Richardson Grove State Park

The first road through Richardson Grove, eventually to become US 101, was constructed in approximately 1915 and first surfaced, most likely with gravel and oil, in 1927.{{cite book|last=Hawke|first=Diane|title=Touring the Old Redwood Highway - Humboldt County|year=2004|publisher=Hawk Mountaintop Publishing|location=Piercy|isbn=9780967216249|pages=200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAbWAAAACAAJ}}{{cite web|title=Richardson Grove Operational Improvement Project Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Assessment and Programmatic Section 4 (f) Evaluation|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/rg_final_eir_vol_1_s.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}} A proposed project to adjust the alignment of Route 101 both inside and outside park boundaries to accommodate industry standard-sized trucks in compliance with the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) has been in development by Cal Trans (Caltrans).{{cite news|last=Tracy|first=Erin|title=Long-awaited highway fix to be scrutinized|url=http://www.times-standard.com/ci_11282859?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com|access-date=16 March 2012|newspaper=Times-Standard|date=2008-12-21}}{{cite web|title=Richardson Grove Improvement Project website|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}} STAA-compliant vehicles are currently prohibited north of Leggett, California, on Route 101 through Richardson Grove State Park.{{cite web|title=Truck Networks on California State Highways, District 1|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/truckmap/truckmap-d01.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=22 March 2012}} The feasibility of constructing a four-lane bypass of Richardson Grove State Park was analyzed in 2001, but deemed infeasible due to the high cost and/or environmental disruption.{{cite web|title=Richardson Grove Feasibility Study Report (2001)|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/richardson_grove_feasibility_study_2001.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}}

Some north coast businesses, whose success is tied to shipping out of the area, favor the project.{{cite news|last=Tracy|first=Erin|title=Long-awaited highway fix to be scrutinized|url=http://www.times-standard.com/ci_11282859?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com|access-date=16 March 2012|newspaper=Times-Standard|date=2008-12-21}} According to Caltrans, 54 trees under {{convert|24|in}} in diameter, none of which are old growth redwoods, would be removed for the project (32 trees in the park and 24 trees outside of the park).{{cite web|title=Richardson Grove Improvement Project fact sheet|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/the_facts_3-2011.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}} Trees to be removed would not all be redwood, but would include Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maple, Live Oak, Tan Oak, and Red Alder.{{cite web|title=Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment and Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation, May 2010, Layout Maps|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/rg_final_eir_appendix_l_s.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}} A total of two redwoods would be removed within the park itself.{{cite web|title=Richardson Grove Improvement Project fact sheet|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/the_facts_3-2011.pdf|publisher=Caltrans|access-date=16 March 2012}}

There are several preservation groups against the currently proposed changes in the road alignment. One of these groups, the Save the Redwoods League, worked with the state to increase the park to around {{convert|1750|acre|ha}}.{{cite book|last1=Hawk|first1=Diane|title=Touring the old redwood highway : Humboldt County|date=2004|publisher=Hawk Mountaintop Pub.|location=Arcata, Calif.|isbn=0-9672162-4-9|page=10}} Groups and community members against the project, whose website is entitled "Save Richardson Grove," posit that the result of widening the highway may cause Humboldt County to become a casualty of unlimited commercial development.{{cite web | url=http://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/2010/04/08/roads-and-redwoods/| title=Roads and Redwoods| publisher=North Coast Journal| year=2009 | access-date=2010-10-12}} Some suggest, by removing redwoods from the grove, there would be adverse effects on the root systems of remaining massive old-growth redwoods, even causing death to unintended trees and habitat.

Richardson Grove State Park offers 160 campsites and a large group site across three campgrounds: Huckleberry, Madrone, and Oak Flat. The campsites are mainly intended for tent camping but some can accommodate RVs/Trailers. Formerly, cabins were also available for rent. Each site has a picnic table, a food locker, a fire pit, and coin-operated showers are available at nearby restrooms.

The state park has a Visitors Center offering displays on the natural wildlife in the surrounding area, a general store, and offers hiking, swimming, fishing and picnic sites near the Eel River.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=422|title = Richardson Grove SP}}

{{weather box|single line=yes|precipitation colour=green|width=auto|location=Richardson Grove State Park, California, 1961–2012

|Jan high F = 50.1

|Feb high F = 54.6

|Mar high F = 59.5

|Apr high F = 64.3

|May high F = 71.5

|Jun high F = 78.0

|Jul high F = 86.1

|Aug high F = 86.6

|Sep high F = 83.2

|Oct high F = 70.3

|Nov high F = 55.7

|Dec high F = 49.3

|year high F= 67.4

|Jan low F = 37.3

|Feb low F = 38.5

|Mar low F = 39.5

|Apr low F = 41.0

|May low F = 45.3

|Jun low F = 49.9

|Jul low F = 53.1

|Aug low F = 52.9

|Sep low F = 49.3

|Oct low F = 44.7

|Nov low F = 40.9

|Dec low F = 37.5

|year low F= 44.2

|Jan precipitation inch = 13.20

|Feb precipitation inch = 10.34

|Mar precipitation inch = 8.87

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.53

|May precipitation inch = 1.88

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.64

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.06

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.37

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.91

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.88

|Nov precipitation inch = 9.64

|Dec precipitation inch = 13.69

|year precipitation inch= 68.01

|Jan snow inch = 0.1

|Feb snow inch = 0.0

|Mar snow inch = 0.1

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.1

|year snow inch = 0.3

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 15

|Feb precipitation days = 13

|Mar precipitation days = 13

|Apr precipitation days = 10

|May precipitation days = 5

|Jun precipitation days = 2

|Jul precipitation days = 0

|Aug precipitation days = 1

|Sep precipitation days = 2

|Oct precipitation days = 6

|Nov precipitation days = 13

|Dec precipitation days = 15

|year precipitation days= 97

|source 1 = WRCC

{{cite web

|url = https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca7404

|title = RICHARDSON GROVE SP, CALIFORNIA (047404)

|publisher= Western Regional Climate Center

|access-date = August 26, 2022

}}

}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=422 Official Richardson Grove State Park website]
• [http://www.humboldtredwoods.org/richardsongroveoverview.htm Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association: Richardson Grove State Park Overview]

{{commons category|Richardson Grove State Park|
Richardson Grove State Park|position=left}}

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{{Protected areas of California|SP}}

{{Eel River}}

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Category:State parks of California

Category:Parks in Humboldt County, California

Category:Coast redwood groves

Category:Protected areas established in 1922

Category:1922 establishments in California

Category:U.S. Route 101