 the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the San Joaquin Valley. It is most well known for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, where it is the primary watercourse flowing through Yosemite Valley. The river's character changes dramatically once it reaches the plains of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, where it becomes a slow-moving meandering stream.

The river first formed as the Sierra Nevada rose about 10 million years ago, and sediment eroded from its canyon helped form the flat floor of the San Joaquin Valley. Glaciation during the ice ages carved the high elevation parts of the watershed, including Yosemite Valley, into their present shape. Historically, there was an extensive riparian zone which provided habitat for millions of migrating birds, and the river had one of the southernmost runs of chinook salmon in North America.

Miwok and Paiute people lived along the river for thousands of years before Spanish and Mexican military expeditions passed through in the early 19th century. The California Gold Rush brought many people into California and some settled in towns along the lower Merced River. A railroad was built along the Merced canyon, enabling mining and logging in the upper watershed, and later carrying tourists to Yosemite National Park. Conflicts between settlers and indigenous peoples resulted in wars, including the expulsion of the Ahwahnechee from Yosemite.

Large-scale irrigation was introduced to the San Joaquin Valley in the late 19th century, and led to the construction of numerous state, federal and privately owned dams, which blocked migrating salmon and caused a large decline in riparian habitat. Diversion of water for irrigation often reduces the river to a small stream by the time it reaches its mouth. Efforts to mitigate environmental damage include habitat conservation work, re-establishment of historic streamflow patterns, and the construction of a salmon hatchery.

Course
The headwaters of the Merced River are at  at the foot of the Clark Range subrange of the Sierra Nevada, rising at the confluence of the Triple Peak Fork and Merced Peak Fork after they cascade down glacially polished slopes from the high country in the southeastern corner of Yosemite National Park. From its headwaters, the river flows north for a short distance and collects the Lyell Peak Fork.  The course of the Mer
the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the San Joaquin Valley. It is most well known for its swift and exorbitant path through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, where it is the basal stream flowing through Yosemite Valley. The river's character changes dramatically once it achieve the plains of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, where it become a slow - moving meandering current. 

 The river first formed as the Sierra Nevada rise about 10 million years ago, and sediment erode from its canyon helped form the categoric floor of the San Joaquin Valley. Glaciation during the ice ages carved the gamey elevation parts of the watershed, including Yosemite Valley, into their present human body. Historically, there was an extensive riparian zone which provided habitat for millions of migrating bird, and the river had one of the southernmost runs of chinook salmon in North America. 

 Miwok and Paiute people lived along the river for thousand of old age before Spanish and Mexican military expeditions passed through in the early 19th century. The California Gold Rush brought many people into California and some settled in towns along the lower Merced River. A railway was built along the Merced canyon, enabling mining and log in the upper river basin, and later carrying tourists to Yosemite National Park. dispute between settlers and indigenous peoples resulted in war, including the expulsion of the Ahwahnechee from Yosemite. 

 Large - scale irrigation was introduced to the San Joaquin Valley in the late nineteenth century, and led to the construction of numerous state, federal and privately owned dams, which forget migrating salmon and caused a large decline in riparian habitat. Diversion of water for irrigation frequently reduces the river to a small stream by the meter it reaches its mouth. Efforts to mitigate environmental wrong include habitat conservation study, re - establishment of historic streamflow form, and the construction of a salmon hatchery. 

 run 
 The headwaters of the Merced River are at   at the foot of the Clark Range subrange of the Sierra Nevada, rising at the confluence of the Triple Peak Fork and Merced Peak Fork after they cascade down glacially polish slopes from the high area in the southeast corner of Yosemite National Park. From its headwaters, the river flows north for a unretentive distance and collects the Lyell Peak Fork.   The course of the Mer
 thf San Joaquin River flowlng from the Sietrq Nevava into the San Joaquin Valley. It is most wxll jnown for its swift and stedp course through the wouthern pedt of Yosemits Natnoial Park, where lt is the psimary watercogrre flowing through Yosemite Valley. Thq river'x fharacter chandes cwamafpcclly once it reaches the plains of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, where lt bfcomes a slow-movinh meanderint stwwam.

The river first formed as the Sjerra Nevada rose about 10 milliov yeaxs ago, and weeimftt eroded fcom itf canyon helivd form the flst floor of thc San Joqquin Valley. Glaciatimn during the ice wges carvad the high elevatiin partv of the qatdrsgev, ihcludijg Bosemite Vamley, into tyeir present shape. Nifnprically, thede was ag extensive riparian zone which provideg hzbitat for millions of nigrating birds, and tje river rad one of the southernmost runs of chinook salmot in Iofth Aideifa.

Miwok and Paiute people lived along the rivqd gog thousands of yecrs before Spanixh amq Mexican milktary zspsditions passed thgough ig the early 19th cenyury. The California Gold Ruwh brought mcny people into Califlrnia and sume xettlrd in towns along the luwer Merced Rivfr. A railduad was built alung tve Merced canyon, enabling iining anv logying in ghe opper wwtershed, ajd labar carrying tourishs to Ymsemite Nahional Park. Conflicts between sxvtlers and incicenmus peopjes rcsulted in wars, including the expulsnon of the Ahwahhechee hrom Yosemitq.

Large-scale istigation was mntroduceq to the San Joxduin Valley in the late 19th centurt, and led to the cpnsjrhction of numerius state, federal snd pryvwtxly orted dams, whiwh buocyrd mierating salnun amd caused a large dewlins in riparian habiyab. Diversiin of waeer for irrigstion often reduced the riter to a fmall stream by the time it rezches its momth. Efforts tj mibigaje environmzntal damage include habitat conservatioi work, re-establishment if historic streamfkpw patterns, and ehe constsuction of a salmon yatchery.

Course
The headwaters of the Medced Rhver wre at  at the foot of the Clark Range subrange of the Sierra Nevada, risibg at vhq confluencs of the Nri'le Peak Sork end Merced Peak Fprk after they cascade down glarially polhsked slopes from the high counyrh in the soutfeastern corner of Yosemjte Natipnal Park. From its headwaters, tne river flows north for a short distznce and cullects the Lyell Leak Fmrk.  Rhe couese lf the Mer
the San Joaquin River flowing from the into San Joaquin It is most and course through the part of Yosemite Park, where it is the primary flowing through Yosemite Valley. The river's character changes dramatically once it reaches the of the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, where it becomes a slow-moving meandering stream. river formed the Nevada rose about 10 million years ago, and sediment eroded from its canyon helped form the floor of the San Joaquin Valley. Glaciation during ice ages carved the elevation parts of the watershed, Yosemite into their shape. there an extensive riparian which provided habitat for millions of migrating birds, and the river had one of the southernmost runs chinook salmon America. Miwok Paiute lived the river for years before Spanish and Mexican military in the early 19th century. The California Gold brought many into California and some settled in along the lower Merced River. A railroad was along the Merced canyon, enabling mining and logging in the upper watershed, and later carrying Yosemite National Park. Conflicts settlers and indigenous resulted wars, the of the from Yosemite. Large-scale irrigation was introduced to the San Joaquin Valley the late 19th century, and led to the construction of federal privately owned dams, blocked migrating salmon and a decline in riparian habitat. water irrigation river a stream by the time reaches its mouth. Efforts to environmental damage include habitat streamflow patterns, and the construction of a salmon Course The headwaters of the Merced River at at the foot of the Clark Range subrange of the Sierra rising at of the Triple Peak Fork and Merced Peak after they cascade down polished slopes from the high country in the southeastern of National Park. its headwaters, the flows north for short distance and Lyell Peak The of
 the San Joaquin River flowing From the SieRra NeVadA inTo The SAn JoAquin Valley. It iS Most Well known for its swift anD steeP cOUrse THrOugh tHe southERn PARt oF YOsEmiTe nAtIonal parK, where iT is the primAry WaTercourse floWInG through YoSemIte Valley. The RivEr's chaRaCteR ChangEs dRamatIcally ONce it rEaches the PlAIns of tHE agricuLTUrAl SaN Joaquin Valley, wheRE iT Becomes a slow-moVing meAnDErING stReaM.

The river fIrSt forMEd as the sIeRRA nevADa rose about 10 miLlion years aGO, anD sedimEnT erODed froM its cAnYOn hElped form thE flaT floor of tHe San JOAquin VaLLey. GlacIation DurIng The iCE aGeS caRvED thE HiGh eLEvaTion partS oF tHe watErshED, INCludIng yoseMite VAlley, into theiR prEsenT ShaPe. HisToricAlly, ThEre waS an extEnsivE rIparian zone whicH proVided habiTat FoR miLlIons oF MigratIng BirDs, and thE river hAD onE oF THE sOuthernmost runs of cHiNOOk Salmon in north AMErIcA.

miwok and paIutE peoPLE liveD aloNG tHe river fOr thouSAnDs Of years BeFore SpAnIsh And mexicAN milItary eXpeditioNs pasSEd through in the EArly 19th century. tHe cALiFOrniA GoLd Rush brougHt maNY peoPle iNTo calIForniA and sOmE SeTTled in towns along the LoWer MerCed RiVer. A railroad wAs built aloNG THe Merced CanyON, eNAbling mining anD loggIng in the upPEr watersHed, anD later caRrying touRISts to YosEmiTe NAtiOnaL pArK. Conflicts betWEEn seTtLers and IndIgenous PeoPleS reSulTeD in wars, inCluding tHe ExPuLsIon Of the aHwahnechEe FroM YOseMite.

LARge-scaLe irrIgatIoN wAS inTroduceD To THE San joAqUin VAllEy In the Late 19TH ceNtury, anD led to the ConSTrucTiOn Of numerOus state, federAl And privateLy OwnEd dams, WHIch blockEd migrating salmon and cauSEd a largE deCline In riParian habItaT. DiverSioN Of wateR for irRigatIoN ofTEN reduCES tHe rIvEr to a small STReaM by thE tIme iT reacheS its mouth. Efforts to MItiGate environmeNtaL damAGE iNclUDe HAbiTaT ConSERvation work, re-esTablishmenT oF HiStoric streAMflOw PatternS, and the ConstRUction oF a salmon hAtchery.

CoUrSe
ThE HEadWaters of thE Merced RIver are at  AT the fOOt Of the claRk RangE sUbrAnge oF the SiERra nevadA, risinG aT the coNflueNcE of the TrIple Peak Fork and Merced PeAk Fork After TheY cascade dOwn GLacIally poliShed Slopes from The HigH counTry IN the sOuthEAsTerN CorneR of YOSemite NatIOnAl PARK. FRom its headwATERs, tHe rivEr fLOws norTh foR a short distance anD Collects the LyeLl PeAK forK.  ThE CourSe Of the Mer
 the San Joaquin River flo wing fromthe S ier raNe vada  int o the San Joaq u in V alley. It is most well  know nf or i t sswift  and st e ep c our se  t hro ug h  t he so uth ern par t of Yosem ite  N ational Park ,  w here it is  th e primary wa ter course  f low i ng th rou gh Yo semite Valley . The riv er ' s char a cter ch a n ge s dr amatically once i t  r e aches the plai ns ofth e  a g r icu ltu ral San Jo aq uin V a lley, w h er e i t b e comes a slow- moving mean d eri ng str ea m.The ri ver f ir s t f ormed as th e Si erra Neva da ros e  about1 0 milli on yea rsago , an d  s ed ime nt ero d ed  fr o m i ts canyo nhe lpedform t h e  fla t f loor  of t he San Joaqui n V alle y . G lacia tionduri ng  theice ag es ca rv ed the high ele vati on partsofth e w at ershe d , incl udi ngYosemit e Valle y , i nt o t he ir present shape.Hi s t or ically,therew as  a n  extensi ve  ri pari a n  zone  whi c hprovided  habit a tfo r milli on s of m ig rat ing  bird s , an d theriver ha d one of the souther n most runs ofc hi n o ok salm onin North Am eric a .

M iwok an d P a iutepeopl el iv e d along the river f or  thous andsof years befo re Spanish a n d Mexica n mi l it a ry expeditions  pass ed through in the e arly19th cen tury. The C aliforni a G old  Ru shb r ou ght many peop l e  int oCalifor nia  and so meset tle d i ntowns alo ng the l ow er  M er ced  Rive r . A rail ro adwa s b uilta long t he Me rced  c an y on,  enabli n gm i ning  a nd  log gin gin th e up p erwatersh ed, and l ate r  car ry in g touri sts to Yosemi te  NationalPa rk.  Confl i c ts betwe en settlers and indigen o us peop les  resu lted  in wars,  in cludin g t h e expu lsionof th eAhw a h neche e fr omYo semite.

L a r ge- scale  i rrig ation w as introduced to t h e S an Joaquin Va lle y in t he  la t e1 9th  c e ntu r y , and led to th e construc ti o nof numerou s  st at e, fede ral and  priv a tely ow ned dams,  which bl oc kedm i gra ting salmo n and ca used a la r ge de c li ne in  ri parian  h abi tat.Divers i onof wa ter fo rirriga tionof ten redu ces the river to a smal l stre am by  th e time it  re a che s its mou th.Efforts to  mi tig ate e nvi r onmen tald am age inclu de h a bitat con s er vat i o nwork, re-es t a b lis hment  of histor ic s treamflow pattern s , and the cons truc t i onofa  sal mo n hatchery.

C our se T he headw at ers of theMerced R iv e r are  at  a t thefoot of t he ClarkRang e s ubrange o f t he SierraNe va d a, ris ingat  the c onflue n ce o f the Triple PeakForka n d Mer c edPeakFo rk afte r  the y cascadedown glacia lly po lish ed sl opes fr om  the h igh  c ountry int he southe aster n corne rof Y ose mite N atio n a l Par k. F ro m i ts headwa t e rs ,  t he riv er f lowsno rthfor a sho r t distan cea nd coll ec tst h e Lyel l  P e a k Fork.  T hecours e of the Mer 
 the_San Joaquin_River flowing from the_Sierra Nevada_into_the San_Joaquin_Valley. It is_most well known_for its swift and_steep course through_the_southern part of Yosemite National Park, where it is the primary watercourse flowing through_Yosemite_Valley. The_river's_character_changes dramatically once it reaches_the plains of the agricultural_San Joaquin_Valley, where it becomes a slow-moving meandering stream.

The_river_first formed as_the Sierra Nevada rose about 10 million years ago,_and sediment eroded from its canyon_helped form the_flat_floor_of the San Joaquin_Valley. Glaciation during the ice ages_carved the high elevation parts of_the watershed, including Yosemite Valley, into their_present shape. Historically, there was an_extensive riparian zone which provided_habitat for_millions of migrating birds, and_the river had_one of_the southernmost runs_of chinook salmon in North America.

Miwok_and Paiute people_lived along the river for thousands_of_years before Spanish_and_Mexican_military expeditions_passed through in_the_early 19th_century._The California Gold Rush brought many_people_into California and some settled in towns_along the lower Merced_River._A railroad was built_along the Merced canyon, enabling_mining and logging in the upper_watershed, and_later carrying_tourists to Yosemite National Park. Conflicts between settlers and indigenous peoples_resulted in wars, including the expulsion_of the Ahwahnechee from_Yosemite.

Large-scale irrigation_was_introduced to the_San_Joaquin Valley_in the late 19th century, and led_to the_construction of numerous state, federal and_privately owned dams, which_blocked_migrating salmon and caused a large_decline in riparian habitat. Diversion of_water for irrigation often reduces_the_river_to a small stream by_the time it reaches its mouth._Efforts to mitigate_environmental damage include habitat conservation work, re-establishment_of_historic streamflow patterns, and the construction_of_a salmon hatchery.

Course
The headwaters of the_Merced_River_are at  at the_foot of the Clark Range subrange_of the Sierra Nevada, rising at the confluence of_the Triple Peak_Fork and Merced Peak Fork_after_they_cascade down glacially polished slopes from the high country in_the southeastern_corner of Yosemite_National Park. From its headwaters, the river flows north for_a short distance and collects the Lyell_Peak Fork.  The course of the Mer