In Recognition of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week 2022
By Campbell Ingram, Executive Officer, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy
Sept. 22, 2022
WEST SACRAMENTO — Senate Concurrent Resolution 119 proclaims the last week of September as Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week in the State of California.
You can’t overstate the beauty and significance of the Delta. At the confluence of California’s two largest rivers, the Delta is the hub of California’s water supply, an incredible agricultural region, a great recreation and tourism destination, and an incredible ecosystem.
The Delta is such a special place, and we at the Delta Conservancy are proud of our partnerships and efforts to provide balanced ecosystem restoration and economic development in this great region. To date, the Delta Conservancy has funded over 70 locally supported grants that have improved important ecological functions, provided critical economic improvements through improved access for recreation and tourism, improved climate resilience, and supported drought management efforts. We do this work in partnership with the Delta community, our sister agencies, and a host of project partners.
The Delta is special every week, so let’s take this opportunity reflect on and celebrate the uniqueness and importance of the region and remind ourselves that our best chance to preserve it is by working together.
If you have questions about our work, please send an email to contact@deltaconservancy.ca.gov.
Sen. Dodd Announces Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/4zsC7EWccTs
Sept. 21, 2022
SACRAMENTO – In recognition of the critical role the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta plays in California’s economy and environment, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, has designated the last week of September as Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week.
“The Delta is a cherished watershed and the very lifeblood of California’s water system,” Sen. Dodd said. “It is vital to our state as both a natural resource teeming with abundant wildlife and fish and a vital economic driver for tourism, recreation and Delta farmers. We must continue to protect it for future generations by preventing pollution and further marshland degradation and promoting its environmental health.”
Senate Concurrent Resolution 119 establishes Delta Week, which kicks off Sept. 25.
Sen. Dodd lauded the stewardship and restoration efforts of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy and Delta Protection Commission. Both have been instrumental in protecting the crucial expanse, formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, which supports more than 750 species of plants and wildlife as well as more than 55 species of fish and hosts over 12 million visitors a year.
“Those who have experienced the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta know what a special place it is and the large impact it has on the daily lives of all Californians,” said Campbell Ingram, executive officer of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. “Delta Week showcases the Delta’s important role as the heart of California’s water system, the home to about 500,000 acres of productive agricultural land, and a world-class recreation and tourism destination.”
“Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week will be an opportunity to highlight the Delta’s importance to all Californians,” said Bruce Blodgett, executive director of the Delta Protection Commission. “The Delta is amongst the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. The Delta’s agricultural value led the passage of the Delta Protection Act of 1992 to make sure our farmland in the Delta is protected. The social, cultural and economic values led to the creation of the Sacramento-San Joaquin National Heritage Area by Congress. Valuing the needs of the Delta is fundamental to protecting California’s economy and environment. The Commission looks forward to continuing to work with federal, state, and local agencies to protect, maintain, enhance and enrich the overall quality of the Delta environment and economy.”
To learn more about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy’s mission to preserve, protect and restore the natural resources, economy and agriculture of the Delta, visit: https://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/. For information on the Delta Protection Commission, visit: https://delta.ca.gov/
The Delta Watershed is your backyard playground — a short drive from the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento, and Stockton areas. Explore www.VisitCADelta.com for places to stay, eat, and play during Delta Week.
For more information, visit Sen. Dodd’s website at http://sd03.senate.ca.gov/
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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) undertook the “Your Delta, Your Voice” survey to gather input from disadvantaged community members who live or work in the Delta. The survey was available online from September 30 through December 11, 2020. DWR arranged for Ag Innovations to lead survey development and outreach. They were supported by numerous partners and agency staff.
The objective of the survey was to inform DWR through gaining a better understanding of the priorities, values, and needs of Delta’s diverse communities. It also aimed to gather perspectives and information about how community members value, experience, and depend on the region’s cultural, recreational, natural, agricultural, and economic resources in order to identify how the project may impact those resources or potentially bring benefits to Delta communities.
The full Environmental Justice Community Survey Report and Executive Summary are available in additional languages on the Delta Conveyance Project’s Environmental Justice webpage.
COVID-19 Updates
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ACR Presents Innovation Award to the Delta Conservancy
(By: American Carbon Registry ) | (April 20, 2017)
The American Carbon Registry presented the Innovation Award to the developers of a landmark methodology for California wetland restoration. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy was honored as the lead agency.
Last night, the American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, hosted its annual gala reception to recognize and thank its members and partners. ACR Director John Kadyszewski welcomed guests, presented highlights from the year and described the awards to be presented, including the individual Climate Leadership award as well as organizational awards based on ACR’s guiding principles of innovation, quality and excellence.
The Innovation award was presented to the developers of a landmark methodology for California wetland restoration. ACR honored the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy as the lead agency, HydroFocus as the lead author and both U.C. Berkeley and Tierra Resources for technical support for the development of the methodology for the Restoration of California Deltaic and Coastal Wetlands. Funding for the methodology was provided by the California Coastal Conservancy, Department of Water Resources, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Metropolitan Water District and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).
In the San Francisco Bay Area, more than 90 percent of historic tidal wetlands disappeared in the last 150 years. Over 2.5 billion cubic meters of organic soils have disappeared since delta islands were first diked and drained for agriculture in the late 1800s, resulting in land subsidence up to 25 feet below sea level. Drained and cultivated organic soils in the delta continue to oxidize, subside and emit an estimated one to two million metric tons of CO2-equivalent annually — equal to annual emissions from over 300,000 passenger vehicles.
“We have been pleased to work with ACR and other partners on this methodology and appreciate the recognition,” said Steve Deverel, president of HydroFocus. “Restoration activities that rebuild subsided lands are critical to long-term ecosystem sustainability, are important to reducing the risk of levy failure and sea level rise, and are a significant source of GHG emissions reductions.”
“State and federal funding remains insufficient to address land subsidence that threatens the California water system, and carbon market revenues could help fill the funding gap,” added Campbell Ingram, executive officer of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. “The new ACR methodology provides an incentive to landowners in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh and other historically natural wetland areas in California to convert their most subsided and marginal agricultural lands to wetlands, or to produce wetlands crops such as rice, which will stop land subsidence and reverse it over time.”
