Welcome to the Delta Protection Commission

Our Mission

We protect, maintain, enhance, and enrich the overall quality of the Delta environment and economy. We do this with a focus on agriculture, recreation, and natural resources, while remaining mindful of the importance of the Delta to all Californians.

Logos for the Delta Protection Commission, Delta National Heritage Area, and Great California Delta Trail.

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What We Do

Land Use: We protect legacy communities and the agricultural nature of the Delta by ensuring a variety of land-use decisions in the Primary Zone (PDF) conform with the Land Use and Resource Management Plan (PDF). The state Legislature has given the Commission authority to appeal these decisions, and hear appeals brought by others.

National Heritage Area: We promote the Delta’s historic and cultural riches as the agency designated by Congress to coordinate the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. The Delta is the first and only NHA in California. NHAs are supported by the National Park Service, but locally run and non-regulatory.

Great California Delta Trail: We foster healthy connections to and through the Delta as the agency designated by the Legislature to coordinate the Great California Delta Trail. More than a single trail, the GCDT is envisioned as a network of land and water trails that will connect the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento.

There’s more: Other DPC efforts include advocating for funding for levee maintenance and repairs, economic sustainability, community planning, and promoting the Delta as a place worthy of recognition, respect, and protection.

What is the Delta?

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta MapThe Delta is the lowest-lying area of California’s Central Valley, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers converge in a maze of waterways before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

The Delta covers 738,000 acres spanning six counties (substantial sections of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo counties, and a small corner of Alameda County). It is home to more than half of a million residents, and more than 750 plant and animal species.

Its rich culture reflects its many origins and influences: the tribes that lived here first, Spanish exploration, and Gold Rush-era settlement from America and all over the world, particularly Portugal, the Netherlands, China, Japan, the Philippines, and Punjab.

The Delta is also a hub for California’s water supply, providing a portion of the water used by two-thirds of all Californians. Its rivers and sloughs are bound by 1,100 miles of levees.

The Delta’s fertile soils support a $50 billion agriculture industry that feeds people across the world, and provides a growing array of agritourism opportunities.

Click here (or on the map image) for a full-size, printable PDF.

Other Delta Agencies

There are two other state agencies focused on the Delta: the Delta Stewardship Council and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. Learn about the different missions of the three Delta agencies (PDF).

We have a list of state and local agencies with jurisdiction in the Delta.

2024 Meeting Schedules

The meeting schedules for the Commission and its committees are below. Agendas are posted at least 10 days in advance of meetings.

Delta Protection Commission | Delta Protection Advisory Committee | NHA Advisory Committee

Visit the agenda and minutes archive, which goes back two years. For older material, please submit requests to submit@delta.ca.gov, or call (916) 375-4800.

Delta Protection Commission

About the Commission

DATELOCATIONAGENDAPACKETAPPROVED MINUTES
Jan. 18, 2024University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 West Fremont Street, Stockton1/18/2024 Agenda (1/18/2024 Orden del día)1/18/24 meeting packet (PDF)1/18/2024 Minutes
March 7, 2024The Willow Ballroom and Event Center
10724 CA-160, Hood
3/7/2024 Agenda (3/7/2024 Orden del día)3/7/2024 meeting packet (PDF)3/7/2024 Minutes
May 16, 2024The Point Restaurant, 120 Marina Drive, Rio Vista5/16/2024 Agenda (5/16/2024 Orden del día)5/16 meeting packet (PDF)5/16/2024 Minutes
July 18, 2024Big Break Visitor Center,  69 Big Break Road, Oakley7/18/2024 agenda (7/18/2024 Orden del día)7/18 meeting packet (PDF)7/18/2024 Minutes
Sept. 19, 2024West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave.,
West Sacramento
9/19/2024 Agenda (9/19/24 Orden del día)9/19 meeting packet (PDF), Updated Item 11 staff report
Nov. 21, 2024Sacramento Yacht Club, 3365 Chicory Loop, West Sacramento

Delta Protection Advisory Committee

About DPAC

DATELOCATIONAGENDAAPPROVED MINUTES
Feb. 6, 2024Stockton Sailing Club, 4980 Buckley Cove Way, Stockton2/6/2024 Agenda2/6/2024 Minutes
April 9, 2024Sacramento County Farm Bureau, 8970 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove4/9/2024 Agenda4/9/2024 Minutes
June 4, 2024Big Break Visitor Center,  69 Big Break Road, Oakley6/4/2024 Agenda6/4/2024 Minutes
Aug. 6, 2024Tony’s Place 14157 Market St., Walnut Grove8/6/2024 Agenda8/6/2024 Minutes
Oct. 1, 2024Wimpy’s Marina
14001 West Walnut Grove Rd., Walnut Grove
10/1/2024 Agenda
Dec. 3, 2024

National Heritage Area Advisory Committee

About the NHAAC

Meetings through June 18 were the NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee; all subsequent meetings are the NHA Advisory Committee.

DATELOCATIONAGENDAAPPROVED MINUTES
Jan. 11, 2024The Point Restaurant, 120 Marina Drive, Rio Vista1/11/2024 Agenda
June 18, 2024Rio Vista Senior Center, 25 Main Street, Rio Vista6/18/2024 Agenda
Oct. 31, 2024Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Ave., Oakley