DPC Minutes 2025-01-16
Meeting Minutes
Delta Protection Commission
Thursday, January 16, 2025, 5 p.m.
Sacramento Yacht Club
3365 Chicory Loop, West Sacramento, CA
Agenda
1. Call to Order and Flag Salute
Chair Diane Burgis called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.
2. Welcome and Roll Call
Commission Clerk Heather McClure called the roll. Present at roll call: Chair Burgis, Commissioners Oscar Villegas, Patrick Hume, Anissa Williams, David Kent, Christine Birdsong (for Karen Ross), Gloria Sandoval (for Wade Crowfoot), and Brian Bugsch (for State Lands Commission). Commissioners Alan Nakanishi, Tom Slater, Toks Omishakin, Steven Ding (for San Joaquin County), and Dean Ruiz (for South Delta Reclamation District) were absent from the meeting. At this time, a quorum was present.
Chair Burgis welcomed new Commissioner David Kent, Vice Mayor of Isleton, who represents Cities of Sacramento and Yolo Counties.
Commissioner Jim Paroli arrived at 5:12 p.m. and Vice Chair John Vasquez arrived at 5:14 p.m., both joining the closed session.
3. Public Comment – an opportunity for members of the public to address the Commission regarding items not on the agenda
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was one:
Morris Lum, President of the California Striped Bass Association West-Delta Chapter, presented certificates of recognition to Diane Burgis and Commodore Bill Wells for their dedication to the California Delta. Burgis was honored for her leadership and advocacy in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and Contra Costa County, including her roles as Executive Director of the Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed, Oakley City Council member, Contra Costa County Supervisor, Delta Protection Commission Chair, and Delta Stewardship Council member. Wells was recognized for his decades of advocacy through the Bay Delta Yachtsman and the California Delta Chambers and Visitors Bureau, promoting environmental and wildlife protection. Both were awarded honorary memberships in the West Delta Chapter of the California Striped Bass Association.
Closed Session Agenda
4. The Delta Protection Commission will meet in closed session to consider the evaluation of performance of one or more of its employees. This closed session is authorized by Government Code section 11126, subdivision (a)(1).
The Commissioners moved to closed session at 5:12 p.m. Executive Director Blodgett and Deputy Attorney General Carlos Mejia joined the Commission members for the closed session.
Following the completion of the closed session, Chair Burgis reconvened in open session at 5:48 p.m. Mejia reported the Commission took no reportable action during the closed session.
It was noted that Commissioner Villegas left the meeting at 5:52 p.m.
Consent Agenda
5. Approval of Draft December 12, 2024, Meeting Minutes
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
Motion: It was moved by Commissioner Hume and seconded by Commissioner Vasquez to approve the December 12, 2024, meeting minutes; in a voice vote, the motion passed 9-0-0, all Commissioners present voting aye.
Regular Agenda
6. Report on Delta Stewardship Council Activities – Chair Diane Burgis
Chair Burgis gave a report on the January 23 meeting, which included a hearing on the Delta Conveyance Project Proposed Geotechnical Activities, on which the Delta Protection Commission had commented. The hearing addressed two main points: whether it qualified as a covered action and whether it was consistent with the Delta Plan. Another meeting will be held in two weeks. She stated the staff report is expected to be released tomorrow.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
7. Report on Delta Protection Advisory Committee (DPAC) Activities – Anna Swenson (DPAC Chair)
DPAC Chair Anna Swenson was not present, thus unable to deliver a report. Executive Director Blodgett stated that the next DPAC meeting will be February 11 at the Clarksburg Schoolhouse.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
8. Executive Director’s Report – Bruce Blodgett, Executive Director
Executive Director Blodgett presented a letter received earlier that day by Program Manager Blake Roberts, announcing the final approval of the NHA Management Plan, signed by the director of the National Park Service. He applauded the team effort behind this achievement and emphasized the significant work involved. He also announced that Senior Environmental Planner Mike Aviña and Staff Services Manager Debra Waltman were leaving the DPC, with the process of filling their positions already underway. Additionally, plans were in place to hire a new part-time public information officer, and interviews had been completed for a firm to update the National Heritage Area’s marketing plan. Lastly, he discussed a collaboration with the Division of Boating and Waterways, which is seeking a NOAA grant of over $9 million for large debris removal in the Delta. The DPC will participate in the process by handling aspects of public outreach.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
9. Consider Approval of the 2024 Annual Report – Bruce Blodgett, Executive Director
Executive Director Blodgett referenced the background information on the legislative requirements included in the Annual Report as well as the Letter from the Chair. He then highlighted work accomplished throughout the year, including numerous land use comment letters, such as those on the Contra Costa County and the Rio Vista general plans. He also discussed engagement on the Delta Conveyance Project, which involved participation in the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process regarding a draft Programmatic Agreement, as well as providing comment on the consistency certification for geotechnical activities at the DSC hearing.
Additionally, he outlined efforts to assist Delta communities, such as working with Isleton to obtain a grant for broadband expansion and participating in a workshop on post-disaster housing planning in legacy communities. He also touched on progress of ongoing projects, including the Socioeconomic Indicators Report, the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail extension, and the Welcome to the Delta National Heritage Area signs.
Blodgett concluded by noting that a common theme in habitat projects is the loss of agricultural land and resources. He proposed a Delta Agriculture report for each county, led by an expert in the field.
Commissioner Birdsong commended the staff for their work and requested future presentations on agriculture in the Delta, particularly in relation to land use.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
Motion: It was moved by Commissioner Hume and seconded by Commissioner Birdsong to approve the 2024 Annual Report; in a voice vote, the motion passed 9-0-0, all Commissioners present voting aye.
10. Presentation on Striped Bass Slot Limit Proposal – Dr. David Ostrach
Dr. David Ostrach gave a presentation covering the history of striped bass in California, the reasoning behind the proposed slot limits, and the challenges contributing to the species’ decline. He stated that to address these challenges, a proposed slot limit of 20 to 30 inches aims to assist population sustainability. Allowing fish to reach at least 20 inches before harvest would give females an extra year to spawn, while capping harvest at 30 inches would protect the most fertile breeders. While the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) supports the upper limit, it has yet to endorse the lower limit. Ostrach stated this is a first step toward restoring a robust recreational fishery, and continued future scientific research and fishery management planning will be essential for refining regulations and ensuring the long-term health of the striped bass population.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was one:
Jim Cox, a California Striped Bass Association board member and DPAC member, stated that the purpose of the presentation was to urge the Delta Protection Commission to send a letter endorsing this proposal to the California Fish and Game Commission.
Chair Burgis responded that since this action was not properly agendized, it would need to be brought back to the Commission for a vote at the next meeting.
11. Delta as Place Presentation, Invasive Species update – Martha Volkoff, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Martha Volkoff reported on golden mussels, as the latest invasive species of immediate concern. Golden Mussels, native to China and Southeast Asia, have now established non-native populations in freshwater ports across Asia and South America. Their recent detection in the Port of Stockton on October 17 suggests they were introduced through ballast water discharge from a cargo ship. These mussels share many biological traits with quagga and zebra mussels, including rapid reproduction, filter-feeding behavior, and the ability to form dense colonies that clog infrastructure such as boat motors, pipes, and water intakes. However, golden mussels differ in their broader tolerance for calcium, temperature, salinity, and substrate conditions, allowing them to thrive in waters previously unsuitable for quagga and zebra mussels. Given their expanding presence in the Delta, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) assumes the species is or will soon be widespread throughout the Delta and the interconnected state and federal water projects. This puts California’s extensive water conveyance system at significant risk, along with the millions of people and acres of farmland that rely on it. Additionally, the movement of infested boats between California and other states heightens the threat of further spread.
In response, a multi-agency Task Force has been established to coordinate efforts, including monitoring, containment, and regulatory actions. Agencies are leveraging existing quagga/zebra mussel protocols but must expand their scope to new waters due to the golden mussel’s wider tolerances. Efforts include developing a new web-based reporting tool, increasing genetic lab capacity to include golden mussels, scent-training K9 units, and exploring eDNA technology for early detection. Regulatory changes are also underway: CDFW has added golden mussels to the restricted species list, banning their possession and transport, while the State Lands Commission is considering emergency ballast water regulations to prevent further spread. Other agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), are evaluating additional containment measures. Given the mussel’s potential to impact not only California but water systems nationwide, policy discussions are shifting from exclusion strategies to large-scale containment efforts requiring significant resources and coordination across federal, state, and local agencies.
It was noted that Commissioner Williams left the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
Chair Burgis asked for public comment and there was none.
12.Commissioner Comments/Announcements
Chair Burgis announced the next meeting is scheduled for March 20 with the location to be determined.
13. Adjourn
Chair Burgis adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.