Big Lagoon (California)

Big Lagoon is the southernmost and largest of three similar lagoons within Humboldt Lagoons State Park, along the coast of Humboldt County, California.

Big Lagoon
Kayaks at the south end of Big Lagoon
Big Lagoon
Big Lagoon
LocationHumboldt County, California
Coordinates41°11′00″N 124°07′00″W
TypeLagoon
Primary inflowsMaple Creek
Primary outflowsPacific Ocean
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length3.8 mi (6 km)[1]
Max. width1.4 mi (2 km)[1]
Surface area1,470 acres (5.9 km2)[2]
Max. depth22 feet (6.7 m)[2]
Shore length19 miles (14 km)[2]
Surface elevation20 feet (6.1 m)[2]
FrozenNo
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

It is located between Trinidad to the south and Orick at the mouth of Redwood Creek to the north.

The lagoons are shallow bays between rocky headlands where coastal wave action has formed a sandy bar separating each lagoon from the Pacific Ocean. The lagoons are resting areas for migratory waterfowl using the Pacific Flyway between Lake Earl on the Smith River estuarine wetlands 40 miles (64 km) to the north and Humboldt Bay on the Mad River estuarine wetlands 30 miles (48 km) to the south.

Geology

Big Lagoon is similar to other coastal features of northern California including Humboldt Bay to the south and Lake Earl to the north; an alluvial plain is surrounded by steep uplands. Hills adjacent to Big Lagoon have been identified as the Franciscan Assemblage along the eastern shore and Pleistocene dune sandstone to the south.[1] Studies around Humboldt Bay indicate tectonic activity along the Cascadia subduction zone has caused local sea level changes at intervals of several centuries.[3] The plain may support fresh water wetlands or Sitka Spruce forests following uplift events and salt marsh or inundated shellfish beds following subsidence events. At the present lagoon level, the sand bar normally separates the lagoon from the ocean during summer months. Winter precipitation may raise the water level in the lagoon a few meters above sea level. Hydrostatic pressure and storm surf may then breach the sand bar allowing the lagoon to drain into the sea and then receive tidal inflow until wave action reforms the bar.[4]

History

Roosevelt elk graze the wetlands south of the lagoon and may sometimes be seen where U.S. Route 101 crosses the lagoon. Hammond Lumber Company Plant Three included 20th century company housing and a sawmill log pond built where Maple Creek enters the south end of Big Lagoon.[5] The coastal portion of Big Lagoon was used as an aerial rocket range by the United States Navy during World War II.[6] Canoe access to Big Lagoon is available from a park on the south shore near the community of Big Lagoon and Big Lagoon Rancheria.

See also

References
  1. Strand, Rudolph G. Geologic Map of California:Weed Sheet (1973) State of California Resources Agency
  2. http://www.paddlingcalifornia.com/Big_Lagoon.html
  3. "Evidence for Great Earthquakes at Southern Humboldt Bay, California in the Past 3000 years" (PDF). Oregon State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  4. Barrier Breaching Processes and Barrier Spit Breach, Stone Lagoon, California
  5. Carranco, Lynwood Redwood Lumber Industry Golden West Books (1982) ISBN 0-87095-084-3 pp.45, 138 & 163
  6. "Big Lagoon Bombing Target Number 12". California State Military Museum. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
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