San Joaquin River Named One of America's 'Most Endangered' as Mining Dispute Escalates

The San Joaquin in California was just named the second "most endangered" river in the country, according to a new report from the environmental nonprofit American Rivers.

The river already runs dry in places due to drought and excessive diversion of water for agriculture. Now the international cement company Cemex wants to expand an existing gravel mine near Fresno, something conservation groups said will spell disaster for the salmon and steelhead trout run.

Sharon Weaver, executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust, said the huge pit would be a particular threat to nearby Lake Millerton.

"It's going to involve blasting and drilling," Weaver explained. "The proposal is for a 600-foot-deep hole next to the San Joaquin River. That could have very significant impacts on water quality, water quantity, air quality, and contamination potential."

The San Joaquin runs from the Sierra Nevadas, joins the Sacramento River at the Delta and then empties into San Francisco Bay. In the coming weeks, both the Fresno Planning Commission and the board of supervisors are expected to hold public hearings and a vote on permitting for the mine. Cemex is asking for a 100-year extension of its permit, promising to create jobs and restore the site once the hard rock is removed.

Patricia Flores, associate director of American Rivers, said the region already has more sand and gravel than it needs and urged the board of supervisors to reject the project.

"It's an incredible threat to the river that could impact the ecosystems that depend on the river," Flores emphasized. "As well as the 30 million Californians that depend on drinking water from the San Joaquin and the 60 billion dollar agricultural economy."

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust has invested more than 125-million dollars to date to create a 22-mile greenway called the San Joaquin River Parkway. The funding is a public-private partnership, with contributions from the state, the federal government, local agencies, and private donations. Supporters say the expanded gravel mine would disrupt the trails and ecological reserves in the project.

CREDIT: Public News Service

By Suzanne Potter - Producer 

Apr 21, 2026