The record-union., 1896-02-06
DELTA OF THE SACRAMENTO.
Where All the Flood Waters Of the
Valley Meet.
How the Engagement May be Re-
heved. and Further Shoal-
ing Prevented.


lie Works, giving the result of his in
spection of the Sacramento River north
of the city during its flood condition,
and herewith is given Engineer Prices
report on the condition of the lower
Sacramento, with recommendations for
its Improvement:
LOWER SACRAMENTO.
To Hon E. F. Leake, Commissioner
Public Works: We have already
called your attention to the condition
of the Sacramento River above Sac
ramento City, and the probable effect
of the agencies that are now working
for the destruction of the water-carry-
ing capacity of that portion of the
river
In the report heretofore made we sug-
gested a line of systematic river i'm
provement as a possible remedy for
some of the evils now existing. By
your consent and direction we have
made some observations on the lower
Sacramento River, with view to as
certaining some facts, if possible, that
would point to at least a partial remedy
for the existing evil.
Anticipating the conditions that pre-
vail during high water, we had estab-
lished a gauge at CollinsVille, near the
confluence of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Rivers, which registered eleva-
tions of water above mean low tide in
Suisun Bay, the zero on the rod cor
responding to the elevation of mean
low tide. A gauge based upon the same
datum was also established at Toland' S
Landing, a point GA miles above Col
linsville, and one at Rio Vista, a miles
above Tolands Landing. A gauge was
also established at the Ryer Island
pump works, on Cache Slough, a point
about four miles above Rio Vista, and
one at Maine Prairie, on the northwest
side of the YoIo Basin.
In order that we may have a better
conception of the topography of this
section of the State, it would be well
for all who care to study the problem
to procure a set of maps and the report
of the former Commissioner of Public
Works, which maps and report can be
obtained free of charge by application
at this office.
LOWER RIVER DESCRIBED.
In order, however that this report
may be more explicit, we will endeayor
to give word picture of this portion of
the Sacramento Valley.
In the report made with reference to
the condition of the river above Sacra-
mento City, we fully described the loca-
tion of the Hershey and Butcher Cor
Woods) breaks. They are located on
the west bank of the Sacramento River
beginning at a point one-half mile
above the Elk Horn ranch, and extend
ing above that point for distance of
four miles, more or less.
The waters escaping through these
crevasses flow directly into the Yolo
Basin, and thence takes a southwest
erly course for a distance of about
forty-five miles, and enter Cache
Slough near the confluence of what is
known as Miners Slough, with Cache
Slough. The Sacramento River forms
the east boundary of
THE YOLO BASIN
And here in extreme floods we witness
nothing but a small margin of land
between the waters of YoIo Basin and
the Sacramento River. Just above the
city Of Sacramento the American River
joins the Sacramento, and their COM
bined waters flow through the same
water courses from this point to the
Suisun Bay. A very small portion of this
water escapes into the Yolo Basin
through Sutter Slough, opposite Court
land
But the most of the water in Sutter
Slough joins Steamboat and Miner
Sloughs. Below Courtland, on the Sac
ramento. the main river divides it's
waters. a portion taking its course
down Steamboat Slough, and the re-
Uainder passing down Old River. as it
is called, and forming the principal
navigable stream from tide water to
Sacramento City.
Cache Slough and Steamboat Slough
join waters at a point two miles above
Rio Vista, and Immediately below their
confluence Old River adds its waters
TO the other streams. At the town of
Walnut Grove Georgiana Slough leaves
Old River, connecting with the Mokel-
umne River and San Joaquin. This
branch of
THE DELTA SYSTEM
Runs no small amount of water in food
season, for the reason that the waters
of the San Joaquin are seldom at flood
hight when the Sacramento is in that
condition. We are informed that this
condition did exist, however, dur
ing the great flood of 1S61-62
Miner, Cache and Steamboat Sloughs
form a water boundary for Ryer Island.
Grand Island comprises all the land
between Steamboat Slough and Old
River, and Brannan, Andrus and other
fertile and weIl-reclaimed islands are
located south and east of Old River.
We will observe, therefore, that all
: of ff, Vol
with the exception of what may pass
through Georgiana Slough, meet at the
foot Of Grand Island and thence flow
through their present channel to Suisun
Bay by way of Toland's Landing and
Collinsville, a portion running into the
san Joaquin River through Three-mile
Slough and over Sherman Island, near
what is known as Horseshoe Bend.
We may expect, therefore, to find an
engagement of the stream in this reach
if the channel capacity is inadequate
to the task Of conducting the waters.
Within the boundaries of this division
of the Sacramento River, and immedi-
ately abreast of the town Of Rio Vista,
an island has formed, dividing the
stream into two distinct channels dur
ing low water season, but forming but
one enlarged, broad waterway of i'll
proportion in time of flood periods.
NEWTOWN SHOALS.
Immediately above this island bar
is formed, known as the Newtown
Shoals. This bar is simply an extension
CT the island formation. and extends
completely across the whole waterway.
"Pure ar