View source for Napa River

{{Short description|River in California, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Napa River
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Napa River Napa California.jpg
| image_caption      = The Napa River in [[Napa, California|Napa]], as viewed from [[Copia (museum)|Copia]]
| image_size         = 300
| map                = Napa River watershed.jpg
| map_size           = 300
| map_caption        = Napa River watershed ([https://mghydro.com/watersheds/shared/C535F5.html Interactive map])
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Napa County, California|Napa County]], [[Solano County, California|Solano County]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = City
| subdivision_name5  = [[Napa, California|Napa]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|55|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~napa/about_napa_river.htm About Napa River] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505174110/http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~napa/about_napa_river.htm |date=2009-05-05 }}, Developing A Nutrient Management Plan for Napa River Watershed</ref> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = {{convert|0|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|210|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|26200|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Mount Saint Helena]]
| source1_location   = [[Mayacamas Mountains]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|38|39|52|N|122|37|14|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis">{{Gnis|255110|Napa River}}</ref>
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|3745|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="GE">[[Google Earth]] elevation for source coordinates</ref>
| mouth              = [[Carquinez Strait]]
| mouth_location     = [[San Pablo Bay]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|38|4|12|N|122|14|38|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|426|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.naparcd.org/napariver.htm Napa River Watershed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511183851/http://www.naparcd.org/napariver.htm |date=2008-05-11 }}, Napa County Resource Conservation District</ref>
| tributaries_left   = Conn Creek, Rector Creek, [[Soda Creek (Napa River)|Soda Creek]], [[Milliken Creek (California)|Milliken Creek]], Suscol Creek
| tributaries_right  = [[Dry Creek (Napa River)|Dry Creek]], Napa Creek, [[Carneros Creek (Napa River)|Carneros Creek]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Napa River''' is a [[river]] approximately {{convert|55|mi|km}} long in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]].  It drains a famous [[wine-growing]] region called the [[Napa Valley]], in the mountains north of the [[San Francisco Bay]].  [[Milliken Creek (California)|Milliken Creek]] and [[Mt. Veeder]] watersheds are a few of its many tributaries.  The [[river mouth]] is at [[Vallejo, California|Vallejo]], where the [[intertidal zone]] of fresh and salt waters flow into the [[Carquinez Strait]] and the [[San Pablo Bay]].

==Course==
[[Image:Napa River Napa-Sonoma Marsh.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the southern end of the Napa River in the Napa–Sonoma Marsh]]

The Napa River rises in northwestern [[Napa County, California|Napa County]] just south of the summit of [[Mount Saint Helena|Mt. St. Helena]] in the [[Mayacamas Mountains]] of the California [[Coast Ranges]]. The source begins as seasonal Kimball Canyon Creek in [[Robert Louis Stevenson State Park]] at an elevation of {{convert|3745|ft|m}} which descends the southern slope of Mt. St. Helena to Kimball Canyon Dam.<ref name="gnis"/>
<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Courtney
  | first = Kevin
  | title = A search for Napa River's start runs through the heart of the valley
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = March 3, 2009
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_9b4beba8-3a28-11df-83ca-001cc4c002e0.html
  | access-date = August 29, 2010}}</ref>
It flows south for 4 miles (6&nbsp;km), entering the head of the slender Napa Valley north of [[Calistoga, California|Calistoga]]. In the valley, it flows southeast past Calistoga, [[St Helena, California|St Helena]], [[Rutherford, California|Rutherford]], [[Oakville, California|Oakville]] and through [[Napa, California|Napa]], its [[head of navigation]]. Downstream from Napa, it forms a [[tidal estuary]], entering [[Mare Island Strait]], a narrow channel on the north end of [[San Pablo Bay]]. It discharges into San Pablo Bay through the [[Napa Sonoma Marsh]].

==Watershed==
The Napa River watershed encompasses approximately 426 square miles (1,103&nbsp;km²). Larger tributaries, such as Dry, Conn, and Soda creeks, show signs of recent incision and have graded to the incised current level of the mainstem Napa River. In some cases, smaller tributaries cutting across the valley floor have not fully adjusted to the lowered level of the mainstem and are elevated at their confluence with the mainstem, forming potential barriers to upstream fish migration. Several large dams were built between 1924 and 1959 on major eastside tributaries ([[Lake Hennessey|Conn]], Rector, [[Milliken Creek (California)|Milliken]], and Bell dams) and the northern headwaters of the Napa River (Kimball Dam). In addition, many smaller dams can be found throughout the watershed.<ref name=Stillwater/> These numerous dams are impassable barriers to salmon and steelhead seeking their historic spawning grounds.

==Ecology==
[[File:Adult beaver on Napa River 2014-05.jpg|thumb|May 2014 photo of beaver gathering shore grasses on the Napa River]]
[[File:Beaver Lodge on Tulucay Creek, Napa River tributary May 2014.jpg|thumb|Beaver Lodge on Tulucay Creek at Soscol Avenue in downtown Napa]]
[[File:Napa River at Pioneer Park, Calistoga.jpg|thumb|The Napa River running through Pioneer Park in Calistoga]]

The river also supports a remarkable diversity of fishes and recovering [[salmonid]] populations, especially [[chinook salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus tshawytscha'') and [[steelhead trout]] (''Oncorhynchus mykiss''). In 2003 the Napa County Resource Conservation District began an ongoing salmon monitoring program, and have recorded a run of approximately 400 - 1000 fall-run Chinook salmon the past several years.<ref>{{cite report |title=Napa River Salmon Monitoring Program Spawning Year 2007 Report |author1=Jonathan Koehler |author2=Chad Edwards |publisher=Napa County Resource Conservation District |date=August 2008 |url=http://www.napawatersheds.org/files/managed/Document/3572/Napa%20River%20Salmon%20Report%202008.pdf |access-date=2010-07-10 }}</ref> The Chinook run begins in late October through January. Conclusive evidence of historical chinook salmon populations in the Napa River basin have not been established, but the river provides appropriate habitat for salmon and its location near the entrance to the [[Sacramento River|Sacramento]]/[[San Joaquin River|San Joaquin]] Rivers make it likely that salmon would have at least ventured into the Napa River.<ref name=Stillwater>{{cite report |title=Napa River Basin Limiting Factors Analysis |year=2002 |publisher=Stillwater Sciences |url=http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/TMDLs/napasediment/lfa_executive_summary.pdf |access-date=2010-07-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |title=Historical distribution and current status of steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in streams of the San Francisco Estuary, California |author=Leidy, R.A., G.S. Becker, B.N. Harvey |year=2005 |publisher=Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration |location=Oakland, CA |url=http://www.cemar.org/pdf/solano.pdf |access-date=2010-07-10 }}</ref> In 2013, a genetics study of Napa River chinook salmon revealed that two adults migrated from the [[Klamath River]] and successfully spawned in the Napa River, since four juvenile chinook collected from the Napa River in 2010 were proved to be siblings from the close similarity of their DNA and that the latter was characteristic of Klamath River chinook.<ref name=Garza>{{cite report |title=Genetic Analysis of Chinook Salmon from the Napa River, California |author=John Carlos Garza |author2=Eric D. Crandall |date=2013 |publisher=Fisheries Ecology Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Institute of Marine Sciences University of California, Santa Cruz |url=http://naparcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NapaRiverChinookReport2013.pdf |access-date=2016-12-20 }}</ref> These findings have important implications for the protection of the federally endangered Coastal California Chinook Salmon [[Evolutionary Significant Unit|ESU]] since the Napa River, nor any stream in the Bay Area, was included in this ESU.

The Napa River basin is estimated to have historically supported a spawning run of 6,000–8,000 steelhead, and as many as 2,000–4,000 [[coho salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus kisutch'').<ref name=Stillwater/><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Treleven
  | first = Mike
  | title = More fish seem to be living in Napa River
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = August 16, 2010
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_37bd36c4-a8ef-11df-b43f-001cc4c03286.html
  | access-date = August 29, 2010}}</ref> By the late 1960s, coho salmon were extirpated from the watershed and the steelhead population is now reduced to less than a few hundred adults. Flow reductions in key rearing streams have reduced food availability for juvenile steelhead, causing reduced growth and survival.<ref name=Stillwater/> Recently, a [[chum salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus keta'') was caught in the river.<ref name=Koehler/> In addition, a fourth salmon species, [[sockeye salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus nerka''), was also identified in the Napa River.<ref name=Garza/>

Although diminished, the Napa River basin continues to support a fish community of greater diversity than even the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems, including a nearly intact community of sixteen native fish species, including Steelhead, fall-run Chinook salmon, [[Pacific lamprey|Pacific]] (''Lampetra tridentata'') and [[Lamprey|river lamprey]] (''Lampetra ayresi''), [[Mylopharodon conocephalus|hardhead]] (''Mylopharodon conocephalus''), [[Lavinia exilicauda|hitch]] (''Lavinia exilicauda''), [[tule perch]] (''Hysterocarpus traski''), and [[Sacramento splittail]] (''Pogonichthys macrolepidotus'').<ref name=Leidy1>{{cite report |title=Robert A. Leidy Fish Survey 1992-1998 Bay Area Stream Fishes |author=Robert A. Leidy |year=1999 |publisher=San Francisco Estuary Institute |url=http://www.sfei.org/documents/robert-leidy-fish-survey-1992-1998-bay-area-stream-fishes|access-date=2010-07-11}}</ref> Because of this diversity the Napa River has been prioritized for special protection.<ref name=Stillwater/> [[White sturgeon]] (''Acipenser transmontanus'') and many other native and non-native fishes currently utilize the Napa River watershed.<ref name=Koehler>{{cite report |title=Fishes of the Napa River Watershed |author=Jonathan Koehler |year=2008 |publisher=Napa County Resources Conservation District |url=http://www.naparcd.org/documents/FishesoftheNapaRiverWatershed-Koehler2008.pdf |access-date=2010-07-11 }}</ref>

The [[North American beaver|California golden beaver]] (''Castor canadensis subauraticus'') was historically extant.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mammalian Resources in An Historical Review of the Fish and Wildlife Resources of the San Francisco Bay Area |editor=John E. Skinner |year=1962 |url=http://www.estuaryarchive.org/archive/skinner_1962 |format=PDF |access-date=May 19, 2014  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726035239/http://www.estuaryarchive.org/archive/skinner_1962/ |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=William Alexander Trubody and the Overland Pioneers of 1847 |author1=William Alexander Trubody |author2=Charles L. Camp |journal=California Historical Society Quarterly|volume=16 |issue=2 |date=June 1937|page=134 |doi=10.2307/25160711 |jstor=25160711 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Fur Brigade to the Bonaventura: John Work's California Expedition of 1832-33 for the Hudson's Bay Company (Continued) |author=Alice B. Maloney |author2=John Work |journal=California Historical Quarterly |volume=23|date=March 1843 |issue=1 |page=32 |doi=10.2307/25155825 |jstor=25155825 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The historical range of beaver (Castor canadensis) in coastal California: an updated review of the evidence |author=Christopher W. Lanman |author2=Kate Lundquist |author3=Heidi Perryman |author4=J. Eli Asarian |author5=Brock Dolman |author6=[[Richard B. Lanman]] |author7=Michael M. Pollock |journal=California Fish and Game |volume=99 |number=4 |pages=193–221 |date=Fall 2013 |url=https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=78258&inline=1 |access-date=2014-05-19 }}</ref> Recently beaver have recolonized the Napa River<ref>{{cite report |title=Development and Application of Anchor Habitat Approaches to Salmon Conservation: A synthesis of data and observations from the Napa watershed, California |author=T. C. Dewberry |publisher=Friends of Napa River |url=http://www.icarenapa.org/docs/steelheadfinal.pdf |access-date=2010-07-10 }}</ref><ref name="EPA">{{cite news|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/epa-supports-napa-river-restoration-efforts/article_547688b2-22f4-11e1-98d0-0019bb2963f4.html|title=EPA supports Napa River restoration efforts|date=2011-12-09|newspaper=Napa Valley Register|author=Jennifer Huffman|access-date=2011-12-10}}</ref> and have been documented in Napa as well as near [[Rutherford, California|Rutherford]] and Oak Knoll.<ref name=Grossinger>{{cite book |title=Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas |author=Robin Grossinger |publisher=University of California Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-520-26910-1 |page=240 }}</ref>

==Restoration==
As part of [[urban renewal]] in the 1970s, a concrete cover was removed from culverted sections of the Napa Creek, re-exposing the water to daylight. There is some debate as to whether this constituted one of the country's earliest "daylighting" projects, since the construction was undertaken with little thought to the river's ecology or restoration of riparian habitat.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/04/09/bay-area-cities-redscover-the-creeks-under-their-streets/
 |title=Bay Area Cities Rediscover the Creeks Under Their Streets |date=9 April 2010 |publisher=Streetsblog}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Courtney  | first = Kevin  | title = Early settlers found a Shangri-La, then they drained and boxed it  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.  | location = Napa, CA  | date = August 29, 2010
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/2c5deb90-b32e-11df-8658-001cc4c03286.html
  | access-date = August 29, 2010}}</ref>
This construction is not believed to be responsible for later flooding along the river.

More recently, vineyard owners with property that borders the Rutherford Reach, a {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the Napa River between St. Helena and Oakville, are allowing prime land to return to a natural state in order to help preserve the ecology of the river.  The project known as Rutherford Restoration Project involves 23 property owners have combined forces to provide {{convert|18|acre|m2}} of land to this cause. 
<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Courtney|first=Kevin|title=Vintners sacrifice vines to create a more natural Napa River|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|location=Napa, CA|date=September 6, 2010|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_3044b422-b96f-11df-9ba4-001cc4c002e0.html|access-date=September 6, 2010}}</ref>
After the restoration, native [[North American beaver]] returned to the area, establishing 3–4 beaver dams.<ref name="EPA" /> These [[keystone species]] have been shown to increase fish, bird and mammal abundance and diversity in California rivers and streams. They also benefit trout and salmon by reducing sediment loads and improve water quality.<ref name="Pollock">{{cite journal |year=2003 |title=Hydrologic and geomorphic effects of beaver dams and their influence on fishes |url=http://www.albergstein.com/cao/Best%20Available%20Science/Fish/Beaver%20dam%20effects%20paper%20final.pdf |journal=American Fisheries Society Symposium |volume=37 |pages=213–233 |first1=Michael M. |last1=Pollock |author2=Morgan Heim |author3=Danielle Werner |access-date=2011-12-09  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707103342/http://www.albergstein.com/cao/Best%20Available%20Science/Fish/Beaver%20dam%20effects%20paper%20final.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-07 }}</ref>
The southern part of the river has also been undergoing restoration as former salt ponds along the river are being restored to their natural state.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Courtney|first=Kevin|date=September 5, 2010|title=Given up for dead, lost wetlands springing back to life in south county|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_4dcf4dea-b96f-11df-8d66-001cc4c002e0.html|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=September 6, 2010}}</ref>

==Napa flood of 1986==
{{main article|Napa River flood of 1986}}
In 1986, the worst of 23 floods recorded since 1865 on the Napa River occurred. 5,000 people were evacuated, 250 homes were destroyed, and three people lost their lives.

After the devastating flood of 1986, the dormant [[Napa River Flood Project]] was revitalized. The Project underwent a lengthy redesign and was approved by the local voters in 1998. Construction began in 2000 and was completed by 2015.

==Recreation==
[[File:Napa River in Vallejo.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the flatwater section of the Napa River where it divides Vallejo, California]]
The Napa River and the surrounding watershed provide many recreational opportunities. [[Whitewater kayaking]] and [[rafting]] can be done on the upper section of river from St. Helena to Napa. The lower section of the Napa River from Napa to San Pablo Bay has flatwater that is suitable for [[canoeing]], [[sea kayaking]], motorboating, as well as an Italian-style gondola cruise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gondola Ride in Napa Valley, CA |url=https://napavalleygondola.com/gondola-rides/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Napa Valley Gondola |language=en-US}}</ref> The Napa River Trail has segments at Kennedy Park (N 38.26764 W 122.28373) & between Lincoln Ave  (N 38.31055 W 122.27783) and Trancas St (N 38.32496 W 122.28384) in the city of Napa.

==See also==
* [[List of rivers of California]]
* [[List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080511183851/http://www.naparcd.org/napariver.htm Napa River Watershed]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090505174110/http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~napa/about_napa_river.htm UCSB: Napa Watershed]
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130113011157/http://www.napaflooddistrict.org/ Napa River Flood Project]}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20031204034211/http://www.naparivertrail.com/ Napa River Trail Downtown Napa]}}
*[http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery/Napa-Valley-Where-a-River-Flows/G00004AIxL0R7WsQ Photo documentary of the Napa River] from SamandaDorger.comM

{{San Francisco Bay watershed}}
{{Mayacamas Mountains}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Napa County, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Solano County, California]]
[[Category:Tributaries of San Pablo Bay]]
[[Category:Mayacamas Mountains]]
[[Category:Napa Valley]]
[[Category:Napa, California]]
[[Category:St. Helena, California]]
[[Category:Rivers of Northern California]]
[[Category:Napa River| ]]