Old River (California)

{{about|the waterway in California|the unincorporated community|Old River, California}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Old River

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| image = SanJoaquinOldRiver.jpg

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| image_caption = Old River (below) at upper confluence with San Joaquin River near Tracy

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| pushpin_map = United States Sacramento Delta#California#USA

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| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United States

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = California

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| source1_location = San Joaquin River Lathrop

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|37|48|29|N|121|19|38|W}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| mouth_location = San Joaquin River near Terminous

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|38|04|21|N|121|34|15|W|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = Sea level

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| length = {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}}

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The Old River is a tidal distributary of the San Joaquin River that flows for about {{convert|40|mi|km}} through the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California. The Old River was once the main channel of the San Joaquin until navigation (Stockton Deepwater Shipping Channel) and flood control projects in the late 19th and 20th century fixed the San Joaquin to its present course past Stockton. It diverges from the San Joaquin near Tracy, about {{convert|38|mi|km}} upstream from Antioch, and first runs west towards Mountain House, then north to rejoin the San Joaquin {{convert|13|mi|km}} above Antioch. The river is lined with levees that prevent flooding of the adjacent Delta islands, many of which lie below sea level. The Middle River runs east of and roughly parallel to Old River. False River diverges from Old River about a mile (1.6 km) above the Old River's mouth and runs westward to join the San Joaquin at a point closer to Antioch. Part of the Old River forms the boundary between San Joaquin County on the east and Contra Costa County to the west.

About halfway along its course the Old River passes by the Clifton Court Forebay, where water is pumped from the Delta to support California's two primary water supply systems, the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. Because both projects derive their sources from the Sacramento River further north, pumping results in a reverse flow in the Old River as water flowing through the Delta Cross Channel is drawn southward through the Delta and up the Old River.{{cite web|url=http://restorethedelta.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/A-Century-of-Delta-Salt-Water-Barriers-2015-06-05.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Century of Salt Water Barriers in the Delta |website=Restorethedelta.org |access-date=2016-08-19}} (Naturally, the Old River would have flowed in a northerly direction). During dry summers, this often results in saltwater intrusion from San Francisco Bay. The reverse flow also confuses migrating salmon in the San Joaquin River which may have contributed to the decline of the species in the 20th century.{{cite web|url=http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/sdb/tbp/web_pg/tempbar.cfm |title=Temporary Barriers Project Information |website=Baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov |access-date=2016-08-19}} Since the 1960s, the California Department of Water Resources has maintained temporary barrier dams to control the flow of water, a system which has improved water quality and circulation.{{cite web|url=http://www.gfredlee.com/SJR-Delta/Delta-WQ-IssuesRpt.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - Delta-WQ-IssuesRpt.doc |website=Gfredlee.com |format=PDF |access-date=2016-08-19}} The Head of Old River barrier is routinely installed during spring at the point where the Old River diverges from the San Joaquin, in order to prevent outmigrating young salmon from entering the longer, winding Old River where they are less likely to survive the journey to the sea.{{cite web|url=http://www.baydeltalive.com/assets/eec462358f80cc8d9910bfda974fa6f4/application/pdf/27_CADWR.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Non-Physical Barrier for Young Salmon |website=Baydeltalive.com |access-date=2016-08-19}}

A pumping station on Old River east of Discovery Bay provides fresh water to Los Vaqueros Reservoir via pipeline.

The Peripheral Canal project, proposed since the 1960s would have bypassed diverted water flows around the Delta and eliminated the reverse flow in the Old River. However, the canal was never built due to environmental concerns for the Delta region.

On the right bank, the Old River borders Berts Island, Union Island, Victoria Island, Woodward Island, Bacon Island, and Mandeville Island. On the left it borders Stewart Tract, Coney Island, Widdows Island, Byron Tract, Orwood Tract, Palm Tract, Holland Tract, Little Mandeville Island, Quimby Island, and Webb Tract. The Old River also skirts the Franks Tract State Recreation Area, a former Delta island that is now submerged and forms a lake.{{cite map

|publisher=ACME Mapper

|title=USGS Topo Maps for United States

|cartography=United States Geological Survey

|access-date=2016-04-04

|url=http://mapper.acme.com/}}

The Old River ranges from {{convert|5|to|10|ft|m}} deep{{cite web|url=http://ca.usharbors.com/harbor-guide/orwood-old-river |title=Orwood, Old River | California |website=Ca.usharbors.com |access-date=2016-08-19}} and from {{convert|150|to|1600|ft|m}} wide.

The U.S. Geological Survey operates five stream gauges on the Old River.{{cite web|url=http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/monthly?referred_module=sw&search_station_nm=old%20river&search_station_nm_match_type=beginning&site_tp_cd=OC&site_tp_cd=OC-CO&site_tp_cd=ES&site_tp_cd=LK&site_tp_cd=ST&site_tp_cd=ST-CA&site_tp_cd=ST-DCH&site_tp_cd=ST-TS&format=station_list&group_key=NONE&list_of_search_criteria=search_station_nm%2Csite_tp_cd%2Crealtime_parameter_selection |title=USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Monthly Statistics |website=Nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov |access-date=2016-08-19}} Measured at Bacon Island, the Old River had an average reverse flow of {{convert|1823.6|cuft/s|m3/s}} between 2006 and 2014.{{cite web|url=http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/monthly/?referred_module=sw&site_no=11313405&por_11313405_5=2209007,72137,5,1987-01,2014-09&format=html_table&date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&rdb_compression=file&submitted_form=parameter_selection_list |title=USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Monthly Statistics |website=Nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov |access-date=2016-08-19}}