Changes

Now, one of the largest projects in the American West has been begun to restore the San Joaquin River. On September 13, 2006, the Natural Resources Defense Council signed an agreement with Friant Dam users and the [[United States Department of the Interior]]. This agreement would restore the San Joaquin River below the dam, reducing [[pollution]].<ref name=nrdc/>

Now, one of the largest projects in the American West has been begun to restore the San Joaquin River. On September 13, 2006, the Natural Resources Defense Council signed an agreement with Friant Dam users and the [[United States Department of the Interior]]. This agreement would restore the San Joaquin River below the dam, reducing [[pollution]].<ref name=nrdc/>

== Source in the Sierra Nevada ==

===Source in the Sierra Nevada===

[[Image:San Joaquin River headwaters.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, just below Thousand Island Lake.]]

[[Image:San Joaquin River headwaters.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, just below Thousand Island Lake.]]

Three forks of the San Joaquin River join to form the San Joaquin River at two places, called ''Balloon Dome'' and ''Junction Butte''.  

Three forks of the San Joaquin River join to form the San Joaquin River at two places, called ''Balloon Dome'' and ''Junction Butte''.  

*The '''Middle Fork''' (or the '''Middle Fork San Joaquin River''') begins at a lake called ''Thousand Island Lake''. This place is at coordinates {{coord|37.6321|N|119.1579|W}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=105:3:4205694310145890::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:263536%2CMiddle%20Fork%20San%20Joaquin%20River|title=Middle Fork San Joaquin River|publisher=United States Geographical Survey|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

*The '''Middle Fork''' (or the '''Middle Fork San Joaquin River''') begins at a lake called ''Thousand Island Lake''. This place is at coordinates {{coord|37.6321|N|119.1579|W}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=105:3:4205694310145890::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:263536%2CMiddle%20Fork%20San%20Joaquin%20River|title=Middle Fork San Joaquin River|publisher=United States Geographical Survey|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

*The '''South Fork''' (or the '''South Fork San Joaquin River''') flows out of Martha Lake, at {{convert|11004|ft|m}} above sea level. Martha Lake is at coordinates {{coord|37.0941|N|119.2434|W}}. The river is in Madera and [[Fresno County|Fresno]] counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=105:3:4205694310145890::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:267501%2CSouth%20Fork%20San%20Joaquin%20River|title=South Fork San Joaquin River|publisher=United States Geographical Survey|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

*The '''South Fork''' (or the '''South Fork San Joaquin River''') flows out of Martha Lake, at {{convert|11004|ft|m}} above sea level. Martha Lake is at coordinates {{coord|37.0941|N|119.2434|W}}. The river is in Madera and [[Fresno County|Fresno]] counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=105:3:4205694310145890::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:267501%2CSouth%20Fork%20San%20Joaquin%20River|title=South Fork San Joaquin River|publisher=United States Geographical Survey|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

 

== In the Central Valley ==

===In the Central Valley===

The river continues west into the [[Central Valley]] of California, and is joined by many other rivers flowing off the Sierra Nevada mountains. The most largest of these are the [[Stanislaus River]], [[Tuolumne River]], and [[Merced River]]. The Tuolumne and Merced river both flow out of [[Yosemite National Park]].  

The river continues west into the [[Central Valley]] of California, and is joined by many other rivers flowing off the Sierra Nevada mountains. The most largest of these are the [[Stanislaus River]], [[Tuolumne River]], and [[Merced River]]. The Tuolumne and Merced river both flow out of [[Yosemite National Park]].  

*[[Madera Canal]]

*[[Madera Canal]]

*[[Friant-Kern Canal]]

*[[Friant-Kern Canal]]

 

== Mouth ==

===Mouth===

The San Joaquin River eventually meets the [[Sacramento River]], forming the [[Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta]]. This is one of the biggest [[estuary|estuaries]] in the United States. It is near the city of [[Antioch]]. At this place, the San Joaquin River splits into two rivers: the ''Old River'' and the ''Middle River''. The Old River sometimes confuses [[fish]] to go down its channel. As a result, a wall is built between the San Joaquin River and the Old River.

The San Joaquin River eventually meets the [[Sacramento River]], forming the [[Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta]]. This is one of the biggest [[estuary|estuaries]] in the United States. It is near the city of [[Antioch]]. At this place, the San Joaquin River splits into two rivers: the ''Old River'' and the ''Middle River''. The Old River sometimes confuses [[fish]] to go down its channel. As a result, a wall is built between the San Joaquin River and the Old River.

== Pre-development ecology ==

===Pre-development ecology===

Before humans began to develop the Central Valley in the 1850s, the San Joaquin River and its surrounding lands were one of the richest [[biology|biological]] habitats in California. In winter, the river would flood the valley, leaving behind [[wetland]]s. These wetlands became rich habitat for [[bird]]s and other animals.<ref name=nrdc/> The habitat of the [[endangered]] ''San Joaquin Kit Fox'' and the ''riparian brush rabbit'' also was near the San Joaquin River.

Before humans began to develop the Central Valley in the 1850s, the San Joaquin River and its surrounding lands were one of the richest [[biology|biological]] habitats in California. In winter, the river would flood the valley, leaving behind [[wetland]]s. These wetlands became rich habitat for [[bird]]s and other animals.<ref name=nrdc/> The habitat of the [[endangered]] ''San Joaquin Kit Fox'' and the ''riparian brush rabbit'' also was near the San Joaquin River.  

== Friant Dam: destroying life of the lower San Joaquin ==

 

===Friant Dam: destroying life of the lower San Joaquin===

[[Image:Friant Dam.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Friant Dam.]]

[[Image:Friant Dam.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Friant Dam.]]

In 1942, a big dam, [[Friant Dam]], was built on the San Joaquin River. This dam took away a lot of water from the river, to [[Irrigation|irrigate]] crops, provide drinking water, and provide electricity. The dam destroyed the [[salmon]] habitat in the river, and also destroyed the creation of these wetlands.  

In 1942, a big dam, [[Friant Dam]], was built on the San Joaquin River. This dam took away a lot of water from the river, to [[Irrigation|irrigate]] crops, provide drinking water, and provide electricity. The dam destroyed the [[salmon]] habitat in the river, and also destroyed the creation of these wetlands.  

*{{convert|20|ft|m}} thick at its top

*{{convert|20|ft|m}} thick at its top

*contains 2,135,000 cubic yards of [[concrete]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10154.htm|title=Friant Dam|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Reclamation|accessdate=2009-03-28|archive-date=2009-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513012354/http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10154.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*contains 2,135,000 cubic yards of [[concrete]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10154.htm|title=Friant Dam|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Reclamation|accessdate=2009-03-28|archive-date=2009-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513012354/http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10154.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Navigation and shipping===

== San Joaquin River Media ==

The San Joaquin River has been used a lot for shipping of products via boats and ships, otherwise known as navigation. The river was first used for navigation during the California [[Gold Rush]] of 1849. Boats carried people over {{convert|200|mi|km}} up the river to look for gold in the mountains. Now, there is a channel that runs all the way upriver to the city of [[Stockton]]. This channel allows big ships to sail in the river up to this point.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006AGUFM.H33D1540S|title=Mixing and Transport in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel|publisher=The Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref> [[Sediment]], however, has clogged a lot of the river channel above this point, preventing big ships from going any farther.

<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>

File:San Joaquin River Viaduct aerial 2016.jpg|Crossings of [[California State Route 99]] and the Union Pacific Railroad along the northern border of [[Fresno, California|Fresno]]. The early stages of construction of [[California High-Speed Rail]]'s [[San Joaquin River Viaduct]] is also visible.

 

File:SanJoaquinMendotaPool.jpg|The San Joaquin at [[Mendota Pool]] during the high flows of April 2006

 

File:San Joaquin River headwaters 2.jpg|Headwaters of the Middle Fork San Joaquin River, just downstream of [[Thousand Island Lake]]

 

File:Bierstadt Albert Mariposa Indian Encampment Yosemite Valley California.jpg|''Mariposa Indian Encampment'' by [[Albert Bierstadt]], c. 1872

 

File:Mount Diablo California from Concord.jpg|[[Mount Diablo]] (background), where Juan Crespí first gazed upon the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in 1772, with Suisun Bay in the foreground

 

File:Stockton California circa 1860.jpg|Stockton, on the lower San Joaquin River, circa 1860, with the river to the left

 

File:Californiacentralvalley.jpg|An example of heavily irrigated farmland in the northern San Joaquin Valley, near Tracy and Manteca

 

File:Mammoth-Pool.jpg|[[Mammoth Pool Dam]], the principal dam of the [[Big Creek Hydroelectric Project]], completed in 1959

 

File:StocktonDeepwaterShippingChannel.jpg|Stockton Deep Water Shipping Channel

==Notes==

== Notes ==

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