What is the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act?

The agreement resolves 18 years of litigation, and represents a landmark accord between environmental and fishing groups, Central Valley farmers, and the state and federal governments to undertake one of the nation’s most significant river restoration projects.

Is the San Joaquin River restored?

The river reconnected to the Merced River confluence in 2016 and the following year saw heavy flood flows. Water releases are used to restore the San Joaquin River and to provide habitat for naturally reproducing populations of chinook salmon and other fish.

What is the river restoration project?

River restoration brings rivers back to life by removing dams, replacing culverts, and restoring floodplains. We manage projects, train others, and work on state/federal policies to improve the practice of river restoration.

Is the San Joaquin River Trail open?

Note: the San Joaquin River Gorge Management Area is open to the public year round, however, because of hot summers, visitors will find it to be most enjoyable during fall, winter and spring seasons.

What is the San Joaquin River restoration program?

The San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) is a comprehensive, long-term effort to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of Merced River and restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts from Restoration Flows.

Why did the San Joaquin River Run Dry?

After Friant Dam was completed, parts of the San Joaquin River began to run dry as more and more water was diverted into canals for agricultural irrigation. This disconnected the salmon from their habitat and eventually they were eliminated from the upper San Joaquin River.

When was the Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River completed?

Friant Dam was completed in 1942 and provides flood protection and water storage for irrigation in the San Joaquin River Basin.

What kind of salmon are in San Joaquin River?

Before the completion of Friant Dam, the San Joaquin River supported the southernmost populations of Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon and fall-run Chinook salmon, where hundreds of thousands of Chinook used to return each year.