1950 Map of Foster Island

About this map

The Sacramento River carves a complex course through this 1950s landscape, defining the boundaries of Tehama, Butte, and Glenn counties. Large islands such as Foster Island and Snaden Island divide the main channel, while numerous sloughs like Dicks Slough and Snaden Slough illustrate the river's historical shifting paths. The surrounding valley floor is organized into a rigid grid of agricultural roads, including Clark Ave and Capay Ave, supporting the rural communities served by Capay Sch and McIntosh Sch. Evidence of the area's river-based history remains visible at Wilson Landing (Site) and McIntosh Ldg (Site), points that once connected the local economy to the water before the Southern Pacific railroad became the primary transport artery. The presence of several Pumping Sta facilities near the levees highlights the sophisticated irrigation and flood control systems required to manage the fertile but vulnerable land along the riverbanks.