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San Joaquin County Environmental Checklist Principal settlements were located on the tops of low mounds,on or near the banks of the larger watercourses. Settlements were composed of single-family dwellings,sweathouses,and ceremonial assembly chambers. Dwellings were small and lightly constructed,semi-subterranean,and oval. The public structures were large and earth covered. Sedentism was fostered by the abundance of riverine resources in the area. Subsistence among the Northern Valley Yokuts revolved around the waterways and marshes of the lower San Joaquin Valley. Fishing with dragnets,harpoons, and hook and line yielded salmon,white sturgeon,river perch,and other species of edible fish. Waterfowl and small game attracted to the water also provided a source of protein. The contribution of big game to the diet was probably minimal. Vegetal staples included acorns,tule roots,and seeds. Most Northern Valley Yokuts groups had their first contact with Europeans in the early 1800s,when the Spanish began exploring the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta. The gradual erosion of Yokuts culture began during the mission period. Epidemics of European diseases played a large role in the decimation of the native population. The final blow to the aboriginal population came with the Gold Rush and its aftermath. In the rush to the southern mines,native populations were pushed out of the way and out of their territories. Ex-miners settling in the fertile valley applied further pressure to the native groups and altered the landforms and waterways of the valley. Many Yokuts resorted to wage labor on farms and ranches. Others were settled on land set aside for them on the Fresno and Tule River Reserves. Historic Context Early Exploration and Settlement Spanish exploration in the San Joaquin Valley began in the early 1800s. Gabriel Moraga led the first Spanish exploration into the San Joaquin Valley and further north into the Sacramento Valley in 1808. The purpose of this later expedition was to search out new mission sites and converts among the California Indians. Moraga's expedition explored along the waterways of the two valleys, including the Mokelumne, Cosumnes,and American Rivers(Beck and Haase 1974). Euroamerican settlement began in the San Joaquin Valley with the issue of land grants from the Mexican government,which were generally issued to encourage settlement in an area. Land grants were given to individuals who promised to use the land for agricultural or ranching purposes and ranged from 20,000 to 50,000 acres(Beck and Haase 1974). The San Joaquin Valley includes five Mexican land grants:El Pescador(Grimes, Stanislaus),Campo de los Franceses,Sanjon de los Moquelemnes,Thompson's Rancho,and El Pescador(Pio and Nagles) (Beck and Haase 1974;Tinkham 1923). The pattern of large land holdings was maintained in San Joaquin County after the United States government appropriated California from Mexico in 1848, as most land in the San Joaquin Notice of Preparation for the June 2006 North County Recycling Center and Sanitary Landfill 2-33 J8S 06307.06 Permit Revision