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The San Joaquin River (/ ˌ s æ n hw ɑː ˈ k iː n /; Spanish: Río San Joaquín) is the longest river of Central California. The 366-mile (589 km) long river starts in the high Sierra Nevada, and flows through the rich agricultural region of the northern San Joaquin Valley before reaching Suisun Bay, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.
May 24, 2024 · San Joaquin River, river in central California, U.S. It is formed by forks rising on Mount Goddard in the Sierra Nevada and flows southwest and then north-northwest past Stockton to join the Sacramento River above Suisun Bay after a course of 350 miles (560 km). It is dammed for hydroelectric power.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the San Joaquin River, one of California's most endangered rivers, and its wildlife, recreation, and agricultural values. Find out how American Rivers is working to restore the river's health and protect its communities.
Discover the longest river in Central California, its wildlife refuges, agricultural importance, and historical gem mine. Learn about the San Joaquin River Valley, its parkway, and its role in the state water system.
- Focal Species
- Cosumnes River
- Mokelumne River
- Calaveras River
- Stanislaus River
- Tuolumne River
- Merced River
- San Joaquin River
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CCV steelhead and CV spring-run Chinook salmon are the two listed (identified as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act) salmonid species that inhabit the San Joaquin River Basin. CCV steelhead and CV spring-run Chinook salmon are both anadromous fish, meaning these fish are hatched from eggs in rivers and will use riverine and e...
The Cosumnes River watershed covers approximately 940 square miles (approximately 600,000 acres), from its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada mountain range to its confluence with the Mokelumne River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Elevations in the watershed range from a peak of 7,500 feet to slightly below mean sea level in the Delta. The water...
Photo: John Benson The Mokelumne River watershed lies on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Alpine, Amador, and Calaveras counties. The lower Mokelumne River watershed, downstream of Camanche Dam, is located in the Central Valley and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties. The watershed covers ...
Calaveras River at Bellota Weir The Calaveras River watershed is located in northern California in Calaveras, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties. The river is a tributary to the lower San Joaquin River and drains a watershed area of 470 square miles (approximately 300,000 acres) above the foothill line. Major hydrologic features of the upper wate...
The lower Stanislaus River near the confluence of the San Joaquin River. The Stanislaus River is one of the largest tributaries to the San Joaquin River. The watershed includes an area of 1,195 square miles (approximately 760,000 acres), and the river flows 161 miles from the Sierra Nevada mountain range to its confluence with the lower San Joaquin...
Spawning habitat downstream of the La Grange Dam The Tuolumne River originates as an alpine stream in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The watershed includes 1,870 square miles (approximately 1.2 million acres), and the river flows southwest for 155 miles from Yosemite National Park to its confluence with the San Joaquin Riv...
Aerial view of the Merced River Hatchery (1998) The Merced River originates as an alpine stream in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The watershed comprises 1,270 square miles (approximately 810,000 acres), and the river flows 135 miles from the southern part of Yosemite National Park to its confluence with the lower San Joaq...
A portion of the lower San Joaquin River. The San Joaquin River flows west from the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the valley floor and then heads north to Vernalis where it flows into the Delta. The mainstem of the San Joaquin River is divided into three sections: the upper, middle, and lower sections. The upper San Joaquin...
Learn about the San Joaquin River Basin, a major watershed in California that supports threatened and endangered salmonid species. Find out how habitat restoration and enhancement can help recover the CV spring-run Chinook salmon and CCV steelhead populations.
Enjoy camping, hiking, biking, and horseback riding in the scenic San Joaquin River Gorge, a special recreation management area by the Bureau of Land Management. Learn about the history, culture, and wildlife of the area and access the San Joaquin River Trail and other trails.
Jul 19, 2021 · Learn about the efforts to revitalize the San Joaquin River, California's second-longest waterway and a vital habitat for salmon and other species. Explore the interactive map and see how dams, diversions, and restoration projects have shaped the river's history and future.
