page_title: Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
hierarchical_section_title: Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
caption_attribution_description: The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California - covering the right half of the map. The Sacramento River flows into the delta from the north and the San Joaquin River from the south. The San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers meet just west of Antioch and their confluence continues westward into Suisun Bay and then the Carquinez Strait (both on left of map). The Mokelumne River enters from the east, flows northwest from Lodi, picks up several tributaries including the Cosumnes River, then turns south, meandering among several delta sloughs and waterways, ultimately flowing into the San Joaquin River in the center of the delta, northeast of Antioch. The "lake-like" body of water near the bottom of the image is Clifton Court Forebay, where pumps lift water to be sent southward in the California Water Project canal. Several other open areas in the right half of the image are "islands," many of which have elevations well below sea level. Waterways (in blue) are clearly visible, as are fields and croplands (which appear as patchwork), and urban areas (especially Stockton).
context_page_description: The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, or California Delta, is an expansive inland river delta and estuary in Northern California. The Delta is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and lies just east of where the rivers enter Suisun Bay. The Delta is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy. Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta was designated a National Heritage Area on March 12, 2019. The city of Stockton is located on the San Joaquin River on the eastern edge of the delta. The total area of the Delta, including both land and water, is about 1,100 square miles. Its population is around 500,000 residents.
  The Delta was formed by the raising of sea level following glaciation, leading to the accumulation of Sacramento and San Joaquin River sediments behind the Carquinez Strait, the sole outlet from the Central Valley to the San Pablo and San Francisco Bays and the Pacific Ocean. The narrowness of the Carquinez Strait coupled with tidal action has caused the sediment to pile up, forming expansive islands.
context_section_description: The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, or California Delta, is an expansive inland river delta and estuary in Northern California. The Delta is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and lies just east of where the rivers enter Suisun Bay. The Delta is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy. Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta was designated a National Heritage Area on March 12, 2019. The city of Stockton is located on the San Joaquin River on the eastern edge of the delta. The total area of the Delta, including both land and water, is about 1,100 square miles (2,800 km²). Its population is around 500,000 residents.
  The Delta was formed by the raising of sea level following glaciation, leading to the accumulation of Sacramento and San Joaquin River sediments behind the Carquinez Strait, the sole outlet from the Central Valley to the San Pablo and San Francisco Bays and the Pacific Ocean. The narrowness of the Carquinez Strait coupled with tidal action has caused the sediment to pile up, forming expansive islands. Geologically, the Delta has existed for about 10,000 years, since the end of the Last Glacial Period. In its natural state, the Delta was a large freshwater marsh, consisting of many shallow channels and sloughs surrounding low islands of peat and tule.
  Since the mid-19th century, most of the region has been gradually claimed for agriculture. Wind erosion and oxidation have led to widespread subsidence on the Central Delta islands; much of the Delta region today sits below sea level, behind levees earning it the nickname "California's Holland". Much of the water supply for Central California and Southern California is also derived from the Delta, via pumps located at the southern end of the Delta. The pumps deliver water for irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley and municipal water supply for Southern California.
caption: Northern California's Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Sacramento River flows into the delta from the north and the San Joaquin River from the south through Stockton.
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