Four Reaches of the Sacramento River:

Reach 1 - Keswick to Red Bluff

Much of the river is confined in relatively stable geologic formations and the band of adjacent riparian vegetation is often quite narrow.

Reach 2 - Red Bluff to Chico Landing

The river meanders over a broad alluvial floodplain. In both Reach 1 and 2, a large system of tributary watersheds connects the river with the surrounding uplands.

Reach 3 - Chico Landing to Colusa

Setback levees and weirs controlling the release of flood water into the basins allow the river to continue to meander, creating tracts of riparian vegetation.

Reach 4 - Colusa to Verona

Most floodwater leaves the main channel through the sloughs and weirs. The river itself is tightly leveed, riparian vegetation existing as linear strips along levees and levee berms.