Petaluma River

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The Petaluma River is a river in Sonoma County, California that becomes a tidal slough near its mouth. It flows from the farmland northwest of Petaluma, through the heart of Petaluma's old town, on through ten miles of extensive marshes, before reaching the northwest corner of San Pablo Bay. The United States Army Corps of Engineers dredges the river from the San Pablo Bay to Petaluma, ensuring that it remains navigable for gravel-barges and pleasure craft. The extensive wetland marshes provide an important wildlife habitat and fish hatchery. The Petaluma River is fully tidal for eleven miles from its mouth, indicating the low gradient of most of its course. Southerly portions of the Petaluma River form a natural boundary between Marin County and Sonoma County. The western slopes of the Sonoma Mountains, including Sonoma Mountain, drain to the Petaluma River watershed.

Since approximately the mid 1850s with onset of intensive European immigration, the agricultural uses including overgrazing have contributed to diminished water quality of the Petaluma River. Some of the pollutants present include nitrates, phosphates, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides and sediment.^[1] In addition there are considerable pollutants contributed from urban runoff particulary the city of Petaluma, from which heavy metals and hydrocarbons form a disproportionate contribution.^[2] Only in about 1990 were material steps taken to mitigate such water pollution; however, continuing human population expansion makes difficult the attainment of State of California water quality goals.

[edit] See also

• Endangered species
• Wetland

[edit] References