Shanghai Falls was a popular fishing spot for generations of anglers
It seems surreal, but the fabled Shanghai Falls on Northern California’s Feather River have collapsed and disappeared!
I’d been hearing rumors of this lately, but apparently, they’ve been confirmed. The horseshoe shaped drop of clay just downstream of the Yuba River’s confluence wore out and caved in on itself last month and now there’s nothing left but a narrow chute.
The areas immediately above and below Shanghai Falls were popular shad, salmon and striper fishing spots and the rapids themselves were a really unique feature smack in the middle of the very flat Sacramento Valley.
I have not been up there yet to see what’s left, but you can kinda get a look in the news story in the Appeal-Democrat though the photos don’t show much.
frank says
The Sutter Extension Water District is having a h add time Identifying a permit for the Sunset Diversion Dam. It may be illegal.
Bentley says
I think there’s still enough of a physical barrier to slow the fish down, especially stripers and shad. You should see the Sunset Diversion Dam if you really want to know what holds the fish back from going upriver! Its now a Cataract with minimal fish passage available! A typical SNAFU as a result of two too many agencies – (DWR,DFG, USACOE, and Ca. State WRCB) attempting to manage the poor ole Feather
shiveley says
I’m really curious to see what it looks like now. I just may have to make a run down that way over the weekend to check it out. It’s been a few years since I’ve fished there, but I used to stand right on the edge of the falls, much like the people in the picture you posted. Glad I wasn’t standing there when it collapsed!