Felta Creek Redwoods

William Seltzer Rice

Felta Creek is situated in northwest Sonoma County, California, on the outskirts of Healdsburg wine country. A unique and beautiful slice of the west coast’s natural habitat, it is one of the last natural Coho salmon runs in a county that was once a destination for fishing, known for the clear waters that ran through the thick, protective shadows of redwood groves. It is currently under threat from overzealous logging and development, as well as - more recently - wildfire.

Here, Rice captures the essence of the northern California countryside, the quietude of a summer’s afternoon in one of the most stunning landscapes in the United States. Sunlight filters through redwood branches just ahead, creating a luminescent veil of bright green. Layered shadows in the foreground crisscross the meandering creek bed, exposed during the dry heat of late summer. Later in the day, ocean fog will tumble down the hillsides and settle onto the forest floor, creating a safe haven for the plants and animals endemic to the region.