Tulare Lake (Alameda County)

Tulare Lake
  • Willow Marsh
  • The Lagoon
The extent of the marshland ("Willow Marsh") surrounding Tulare Lake in 1878
Tulare Lake is located in California
Tulare Lake
Tulare Lake
LocationAmador Valley
Alameda County, California
Coordinates37°40′N 121°54′W / 37.667°N 121.900°W / 37.667; -121.900[1]
TypeMarsh (drained)
EtymologyOnce characterized by tule rush
Primary inflowsArroyo Mocho
Arroyo Valle
Arroyo Las Positas
Tassajara Creek
South San Ramon Creek[2]
Primary outflowsAlameda Creek, via Arroyo de la Laguna
Catchment areaSan Francisco Bay
Basin countriesUnited States
SettlementsPleasanton, 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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks". San Francisco Bay Area Graphic Creek & Watershed Finder. Oakland Museum of California. Retrieved 25 Oct 2020.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.