Little River Bridges

by Peter Braudrick, Maintenance Chief

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed 9 low water fords to provide access up Fern Canyon on Little River, in Van Damme SP, to the campground 2 miles inland. One of the fords was removed in the early 1990s and 7 others had their center portions removed to improve fish access. Steel plates were installed to provide hikers' access across the low water fords, but they were slippery when wet and had to be removed. Short wooden bridges were constructed, which had to be removed for the winter. Sometimes, during sudden storms, they were washed downstream. To solve these access problems on the Fern Canyon trail, funding was provided through the park infrastructure program.

In 2000, design and planning was done by the Technical Services staff for Mendocino District. An interagency agreement was signed between DPR and the California Conservation Corps. Work began in the canyon during the winter of 2001-02. In November, the project The bridges were designed to be above a 100-year flood event.

Assembling and completing the seven footbridges in Van Damme Canyon was nothing short of a magical experience. Throughout my career I have never had the chance to manipulate 40-foot, 2,500 pound beams over a mile of narrow winding trail; and in the process have a giant blue heron soar over my head navigating itself through as well. It was exhilarating!

The process itself was fulfilling, but the actual completion meant the most. The bridges blend in with the forest and you get the impression you are in a fairy tale of some sort. I'm confident that we will be walking those bridges in 40 years and that gives me a feeling of pride, leaving my mark here in Mendocino.