County | source1_location = Crystal Peak | source1_coordinates = {{coord|38|50|25|N|123|11|36|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis-rancheria">{{gnis|234534|Rancheria Creek}}</ref> | source1_elevation = | source2 = Anderson Creek | source2_location = Sanel Mountain | source2_coordinates = {{coord|38|56|45|N|123|16|10|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis-anderson">{{gnis|233415|Anderson Creek}}</ref> | source2_elevation = | source3 = confluence | source3_location = {{convert|1|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Philo, California | source3_coordinates = {{coord|39|3|12|N|123|26|25|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis">{{Gnis|229433|Navarro River}}</ref> | source3_elevation = | mouth = Pacific Ocean | mouth_location = {{convert|8|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Mendocino, California | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|39|11|32|N|123|45|40|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis"/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|315|sqmi|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}
The '''Navarro River''' is a {{convert|28.3|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed March 9, 2011</ref> river in Mendocino County, California, United States. It flows northwest through the Coastal Range to the Pacific Ocean. The main stem of the Navarro River begins less than {{convert|1|mi|0}} south of the town of Philo at the confluence of Rancheria Creek and Anderson Creek. The mouth of the Navarro is {{convert|10|mi|0}} south of the city of Mendocino. State Route 128 starts from the intersection of State Route 1 at the mouth of the Navarro River, and follows the river valley upstream to Philo. The river is close to the highway through the lower canyon but is some distance south of the highway as the Anderson Valley widens upstream of Wendling.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Donley |first1=Michael W. |last2=Allan |first2=Stuart |last3=Caro |first3=Patricia |last4=Patton |first4=Clyde P. |title =Atlas of California |publisher =Academic Book Center |date =1979 |page =164 |isbn =0-9602544-0-4}}</ref>
==Water use== The river provides wildlife habitat including cold freshwater habitat for fish migration and spawning. It also provides recreation and navigation including {{convert|26|mi}} of whitewater suitable for rafting and kayaking upstream of Rancheria Creek. Near Philo the river runs through Hendy Woods State Park, a state park of more than {{convert|800|acre}}, featuring two virgin redwood stands. Near the coast the river runs through Navarro River Redwoods State Park. The river recharges groundwater for agricultural and industrial water supply for residents living along the western portion of California State Route 128.<ref>State of California ''Water Quality Control Plan North Coastal Basin 1B'' July 1975 p.13</ref> Its {{convert|315|sqmi}} watershed includes the Anderson Valley, a well-known wine-growing region in Mendocino County.
==History== Prior to colonial contact, the Navarro River watershed fed water sources for Northern California Native communities, including the Pomo people, who relied on salmon and riparian vegetation for cultural and subsistence practices.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Pomo Basketmaking: A Supreme Art for the Weaver.|last=Allen, Elsie.|date=1992|publisher=Naturegraph Publishers, Inc|oclc=967115918}}</ref> In 1848–1850, the California Gold Rush brought non-native settlers to the valley who forced the Pomo people up the Eel River northward to Round Valley Reservation, in an approximately 40 mile forced march known as Bloody Run, so called because the river ran red with blood.<ref name=":0">[https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-06/documents/ppn_wpp_with_signatures.pdf Sampsel, Zachary. “Restoring Ya-Mo Bida.” 500B Pinoleville Drive, Ukiah, CA, 30 Sept. 2014.]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=December 2010|title=Making Indian Land in the Allotment Era:: Northern California's Indian Rancherias|journal=The Western Historical Quarterly|volume=41|issue=4|pages=429–450|doi=10.2307/westhistquar.41.4.429}}</ref>
A sawmill was constructed at the mouth of the river in 1861. The mill was capable of cutting {{convert|35,000|board feet|m3}} of lumber per day by 1883. A railroad extended {{convert|14|mi}} upriver to bring logs to the mill. The original mill burned in 1890 and a replacement bandsaw mill burned in 1902. A replacement sawmill was built near Wendling on the North Fork Navarro River and operated until September, 1927.<ref name="carranco">{{cite book| title=Redwood Lumber Industry |author=Carranco, Lynwood |publisher=Golden West Books |year=1982 |isbn=0-87095-084-3 |pages=204–205}}</ref> The Wendling sawmill operation included logging railway branches along the North Fork connecting over Keen's Summit to shipping facilities at Albion via an isolated segment of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Rail service was discontinued in 1930 and the railway was dismantled for scrap in 1937.<ref name="stindt">{{cite book | author=Stindt, Fred A.| title=The Northwestern Pacific Railroad: Redwood Empire Route|edition=3rd| publisher=Fred A. Stindt| location=Kelseyville, California|year=1978| id=ASIN: B0007F4A2M| pages=44–45&54}}</ref>
==See also== *List of rivers in California
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.navarroriver.org/?page_id=32] * [https://www.andersonvalleylandtrust.org/virtual-nature-center]
Category:Rivers of Mendocino County, California Category:Rivers of Northern California