Sacramento River

The Sacramento River is Northern California’s largest river, flowing south through the Sacramento Valley into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

Sacramento Valley: A broad agricultural valley in Northern California drained primarily by the Sacramento River. The river runs south through this valley before reaching the Delta.
Water rights in California: The legal rules and entitlements governing the diversion and use of surface water in California. Diversions from the Sacramento River are allocated under these rules.
Klamath Mountains: A rugged mountain region of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon containing the headwaters of several rivers. The Sacramento River’s northern tributaries rise in this mountain region.
Shasta Lake: A large reservoir on the upper Sacramento River created by Shasta Dam. Its storage changes the timing and temperature of water released downstream.
Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta: A network of waterways and islands where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meet before reaching San Francisco Bay. The Sacramento River’s downstream waters disperse through this estuary.
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge: A chain of protected riparian and wetland lands along the Sacramento River in the Central Valley. Its habitat preserves river corridors amid extensive agricultural development.
Sierra Nevada: A mountain range in eastern California that supplies much of the state’s snowmelt and river flow. Snowmelt from its western slopes feeds important Sacramento River tributaries.
Keswick Dam: A dam on the Sacramento River below Shasta Dam that regulates releases into the lower river. Its operations directly shape downstream flows and water temperatures.
Shasta Dam: A concrete arch-gravity dam on the Sacramento River that forms Shasta Lake. It stores river water and regulates downstream releases.
Winter-run Chinook salmon: A federally endangered Chinook salmon population that spawns in the upper Sacramento River. Cold water released from Shasta Dam supports its unusual summer spawning season.

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San Joaquin RiverCompared with: Unlike the San Joaquin, it generally carries greater flows and enters the Delta from the north.