San Joaquin, California, US

Mendota Pool to Merced River Confluence

Fishing near Firebaugh

Fishing near Firebaugh
Photo by Paul Martzen taken 03/31/07

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
SAN JOAQUIN R NR DOS PALOS
cdec-SDP	200 - 8000 cfs	I	01h44m	40 cfs (too low)
SAN JOAQUIN R AT SAN MATEO RD NR MENDOTA
cdec-SJN	100 - 2000 cfs	I	02h14m	41 cfs (too low)
JAMES BYPASS
cdec-JBP	200 - 4000 cfs	I	1y255d21h13m	457 cfs (running)
	Contributes to flow at Mendota during wet years
SAN JOAQUIN R NR MENDOTA CA
usgs-11254000	200 - 6000 cfs	I	00h42m	452 cfs (running)
	Best and highest flows in most years. Near Put In:
SAN JOAQUIN R A FREMONT FORD BRIDGE CA
usgs-11261500	400 - 8000 cfs	I	01h12m	177 cfs (too low)

River Description

This section is flatwater and especially suited for canoes and touring kayaks.    There is playboat potential at the outflow from the Mendota Pool dam, but there are usually lots of fishing lines from people up on the dam.   The reach is of particular interest because of its historic and political significance. 

The flow situation here is unusual. Friant dam normally diverts all of the water that would flow in this section. Most San Joaquin river water is diverted south to Tulare and Kern counties via the Friant Kern Canal, and some is diverted north through the Madera Canal.

To provide water to Mendota and Firebaugh area farms, water from the Sacramento and Feather rivers, is pumped out of the Sacramento - San Joaquin delta, into the Delta Mendota Canal. This water reenters the San Joaquin River at Mendota Pool immediately above the put-in.   Water then flows down the river to various irrigation diversions, till there is no more. The river is empty and dried up by the time it crosses highway 152.    It is an expensive process, but worth it to the farmers, since your federal tax money pays for much of the real costs.

A settlement agreement in 2006 between the Bureau of Reclamation and various environmental groups, lead by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), mandates that sufficient flows be returned to this river so that it does not dry up and that salmon may once again swim up the river to spawn.    In accordance to the agreement, restoration test flows began in October 2009.    In the spring of 2010,  water once again flowed from Friant all the way to the confluence with the Merced and on to the San Joaquin/Sacramento Delta.   Several long sections of river which were usually dry for the last 60 years, now have low but steady flows. 

Between Mendota and Sack Dam, the river flows past farmland.  North of Highway 152 the river flows through the Merced and San Luis wildlife refuges and through the Great Valley Grasslands State Park. 

Put in: There is a wide, dirt boat ramp just downstream of Mendota Pool Dam.   There is plenty of Parking.   From Highway 180 on the north side of Mendota, take Bass Road past Mendota Pool park, to the dam. 

Take Out: There appears to be informal public access on the east side of the river on Hills Ferry Road at the confluence with the Merced River.   There is a nice public park on river left just downstream of the highway bridge in Firebaugh.   View the map tab for locations of other possible access locations. 

Sections: 
Mendota Pool to Firebaugh is a pleasant 10 mile float  suitable for beginners.   The scenery is nice, though the riparian zone appears to be narrow along most of this distance.   Still, there is lots of wildlife to see.   With 1300 cfs the trip will take around 3 hours for a kayak or canoe. 

Other Information Sources: 
San Joaquin River Restoration Project 
San Joaquin River Restoration: CA DWR page
Dept of Fish & Game: Restoration pdf 
Revive the San Joaquin 
Save the San Joaquin  
http://www.nrdc.org/water/conservation/sanjoaquin.asp  
Merced National Wildlife Refuge 
San Luis National Wildlife Reguge
Great Valley Grasslands State Park
Firebaugh's Ferry
A minimart in Firebaugh at a main intersection of highway 33, has a large and informative display about the history of the area.