Celebrating Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week 2024
September 17, 2024
WEST SACRAMENTO – Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week, taking place this year from September 22 through 28, is a celebration of the lifeblood of California’s water system and the people who call the region home.
Delta Week was made official by Sen. Bill Dodd’s Senate Concurrent Resolution 119 in 2022. Those who work and live in the Delta have long known that it’s a special and vital place.
The Delta is formed by the union of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Those rivers mingle with smaller tributaries and tidal flows from the ocean to form the highly biodiverse and productive San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.
The Delta is important for many reasons. Some include:
- Provides water to about 27 million Californians.
- Supports one of the largest estuaries on the West Coast of North and South America.
- Home to more than 750 plant and animal species, including 55 fish species.
- Provides migratory birds an important stop on the Pacific Flyway.
- Contains more than 500,000 acres of agricultural land that provides food for worldwide distribution.
- It’s a world-class recreational destination, attracting about 12 million visitors per year.
- In 2019, the Delta became California’s first National Heritage Area.
“As we celebrate Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week, we recognize the rich history, diverse wildlife, and thriving agriculture of this vital region. It’s a week to appreciate the unique beauty and resilience of this landscape, and to honor the communities that have called it home for generations,” said Delta Conservancy Executive Officer Campbell Ingram. “Despite facing challenges like subsidence of Delta islands and habitat loss, ongoing collaborative projects in the Delta demonstrate paths forward that benefit both people and wildlife. At the Delta Conservancy, we are committed to safeguarding and restoring crucial ecosystems and advancing the economic well-being of Delta residents in the near and long term.”
Our Work
Through both internal programs and grant-funded projects, our goal is to bring integrated environmental, economic, and social benefits to the Delta. Here’s a glimpse at some of our recent projects:
Fish Friendly Farming Program: We’ve completed this vital initiative, enrolling more than 10,000 acres of farmland to help Delta farmers implement sustainable practices that protect water quality and support fish populations.
Read about one of the projects: Survey: The Delta Supports State-Boosted Sustainable Ag Practice: What Does That Look Like?
Nature Based Solutions Grants: Our ongoing projects will build climate resilience, improve the long-term economic viability and resilience of Delta islands, and enhance wildlife habitats through innovative, nature-based approaches.
See a video overview of one of the projects: Webb Tract Island – Multi-Benefit Landscape Restoration.
Clarksburg Schoolhouse Restoration & Delta Welcome Center: Nearing completion, this project will preserve a historic landmark while creating a new hub for visitors to learn about the Delta’s unique culture and environment.
Visit the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse Facebook page to see project updates.
Delta Drought Response Pilot Program: Under this experimental program, farmers received financial incentives to carry out a variety of water conservation practices as well as beneficial bird habitat practices on their fields. As part of a multi-year study, a UC Davis research team is using micrometeorological stations to continue collecting data at six sites that were enrolled in the program.
Read more: Report Released on Delta Drought Response Pilot Program.
How to Get Involved
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Delta Week and the Delta in general.
- Participate in cleanups in the Delta as part of Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21. This year we are co-sponsoring a cleanup at Sherman Island.
More information: Delta Waterway Cleanups. - Delta Science Tracker Webinar on October 8. Researchers, managers, decision-makers, and other interested parties are encouraged to attend.
More information from the Delta Stewardship Council: Event flyer - Delta Heritage Forum on November 15. The theme for this year’s event is Creating Community through Heritage.
More information from the Delta Protection Commission: Delta Heritage Forum: Creating Community Through Heritage. - More upcoming meetings and events:
- Use our toolkit of digital meeting backgrounds and graphics for Delta Week. Click on the resources below to see the full-size versions:
Digital meeting backgrounds
Social media graphics
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