Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta Basin
Source: NASA
Published: September 22, 2009, 4:29 pm
Updated: March 22, 2012, 2:32 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Mark McGinley
Lithology and Stratigraphy
The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta basin subsection contains late Quaternary alluvium. Most of the alluvium is from granitic rock sources, but some is from volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock sources.
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Subsection 262Am, Lodi area (Patsy Miles). This subsection is in a low area of inorganic sediments along the eastern edge of the delta area of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The climate is hot and subhumid. MLRA 17e.
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Geomorphology
This subsection is a nearly level plain. It is the deltas of the Cosumnes, Mokelumne, and Calaveras Rivers and basin floor with basin-fill from the overflow of these and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The subsection elevation range is from sea-level to about 50 feet. Fluvial erosion and deposition are the main geomorphic processes.
Soils
The soils are mostly Aquic Xerofluvents; Pelloxererts; Cumulic and Duric Haplaquolls; Argic Durixerolls; Typic Durixerolls; and Chromoxererts. The soils are mostly somewhat poorly to poorly drained, and some are moderately well drained. Soil temperature regimes are thermic, and soil moisture regimes are mostly aquic and xeric.
Vegetation
The predominant natural plant communities are Needlegrass grasslands, Emergent aquatic communities in low areas along the edge to the delta, and Fremont cottonwood series along streams.
Characteristic series by lifeform include:
Grasslands: California annual grassland series, Purple needlegrass series.
Wetlands: Bulrush series, Bulrush - cattail series, Cattail series, Ditch-grass series, Sedge series.
Forests and woodlands: Fremont cottonwood series, Mixed willow series.
Climate
The mean annual precipitation is about 16 to 18 inches. It is practically all rain. Mean annual temperature is about 59° to 62° F. The mean freeze-free period is about 250 to 275 days.
Surface Water
Streams in this subsection drain to the delta area of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. All but the larger streams are generally dry during the summer. There are no lakes.
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Citation
U.S. Forest Service (Lead Author);USFS (Content Source);Mark McGinley (Topic Editor) "Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta Basin". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 22, 2009; Last revised Date March 22, 2012; Retrieved June 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Delta_Basins_(Bailey)>
The Author
Established in 1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the mission of the Forest Service— "to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." National forests and grasslands encompass 193 million acres of land, which is an area equivalent to the size of ... (Full Bio)
Lithology and Stratigraphy
The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta basin subsection contains late Quaternary alluvium. Most of the alluvium is from granitic rock sources, but some is from volcanic, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock sources.
|
Subsection 262Am, Lodi area (Patsy Miles). This subsection is in a low area of inorganic sediments along the eastern edge of the delta area of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The climate is hot and subhumid. MLRA 17e.
|
Geomorphology
This subsection is a nearly level plain. It is the deltas of the Cosumnes, Mokelumne, and Calaveras Rivers and basin floor with basin-fill from the overflow of these and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The subsection elevation range is from sea-level to about 50 feet. Fluvial erosion and deposition are the main geomorphic processes.
Soils
The soils are mostly Aquic Xerofluvents; Pelloxererts; Cumulic and Duric Haplaquolls; Argic Durixerolls; Typic Durixerolls; and Chromoxererts. The soils are mostly somewhat poorly to poorly drained, and some are moderately well drained. Soil temperature regimes are thermic, and soil moisture regimes are mostly aquic and xeric.
Vegetation
The predominant natural plant communities are Needlegrass grasslands, Emergent aquatic communities in low areas along the edge to the delta, and Fremont cottonwood series along streams.
Characteristic series by lifeform include:
Grasslands: California annual grassland series, Purple needlegrass series.
Wetlands: Bulrush series, Bulrush - cattail series, Cattail series, Ditch-grass series, Sedge series.
Forests and woodlands: Fremont cottonwood series, Mixed willow series.
Climate
The mean annual precipitation is about 16 to 18 inches. It is practically all rain. Mean annual temperature is about 59° to 62° F. The mean freeze-free period is about 250 to 275 days.
Surface Water
Streams in this subsection drain to the delta area of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. All but the larger streams are generally dry during the summer. There are no lakes.
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