White Slough Area, Northern Stockton, CA Melissa Macato Geology 103 LTCC

1. White Slough
Stockton, CA - Melissa Macato

2. Introduction
For this field assignment I am studying the
White Slough area in Northern Stockton,
California. In total, it is about 880 acres of man-
made ditches, canals, freshwater marshes and
grassland/ upland and riparian habitat according
to the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is
water that has flowed from the Pacific Ocean
through the San Francisco Bay and Delta by way
of the San Joaquin, Sacramento and Mokelumne
rivers.
Photo taken during walk along the levee of the
Northern Stockton area of White Slough River.

3. Some past uses of these man-made canals include agricultural practices like cattle grazing and growing row
crops. Above is an aerial photo taken from Google Maps of the White Slough Area in Northern Stockton,
CA.

4. In the early 1800’s, this area consisted of a natural marshy landscape however over time it has become a highly
productive zone due to the growing agriculture. Levees were built to create channels and canals in order to support
the agricultural lands. Map by KQED QUEST, the San Francisco Estuary Institute – Aquatic Science Center, and the Bill
Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University.

5. Sabal minor, commonly known as the dwarf
palmetto, is a small species of palm growing 2'-7' in
height. It is native to the deep southeastern and
south-central United States and northeastern
Mexico. It is naturally found in a diversity of
habitats, including maritime forests, swamps,
floodplains, and occasionally on drier sites. It is
drought tolerant has a slow growth rate and a
moderate salt tolerance (NCSU).
Photo taken on walk along the levee of the Northern
Stockton, CA area of White Slough.
Dwarf Palmetto
(sabal minor)

6. Water Hyacinth
(Eichhornia Crassipes)
Native primarily to the tropical Americas, some
species float in shallow water; others are rooted in
muddy stream banks (which is probably the case
here). All species have slender root stalks, feathery
roots, rosettes of stalked leaves and flowers
arranged in spikes or clusters as seen in this photo.
Photo taken on walk along the levee of the Northern
Stockton, CA area of White Slough.

7. Water Hyacinth
continued
As seen in this photo, it appears to be
floating atop the White Slough. It is an
aquatic plant that can reproduce quickly
and often clog slow flowing streams.
Photo taken on walk along the levee of the Northern
Stockton, CA area of White Slough.

8. Granite Riprap or
Rock Armor
Loose stone, in this case granite, used to form a
foundation for a erosion resistant breakwater or
other structure. It can include a variety of stone
types such as granite, fieldstone and limestone.
Photo taken on walk along the levee of the Northern
Stockton, CA area of White Slough.

9. Granite
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock and it is the
most common plutonic rock of Earth’s crust. It is
rich in quartz and feldspar. It forms from the slow
crystallization of magma below Earth’s surface.

10. Law of
Superposition
The Law of Superposition is simply described as
youngest layers of rock at the top and oldest layers
of rock at the bottom. The younger layers of rock
vertically form atop older layers of rock with layers
of erosion separating the new or young rock from
the old rock.

11. Angular unconformity
An angular unconformity happens where there is a
parallel strata or layer that is deposited on titled
and eroded layers.

12. References
● California's Delta History. (2016, November 8). Retrieved from https://fishbio.com/field-notes/the-fish-
report/californias-delta-history
● Law of superposition. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/law-of-superposition
● Sabal minor. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sabal-minor/
● The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020, February 13). Water hyacinth. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/plant/water-hyacinth
● What Is Riprap Stone? • Riprap Definition • Lakeshore Guys. (2018, May 27). Retrieved from
https://lakeshoreguys.com/what-is-riprap-stone/
● White Slough Wildlife Area. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/White-Slough-
WA