Regional Economy

Economic Sustainability Plan

The 2009 Delta Reform Act (Public Resources Code section 29759) requires the Commission to prepare an Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) for the Delta region. The Commission adopted the ESP in January 2012. It includes information about the Delta’s agricultural and recreation economy, levees, public safety, and the impacts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and isolated conveyance (as proposed at that time). The Commission used the ESP to develop a set of recommendations that informed the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan policies concerning the socioeconomic sustainability of the Delta region.

• Economic Sustainability Plan for the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta (2012) (PDF – Large file: 19 MB)

Chapter Updates

The Commission updated two chapters of the ESP, gathering the most current data on recreation and tourism, and agriculture.

Recreation and Tourism Chapter Update  (2020)

Initiated in 2019, the Recreation and Tourism chapter update includes a review of recreation and tourism studies completed after 2012 and the results of five focus groups held between March and April 2020. The updated chapter includes best available current data, analysis of visitation, economic activity, and emerging recreation and tourism trends.

• ESP Recreation and Tourism Chapter Update (2020) (PDF – Large file: 29.1 MB)
  • Larger view of Figure 8-2 Recreation Facilities Map (PDF)
  • Larger view of Figure 8-3 Tourism Facilities Map (PDF)

Prior to Commission approval of the chapter update at the March 2021 meeting, Commission staff received input on the draft at virtual public workshops held in December 2020 and January 2021.

December 2020 Public Workshop

• December 2020 Meeting Video
• December 2020 Meeting Summary (PDF)

January 2021 Public Workshop

• January 2021 Meeting Video
• January 2021 Meeting Summary (Coming soon)

Agriculture Chapter Update (2019-2020)

Initiated in 2017, the Agriculture chapter update includes a revision of Delta agricultural land use and the resulting contribution to the Delta economy, utilizing 2016 crop year data. In addition, the update included an analysis of the impact of proposed Delta restoration projects on the Delta agricultural economy.

• The State of Delta Agriculture: Economic Impact, Conservation and Trends (2020) (PDF)

Other reports also modeled the impact of salinity in Delta water supplies on Delta crop choice, and a review of how climate change (primarily warmer air temperatures) could influence future crop choices in the Delta. For more information on these two latter reports, please contact the Commission at dpc@delta.ca.gov.

• Salinity and Crop Choice in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (2020) – Available by request
• Climate Change Vulnerability in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Agriculture and Levee Impacts (2019) – Available by request

Socioeconomic Indicators for the Delta

The Socioeconomic Indicators Report provides a quantitative snapshot for benchmarking policy progress in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region. The data presented offers a set of statistical indicators that can be replicated on a continual basis to monitor and track the socioeconomic health and vitality of the Delta region.

• Socioeconomic Indicators Report: The Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta (2019) (PDF)
• Socioeconomic Indicators Report – Infographics (2019) (PDF)

For more information contact Virginia Gardiner.

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