The second longest river in California, the San Joaquin River, once was almost dead. Nearly 95% of the water was diverted for irrigation. Over 60 miles of the river was left dry, killing salmon and degrading water quality for nearly two-thirds of Californians. The San Joaquin River feeds the San Francisco Bay-Delta, the largest estuary on the West Coast and the source of drinking water for more than 22 million Californians.
Water started flowing again on October 1, 2009, when water from Friant Dam was released. In 2006, the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement was reached. The Settlement has two goals: restoration and water management. Goals of the restoration program include rebuilding and maintaining fish populations in the main stem of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River. The restoration plan includes both salmon and other fish. Water management includes reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result form the interim flows and restoration flows provided for in the Settlement. The flow of the San Joaquin River will be fully restored no later than January 1, 2014.
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