Buena Vista Slough facts for kids
The Buena Vista Slough was a natural waterway in California. It acted like a special river that carried water from two lakes, Buena Vista Lake and Kern Lake, into a much larger lake called Tulare Lake.
Today, this natural flow has changed. Engineers built canals to move the water for farming. This system is now part of the Outlet Canal of the Central Valley Project, a big plan to manage water in California.
A Look Back: How Water Flowed
In the past, when Buena Vista Lake had too much water, it would overflow. This extra water would first fill up Kern Lake. When both lakes were full, the water would then flow out through the Buena Vista Slough.
This slough started near where the town of Tupman is today. It joined with a branch of the Kern River that also flowed towards the San Joaquin River. From there, the slough moved northwest through marshy lands and another lake called Goose Lake. Finally, it emptied into Tulare Lake.
Changes Over Time
During the late 1800s, people started building many canals. These canals were made to take water from the slough and nearby rivers. The water was then used to help farms grow crops in the dry San Joaquin Valley.
However, taking so much water caused problems for people living downstream. They depended on that water too. This led to a famous court case called Lux v. Haggin. This lawsuit was all about who had the right to use the water from these natural waterways. It helped shape how water is managed in California even today.
