Sycamore Island was named back in 1952 for the abundance of, you
guessed it, sycamore trees, that proliferated here. It was first a farm, then a cattle ranch, then a huge watermellon patch.
There was once even fish hatcheries here and not so long ago a blue-crawdad farm.
Floods and economics have a way of changing things, and the land was leased out as a
quarry site. As the gravel company would finish excavating a site they would do a bit of landscaping and let the basin
fill in with water either directly from the river or through seepage. Fishermen would transplant fish caught in the river
into the ponds. Today, there are more than half a dozen of these old quarry ponds filled with all kinds of native fish and
large-mouthed bass. Some old maps show the ponds labeled as Moen Lakes. Most old timers think of the area as simply
the Old Quarry Ponds, or even The Ol' Muddy.
In January of 1997 Millerton Lake received too much water and rather than overstrain Friant Dam the decision was made
to release a huge amount of water. This was a Big Flood in our area increasing the water level enough to take out bridges
and break levies. Unfortunately, during the prior year $8000 of Florida Bass were planted in the ponds. They were
mostly surfed down to the Delta in the flood.
Today, Sycamore Island is not really a recognizable island as it is hollowed out by three large ponds and bordered by
the San Joaquin main channel on the south side and by a currently dried up smaller channel on the north side. (see
the map)
The San Joaquin River Parkway Conservancy and Trust is actively working toward acquiring the land from Friant Dam down
to Highway 99, about 25 river miles. The intention is to build a through-trail for hikers, bicyclists and nature walkers
and maintain as natural a riparian habitat as possible. Also, a through-way for canoeists and kayakers.
Eventually, we hope to see a well managed and maintained River Parkway here along our small San Joaquin River similar
to that along the Sacramento and American Rivers in their respective urban areas.
These days, the land is owned by the State of California and administered by the San Joaquin River Conservancy, a
State Agency. It has been contracted to Falcontail Outdoor Recreation Enterprises as caretaker and concessionaire to
operate and manage public access. The area is the only one of the Conservany's 24 properties that is self-funded.
Your gate and boat launch fees cover the cost of operations and make it possible for the river to be accessed and the area
kept clean.
The San Joaquin River Parkway, often confused with the SJRC, is a completely separate entity, a non-profit business dedicated
to raising funds for the eventual completion of the 22 mile river trail to extend from Friant to Highway 99. They are
not connected to the operation or management of Sycamore Island Park.
