The Salinas Valley is one of the major valleys and most productive agricultural regions in California. It is located west of the San Joaquin Valley and south of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley.
Salinas Valley, on River Road near Greenfield.
An agricultural irrigation system near Chualar in the Salinas Valley.
An NYA photo illustrating young farm workers and the mechanization of agriculture.
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the longest river of the Central Coast region of California, running 175 miles (282 km) and draining 4,160 square miles (10,800 km2). It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the central California Coast Ranges south of Monterey Bay. The river begins in southern San Luis Obispo County, originating in the Los Machos Hills of the Los Padres National Forest. From there, the river flows north into Monterey County, eventually making its way to connect with the Monterey Bay, part of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Moss Landing. The river is a wildlife corridor, and provides the principal source of water from its reservoirs and tributaries for the farms and vineyards of the valley.
View of the Salinas River near San Ardo in May 2008. During the rainier winter months, the river may occasionally reconnect with Monterey Bay. The San Ardo Oil Field is visible in the distance.
North American beaver have colonized the upper Salinas River watershed, as shown by this beaver dam 16 miles (26 km) upstream of Atascadero below the Salinas River dam. Courtesy of Stuart Suplick, 2019.
Salinas Dam, near the headwaters of the river