My trip down the most endangered river in America
After three weeks and about 400 miles, I finished my kayaking (and walking) journey down the "most endangered" river in America: California's San Joaquin. This page collects the tweets from my adventure. The journey started way up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and ended beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on July 4. On that trip, I saw a wedding and a baptism on the river; met farm workers who are unemployed because the river doesn't carry enough water for everyone; witnessed the moment the river dries up and becomes nothing but sand; and met readers who have seen my posts about all these things and decided to join me on the path. The San Joaquin provides water to California's Central Valley, which grows 40% of the fruits and vegetables produced in the US. It's a forgotten but important part of the state -- and a forgotten but enormously important river. That's why I spent so much time with the river, trying to draw attention to the water crisis in the "other California." Look for more soon, and check out other stories in the Change the List series at CNN.com/Change. -- John
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Flying to the finish line #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpmoocLIIAAyiOh.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/8/2014 11:14:13 AM -
In SF! I'm 90% sure we flew over the San Joaquin, the river I'm going to float. Asked flight attendant: "I have no idea." #endangeredriverby John.Sutter via twitter 6/8/2014 5:21:36 PM
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Also of note: salt ponds near the SF Bay. Looked this up. apparently they concentrate salt for harvest. Wild. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpn9wN9CEAA4MHs.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/8/2014 5:26:07 PM -
Here's a look at the #endangeredriver from the sky. (I think that's it in the middle before it becomes a farm ...) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpn_mXZCUAAV9gr.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/8/2014 5:34:11 PM -
Driving through Central Valley. Sign: food grows where water flows.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/9/2014 10:25:36 PM
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So imma say it's a bad sign I almost roasted out carrying the gear in from my car. Trip hasn't started yet... #endangeredriver #111degreesby John.Sutter via twitter 6/10/2014 1:03:12 AM
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"Broke a century old record in Fresno" #endangeredriver #changethelist http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpxf-VWIYAAnfvc.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/10/2014 1:52:13 PM -
Going to Community Water Center to learn about drinking water issues in the Central Valley. It's two blocks from Locust Street.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/10/2014 3:59:20 PM
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I need to post more about yesterday - met some really tough people in the CA Central Valley who have no clean drinking water source ...by John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 1:41:24 PM
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Will do that soon, but about to head out on an adventure to the headwaters of the San Joaquin - way up in the Sierra Nevada mtns. So pumped.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 1:41:55 PM
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So this is it. Afternoon hike starts what I expect to be a three week trek down the San Joaquin. In way over my head but excited about it!by John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 9:23:29 PM
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"It's probably 108 on the valley floor." Thx @DarinMcQuoid . Going for active denial on that ... #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp4Rq-ACEAAUqX9.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 9:27:03 PM -
I'm interested in San Joaquin bc @americanrivers named it the most endangered river in the US. The trip is part of cnn.com/changeby John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 9:28:59 PM
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Can hear a San Joaquin tributary to the right. Sounds like the roar of a highway. Or visa versa @DarinMcQuoid says http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp4zw4SCQAADUoQ.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/11/2014 11:56:00 PM -
Why @jdsutter is planning to kayak (and walk) America's 'most endangered' river. Will he make it back? cnn.com/2014/06/11/opi… -
Camping hair. Is it bad that I'm already sunburned? #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp_CZueCMAArcFS.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/13/2014 4:57:41 AM -
This is Thousand Island Lake. Official headwaters of the #endangeredriver . And not named for the salad dressing.. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp_EVwpCUAA1nA-.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/13/2014 5:06:09 AM -
Shoes in hand. This is just below what would be a class 5 rapid.
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/13/2014 5:31:12 AM -
Friant Kern canal sends water 152 mi south of here to Bakersfield Cali. Mostly to farms. #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqBo2LHCEAImEBQ.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/13/2014 5:04:54 PM -
The dam's chief of operations used to get nervous the dam would collapse on him. Now he's used to it #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqB6HjyCEAAAkNj.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/13/2014 6:20:21 PM -
Today's the day! Hopping in a kayak below Friant Dam around 9am PT ish. Kinda nervous, and up most of night packing drop bags w supplies.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/14/2014 1:58:09 PM
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Here's a page where you can follow my updates from the most #endangeredriver in the US, CA's San Joaquin. cnnuslive.cnn.com/Event/My_trip_…by John.Sutter via twitter 6/14/2014 2:21:58 PM
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About to kayak the #endangeredriver w/@cnn 's @jdsutter and others. #sanjoaquin #river http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqGgXiLCYAE2M0c.jpg
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Here is our San Joaquin gang for the day! River advocates, a journalist and irrigation district. #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqGoQ_7CEAEowOE.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/14/2014 4:20:28 PM -
It all fits it's a miracle!! #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqGqz4FCEAIY5z5.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/14/2014 4:31:34 PM -
fms.ws/HP32J I'm still out on the river and doing well! This is an auto check-in from GPS...by John.Sutter via twitter 6/14/2014 11:20:20 PM
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Raymond Abina always sits under the same tree and watches the river to calm his nerves. Feet on door #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqIZi5ACMAAF9wl.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 12:35:23 AM -
How do you pull a tire out of a river? A: 100 foot rope with a grappling hook. Takes a wench for a car. #endangeredriverby John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 2:53:06 PM
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My food bag. I'm such an idiot for no trying it up in a tree. Lost about half my stuff. #endangeredriverby John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 3:00:29 PM
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fms.ws/HPrX3 I'm still out on the river and doing well! This is an auto check-in from GPS...by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 4:28:50 PM
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"The more you work in a boat like that the more it becomes part of you. You're wearing it" #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqMBgjZCcAAeP_l.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 5:28:51 PM -
Just passed Jimsom weed, which has flowers that look like white trumpets. Georgia o'keefe painted them Tom says. Medicinal too.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 5:31:22 PM
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Pistachios on the hill. madera co side. Fresno on left.by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 5:38:00 PM
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Tom: "You have officially been strained." Went down wrong channel into trees. Flipped. Lost GoPro on head. Eff. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqNFPijCYAAdJ20.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/15/2014 10:24:47 PM -
"Jesus... Man I've lived out here my whole life and I've never heard of that." - Sergio Gonzales, 19, on dead river http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqNmkfXCMAAA1u_.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 12:50:24 AM -
I was telling him the river ("THIS river!?) dries up to sand at one point. So many people out here enjoying the #endangeredriverby John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 12:51:29 AM
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Passed a company called Cal-West Rain. Offering irrigation and pipeline services. Rain we make ... #endangeredriverby John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 1:09:34 AM
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Oh yeah, the drought. Easy to forget when you're paddling on a river. #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqNsXuTCEAApWMe.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 1:15:44 AM -
Day 5: Woke up to find a racoon had eaten most of my food; then, on the water, I made a bad call on… instagram.com
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 6:52:34 AM -
We are in this awesome place where you can see the Coastal range ahead (going there) and theSierra behind me http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqSb2xcCAAIk1Vn.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 11:21:41 PM -
Valley Oaks in the breeze sounds like roaring water. We just paddled a wide stretch with white caps. Head to play Tina in my head ...by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 11:22:50 PM
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"Yeah I don't think we can fit through that." -Monty #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqSiD6kCIAA5GMW.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/16/2014 11:48:47 PM -
Carrying boats around a bypass. Salmon would have to swim through btw .. #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqSni8zCMAAdo5U.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/17/2014 12:12:45 AM -
The other side. Carrying a boat that isn't in the water is THE WORST #endangeredriver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqSokQJCIAAq6tE.jpg
by John.Sutter via twitter 6/17/2014 12:17:13 AM -
fms.ws/HRbXz I'm still out on the river and doing well! This is an auto check-in from GPS...by John.Sutter via twitter 6/17/2014 12:18:39 AM
