One of the major rivers of
California, the
San Joaquin River drains a large area of the
San Joaquin Valley and southwestern Sierra Nevada mountains. The river starts high in the
Sierra Nevada, north and east of
Fresno, and west of
Mammoth. There are many reservoirs on it and its mountain tributaries, the largest being
Millerton Lake. After the river exits the mountains, it turns north and travels up the
San Joaquin Valley. Several other large rivers, including the
Merced River and
Tuolomne River, join it before it empties into the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, an intertwined network of waterways and canals.
The river is vital, ecologically and economically, to the state. At one time, it connected a vast network of meandering channels, sloughs, and tule swamps. Sadly, most are gone, however the river still contains a riparian corridor vital to many plants and animals, including migrating waterfowl. Much of the water is used to irrigate the extensive agriculture of the region. At one time the river was navigated by steamboats, but in its smaller modern state it is less accessable to boats. It is still quite a large river, by California standards at least.