What are sloughs in San Fran Bay Area?

Question

I keep seeing those things on Google Map and don't know what they are. Wikipedia says a slough is just some kind of a secondary channel of a river delta, usually flushed by the tide. But those sloughs in San Jose area don't look like the part of a river. So what are they? Do they have any economic value? Why do they have such regular shapes, are they used in some way like fishing, for example?

Just check those coordinates: 37.445426,-122.001972

HyperDog · Accepted Answer

Whether they're part of a river or not, they are created (dredged) to provide access to points further inland from the bay or other body of water.  The access can be for various commercial or recreational purposes. 

In earlier times, sloughs were sometimes used to discharge waste water from industrial processes, and to allow pumping of ocean or bay water for cooling of such processes.   Now,  in most cases those uses are no longer legal.

? · Answer

I dont even know what a slough is. If they are in San Jose, why did you post this question in San Francisco. Maybe they mean the Sacramento Delta which has tributaries.

http://sfbay.wr.usgs.gov/

morningstar · Answer

There was once sea salt production in the area. That might be it. I think it's been shut down now.

What are sloughs in San Fran Bay Area?

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