Sherman Island (California)

Sherman Island is an island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta at the confluence of the two rivers in Sacramento County, California, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) northeast of Antioch. The 5,500 ha (14,000 acres) island is the meeting point of Sacramento-, Solano-, and Contra Costa-Counties, and is bordered on the north and northwest by the Sacramento River, on the northeast by Three Mile Slough, and on the east, and south west by the San Joaquin River. Sherman Island is a widely known kite and windsurfing area.

Sherman Island
Sherman Island, on left and in foreground, lies north of the city of Antioch, California (on the right). The two are connected by the Antioch Bridge. Sherman Lake lies between the southwestern extent of Sherman Island, in the foreground, and the remainder of Sherman Island.
Sherman Island
Geography
LocationSacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
Coordinates38°03′34″N 121°44′00″W
Adjacent bodies of waterSacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Area14,000 acres (5,700 ha)
Length9.5 mi (15.3 km) measured SW–NE
Width3.0 mi (4.8 km) measured SE–NW
Demographics
Population233 (2000)[1]
Additional information
Official websitewww.regionalparks.saccounty.net/Parks/SacramentoRiverandDelta/Pages/ShermanIsland.aspx

Sherman Island is 10 feet below sea level, due to the drainage of wetlands in the Delta which has dried out its peat soils, resulting in land subsidence. "In ... parts of Sherman Island, the land has now subsided 25 feet since the late 1800s—and continues to sink between half an inch and 1.5 inches yearly." It is possible that simultaneous levee failures on Sherman Island and surrounding islands, occurring in the wake of an earthquake, could threaten the fresh water supply for the Central Valley.[2]

Sheep grazing on Sherman Island, March 2014

Access

Access to the island is provided only by boat from California State Route 160, which uses the Antioch Bridge to link Sherman Island with the city of Antioch to the south, and the Three Mile Slough Bridge to link Sherman Island with Brannan Island State Recreation Area to the north. In either case, turn south onto Sherman Island Road and continue driving to Mayberry Slough.[3]

Wildlife area
Kiteboarding at Sherman Island, California, April, 2015.

The southwest of the island, known as Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area, contains about 3,100 acres (1,300 ha) and features a large marshy area and Sherman Lake where there is fishing [lower-alpha 1] and other water sports, particularly windsurfing and kiteboarding.[4] This area was designated in 1976 as a wildlife habitat by the California Fish & Game Commission. The Delta Flood Protection Act, enacted after serious flooding occurred in 1986, included flood control improvement projects for Sherman Island, as well as eight other islands. Senate Bill 1065, enacted in 1991, was intended to assure that these islands did not experience any net loss of habitat.[3]

Hours and fees

In 2019, park hours were established as sunrise to sunset year-round. Self-payment is required when no fee collector is present.[5]

Camping

Overnight camping is allowed with the following restrictions:

  • Maximum stay is 14 nights, after which a 30-day break is required.
  • Camping with self-contained vehicles only (RV's, trailers and vans)
  • Camping is not permitted in the boat launch parking lot

Fees
  • $5.00 Vehicle
  • $3.00 Small Watercraft Launch
  • $10.00 Vehicle+Trailer/Oversized Vehicle (over 22 feet)
  • $20.00 Bus
  • $12.50 nightly camping. Parks pass holders receive $5.00 discount

Notes
  1. Fishing primarily yields: salmon, steelhead, striped bass and sturgeon.
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See also

References
  1. Hanson, James C. (May 2009). Sherman Island Five Year Plan SH 08-3.0 (PDF) (Report). Reclamation District 341. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. Velasquez-Manoff, Moises. "Want to Prevent California's Katrina? Grow a Marsh". Bay Nature. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  3. "Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area." California Department of Fish and Wildlife. August 6, 2019. Accessed September 29, 2019.
  4. "Sherman Island Kiteboarding: A Powerful California Delta Experience". Ze Wandering Frogs. 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  5. "Sherman Island." Sacramento County Regional Parks. 2019. Accessed September 30, 2019.
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