The Stockton Deepwater Shipping Channel is part of the vast Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta that has a connection to the Pacific Ocean.

By 1910 the city had created proposals to increase the depth of the lower river by dredging; however, the plans were delayed by World War I.

[2][3][4] Stockton partnered with the federal and state governments in 1926 to form a $8.2 million fund to change the river to a new channel.

[6] The Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel can handle fully loaded ocean vessels of up to 60,000 short tons (120,000,000 lb; 54,000,000 kg) and up to 900 ft (270 m) long.

[7] The slowing of the river-channel has unexpectedly caused low dissolved oxygen levels in the lower San Joaquin River water.