Chowchilla River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chowchilla River |
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The Chowchilla River below Buchanan Dam in Madera County, California.
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 Location of the mouth of the Chowchilla River in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Counties | Merced, Madera, Mariposa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sierra Nevada Range confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of the Chowchilla River, Mariposa, California 37°19′40″N 119°49′51″W / 37.32778°N 119.83083°W |
| River mouth | San Joaquin River On border of Merced County and Madera County, California 131 ft (40 m) 37°6′21″N 120°30′38″W / 37.10583°N 120.51056°W |
| Length | 54.2 mi (87.2 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 254 sq mi (660 km2) |
The Chowchilla River is a river in central California, United States. It's a smaller branch of the San Joaquin River. The river flows for about 54.2 miles (87.2 km) (87.2 km). It starts in the western part of the Sierra Nevada Range. Then it flows into the San Joaquin River system in the San Joaquin Valley.
For much of its lower half, the Chowchilla River forms the border. It separates Merced County from Madera County.
Contents
Where the Chowchilla River Flows
The Chowchilla River actually starts as three different streams. These streams are called "forks." They come together in southern Mariposa County.
West Fork: Starting Point
The West Fork Chowchilla River begins when two creeks meet. These are Jones Creek and Snow Creek. This happens north of a town called Bootjack, California. The West Fork flows south from Bootjack. It collects water from other creeks like Pegleg Creek and Humbug Creek. Finally, it joins with the Middle Fork.
Middle Fork: Mountain Waters
The Middle Fork Chowchilla River also starts from two creeks. These are Magoon Creek and Fox Creek. They meet on the east side of Magoon Hill in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This fork flows south. It runs along the west side of Stumpfield Mountain. It also gets water from several small, unnamed streams. Then it joins the West Fork.
East Fork: The Longest Branch
The East Fork Chowchilla River is the longest of the three forks. It begins from several small streams. These streams are on the south side of Chowchilla Mountain. This area is part of the Sierra National Forest. The East Fork flows south past a place called Harris Ranch. It picks up water from Oliver Creek and other small streams. It eventually meets the West Fork. This meeting point is a few miles south of where the Middle and West Forks join.
Main River: Eastman Lake and Beyond
The Chowchilla River officially gets its name when the West and East forks meet. From there, it flows southwest towards Eastman Lake. This lake was created in 1975. It was formed by building the Buchanan Dam. The dam is made of earth and rock. It is 205 feet (62 m) (62 m) tall and 1,800 feet (550 m) (549 m) long.
Eastman Lake can hold a lot of water, about 150,000 acre-feet (190,000,000 m3) (185 million cubic meters). The main jobs of the lake and dam are to control floods and provide water for farming. In the summer, Eastman Lake is a popular spot. People from Madera and Chowchilla enjoy boating, fishing, camping, and hiking there.
After Eastman Lake, the river continues west. It flows past the City of Chowchilla. Then it reaches the San Joaquin River System.
Lower River: Water for Farms
About seven miles downstream from Eastman Lake, some of the Chowchilla's water is sent in different directions. It goes into two channels called Berenda and Ash sloughs. Any extra water continues down the main river channel.
The river flows west-southwest for most of its path. In its last few miles, it turns west. The final 2 miles (3.2 km) (3.2 km) of the river is also used as an irrigation canal. This helps bring water to farms along its banks.
The main river channel used to end suddenly. This was about 3 miles (4.8 km) (4.8 km) east of the San Joaquin River. The Chowchilla River never had a clear natural path to the San Joaquin. This is because the river usually only flows during certain seasons. The water would often dry up before reaching the San Joaquin. In very rainy years, floodwaters would spread out and eventually reach the San Joaquin River.
To help control floods, a special canal was built. It's part of the Lower San Joaquin River Flood Control Project. This canal connects the end of the Chowchilla River to the Eastside Bypass. This allows the Chowchilla's water to flow in a controlled way to the San Joaquin River during heavy rains. The Chowchilla River also serves as an exit point for the Madera Canal.
Streams Joining the River
Besides many small streams, the Chowchilla River gets water from these named streams:
- Rock Creek
- Willow Creek
- Split Rock Creek
- Cow Creek
Towns Along the River
Here are some towns located near the Chowchilla River:
- Harris Ranch (not officially a city)
- Bootjack (not officially a city)
- Raymond (not officially a city)
- Chowchilla
River Crossings
Many roads and railways cross the Chowchilla River. Here are some of them, listed from where the river starts to where it ends:
Madera County: Above Eastman Lake
- Bailey Flats Road
- Green Mountain Road
Madera County: Below Eastman Lake
- Eastman Lake Park Access Road
- Santa Fe Drive
- Santa Fe Railroad (next to Santa Fe Drive)
- Road 19
- Road 15
- State Route 99
- Road 13
- Avenue 26
- Road 11
- Hemlock Road
- Road 8
- Avenue 25
- Road 5½
- Road 5
Merced County Crossings
- South Orchard Way
- State Route 59
