Middle Slough View

From this vantage point, you can almost see the confluence of Middle Slough and the Cosumnes River—a rare example of a largely undammed river system in California. Rivers and sloughs once flowed more naturally like this before widespread dam construction altered seasonal flood cycles.

Seasonal & Climate Resilience to Observe

Floodplain Inundation – Timing, duration, and extent of seasonal flooding.

Channel Movement – Natural bank erosion, sediment deposition, and channel shifts.

Vegetation Response – Recruitment of native riparian species after high-water events.

Wildlife Use – Fish and bird presence during flood and dry seasons.

Low-Flow Conditions – Water depth and connectivity during drought periods.

Tracking these patterns helps assess how a free-flowing system adapts to extreme rainfall, prolonged drought, and long-term climate variability.