The ecology of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5354931· OSTI ID:5354931

Herbold, B.; Moyle, P. B. ^[1]

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1. California Univ., Davis, CA (USA). Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology

This report describes an ecosystem significantly different from other delta ecosystems in North America. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is one of the 60 largest river deltas in the world and is the largest river delta on the west coast. As the hub of California's water system, the delta is of immense municipal, agricultural, and industrial importance. The amount of freshwater that flows through the delta controls the delta's productivity and regulates the life cycles of many of its organisms. The vast estuary of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers is one of the most highly modified and intensively managed estuaries in the world. Biological processes in the delta are obscured by the temporal dynamics of the system. Many of the most significant alterations, such as leveeing, diking, and agricultural practices, are not now recognized as such by most citizens, making conservation and protection of the delta difficult. 308 refs., 43 figs., 11 tabs.

• Research Organization: Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC (USA); California Univ., Davis, CA (USA). Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
• Sponsoring Organization: DOI
• OSTI ID: 5354931
• Report Number(s): BR-85(7.22); ON: DE90003524
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
RIVER DELTAS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
AMPHIBIANS
BIRDS
CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITIES
FISHES
GEOLOGY
HABITAT
LAND USE
MAMMALS
PHYTOPLANKTON
REPTILES
SEDIMENTS
SOILS
WATER QUALITY
ZOOPLANKTON
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COASTAL REGIONS
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IX
NORTH AMERICA
PLANKTON
USA
VERTEBRATES
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)