Last week we made an expedition to the Echo Lake region in northern Plumas and western Lassen Counties. We did the same a year prior on July 15, two days after the Dixie Fire started. Who knew that fire would devastate so much territory. I had heard reports that the area surrounding Echo Lake had burnt. Thus, we wanted to see first hand. I know some folks will be interested to see what a difference a year makes.
Another View
Tim
In 1925, Great Western Power Company announced its plans to enlarge Lake Almanor. The raising of the dam would flood a large portion of Chester Flats, thus flooding a number of roads, and also Red River Lumber Company logging railroad network. Controversy arose when Great Western informed the Plumas County Board of Supervisors that the road across Chester Flats would be re-routed to follow the high water contour. The residents of Chester and Westwood were furious, for such a proposal would add an additional seven miles between the two communities. They wanted a causeway in which the current route would remain the same. Great Western balked at the idea. After all, a causeway would cost Great Western $220,00, while to re-route the road would only cost $50,000. To make a long story short the opponents bypassed the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and had the State Highway Department intervene. In 1926, an agreement was made between the State and Great Western that a causeway would be constructed.
The original town of Prattville was quite the place prior to being displaced by Lake Almanor. Prior to Lake Almanor, it was known as Big Meadows, and a popular summer hang out, especially those from the Sacramento Valley, escaping the heat, after all this is pre-air conditioning days.
In 1898, Frank Sorsoli purchased Baccala’s Prattville Saloon. Business was good. There being a lack of hotel accommodations, Sorsoli decided to build one. In May 1908, construction began on Sorsoli’s $10,000 twenty-eight guest room hotel. But the operation was short-lived. A fire of suspicious origin on July 3, 1909 wiped out most of the town of Prattville, the Sorsoli Hotel was a casualty.
The region, like most of California is earthquake prone. Actually, on any given week there are small quakes in the region, registering under 3 on the Richter Scale. The tremors are so faint, no one feels them.
However, that was not the case on May 23, 2006, when an earthquake struck the east shore of Lake Almanor at 8:47 p.m. It got everyones attention as it measured 5.7. It was widely felt throughout the region.
In the spring of 1914, a swarm of earthquakes hit the region, a prelude to Lassen Peak’s eruption that May. At the same time, Big Meadows was being flooded to be transformed into Lake Almanor. Many locals believed that was cause of the Lassen Peak eruption.
Operating a bath house to a full scale resort utilizing hot springs has in my perspective is a risky endeavor. When times are good, they are real good, but same applies to bad times, and in many instances its the low points where the operation shuts down. Some times revived and some times not.
Indian Valley Hot Springs at Greenville is a perfect example. Greenville was a thriving mining community during the late 1800s. The hot springs became a popular attraction and bathing place. As the mining activity dwindled by 1900, the bath house fell into disrepair and closed.
In the spring of 1926, B.C. Johnson decided to see if he could make a go of it. He spent six weeks in getting the property in shape. Johnson highlighted the fact, that not only could a person have an enjoyable soak, but one could also “soak” in the natural beauty of Indian Valley. How long Johnson operated it I do not know.
For those interested, awhile back it was on the market with an asking price of $4.95 million. With last year’s devastating Dixie Fire that destroyed a large segment of Greenville, the value might have dropped.
Tim
This is not a April Fools prank. On March 15, 1915, the Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County had a small article about “Another Volcano.” Lassen Peak, during the previous year, had become an active volcano. This account of Stover Mountain as an active volcano, I found rather “surprising.”
“Another Volcano-Westwood, Cal. Mar. 7-Another volcano in active eruption in this vicinity, a mate to Mount Lassen was reported today to the officials of the Red River Lumber Company.
”It is Mt. Stover, 22 miles west and located 15 miles southeast of Mount Lassen.
”On the strength of the reports men were sent to investigate as the country is in the heart of the timber holdings of the company.
”Mt. Stover, it was reported, has been smoking slightly for the past two days but early this morning an active eruption was seen with a column of dense smoke rising far above the lofty peak. No flames were seen or damaged reported. Mt. Stover is said to be in second in height of Mt. Lassen and the outbreak at the distance from the original volcano is regarded as a sign of subterranean disturbances.”
Tim
Note: This originally appeared on January 8, 2018, so it might be familiar to some. For some odd reason in August 2021 it garnered a lot of attention from first an internet search and then spread on social media. While seasoned subscribers may recall it, there are new ones who may find it of interest.
From time to time discussions have been held whether the cloud seeding in the Lake Almanor Basin area by Pacific Gas & Electric Company affects the areas to the east. In 1979, Lassen County officials thought the cloud seeding was part of the drought problem in southern Lassen County. In October 1979, Henry LaPlante of PG&E stated that the company has been treating selected storm systems for more than 25 years. He said the intent of the seeding was to increase the high elevation snowpack. Furthermore, LaPlante wrote, “There is no scientific evidence which indicates that cloud seeding activities in our Almanor area reduces the amount of precipitation in any other area.”
Tim
In 2018, US Copper announced preliminary intention to bring the back copper mining in northern Plumas County Copper Belt. They focused on a 13 mile square area that includes Moonlight Valley to the Engel Mine on Lights Creek, just north of Taylorsville. Between 1915-1930 161 million pounds of copper was extracted. It was their intent to begin a drilling program in 2021, but due to last year’s Dixie Fire in the region work was temporarily stalled.
Tim
Echo Lake is in northern Plumas County, not far from the headwaters of Bailey Creek. It encompasses some thirty acres, and there is a small unimproved forest service campground there. Prior to the early 1970s it was only accessible by hiking. That changed when the forest service decided to extend road along Bailey Creek from Heckle Ranch to connect over to Silver Lake and the Caribou Wilderness.
Unfortunately, this area was ravaged by last year’s Dixie Fire.
Tim