| Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park | |
|---|---|
 View east from the Ja-She Campground | |
   | |
| Location | Shasta County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | McArthur, California |
| Coordinates | 41°8′10″N121°25′4″W / 41.13611°N 121.41778°W /41.13611; -121.41778 |
| Area | 5,930 acres (24.0 km2) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park is astate park ofCalifornia in the United States. It is located in remote northeasternShasta County and is only accessible to the public by boat.[1]
The park is 4 miles (6.4 km) in length and no more than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and has over 13 miles (21 km) of shoreline. It preserves a wilderness of freshwatersprings and geologically recentlava flows. Waterways include theFall River and associated creeks and lakes. The shoreline has blue bays and tree-studded islets along its length. Near the springs are the remains of fish traps built byNative Californian tribes such as theAchomawi, for whom the park is named. Low rock walls enclose shallow pools where they capturedsucker andtrout.[2] About two thirds of the park's 5,930 acres (2,400 ha) is covered by jagged blackbasalt deposited in lava flows within the last two to five thousand years.[2]
The state of California acquired the land from private owners in 1975.[2]
Pacific Gas & Electric owned large tracts of the localswampland. Much of the shoreline of the park is on Big Lake, which was created whenlevees and canals were installed. Amuskrat farm was operated there until the 1930s. Muskrats can still be seen in the local marshes. Thenon-native species is notorious for altering wetland habitat, increasing the likelihood offloods.[3]
There are no public roads leading to the park. Private motor vehicles are prohibited within. Visitors can launch boats into Big Lake at aPacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) public boat launch known as Rat Farm.[1]
There are three basic campsites. Visitors can traverse narrow waterways incanoes orkayaks. There are about 20 miles ofhiking trails.Fishing is allowed but hunting is prohibited.[2]
The name of the park honors the Achomawi (also spelledAjumawi,Achumawi, andAhjumawi) whose name translates to "where the waters come together". The park is situated at the confluence of the Fall River, atributary of thePit River, with several smaller creeks and streams. The Achomawi are one of eleven bands of thePit River Tribe of native peoples.[2] These resident people tended the local waterways, monitoringspawning beds and limiting their catches to conserve populations of the fish they used for food. The Achomawi still live in the area.[2]
The park sits on "one of the nation's largest systems of underwater springs."[2] They produce some 1.2 billion US gallons (4.5×10^9 L) of fresh water per day into the aboveground waterways.[2] Water in the springs originate assnowmelt from theMedicine Lake Volcano highlands.[4][5][6]
The park is in an area where theModoc Plateau transitions to a more coastalbioregion. The former region was formed by volcanic activity and has many associated geological features, such aslava tubes and craters that fill with spring water.[2]
The local flora includespines,ceanothus,western juniper,birchleaf andcurlleaf mountain mahogany, andGarry oak.[2] Birds in the area includeCanada geese,snow geese,American white pelicans,blue-winged teal,Lewis's woodpeckers,northern pygmy owls, andospreys. Other animals includeblack-tailed deer andcoyotes.[2]
