Celebrating Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week 2023
September 14, 2023
WEST SACRAMENTO – Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week, taking place this year from September 24 through 30, is a celebration of the lifeblood of California’s water system and the people who call the region home.
Delta Week was made an official event in recent years, but those who work and live in the Delta have long known that it’s a special and vital place.
“Delta Week is when we highlight the magic of the Delta and help others to appreciate and care about this great region,” says Delta Conservancy Executive Officer Campbell Ingram.
The Delta is formed by the union of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Those rivers mingle with smaller tributaries and tidal flows 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.
- It’s a world-class recreational destination, attracting about 12 million visitors per year.
- Hosts 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 waterfowl an important stop on the Pacific Flyway.
- Contains more than 500,000 acres of agricultural land that provides food for worldwide distribution.
- In 2019, the Delta became California’s first National Heritage Area.
Our Ongoing Work
At the Conservancy, we are committed to improving the Delta in the near and long term. Through both internal programs and grant-funded projects, our goal is to bring integrated environmental, economic, and social benefits to the Delta. Some examples of ongoing projects the Conservancy is helping fund include:
- Restoring the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse and developing it into a Delta Welcome Center, which will promote the Delta’s history and culture, recreation and tourism, natural environment, and agricultural industry.
- Planning for a future aquatic center in Stockton that will make it possible for all, regardless of ability or means, to access Delta waterways in small, human-powered watercraft.
- Bolstering the sustainability of Webb Tract in Contra Costa County while maintaining agriculture and providing habitat benefits by constructing up to 3,500 acres of managed, flooded wetlands and up to 1,500 acres of rice fields.
- Providing funding for the Pacific Flyway Center’s Walk in the Marsh project, which will include three miles of Americans with Disability Act-compliant hiking trails, boardwalks, and educational signage through restored wetlands in Suisun Marsh, along with other amenities.
- Improvements to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, resulting in new and enhanced habitat for wildlife, improved agricultural sustainability and wildlife-friendly agricultural practices, and increased public access.
- Providing financial incentives to Delta farmers to reduce their water use and protect wildlife and water quality under a collaborative program that helps improve mutual understanding of agricultural practices and water conservation opportunities.
How to Get Involved
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.
