Tulare Lake (Alameda County)

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Tulare Lake
  • Willow Marsh
  • The Lagoon
Lake Tulare crop from Alameda County Map, 1878, Thompson and West.png
The extent of the marshland ("Willow Marsh") surrounding Tulare Lake in 1878
Relief map of California.png
Red pog.svg
Tulare Lake
Location Amador Valley
Alameda County, California
Coordinates 37°40′N121°54′W / 37.667°N 121.900°W / 37.667; -121.900 [1]
Type Marsh (drained)
EtymologyOnce characterized by tule rush
Primary inflows Arroyo Mocho
Arroyo Valle
Arroyo Las Positas
Tassajara Creek
South San Ramon Creek [2]
Primary outflows Alameda Creek, via Arroyo de la Laguna
Catchment area San Francisco Bay
Basin  countries United States
Settlements Pleasanton, California
Dublin, California
Pelnen (Ohlone) [3]
Seunen (Ohlone) [3]

Tulare Lake was a large, shallow lake in the center [1] of the Amador Valley, surrounded by Willow Marsh (also known as the Lagoon). Tule rushes and willow trees once lined the marshes and sloughs of its shores. Drainage alterations starting in the 19th century have since reduced the marsh to the Arroyo de la Laguna, [2] [1] and the city of Pleasanton has since expanded across what was once marshland. Such rapid developments have led to large seasonal flow variations in Niles Canyon. [4]

The lake was fed by the runoff of the entire Amador Valley, as well as the Arroyo Mocho and the Arroyo Valle. [5] Its outlet was the Arroyo de la Laguna, which flowed for a short distance before joining Alameda Creek. [5]

The Tulare Lake area (Amador Valley and Livermore Valley) was inhabited by groups of the Ohlone people prior to the 19th century, [6] [7] in particular the Pelnen tribe near Pleasanton. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Janet M. Sowers (2003). Creek & Watershed Map of the Pleasanton & Dublin Area (PDF) (Map). Amador Valley: Oakland Museum of California. Retrieved 25 Oct 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks". San Francisco Bay Area Graphic Creek & Watershed Finder. Oakland Museum of California. Retrieved 25 Oct 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Native Peoples of the Region Now Known as the East Bay" (Map). Native Peoples of the Bay Area (PDF). East Bay Regional Parks District. p. 12. Retrieved 25 Oct 2020.
  4. Okamoto, Ariel Rubissow. "Alameda Work Trickles On". SF Estuary Magazine. San Francisco Estuary Partnership. Retrieved 25 Oct 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Arroyo de la Laguna Watershed Map". Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks. Oakland Museum of California . Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  6. "Chapter 9. Ohlone/Costanoans in the United States, 1847–1927" (PDF). Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  7. "History of Pleasanton". pleasanton.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  8. Livermore Heritage Guild (2006). Early Livermore. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN   9780738530994 . Retrieved 24 September 2024.