Historic U.S. Route Highway 99: Bailey's Cove Walk And Drive Towards O'Brien Inlet

Here is one section of historic U.S. Route Highway 99 which is usually under the water line of Shasta Lake when this reservoir is full. This portion only comes out of the water when we're in drought, and some of this historic route is still above the water line year round but is an oft-forgotten section of the route by locals who drive it regularly as motorist drive into O'Brien Inlet from Bailey's Cove. Today's water level is: 932.31-feet below full pool elevation. This video was filmed on August 27, 2022.

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: CAMPBELL'S TROUT EGG COLLECTING STATION (A HISTORIC SITE)

As Shasta Lake continues to be in drought there are many oft-forgotten relics and historical sites which keep emerging from the depths of this lake. On the McCloud River arm of this lake is a historic site pertaining to Ellery Creek. At this location the remains of a rock or stone structured building is visible which was operated by Shasta County pioneer and fish expert Jeremiah Blizzard Campbell, a native of New Jersey, and his son, Joseph Campbell which was built in the early twentieth century. This site was a fish egg collecting station for trout and they would eventually store these eggs in their incubators in this building until they hatched. Find out more about the area and about the Campbell's in my newest video to date. This video was filmed on location at that point on May 28, 2022. On that day the water level for Lake Shasta was 120.61-ft., below the crest of Shasta Dam or at 946.39-ft., elevation below full pool. 

RESOURCES:

1870 U.S. Census

Domesticated Trout. How To Breed and Grow Them by Dr. Livingston Stone. Published by James R Osgood, Boston ©1873, pages 347. 

McCloud River Salmon Fishery - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, December 4, 1875

McCloud River Salmon Fishery - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, December 11, 1875

California Pisciculture - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, January 13, 1877

1880 U.S. Census

Pisciculture - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, June 29, 1889

1900 U.S. Census

Anglers Are Enjoying Fair Trout Fishing - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, April 27, 1901

Trout Eggs Desired By The Germans - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francsico, December 15, 1907

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

Find A Grave Memorial: Jeremiah Blizzard Campbell (1826-1910) (Disclaimer: Jeremiah B. Campbell appears on the 1920 U.S. Census as Jerry B. Campbell. He did not die in 1910.)

Historical Notes on The Rainbow and Dolly Varden Trout written by J.H. Wales, The Covered Wagon, 1946, pages 29-30. 46 pages. Published annually by Shasta Historical Society.

Shasta County, California A History, by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Press, Glendale, California

Baird written by Alice L. Seamans, The Covered Wagon 1976, pages 7-10. 82 pages. Published annually by Shasta Historical Society.

Memories of Baird written by Eleanor (Reading) Templeman, The Covered Wagon, 1976. pages 10-11. 82 pages. Published annually by Shasta Historical Society.

Occasional Paper of the Redding Museum - Paper No. 1 by Margaret Guilford-Kardel. Published by Redding Museum of Art & History Center, Redding, California. Available at the Shasta Historical Society.

May H. Southern’s scrapbook’s. Nine binders. Unpublished personal and researched material compiled by Southern. Available at Shasta Historical Society. 

Livingston Stone, Pioneer Fisheries Scientist written by Frank E. Raymond, The Covered Wagon, 1991. Pages 17-27. 104 pages. Published annually by the Shasta Historical Society.

History Of The McCloud River Rainbow Trout | mtshasta.com - Outfitter & Actor - Jack Trout's Blog

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: TOWN CREEK DAM AT BULLY HILL AND AN ARIAL ORE CAR TRAMWAY

Filmed on location on April 30, 2022.

The town of Delamar was established in the area in June of 1900, as for the Town Creek Dam I'm not positively sure on dates of construction but my estimate would be about 1907 to 1910 era due to the construction of the Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railroad which is associated with this small concrete dam. Construction on this railroad began December 11, 1906, and the Sacramento Valley And Eastern Railroad was incorporated on January 8, 1907, the purpose of the S.V. & E.R., was to conduct a 15 mile standard gauge, ore, delivery, and passenger train from Bonita 3 miles north of Kennett to the Bully Hill smelter at Delamar. It was completed in 1908 and operated until 1939, due to the flooding of Shasta Lake for Shasta Dam.

This railroad is the same railroad as seen in my previous YouTube video available here: 

Above: This video was filmed on 7-9-2021!

This video was filmed on location on April 30, 2022, the water level for Shasta Lake on that day was 945.62-feet elevation wise below full pool or 121.38-feet below the crest of Shasta Dam. My resources for this video are located here:

Resources:

Goes With The Bully Hill – The Daily Free Press, July 14, 1899

The Bully Hill Deal – The Daily Free Press, July 14, 1899

Deed To Bully Hill Mines Files For Record Today - The Daily Free Press, July 18, 1899

The Daily Free Press, Tuesday, July 18, 1899

Where The Smelter Will Be Located  – The Daily Free Press, July 19, 1899

Copper City Gets De Lamar Smelter  – The Daily Free Press, March 12, 1900

A Combination Smelter  – The Daily Free Press, July 20, 1899

Mines And Mining News – The Daily Free Press, July 20, 1899

Mines About Bully Hill – The Daily Free Press, July 21, 1899

The De Lamar Smelters A Sure Go  – The Daily Free Press, March 19, 1900

The New Smelter Town – The Daily Free Press, March 20, 1900

The Daily Free Press, March 21, 1900

In Pioneer Days – THE SHASTA COURIER, March 24, 1900

The Shasta Courier – March 24, 1900

Delamar And Sallee Show Rapid Growth - The Daily Free Press, March 26, 1901

Kennet-Delamar Road Files Papers - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1907

Incorporates To Build Railroad To Delamar - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 9, 1907

A New Station Called Pitt - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 5, 1907

Contract Let For Building The Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 9, 1907

Railroad Work Near Delamar - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, November 6, 1907

Railway To Electric Smelter - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 15, 1907

First Load Of Freight - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 16, 1907

Bully Hill Smelter Has Been Remodeled - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 24, 1907

Railroad Completed As Far As Horse Creek - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 4, 1908

Tracks Laid Into Delamar - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, February 20, 1908

Round Trip Between Delamar and Redding - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 26, 1908

The Smelter Town Has Three Names - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 10, 1908

Sacramento Valley And Eastern Railroad Shows Profit - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 29, 1922

My Playhouse Was A Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Press, Glendale, California

Mines and Mineral Resources of Shasta County, California – County Report 6 – by Philip A. Lydon and J.C. O’ Brien ©1974 by California Division of Mines and Geology

Above: Town Creek Dam at Town Creek at Bully Hill on the Squaw Creek arm of Shasta Lake. This photograph was taken by Jeremy Tuggle on April 30, 2022.

California Unearthed presents: Historic 1909 Freight Car Discovered

Head on over to California Unearthed to watch the brand-new episode that features myself, and in collaboration with the Shasta Cascade Rail Preservation Society’s general historian, Dave Jungkeit. Filming Rizzle Hammon, James White and Riah Stevens’ 1909 Freight Train Car Wreckage discovery site at Shasta Lake.

Shasta Lake Is Now Facing Its Second Worst Drought Year On Record

California Drought Lowers Shasta Lake To Its Second Lowest Record. 2014 Is Now The Third Lowest Recorded Year. 

 

Above: the California drought takes its toll on the Sacramento River just north of the modern 1939 Union Pacific Railroad Trestle at Charlie Creek. Looking south down the Sacramento River arm of Shasta Lake. This photograph was taken on September 30, 2021, by Jeremy Tuggle/Shasta County News Source.

Shasta County, California, October 7, 2021 - The present California drought has lowered Shasta Lake’s elevation to its second lowest record surpassing 2014’s elevation total of 889.49-feet, below full pool to 889.42-feet, and continuing to lower to tie or break the 1977 all-time historic low record this year, or possibly next year. Shasta Lake is currently listed at twenty-three percent full.

Very little rain has fallen this year, since summer waned down, and fall started. The top six historic records are listed by feet below and below the full pool elevation of 1,067-feet, with 365 miles of shoreline when full, as they are posted below in order: 

1.) September 14, 1977 - 836.68

2.) October 7, 2021 - 889.42 and continuing to drop.

3.) November 29, 2014 - 889.49

4.) September 10, 1976 - 906.78

5.) October 30, 2008 - 909.23

6.) December 24, 1991 - 909.88

Shasta Lake according to my research is now 52.81-feet from the September 14, 1977, all-time historic low record. Shasta Lake’s official website claims 238-feet, is the all-time low but research through microfilmed newspapers from 1977 show differently. Already this year, some oft-forgotten relics have emerged from the murky depths of Shasta Lake such as a 112-year-old freight train car derailment on the Shasta Route Railroad on the Sacramento River arm just north of Charlie Creek and north of Tunnel Number 6 in Lakehead, a sunken boat mystery at Bridge Bay Marina with no-known history. Their resort has been requesting help with identifying it, and railroad tunnel number four which is rarely seen in drought season, and a foundation of a building at Pollock, just north of the historic Pollock bridge, to name a few of the many relics that have emerged during this drought season.

*Disclaimer: For years, I have claimed the lowest to be 836.92-feet, below full pool, or 230.08 below the crest of Shasta Dam which was wrong. 

Resources: 

http://shasta.uslakes.info/Level/

http://www.shastalake.com/shastalake/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2Xf6mEaeGUWq1qe7jQkxNa92_HpsIE0x3Ygv2JjJDP-wK8WLDdo8lUz_I

https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/daily.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1xNGuLm6adSJuA_h6qLTmTIT-M5saL8tRq1qxUQSpFr7H8pWRhfgsiDXQ

A Foundation Of A Building Located Along the Shasta Route Railroad At Pollock

On October 2, 2021, Shasta Lake’s water level was recorded at 891.58-feet elevation wise below full pool or 175.42-feet below the crest of Shasta Dam for the third lowest record of all-time. By this date we were 2.09-feet away from the second lowest record set on November 29, 2014, of 889.49-feet below full pool elevation. This building was also located at Pollock on October 2, 2021, and is located just north of the historic Pollock bridge. Presumably, it is a building connected with the Shasta Route railroad. 

Filmed on location on October 2, 2021 in Lakehead, California.

HISTORIC FREIGHT TRAIN CAR, WRECKAGE DISCOVERED.

California Drought Reveals 112-Year-Old Freight Train Car Derailment On Shasta Lake. One Of Five Freight Train Cars Found In The Sacramento River Channel. Wreckage Dates To 1909.

Above: this video was filmed on location September 18, 2021.

In the rain and mud at the discovery site in Lakehead north of Railroad Tunnel Number 6. L-R: Jeremy M. Tuggle (Education & Community Engagement Manager at Shasta Historical Society) and Ryan "Rizzle" Hammon the discoverer of this freight train car wreckage. Selfie. Photo taken: September 18, 2021, by Jeremy M. Tuggle/Shasta County News Source.

Lakehead, California, September 29 - After following the footsteps of my metal detecting buddy, Gabriel Leete, of Redding, and I, who helped me film a metal detecting segment of my YouTube show “Exploring Shasta County History” on September 4, 2021, near Railroad Tunnel Number 6 at Charlie Creek, on the Sacramento River arm of Shasta Lake, for recreation purposes only. While we were there we were trying to determine if the rail of the Shasta Route were still there or if they were removed by the railroad. It is our opinion that the railroad removed them to be utilized elsewhere along the modern route of the railroad heading north and south due to the hefty costs of manufacturing and purchasing of the rail at that time.

We were finding many iron pieces connected to the railroad and railroad spikes along the way, both old and modern versions, including a piping system of some sort below the rail bed before we concluded our search that day. We did not expect to locate anything important, and we thought we covered the entire area because parts of the river channel below the rail bed was still muddy, wet and not walkable at that time.

However, this warranted further investigation of the site by local Redding resident, Ryan “Rizzle” Hammon, age 29, who picked up where we left off. However, he didn’t think he would locate anything of interest or anything this exciting! Yet, what Hammon found was a historic derailed freight train car buried in the Sacramento River channel.

      

Looking north from a southern point along the rail bed at Railroad Tunnel Number 6 on the Sacramento River arm of Shasta Lake near Charlie Creek. This photograph was taken on July 11, 2021, by Jeremy M. Tuggle/Shasta County News Source. 

                          

Looking south from a northern point along the rail bed at Railroad Tunnel Number 6 on the Sacramento River arm of Shasta Lake near Charlie Creek. This photograph was taken on August 18, 2021, by Jeremy M. Tuggle/Shasta County News Source.

In 1872, the California & Oregon Railroad, a division of the Central Pacific Railroad stopped its construction at Redding until their surveying was completed to decide if they were heading west towards Shasta into Oregon or north through the Sacramento River Canyon into Oregon. As the end-of-the-line, Redding was very fortuitous in its role in the development of our county for ten years until the railroad resumed construction and laid its tracks north of Redding through the Sacramento River Canyon in 1883, and established additional communities, depots and "flag stations" along the way. Most of the railroad tunnels were erected along the route in 1884, a total of seven in all, and most of them were remodeled during the 1920’s these dates are etched into their concrete except for Railroad Tunnel Number 6 whose dates are faded away and lost to time. Only two remain above Shasta Lake's water line.

Later, this railroad was acquired by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and eventually this region of track became known as the Shasta Route. The Shasta Route was used for both passenger and freight trains. One of the routes main passenger trains was the popular Shasta Limited. The Shasta Route promised to be the prominent and scenic travel route from San Francisco, California into Portland, Oregon. The railroad company advertised it as being the "road of a thousand wonders" since it traveled through the heart of the Shasta Cascade district. Train derailments rarely happened on this route, but they did occur. 

One freight train derailment occurred on this rail line on March 27, 1909, when freight train number 221 came to a screeching halt approximately a mile north-west of Railroad Tunnel Number 6, near Charlie Creek, on a bend of the Sacramento River which derailed for 100 yards or more. Original reports say that four freight cars departed the track, later reports claimed that five freight cars departed the railroad. This incident held-up the traffic along this Sacramento River Canyon route for several hours that Saturday. The railroad was busy that weekend with the northbound passenger Portland Express Number 16 halted at Kennett and the southbound passenger Dunsmuir Express Number 35., halted at Dunsmuir on its way to Kennett and Redding. The cause of the wreckage was never determined. There was a transient who had hitched a ride on a break beam of the train as well, but this person walked away without injury. This wreckage made headlines all over the State of California.

A 1915-1945 map showing the Shasta Route at Charlie Creek at the Sacramento River. Source: CalTopo.

One hundred and twelve years later, on September 9, 2021, Ryan “Rizzle” Hammon with the assistance of local Redding residents Mariah Stevens, age 26, and James White, age 30, discovered something which many people can only dream of locating and “this discovery was made by hand with absolutely no metal detecting involved”, says Hammon as the current drought revealed this wreckage site to them, that day after digging by hand through the mud. On that day, Shasta Lake’s elevation was 900.13-feet below full pool and the wheel, drum bearing, and axel of the car appeared to them with other pieces neatly preserved by the murky depths of Shasta Lake.

Then, he departed Lakehead and anxiously went home to Redding where he immediately began his own research with the help of his friends above. Later, he contacted the author of this article at the Shasta Historical Society and invited me out to explore the discovery site with him. I first saw this discovery site on September 18, 2021, and I met him there in Lakehead to film and document it. I later finished compiling the research for Hammon. With hopes of salvaging the freight train rail car wreckage, Hammon, seeks to go through the proper channels before digging and he's aware that it might cost him money. With my help he contacted the Shasta Cascade Rail Preservation Society, general historian, Dave Jungkeit, who became fascinated and mind-blown by this rare discovery. 

Jungkeit, remarked during an interview that: "it's a real possibility that whatever cargo those freight cars were hauling could still be intact and nicely preserved for Hammon to find, if he gets cleared to start digging it up from the river channel, of course he would have to go through Fish & Game to make a salvage claim." One newspaper article mentioned that most of the cars were hauling ties. Jungkeit, has set up a date with Hammon to review the discovery site himself.

The chances of locating the other four cars are slim since the newspaper articles claimed that they were smashed into pieces. So, it's a very rare possibility that any more lie there in the Sacramento River channel. Currently, Shasta Lake is 892.66-feet elevation below full pool, and or 174.34-feet below the crest of Shasta Dam.

FOUR CARS LEAVE TRACK NEAR TUNNEL 6 - CANYON TRAFFIC TIED UP FOR SEVEN HOURS SATURDAY - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 27, 1909. 

One of the five derailed freight train cars is shown here. It has been nicely preserved by the murky depths of Shasta Lake for one hundred and twelve years. This discovery was made by Ryan "Rizzle" Hammon and his friends. This photograph was taken on September 18, 2021, by Jeremy M. Tuggle/Shasta County News Source.

L- R: James White, Ryan “Rizzle” Hammon, Zack Stevens, age 18, and Mariah Stevens checking out their incredible discovery in Lakehead. This photograph was taken on September 18, 2021, by Jeremy M. Tuggle/Shasta County News Source.

RESOURCES: 

The Shasta Route - In All Of Its Grandeur - A Scenic Guide Book.

Four Cars Leave Track Near Tunnel 6 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 27, 1909

Freight Wrecked Near Tunnel No. 6 - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 28, 1909

Shasta County - Wreck - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 28, 1909

Freight Cars Smashed To Pieces - The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper of Marysville, March 28, 1909

Freight Train Wrecked Saturday - The Colusa Daily Sun newspaper of Colusa, March 29, 1909

Bridge Bay Marina’s Sunken Boat Mystery, Shasta Lake, 9-17-2021.

Bridge Bay Marina’s Sunken Boat Mystery, Shasta Lake, 9-17-2021. Today’s Shasta Lake level is 897.53-Feet elevation wise or 169.47-Feet below the crest of Shasta Dam. This mysterious sunken boat must have a history, and Bridge Bay Marina wants to learn more about it. You might know the answer! What is it?

Filmed on location Septembery 17, 2021.

Railroad Tunnel Number 4 Now Surfacing Out Of the Sacramento River Arm of Shasta Lake, 9-17-2021.

New YouTube video: Railroad Tunnel Number 4 Now Surfacing Out Of the Sacramento River Arm of Shasta Lake, 9-17-2021. Today’s Shasta Lake level is 897.53-Feet elevation wise or 169.47-Feet below the crest of Shasta Dam. Built 1884 and remodeled in 1925. See my video below:

FILMED ON LOCATION, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021.

History’s Mystery: A Closer Observation Of The Wooden Structure, Near Charlie Creek On The Sacramento River Arm Of Shasta Lake, 9-4-2021.

History’s Mystery: A Closer Observation Of The Wooden Structure, Near Charlie Creek On The Sacramento River Arm Of Shasta Lake, 9-4-2021. On That Date Shasta Lake Was 163.67-feet Below The Crest Of Shasta Dam Or 903.33-feet Elevation Wise Below Full Pool. Metal Detecting With GABRIEL LEETE. What is this structure near railroad tunnel number six at Charlie Creek? We’ve gotten some fantastic response as to what this is, so here is a personal look at this mysterious structure. Think you know what it is? Then, comment below here or on the earlier video of this wooden structure remember we’re not here to battle it out so please be respectful of other’s opinions.

Filmed on location 9-4-2021.

METAL DETECTING AT TUNNEL NO. 6 AT CHARLIE CREEK, AND BEYOND ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER ARM OF SHASTA LAKE, 9-4-2021.

FULL TITLE: METAL DETECTING AT TUNNEL NO. 6 AT CHARLIE CREEK, AND BEYOND ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER ARM OF SHASTA LAKE, 9-4-2021. ON THAT DATE SHASTA LAKE WAS 163.67-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM OR 903.33-FEET ELEVATION WISE BELOW FULL POOL.

PORTIONS OF THE HISTORIC RAILROAD AT POLLOCK IS NOW OUT OF THE WATER AT SHASTA LAKE, 9-4-2021

 

PORTIONS OF THE HISTORIC RAILROAD AT POLLOCK IS NOW OUT OF THE WATER AT SHASTA LAKE, 9-4-2021. SHASTA LAKE IS CURRENTLY 163.67-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM OR 903.33-FEET ELEVATION WISE BELOW FULL POOL.

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: SILVERTHORN RESORT, AND HISTORY, 8-30-2021.

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: SILVERTHORN RESORT, AND HISTORY, 8-30-2021. SHASTA LAKE WAS 161.26-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM OR 905.74-FEET ELEVATION WISE BELOW FULL POOL. TAKE A LOOK AT SILVERTHORN RESORT DURING THIS DROUGHT THAT WE’RE IN, AND EXPLORE SOME OF ITS EARLY HISTORY, AND LATER HERITAGE THAT MADE SILVERTHORN RESORT FAMOUS DURING ITS PRIME.

FILMED ON LOCATION BY JEREMY TUGGLE ON 8-30-2021.

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: JONES VALLEY, AND HISTORY, 8-30-2021

SHASTA LAKE DROUGHT: JONES VALLEY, AND HISTORY, 8-30-2021 SHASTA LAKE IS 161.26-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM OR 905.74-FEET ELEVATION WISE.

Filmed on location by Jeremy Tuggle on 8-30-2021.

HISTORY’S MYSTERY: A WOODEN STRUCTURE ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER NEAR CHARLIE CREEK ON SHASTA LAKE, AT 155.65-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM

HISTORY’S MYSTERY: A WOODEN STRUCTURE ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER NEAR CHARLIE CREEK ON SHASTA LAKE, AT 155.65-FEET BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM OR 911.35 FEET ELEVATION WISE, 8-18-2021. WHAT IS THIS???

THE HISTORIC HEADTOWER AT SHASTA LAKE BEHIND SHASTA DAM

Above photo: Public Domain.

This is the historic Headtower which is seen in many of my videos on YouTube and in pictures on my social media accounts. It was built in 1940 and was used primarily to deliver concrete to the workers of Pacific Constructors Incorporated (PCI) who were building Shasta Dam. It stood at over a towering 460 feet. There were storage compartments in the Headtower as well one of them was the cable room which is seen in a recent video. This historic Headtower is only visible during drought seasons on Shasta Lake. 

Above: the Headtower. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Above: the historic Headtower. The water level of Shasta Lake was recorded at 148.45-feet below the crest of Shasta Dam. This photograph was taken by Jeremy Tuggle on August 6, 2021. 

SMOKEY CONDITIONS: LAKE SHASTA HAZARDOUS AIR QUALITY, 8-6-2021.

SMOKEY CONDITIONS: LAKE SHASTA HAZARDOUS AIR QUALITY, 8-6-2021. WITH THREE MAJOR FIRES BURNING NEAR SHASTA COUNTY: the McFarland fire, the Antelope fire and the Dixie fire. THE REDDING AREA INCLUDING SHASTA LAKE HAD A HAZARDOUS AIR QUALITY OF 500 YESTERDAY, IT WASN’T LIKE THIS EARLIER THAT DAY. WE WERE TRYING TO GET OFF THE LAKE AND HEAD HOME. LAKE SHASTA WAS AT 148.45–FT., BELOW THE CREST OF SHASTA DAM ON 8-6-2021. SHASTA DAM AND PARTS OF THE LAKE WERE BARELY VISIBLE.

History’s Mystery: Sugarloaf Creek Structure at Lake Shasta.

Filmed on location July 23, 2021.

History’s Mystery: Sugarloaf Creek Structure at Lake Shasta. Possibly a bunker but it looks home made, and it appears to have some type of lid over it aside from the opening. Its possible it belonged to an old house maybe a cellar (homestead I doubt it) it doesn't resemble a Water Well either. If you look closely you can see some type of metal in the concrete lid near the center. Another thought was that it might have been a home made Cold War era bunker. If we had more photos of this intriguing relic under Shasta Lake then we could generate more opinions too. It doesn't appear to be a box culvert either.... another reliable source says it is a: "sub-quality to the 1917 and 1925 Highway box culverts as seen in my photo albums therefore we assume its an earlier highway structure." He also mentioned that it looks to him that the upstream end has been bull dozed off from the culvert. Located off Lakeshore Drive at Lakehead… Lake Shasta is currently (July 23, 2021) 139.82-Feet below the crest of Shasta Dam.

The historic Headtower at Shasta Dam is starting to show.

The historic Headtower which was built in 1940 to deliver concrete to the construction workers on Shasta Dam is showing at Shasta Dam. The lake level is currently about 89 - 90 feet below the crest. It was last seen during the drought season of 2014. It is hardly ever seen except in drought seasons. This Headtower stood over a towering 460-feet.

Filmed on location on 4-21-2021.