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101-502: The dam impounds Camanche reservoir . The capacity of Camanche Dam is approximately 431,000-acre feet (0.532 km) with 200,000-acre feet (0.25 km) of the flood control reservation. This reserve for flood storage can be shared with Pardee Dam just upstream. The approximately 173-foot-high and 2,640-foot-long dam is located on the Mokelumne River which is about 10 miles downstream from Pardee Dam . Because Camanche Dam has

202-748: A 627-square-mile drainage area which accounts for about 95 percent of the watershed, the dam and reservoir provide flood damage reduction on the Mokelumne River. Camanche Dam and reservoir also maintain downstream water requirements. Before the dam was built, flood control along the Mokelumne River was expensive. The most destructive flood in November 1950 along the Mokelumne river resulted in approximately $ 1.1 million in damage. Another flood in December 1955 to January 1956 created nearly $ 750,000 in damage. The largest flood on record occurred in December 1964 along

303-710: A drop in the area's water table, resulted in the town's demise. The Depression -era migrants to the San Joaquin Valley from the South and Midwest are one of the more well-known groups in the Central Valley, in large part due to the popularity of John Steinbeck 's novel The Grapes of Wrath and the Henry Fonda movie made from it. By 1910, agriculture in the southern Great Plains had become nearly unviable due to soil erosion and poor rainfall. Much of

404-653: A fresh water lake. Lake Corcoran was the last widespread lake to fill the valley about 700,000 years ago. At the beginning of the Holocene there were three major lakes remaining in the southern part of the Valley, Tulare Lake, Buena Vista Lake and Kern Lake . In the late 19th and in the 20th century, agricultural diversion of the Kern River eventually dried out these lakes. Today, only a fragment of Buena Vista Lake remains as two small lakes Lake Webb and Lake Evans in

505-534: A given crop: Stockton produces the majority of the domestic asparagus consumed in the United States, and Fresno County is the largest producer of raisins. Cattle and sheep ranching are also vitally important to the valley's economy. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Miller & Lux corporation built an agricultural monopoly centered around cattle. The corporation can be characterized as

606-625: A hard-driving sound that is still deeply associated with the city. The San Joaquin Valley produces 12.8% of California's agricultural production (as measured by dollar value). Often called a breadbasket region, the valley farms emphasize fruits, vegetables and nuts more than grain for bread. Major crops include grapes (wine grapes, table grapes and raisins ), cotton , almonds , pistachios , citrus , and vegetables. Walnuts, oranges, peaches, garlic, tangerines, tomatoes, kiwis, hay, alfalfa and numerous other crops have been harvested with great success. Certain places are identified quite strongly with

707-439: A higher concentration of sand compared to other loams. The slope varies from a 2% gradient up to a 45% gradient. Due to the upland areas near the reservoir, the rock land soil type is dominant. These soil types interact with the ground water located near the reservoir by influencing surface water runoff and ground water recharge. The structural geology of the area has experienced changes in the past due to plate tectonics, influencing

808-494: A loss of as much as $ 11 billion each year. San Joaquin Valley is a major agricultural center of California. The agricultural demand for water far outstrips the urban and industrial demand. Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers and irrigated agriculture is common, and according to Thomas Harter, the chair for Water Resources Management and Policy at UC Davis, “more than 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year may leach into groundwater beneath irrigated lands, usually as nitrates”. Between

909-403: A major breadbasket , the San Joaquin Valley is an important source of food, producing a significant part of California's agricultural output. San Joaquin Valley draws from eight counties of Northern and one of Southern California , including all of San Joaquin and Kings counties, most of Stanislaus , Merced , and Fresno counties, and parts of Madera and Tulare counties, along with

1010-625: A majority of Kern County in Southern California. Although the valley is predominantly rural, it has three densely populated urban centers: Stockton / Modesto , Fresno / Visalia , and Bakersfield . The San Joaquin Valley is the southern half of California's Central Valley . It extends from the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in the north to the Tehachapi Mountains in the south, and from

1111-414: A number of " safety valves" have been incorporated into the structure, including relief wells at the base of the dam and a large spillway. The wells allow underground water to escape the base of Camanche, thereby relieving undue pressure to the structure. Also, the spillway has 182,000 cubic feet per second capacity which are around six times the amount of the biggest flood in the reservoir's history. Due to

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1212-409: A portion of the former Buena Vista Lakebed. The San Joaquin Valley has extremely hot, dry summers and pleasantly mild winters characterized by dense tule fog . Its rainy season normally runs from November through April. The valley has experienced a severe and intensifying megadrought since the early 2010s. This drought is not only affecting humans, with farmland taking much of the impact, but also

1313-611: A precursor to corporate farming transforming the yeoman farmer into wage workers. The success of the business can be attributed to founder Henry Miller 's direct management style which is reflected in his detailed correspondences to his subordinates. During recent years, dairy farming has greatly expanded in importance. As areas such as Chino and Corona have become absorbed into the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles, many dairy farmers have cashed out and moved their herds to Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties. Between 1990 and 2004, 28,092  hectares (70,231 acres) of agricultural land

1414-633: A short drive up on Highway 88. Camanche Reservoir Camanche Reservoir is an artificial lake in the San Joaquin Valley in California in the United States , at the juncture of Amador , Calaveras , and San Joaquin counties. Its waters are impounded by Camanche Dam , which was completed in 1963. Camanche Reservoir is a source of water for industrial and municipal purposes and also provides flood control. The lake

1515-551: A small town, and was eventually evacuated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District to build the dam and reservoir that exists there today. Recreational uses of the lake include boating, fishing and waterskiing . The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released an advisory statement regarding eating fish caught from this reservoir based on the mercury level. Many shaded day-use and picnic sites can be found throughout

1616-616: A source of drinking water for 90% of San Joaquin Valley's residents. Nitrates have found their way into the aquifers around the San Joaquin Valley, affecting over 250,000 people in communities that are poor and rural. In 2006, the State Water Resources Board took samples from domestic wells in Tulare County; they found that 40% of 181 domestic wells had nitrate levels above the 10 mg/L legal limit. Though locals have typically used filters for their water,

1717-635: A strong history in Stockton. Filipino organizations in Stockton are reflected in various commercial buildings identified as Filipino. Filipinos fought for the U.S. against Japan in WWII, in exchange for favorable immigration status. Stockton has been an adjunct to the San Francisco Bay Area, which was a major military production and transit area during WWII. Filipino emigration to Stockton followed. Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park marks

1818-408: A three-year drought was prompting changes to the agriculture industry in the valley. Farmers began using complex irrigation systems and using treated waste water to feed crops, while many were switching from farming cotton to other commodities, chief among them, almonds. California has long been one of the nation's most important oil-producing states, and the San Joaquin Valley has long since eclipsed

1919-549: Is 72.7%. According to the United States Census Bureau 's American Community Survey , six San Joaquin Valley counties had the highest percentage of residents living below the federal poverty line in 2006 of any counties in California. The report also showed that the same six counties were among the 52 counties with the highest poverty rate in the United States . The median income for a household in

2020-700: Is a federally recognized tribe of Kitanemuk , Yokuts , and Chumash indigenous people of California . Their ancestral homeland is the southern San Joaquin Valley, San Emigdio Mountains , and Tehachapi Mountains . Today they live in Kern County, California , headquartered in Wasco and Bakersfield, California . The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California is a federally recognized tribe of indigenous people of California , Chukchansi or Foothills Yokuts , now located in Madera County in

2121-463: Is a variety of plant species located in the surrounding area of Camanche Reservoir. The vegetation is similar to what is found in Savannah woodland. More specifically it is characterized as a California oak woodland community. These plant communities thrive in environments with hot dry periods and periodic fires. The fires have been suppressed in present times due to human development and populations in

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2222-464: Is also a large amount of songbird species that live in the surrounding area near the reservoir. There are also a variety of mammalian species located on or near the reservoir. Near Camanche Reservoir small mammal species such as squirrels and rodents are abundant and can be seen from various recreation areas. Deer are also known to frequent the area near Camanche Reservoir. Predators such as bobcats exists near Lake Camanche but are rarely spotted. There

2323-536: Is important to maternal and child health and is another comparative indicator of community health. According to the California Department of Health Services, 37% of births in Merced County occurred with no or late prenatal care and the San Joaquin Valley average was 19.5% of births with no or late prenatal care. By comparison, the California average was 13.6% of births and the national average

2424-763: Is located in what is known as a Mediterranean Climate. Characteristics of the climate near Camanche Reservoir include relatively low annual rainfall, warm to hot summers, and cool mild winters. The majority of the annual precipitation is in the form of rain, and falls mainly during the winter months. The area has very high sun intensities during the summer months and relatively low humidity. The geology near Camanche Reservoir varies between different soil types and slope gradients. The soil ranges from sandy loams, loams, and rock lands. Loam soil types are typically sandy in texture and composition and also contain portions of silt and clay. They are typically made up of 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 20 percent clay. Sandy loams contain

2525-690: Is not state-maintained. The part east of unbuilt State Route 65 near Minkler is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System; the road east of Dunlap is the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, a Forest Service Byway. Other important highways in the valley include State Route 46 (SR 46) and State Route 41 (SR 41), which respectively link the California Central Coast with Bakersfield and Fresno; State Route 33 (SR 33), which runs south to north along

2626-562: The Environmental Protection Agency , meaning residents are exposed to air quality that is confirmed to be hazardous to human health. The region of the San Joaquin Valley has some of the richest soil that allows for the production of many crops.   Crops in this region include: grapes, oranges, cotton, vegetables and nuts. The plethora of crop land allows for the valley to benefit from the income of crop sales. About sixty percent of California's crops come from

2727-547: The Los Angeles Basin as the state's primary oil production region. Scattered oil wells on small oil fields are found throughout the region, and several enormous extraction facilities – most notably near Lost Hills and Taft , including the enormous Midway-Sunset Oil Field , the third-largest oil field in the United States – are veritable forests of pumps. Shell operated a major refinery in Bakersfield; it

2828-867: The Pacific Ocean . The somewhat larger southern portion is the Tulare Basin, an endorheic basin centered on Tulare Lake . Historically, Tulare Lake was fed by the Tule River , the Kings River, the Kaweah River , the White River and the Kern River , but much of this water has been diverted for agricultural uses and the watershed is mostly dry in its lower reaches. The San Joaquin Valley began to form about 66 million years ago during

2929-484: The Pardee Dam . Camanche reservoir typically fills to capacity prior to summer months. This occurs from the melting of snowpack during the months of May–July (melt flow season) which increase the amount of water flowing through the Mokelumne River. During summer months, Camanche Reservoir releases water continuously. This allows for constant reliable downstream irrigation. The recent drought in California has impacted

3030-672: The Union Pacific Railroad does not currently allow the San Joaquins trains to run on the highly congested rail route over Tehachapi Pass , which is the only route between Bakersfield and Los Angeles . Passengers between these towns must travel on Amtrak Thruway buses. The San Joaquin Valley is also the location of the planned initial operating segment of the California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) project, which will run 171 miles from Bakersfield in

3131-505: The War in Vietnam . These immigrants, the majority of whom are Hmong , Laotian , Cambodian , and Vietnamese , have largely settled in the communities of Stockton, Modesto, Merced , and Fresno . Hmongs, Laotians, and Cambodians are the largest communities of Southeast Asians in the San Joaquin Valley, and the valley has some of the largest populations of these groups in the nation. Fresno has

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3232-424: The ammonium nitrate that “accounts for more than half of the region’s PM2.5 on the area’s most polluted days.” Exacerbated by stagnant weather and the temperature drop of the cooler seasons, much of the air pollution becomes trapped beneath a layer of warmer air, resulting in a phenomenon known as temperature inversion and condensing the accumulation of pollutants within the valley. Population growth has caused

3333-472: The " Okies " of primarily English and Scots-Irish descent who migrated to California from the Midwest and South . Mennonite groups descended from Russian Germans settled in the areas of Reedley and Dinuba , as well as Lutheran and Catholic Volga Germans who settled in the broader Fresno area. The San Joaquin Valley has a large and exceptionally diverse Asian American population; primarily from

3434-448: The 1950s and 1980s, when nitrogen fertilizer use grew sixfold, nitrate concentrations in groundwater increased 2.5 times. Fertilizer runoffs contributes roughly 90% of all nitrate inputs to the alluvial groundwater system. Within agriculture, the two major factors are High-Intensity Crop Production and Large Dairy Herds. Because these communities are cut off from larger water distribution, they are dependent on wells, making groundwater

3535-503: The 1970s onward, landlords and large corporations have also hired undocumented immigrants . This has allowed them to increase their profits due to low overhead on wages. The San Joaquin Valley has—by California standards—an unusually large number of European, Middle Eastern, and Asian ethnicities in the heritage of its citizens. These communities are often quite large and, relative to Americans immigration patterns, quite eclectic: for example, there are more Azorean Portuguese in

3636-675: The 1990s and 2000s. The other, Castle Air Force Base , located near Atwater was closed during the Base Realignment and Closure of the 1990s. Although both are in Kern County, Edwards Air Force Base and China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station are located in the High Desert area of that county. The California real estate boom that began in the late 1990s has significantly changed the San Joaquin Valley. Once distinctly and fiercely independent of Los Angeles and San Francisco,

3737-561: The Bay Area's orbit as well. Bakersfield, traditionally a boom-bust oil town once described by urban scholar Joel Kotkin as an "American Abu Dhabi ," has seen a massive influx of former Los Angeles business owners and commuters, to the extent that gated communities containing million-dollar homes are going up on the city's outskirts. Wal-Mart , IKEA , Target , Amazon , CVS Pharmacy , Restoration Hardware , and other various large shipping firms have built huge distribution centers both in

3838-602: The California Parks Company. One campground is located on the north side of the lake and the other on the south side. The South Shore Campground includes two RV Parks - Monument RV Park and Miners RV Park. Group and Equestrian campsites are also available. Pardee and New Hogan lakes are nearby Lake Camnche campground. Therefore, it's perfect shortcut for visitors who are seeking mountain and forest setting in Grinding Rock State Park by taking

3939-779: The California coastal ranges ( Diablo and Temblor ) in the west to the Sierra Nevada in the east. The valley contains two large river systems, divided north and south. The northern portion of San Joaquin Valley is called the San Joaquin Basin: the watershed of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries including parts of the Kings River , all of which drain northwest into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and eventually out to

4040-662: The Camanche Recreation Area. These sites are popular for families and groups wanting to spend a day at the lake. Many of these sites offer immediate access to the lake's amenities. Scenic hiking and equestrian trails travel around the north and south shores. Each trail goes along rolling hills and through several oak groves that offer intermittent shade. A trail use permit is required and may be purchased at either gate. Tennis, basketball and volleyball courts are located on both shores as are playgrounds for children. There are over 500 campsites and 200 RV locations around

4141-603: The Kings County average of 1.1 beds per a thousand and the San Joaquin Valley average of 1.8 beds per a thousand were again less than the state average of 2.1 bed per a thousand. Consequently, the age adjusted death rate is significantly higher than the rest of California. In response the University of California with the University of California, Merced is exploring opening a research medical school specializing in rural care, in hopes that some graduates will settle in

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4242-810: The Mokelumne River Hatchery. These species are the Chinook salmon and the Steelhead trout. Camanche reservoir contains a variety of fish species which attracts many people who enjoy fishing. The reservoir has species of bass, trout, crappie, and catfish among other species. There are also a variety of bird species located near the reservoir. Birdwatching is a part of the recreation at Camanche Reservoir and self-guided bird walks are allowed as well as bird watching tours. Bird species include various duck species, Great Egrets, multiple woodpecker species, Turkey Vultures, and multiple sparrow species. There

4343-586: The Mokelumne River. After completion of the Camanche Dam in April 1964, the damage was limited to several thousand dollars. Early in 1964, the Camanche Dam's operation had further reduced spring flows and slightly increased in summer and fall flows below the dam. Since the completion of Camanche Dam, the downstream flow has remained relatively constant. Based on flow at Camanche Dam, the 50 percent exceedance flow peaks at about 700 cubic feet per second (cfs) during

4444-669: The North Shore Café and the South Shore Marina Grill for visitors to purchase food or drinks. Dogs are allowed at the reservoir for a small fee and must remain on leashes throughout the visit. San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley ( / ˌ s æ n hw ɑː ˈ k iː n / SAN whah- KEEN ; Spanish : Valle de San Joaquín ) is the southern half of California 's Central Valley . Famed as

4545-454: The San Joaquin Valley and provide better healthcare. Currently, the Latino and Mexican descendants are large percentage of the demographics in the San Joaquin Valley. Since not long after the onset of the bracero program during World War II , all but a minor percentage of the farmworkers in the region have been of Mexican ancestry. Ethnic and economic friction between Mexican-Americans and

4646-528: The San Joaquin Valley at the time of the 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau reported a population of 4,080,509. The racial composition of San Joaquin Valley was 1,428,978 (35.0%) Non-Hispanic White, 2,048,280 (50.2%) Hispanic or Latino, 310,557 (7.6%) Asian, 193,694 (4.7%) Black or African American, 40,911 (1.0%) American Indian and Alaska Native, and 13,000 (0.32%) Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. The educational attainment of high school graduate or higher

4747-542: The San Joaquin Valley during World War II, most of them going to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego to work in war-related industries. Many of those who stayed ended up in Bakersfield and Oildale , as the southern San Joaquin Valley became an important area of oil production after major Southern California oil fields such as Signal Hill began to dry up. Country music legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard came out of Bakersfield's honky-tonk scene and created

4848-865: The San Joaquin Valley has long suffered from some of the United States' worst air pollution . With a PM2.5 measure of 17 micrograms per cubic meter of air, the San Joaquin Valley’s air pollution readings exceed both California's Ambient Air Quality Standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter, and the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter. Some of the San Joaquin Valley’s sources of air pollution stem from vehicle emissions, agricultural practices, and crop and wildfires. The use of diesel and gasoline fueled vehicles produces an excess of nitrogen oxides ( NOx ), eventually forming nitric acid that reacts with ammonia gas from cow manure and urine to create

4949-504: The San Joaquin Valley is located in Hanford and includes a Doppler weather radar . Weather forecasts and climatological information for the San Joaquin Valley are available from its official website. The San Joaquin Valley was originally inhabited by the Yokuts and Miwok peoples . The first European to enter the valley was Pedro Fages in 1772. The Tejon Indian Tribe of California

5050-655: The San Joaquin Valley than in the Azores. Many groups are found in majorities in specific cities, and hardly anywhere else in the region. For example, Assyrians are concentrated in Turlock , Dutch in Ripon , and Croats in Delano . Kingsburg is famous for its distinctly Swedish air, having been founded by immigrants from that country. Ethnic groups found in a broader area are Portuguese , Germans , Armenians , Basques , and

5151-482: The San Joaquin Valley to rank with Los Angeles and Houston in most measures of air pollution. Only the Inland Empire region east of Los Angeles has worse overall air quality, and the San Joaquin Valley led the nation in 2004 in the number of days with quantities of ozone considered unhealthy by the Environmental Protection Agency . The San Joaquin Valley has been deemed an "extreme non-attainment zone" by

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5252-612: The San Joaquin Valley, only the Wilmington Oil Field in Los Angeles County has untapped reserves greater than 100,000,000 barrels (16,000,000 m ), while six fields in the San Joaquin Valley (Midway-Sunset, Kern River , South Belridge , Elk Hills , Cymric , and Lost Hills ) each have reserves exceeding 100,000,000 barrels (16,000,000 m ) of oil. The isolation and vastness of the San Joaquin Valley, as well as its poverty and need for jobs, have led

5353-447: The San Joaquin Valley. Aside from the collapse of median home values, persistent crime, unemployment and poverty were common factors between Bakersfield , Fresno , Merced , Modesto and Stockton – every major city of the San Joaquin Valley. Insufficient access to medicine in the United States, in particular prenatal and preventive care, is typified by both rural and inner city communities. Early and adequate access to prenatal care

5454-483: The San Joaquin Valley. The Santa Rosa Rancheria belongs to the federally recognized Tachi Yokuts tribe and is located 4.5 miles (7.24 km) southeast of Lemoore, California , in the San Joaquin Valley. Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have further strained both the San Joaquin Valley's and the Sacramento Valley's water security . The total population of the eight counties comprising

5555-437: The United States and international service to Mexico. Additionally, there are three nonprimary airports in the region: Meadows Field Airport near Bakersfield , Stockton Metropolitan Airport and Merced Municipal Airport . The San Joaquins service handles passenger traffic between Bakersfield and Stockton with extensions to either Sacramento or Oakland . Amtrak rail service does not continue south of Bakersfield, as

5656-635: The Woodbridge Irrigation District (WID). Before the East Bay Municipal Utility District built Camanche Dam, a small town called Camanche existed there in the early 1960s. During the Gold Rush , the area in today's West Calaveras south of the Mokelumne River claimed towns called Poverty Bar , Clay's Bar, Winters Bar and Limerick, the latter after the many Irish immigrants who settled there. In

5757-401: The age of 16, and there is a $ 7.75 fishing fee. Boat rentals are also available at the reservoir, as well as 8-lane boat launches at each shore. Any boat entering the reservoir is subject to inspection to help prevent the spread of invasive Quagga Muscles. An amphitheater is also located at the reservoir which has various events. Stores are located at each marina for any food needs. There is also

5858-464: The area has seen increasing exurban development as the cost of living forces young families and small businesses further and further away from the coastal urban cores. Stockton, Modesto, Tracy (as well as the nearby city of Mountain House ), Manteca, and Los Banos are increasingly dominated by commuters to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and the small farming towns to the south are finding themselves in

5959-499: The area the ground water sources typically do not exceed depths of 300 feet and rarely produce water near 600 feet. With the creation of several reservoirs along the Mokelumne River many populations of fish species were impacted. Because of this the Mokelumne River Hatchery was created down river of the Camanche Reservoir. This hatchery was built in 1963 to help recover the fish spawning levels that traditionally existed in

6060-517: The dam began in August 1962. Within one year, on Dec 18, the valves were closed for the first time, and the huge reservoir begins to fill. Camanche dam, a zoned, grave-fill dam with an impervious core, rise 168 feet above streamed. It's 2,640 feet long, and 34.5 feet wide at the crest. Below it, are the East Bay fish facilities, including the largest artificial salmon spawning channel in the world, and

6161-481: The early 1960s. The town of Camanche was thus submerged. The local news paper in 1964 carried news that " Camanche will inundate many memories", and it stated that the $ 35 million Dam is vital to the East Bay Municipal utility District's $ 283 million water project. To make way for a huge dam and its large reservoir, the town had to go along with the 40 or 50 families who called Camanche home. Construction of

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6262-409: The early Paleocene era. Broad fluctuations in the sea level caused various areas of the valley to be flooded with ocean water for the next 60 million years. About 5 million years ago, the marine outlets began to close due to uplift of the coastal ranges and the deposition of sediment in the valley. Starting 2 million years ago, a series of glacial episodes periodically caused much of the valley to become

6363-510: The filters need to be installed correctly and replaced frequently, which may not be economically feasible for the residents in Orosi. Table 2 on page 20 from Pacific Institute 's "The Human Costs of Nitrate-contaminated Drinking Water in the San Joaquin Valley" indicates the water systems that were contaminated with nitrates over the legal limit, the percentage of the population affected that are non-white and that are below or near poverty-level, and

6464-532: The first major infestation of the boll weevil .) When the onset of the Great Depression created a national banking crisis, family farmers—usually heavily in debt—often had their mortgages foreclosed by banks desperate to shore up their balance sheets. In response, many farmers loaded their families and portable possessions into their automobiles and drove west. Many of the Okies and Arkies left

6565-429: The first of its kind in California. The huge dam will provide 140 billions gallons of storage on Mokelumne river; its flood control factor requested by the federal government are designed to protect the rich croplands in the lower river area. Prior to the construction of Camanche Dam, acid mine drainage from a closed copper mine, the Penn Mine northwest of Valley Springs , heavily polluted the Mokelumne River. EBMUD and

6666-441: The height of the irrigation season (June) and declines to between 200 and 300 cfs during the winter. The 10 percent exceedance flow (high flow) ranges between 1,000 cfs (September) and 2,700 cfs (May), with the flow about 2,000 cfs from January through May. The 90 percent exceedance flow (low flow) only ranges between about 100 and 300 cfs throughout the year; the highest flows occur from May through August because of water releases to

6767-523: The lake's capacity over 7,700 acres of water and 56 miles of shoreline at full pool, the reservoir leased to Camanche Regional Park District by the EBMUD to develop for recreation. There are five separate campground areas which include North Shore Campground, Boat-in Campground, South-Shore Campground, Group Campgrounds and Equestrian Campground. Each campground has their own activities such as fishing, boating, camping, lodging, etc. are available for visitors. The two campgrounds at Lake Camanche are operated by

6868-431: The land in this area. However, the unhealthy air levels that arise from smog lead to the destruction of many crops. According to the California Air Resources Board the San Joaquin Valley loses about one billion dollars every year due to the pollution in the air destroying these crops. Furthermore, as crops and vegetation die off from the air and water quality, farmers sometimes turn to burning to dispose of them. Due to

6969-484: The largest U.S. city without an Interstate highway), while SR 99 runs through them. Both highways then merge at the southern end of valley en route to Los Angeles. When the Interstate Highway System was created in the 1950s, the decision was made to build I-5 as an entirely then-new freeway bypass instead of upgrading the then-existing U.S. 99 . Since then, state and federal representatives have pushed to convert SR 99 to an Interstate, although this cannot occur until all of

7070-415: The layout and shape of the surrounding land. The communities of Camanche, Lancha Plana , and Poverty Bar were inundated by the creation of this reservoir. The region was originally settled during the gold rush into three separate towns. As the gold rush slowed, these towns began to decrease in population. Settlers from Iowa named the largest remaining town “Camanche” after a town in Iowa. Camanche remained

7171-419: The location of the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. The small farming community was founded in 1908 by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth , Professor William Payne, William Peck, a minister, John W. Palmer, a miner, and Harry A. Mitchell, a real estate agent, dedicated to improving the economic and social status of African Americans. Uncontrollable circumstances, including

7272-404: The lowest water level was August, 2015 with the water volume in the reservoir decreasing to 81,940 AF, approximately 19.6% of the reservoirs maximum capacity. Water levels have been increasing through the winter months of 2015-2016 reaching 240,340 AF during April, 2016. Ground water sources surrounding the reservoir typically flow in similar patterns to the surface streams. Due to the geology of

7373-534: The mid-1860s, as camps and settlements dwindled, pioneers from Iowa named their most significant town Camanche, after the Iowa town of the same name–and misspelled the name of the Native American tribe (Comanche) in the same way. Though Camanche survived through the decades, few residents were left by the time the town was emptied so that the East Bay Municipal Utility District could build a dam and reservoir in

7474-557: The mountains through Clovis and many smaller communities. This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System. State Route 180 is a state highway which runs through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley from Mendota through Fresno to Kings Canyon National Park. A short piece near the eastern end, through the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park,

7575-514: The poor air quality. The elderly population is also vulnerable to air pollution and could even suffer from heart attacks due to decreased lung functions.   Reports state that the residents in this community suffer from high rates of asthma and experience many related symptoms. The American Lung Association attributes the noxious gas in the San Joaquin Valley to roughly 1,300 premature deaths every year, including public impacts such as lost days of school or work and emergency room visits, and

7676-669: The portions of SR 99 between I-5 and the U.S. 50 junction in Sacramento are upgraded to Interstate standards . State Route 58 (SR 58), which is a freeway in Bakersfield and along most of its route until its terminus in Barstow , is an extremely important and very heavily traveled route for truckers from the valley and the Bay Area who want to cross the Sierra Nevada and leave California (by way of Interstate 15 or Interstate 40 ) without having to climb Donner Pass or brave

7777-399: The potential to damage aqueducts, roads, bridges, and flood-control structures. In the long term, the subsidence caused by extracting groundwater could irreversibly reduce the underground aquifer's water storage capacity, although immediate and short term needs are given higher priority and sense of urgency than long term sustainability. The National Weather Service Forecast Office for

7878-427: The recreation features of Camanche Reservoir, including close to 800 campsites. The North Shore also allows RV camping as well as tent camping. There is a North Shore Marina Store located here including a small café. Camanche Reservoir South Shore also hosts a large portion of Lake Camanche's recreation features and amenities. The South Shore includes a store located in the middle of the recreation area. It also contains

7979-516: The regions of Punjab in India and Pakistan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia, especially Laos and Cambodia. Punjabi Sikh Americans have immigrated to the San Joaquin Valley since the early 1900s and 1910s, and remain a very large presence in the area. To this day, Punjabi is the third most spoken language in the San Joaquin Valley region, after English and Spanish, and the first Sikh Gurdwara

8080-432: The reservoir. Many campsites include facilities such as bathrooms, tables, heated showers, laundry facilities and barbeques. These sites are available year-round. Cottage and motel rooms are also available for those who do not want stay in tents. Camanche Reservoir is known for bass and trout fishing and has more than 50,000 pounds of trout stocked in the reservoir each year. State fishing licenses are required for anyone over

8181-434: The river. The fish hatchery was remodeled and updated in 2002. This remodeling involved enlarging the rearing space located at the site. This was done to allow for the promotion of fish health and to increase the survival rates of the fish raised at the site. These improvements to the facility have allowed for the returning salmon to increase by 3,028 during the period of 1998-2003. There are two main species that are raised at

8282-487: The rural population of states such as Kansas , Texas , Oklahoma , and Arkansas left at this time, selling their land and moving to Chicago , Kansas City , Detroit , and fast-growing Los Angeles . Those who remained experienced continuing deterioration of conditions, which reached their nadir during the drought that began in the late 1920s and created the infamous Dust Bowl . (Small cotton farmers in states such as Mississippi and Alabama suffered similar problems from

8383-498: The second-largest Hmong population of any American metropolitan area after Minneapolis–Saint Paul , and Stockton is believed to have the largest percentage of Cambodian Americans of any major American metropolitan area. Merced , Modesto, Fresno, Visalia , and Stockton have some of the largest populations of Laotian Americans in the United States. The Filipino American population is concentrated in Delano and Lathrop . Filipinos have

8484-623: The south to Merced in the north. Freight service is provided by BNSF Railway , Union Pacific Railroad and San Joaquin Valley Railroad . The valley is served by the Western Area Power Administration . Western owns and operates its own equipment here and so performs its own weed management . Rotating and mixing herbicide modes of action are employed to preserve efficacy . Hemmed in by mountains and rarely having strong winds to disperse smog ,

8585-451: The southern end of the valley and northern part of the valley because of quick access to major interstates and low local wages. Further integration with the rest of the state is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 99 (SR 99) each run nearly the entire length of the San Joaquin Valley. I-5 runs in the western part of the valley, bypassing the major population centers (including Fresno, currently

8686-538: The state to build numerous prisons in the area. The most notable of these is Corcoran , whose inmates have included Charles Manson and Juan Corona . Other correctional facilities in the valley are at Avenal , Chowchilla , Tracy , Delano , Coalinga , and Wasco . The only significant military base in the region is Naval Air Station Lemoore , a vast air base located 25 kilometres (16 mi) WSW of Hanford . Unlike many of California's other military installations, NAS Lemoore's operational importance has increased in

8787-416: The state's Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board attempted to solve the flow of acid mine drainage into the reservoir and river, but their efforts led higher concentrations of acid mine drainage and continued fish kills in the Mokelumne. After a series of lawsuits, EBMUD, and the state funded a $ 10 million remediation of the site. It was completed in 1999. In the project of building Camanche Dam,

8888-689: The surplus of crop burning to clear land. more air pollution is created, adding to the severity of the San Joaquin Valley's already poor air quality. The San Joaquin Valley suffers from extremely high ozone levels that tend to increase even more on hot days. Kids are more inclined to play outdoors during summer when the weather is warmer. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency this could lead to health issues such as asthma because these children are not fully developed yet. Roughly one in six children in this region suffer from asthma due to

8989-431: The surrounding area. The area is dominated by oak species, like the valley oak and blue oak. These species tend to grow in a spread fashion opposed to clumping together. There are a variety of plant species that grow in the understory of the oak trees. These plant species include various grasses, herbs, and shrubs. Many of these plants are native to California but there are many introduced grasses as well. Camanche Reservoir

9090-536: The traffic congestion of Los Angeles . Proposals have also been made to designate this highway as a western extension of I-40 once the entirety of the route between Mojave and Barstow has been upgraded to a freeway. This would provide an Interstate connection for Bakersfield, currently the second-largest U.S. city without an Interstate. The most recent additions to this system are State Routes 168 and 180. Route 168 begins in Fresno on Route 180 linking to Huntington Lake in

9191-471: The two RV parks which offer full hook-ups, (water, electric, and sewer) and an amphitheater where numerous events are held. The lake is fed by the headwaters of the Mokelumne River , including tributaries such as Rabbit Creek and Camanche Creek. The Camanche Reservoir is fed primarily from the Mokelumne River. The water entering Camanche Reservoir is influenced by the amount of water released from

9292-414: The valley was $ 46,713. The poverty rate for individuals below the poverty level is 23.7%. In 2005 U.S. congressional researchers compared the economically distressed Valley to the traditionally impoverished Appalachia region, resulting in the appellation New Appalachia . In 2011 Forbes, after taking the fluctuation of median home values, five of the top twenty "most miserable cities" were located in

9393-575: The valley's predominantly white farming elite manifested itself most notably during the 1960s and 1970s, when the United Farm Workers , led by César Chávez , went on numerous strikes and called for boycotts of table grapes. The UFW generated enormous sympathy throughout the United States, even managing to terminate several agricultural mechanization projects at the United States Department of Agriculture . However, from

9494-582: The valley's western rim and provides a connection to Ventura and Santa Barbara over the Santa Ynez Mountains ; and State Route 152 (SR 152), an important commuter route linking Silicon Valley with its fast-growing exurbs such as Los Banos . The busiest airport in San Joaquin Valley is the Fresno Yosemite International Airport , which offers scheduled passenger flights to several major airline hubs in

9595-454: The water levels in the Camanche Reservoir. The reservoir has an ability to hold 417,120 acre feet (AF) of water at maximum capacity. During the recent drought experienced in California, the water levels have been declining from the period of 2011 to 2015. This is due to the decreased amount of precipitation and snowpack melt water received in the Mokelumne River. The drought caused the water levels to reach low levels in late 2015. The month showing

9696-628: The wildlife as well. In August 2015, the Director of the California Department of Water Resources stated, "Because of increased pumping, groundwater levels are reaching record lows—up to 100 feet lower than previous records." Research from NASA shows that parts of the San Joaquin Valley sank as much as 8 inches (0.20 m) in a four-month period, and land near Corcoran sank 13 inches (0.33 m) in 8 months. The sinking has destroyed thousands of groundwater well casings and has

9797-523: Was 10% of births Likewise, the counties of the San Joaquin Valley have relatively high ratios of population to physicians, suggesting relatively low access, with the highest in Kings County at 1,027 patients per a physician, the San Joaquin Valley average at approximately 671 patients per a physician and the California average of 400 patients per a physician. Another measure of access is licensed acute care hospital beds per thousand population, where

9898-399: Was founded in Stockton in 1915. Following abolition of immigration restrictions from Asia in the 1960s and 1970s, large numbers of Pakistanis and Indians from Punjab, Gujarat, and Southern India have settled in these valley communities including Modesto , Livingston , Fresno , Stockton , and Lodi . In addition, the late 1970s and '80s saw an influx of immigrants from Indochina following

9999-525: Was lost to urban development in the San Joaquin Valley. Although there have been some token efforts at confronting the problems of (sub) urban sprawl , the politically conservative climate of the Valley generally prefers traditional suburban sprawl type of growth such as low density housing and strip malls anchored by so-called big box stores and opposes measures such as "Smart Growth", "Transit Oriented Development", "High Density Housing", and increased public transit such as light and commuter rail. By August 2014,

10100-530: Was named after the former town of Camanche that now lies beneath its waters. The lake has also been called Camanche Lake and Lake Camanche . Camanche Reservoir has recreation areas throughout the lake, which are mainly located on the North and South shores. Camanche Reservoir North Shore is located in Amador County. It contains a population of approximately 1,000 people. The North Shore hosts some of

10201-537: Was sold in 2005 to Flying J , a Salt Lake -based firm that operates truck stops and refineries. Flying J's bankruptcy in 2009 resulted in the refinery being shut down. The oil and gas fields in Kern County are receiving increased attention since the July 2009 announcement by Occidental Petroleum of significant discovery of oil and gas reserves Even prior to this discovery the region retains more oil reserves than any other part of California. Of California fields outside of

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