Unfortunately this could also be said of our own American River, that too few know much about it, and too few are aware of the help it and the Parkway needs from public leadership, thus hindering their ability to lobby for such help with their representatives.
River outreach
Effort is planned to educate Valley residents about the river.
01/09/07 05:06:31
It's hard for many Valley residents to believe, but a significant fraction of the people living in Fresno and the surrounding region are barely aware — if at all — of the existence of a major river in our back yard. The San Joaquin River is the principal natural resource of the central San Joaquin Valley, but there are many — including some who've lived here for many years, who are utterly unacquainted with the river, its history and its promise.
Now a collaborative effort has been launched to change that. It's a very good idea.
The river teaches almost every aspect of Valley life. Water from behind Friant Dam is the lifeblood of the enormously fertile east side of the Valley. Cities such as Fresno use vast amounts of river water to percolate into the aquifer, which helps slow the overdraft of wells that supply water for drinking, landscaping and industry.
The Valley ecosystem is based on the river, and the plants and animals in the river habitat form a rich mosaic of life.
Not least, the river offers a pastoral oasis in an increasingly crowded and polluted region. That will only grow in importance as the Valley's population soars in coming years.
