Aquafornia’s Water Word(s) of the Week from sister site Aquapedia is San Joaquin River and San Joaquin River Restoration Program, which is also the focus of a Water Education Foundation tour Nov. 7-8.

An excerpt from Aquapedia’s comprehensive entry includes the following: “The San Joaquin River, which helps drain California’s Central Valley, has been negatively impacted by construction of dams, inadequate streamflows and poor water quality. Formerly home to the nation’s largest spring-run of Chinook salmon, the river was dammed in 1942 to provide water to farms and cities in the San Joaquin Valley. In the 1980s, environmental organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council filed suit to restore water flows to a 60-mile dry stretch of river and to boost the dwindling salmon populations. After 18 years, the lawsuit was settled in 2006. The San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement’s goals were to refill the 60-miles of dry river bed and salmon runs while minimizing water supply impacts to farmers. Congressional action set the plan in motion.”

To dig deeper into the issues, Aquapedia offers a number of additional resources, including the Foundation’s “Layperson’s Guide to the Central Valley Project,” the publication titled “A Briefing on the San Joaquin River Restoration Program” and a San Joaquin River Restoration Program map.

To receive breaking daily news on the San Joaquin River and San Joaquin River Restoration Program, go to the related page on Aquapedia and click on “Search This Topic on Aquafornia” for the latest information.