The San Joaquin River stretches over 330 miles making it the 2nd longest river in California. Waters that once flowed from the Friant Dam, located near Fresno, reduced significantly and stopped flowing freely after years of drought and irrigation allocation for local farmers. Parts of the San Joaquin River basin remained dry for nearly 60 years after the Friant Dam was built to provide water for agriculture and to protect residents from flooding. A region that was once a prime spawning ground for Chinook salmon changed dramatically.
Since the late 1980s when the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit to revive the river, residents, environmentalists and farmers have been trying to come to an agreement about how to use the water. A settlement was finally reached in early 2010 and the water has begun to flow making a full connection of the San Joaquin River. The full process to create a suitable environment for the Chinook salmon will still takes years but a plan is in place and the first step toward that goal has been reached.
How the Farmers May be Affected
Not everyone benefits from the river reconnection and the local farmers will be the first to lose. According to Mark Grossi of the Fresno Bee, a projected loss of 18% of their current water allocation, approximately 230,000 acre-feet of water, is predicted. In addition, some usable farmland will need to be redesigned to create barriers at the riverbank and some land may be lost as the river widens (San Luis Obispo
Tribune, March 29,2010).
Good News for the Chinook Salmon Preservationists
The Chinook salmon species has been slowly drifting toward endangerment in some regions because of its unique habitat requirements. Also known as king salmon, the fish rates as the largest in the Pacific salmon species and is highly prized for human food consumption and as food for wildlife.
The reconnected river should have a positive effect on the salmon but their battle is far from over. New populations will be reintroduced by Dec. 31, 2012 and much work needs to be done before that happens. In some sections of the delta crops grow up to the river banks and the channels have become too narrow for the fish. Trees and shrubs need to be planted to keep the waters cool and the channels must be widened and deepened in some sections.
The reconnection project has been long awaited and is still far from complete. The San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) allows officials to monitor and evaluate progress and publishes regular environmental reports. Although much work still remains, a milestone has been reached offering a stepping stone where local residents, farmers and government regulators may work together to improve and restore one of California’s valuable resources.
References:
Mark Grossi, "San Joaquin River begins flowing back to Pacific Ocean", San Luis Obispo Tribune, March 29, 2010.
Kathryn Hedderig - The pleasure of writing enhances my life. I delight in the creative process, the excitement of formulating a new idea and bringing it to ...
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