Dignitaries do the honors of the the first Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Passport Program stamp. Shown from left to right: Delta Protection Commission Chair Diane Burgis, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, Delta NHA Advisory Committee Vice Chair Elizabeth Patterson (Photos by Delta Protection Commission/Jada Portillo)
RIO VISTA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2026) – U.S. Rep. John Garamendi and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (NHA) celebrated the launch of the NHA’s Passport Program Saturday at RioVision Gallery in Rio Vista.
The Gallery hosts one of 27 self-serve “stamping stations” located throughout the Delta NHA, where visitors can stamp the NHA’s name, the date, and the city of the stamping station in passports. The passports are available from Eastern National, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service that administers the nationwide passport program. But people who don’t have a passport can stamp any piece of paper.
Locals and visitors alike can find stamping station locations, as well as other nearby attractions, on an interactive map or in list form.
The Delta National Heritage Area is one of 44 NHAs that participate in the Passport to Your National Parks Program, in addition to nearly all parks in the National Park System. Many travelers become avid collectors of stamps that commemorate their visits to some of the nation’s most beautiful and historically significant places.
Attendees on Saturday had the opportunity to stamp their passports alongside Garamendi, Delta Protection Commission (DPC) Executive Director Amanda Bohl, and DPC Chair Diane Burgis. The DPC coordinates the National Heritage Area.
Garamendi was a key supporter in Congress in the creation of the NHA – California’s first – in 2019.
On Saturday, he told the gathered audience that he began participating in the Passport to Your National Parks program the 1990s.
“As we’ve traveled in the years since that time, we’ve always carried a passport with us,” he said, calling it an extraordinary opportunity to remember where they were and what they did when visiting places of historic, cultural, and natural significance.
All photos by Delta Protection Commission/Jada Portillo
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2026) – Congressman John Garamendi has announced the launch of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area’s Passport Program, a brand-new way to experience the cultural and natural riches of the California Delta.
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 28, Congressman Garamendi and the Delta Protection Commission (DPC) will commemorate this new program with a ceremonial first passport stamp during the city of Rio Vista’s Lunar New Year Celebration.
“I have spent my career fighting to protect and elevate the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, and today I’m proud to partner with the Delta Protection Commission and Diane Burgis to launch California’s first and only National Heritage Area Passport Program,” said Congressman Garamendi. “This exciting new initiative will inspire a new generation to explore the Delta’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant communities. Through the Passport Program, visitors can capture stories, preserve memories, and discover America’s natural and cultural treasures in a hands-on way. I invite everyone to visit the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area and experience the Delta for themselves.”
“The Passport program provides residents and visitors with a fun opportunity to explore the Delta and appreciate the tremendous variety of landscapes and communities within the NHA,” says Delta Protection Commission Chair and Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis. “We are thrilled to be part of a popular National Park Service program that enhances the region’s connection to America’s important cultural, historic, and natural resources.”
California’s first and only National Heritage Area (NHA) established Passport stamping stations as part of the “Passport to Your National Parks” program to inspire visitation and exploration of this unique and culturally significant region.
Encouraging travelers to “capture stories, preserve memories, and discover America’s natural and historical treasures,” the Passport Program provides stations at Delta venues where visitors can access free cancellation stamps to create a lasting memento of their adventures. Official passports may be purchased through the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.
Delta NHA sites offering Passport cancellation stations range from museums and libraries to California State Historic Parks and nature preserves. Locations span four of the five counties that make up the NHA: Sacramento County, Yolo County, Contra Costa County, and Solano County.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in 2019 and is managed by the Delta Protection Commission, which supports the region’s economic development while preserving its historical and cultural significance.
There are 62 National Heritage Areas across the United States. NHAs support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational initiatives through public-private partnerships.
For more information about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Passport Program, contact Blake Roberts or Kira O’Donnell at the numbers listed above.
To learn more about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, view the NHA fact sheet and Management Plan (PDF), visit the Delta Protection Commission’s website, or call (916) 375-4800.
The Delta Protection Commission (DPC) is teaming up with Honey, a design and marketing studio in Sacramento, to create a Tourism Brand and Marketing Plan for the NHA that will promote sustainable tourism and economic development in the region by encouraging responsible use of, and visitation to, the Delta’s unique resources and communities.
“This project is a significant step,” says Program Manager Blake Roberts. “For two decades, we collaborated with our Congressional delegation and the public to establish the NHA. Now we are excited to embark on an important effort that will demonstrate to visitors what a special place the Delta truly is.”
Honey “believes strong branding begins with listening,” says the agency’s president Maggie Hamilton Giordanengo. “We are honored to immerse ourselves in the voices, values, and lived experiences of the Delta communities to craft a brand that inspires sustainable tourism.”
The rollout of the plan will include public outreach, market research and the creation of a brand toolkit. The project is expected to be completed by late June of 2026.
The NHA is managed by the DPC, which is committed to supporting the region’s economic development and the preservation of its historical and cultural significance.
There are 62 National Heritage Areas in the United States. NHAs support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects through public-private partnerships.
For more information about the Delta NHA Tourism Branding and Marketing plan, contact Kira O’Donnell, NHA information officer, kira.odonnell@delta.ca.gov, (530) 650-6362; or Blake Roberts, NHA program manager, blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov, (530) 650-6572.
The incumbents, who are all eligible to serve additional terms, are Dwayne Eubanks, David Stuart, Dan Whaley, Stuart Walthall, and alternate Paulette Hennum.
The committee, governed by this charter (PDF), advises the Delta Protection Commission about implementation of the National Heritage Area Management Plan (PDF) and acts as ambassadors to the diverse partners and communities in the NHA.
The committee is chaired by the Delta Protection Commission Executive Director or their designee, and includes two members of the Delta Protection Commission, 12 members of the public, and non-voting ex officio members representing the Legislature and public agencies.
Interested members of the public may apply to serve on this committee through 5 p.m. July 18. The Delta Protection Commission is expected to make the appointments Sept. 18.
Committee members are expected to attend six bimonthly in-person meetings per year, which are held in and around the NHA at rotating locations.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 23, 2025) – The Sacramento Valley Section of the American Planning Association gave the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan (PDF) its Planning Excellence Award.
The 2025 APA SVS Awards “celebrate and recognize local planning superstars” and their innovative plans and projects.
“The jury was very impressed that this is the first National Heritage Area in California and appreciated the multidisciplinary nature of the plan,” said Nikki Zanchetta, APA SVS Awards Coordinator. “Several of the jury members were also impressed with how well written, organized, and engaging the document was to read.”
SVS APA’s recognition of the Management Plan “highlights the value of excellent planning in building strong and resilient communities in National Heritage Areas,” said Blake Roberts, Program Manager for the Delta Protection Commission. The DPC is the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area.
This is the second award bestowed on the DPC by the SVS APA. In 2018, the organization honored the DPC with its Local Vision Award for the Delta Leadership Program.
The Sacramento Valley Section will honor all 2025 award recipients on Oct. 15.
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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2026) – Congressman John Garamendi has announced the launch of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area’s 
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 5, 2025) – Established by Congress in 2019, the 
The incumbents, who are all eligible to serve additional terms, are Dwayne Eubanks, David Stuart, Dan Whaley, Stuart Walthall, and alternate Paulette Hennum.
