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More history of the Major Delta Waterways
We thought we'd scan some of the older books
page by page and also scan the sketches from the
books so you could get
a good picture of what the Sacramento River, Steamboat Slough and
San
Joaquin River looked like when California first became a state.
Note that the river names changed, depending on who did the map and
when:
1871_sacramento_river_steamboat_slough_san_joaquin_descriptions.pdf |
Sacramento
River from about Rio Vista to
above Walnut Grove was called "Old River", Main Stem Sacramento and just
Sacramento River. "Old River" was used for the Sacramento River
until at least 1919, when the county of Sacramento made substantial
improvements to the roads in the Delta where modern-day St. Route 160 is
located.
Steamboat Slough
was called "Middle Fork" (of the Sacramento River), "West
Branch", "Sacramento River",
and most logically "Steamboat Slough" because it was the preferred route
for steamship passage. Sutter Slough also connected Steamboat
Slough midway with the upper Main Sacramento. Steamboat Slough was
the main or preferred waterway route for ship passage between San
Francisco and Sacramento, and the Pony Express used Steamboat Slough
until roads were improved.
Cache Creek
became Cache Slough and later a portion of the Sacramento Ship Channel.
Miner's Slough also ran along Cache Creek then curved around Ryer
Island. Miner's Slough or Cache Creek were also referred to as the
west fork of the Sacramento River in the early 1850's. Cache
Creek/Slough is now a part of the "Yolo Bypass" flood control system.
San Joaquin River
also split into east, west and middle forks. Later, a section of
the San Joaquin River became referred to as "Old River" which causes
confusion for those unaware of true Delta history.
CLICK on each map or sketch to see the full size!
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Sketch above is from an 1850 map and the
written description as part of the official survey and
report to Congress indicates the "Middle Fork" very soon thereafter was
named "Steamboat Slough"
Sketch above was made in the 1860's to be
published in a book about California sites. The
steamboat is leaving Steamboat Slough and entering the Sacramento River.
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Remember to click (or double-click) on any
of these graphics to see the full size! The above is from a HUGE
map found on a county wall and it lists all the waterway names in the
Delta at 1891, and is the official map of California at that time.
Map clearly indicates the locations of "Old River" Sacramento, Steamboat
Slough, and the different branches of the San Joaquin River.
Above is a section of an official survey
of the area, and at the time of the survey the Sacramento River is
labeled as we know it today, even though other maps call it "Old River".
The "Middle Fork" later becomes Steamboat Slough. This map also
provides that approximate area of "hogsback shoal", an important
location for those who did not want to run aground in low tides!
1853railroadsurveyreport.pdf
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"Old River" part of the Sacramento River
and the "West Branch" of
the Sacramento River are note above. Also note the island names in
the area...Tyler Island became Grand Island. Priest and Sutter
Islands
became Ryer Island. Note that Brannan Island and Andrus Island
were seperated by a waterway or "slough".
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