Amanda Bohl
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2025) – The Delta Protection Commission has appointed Amanda Bohl as its next Executive Director. She is expected to join the Commission on Oct. 20.
Bohl currently serves on the executive management team of the Delta Stewardship Council, where she is the Special Assistant for Planning and Science. There, she leads the Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee (DPIIC) and guides cooperation among the 18 state and federal agencies – including the Delta Protection Commission – involved in the Delta Plan.
Prior to joining the Council in 2016, Bohl was the Economic Development Lead for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. There, she managed the Delta Marketing Project and helped develop the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 Grant Program, which funded water quality and ecosystem restoration grants.
“The Delta is one of our greatest treasures, rich in natural resources, agriculture, history, and diverse communities,” said Diane Burgis, Chair of the Delta Protection Commission and Contra Costa County’s District 3 Supervisor.
“We were fortunate to have an outstanding pool of candidates. Moving forward, I’m excited about the Delta Protection Commission’s appointment of Amanda Bohl. She brings the vision, leadership, and understanding needed to navigate the complexities of this unique and vital region.”
Bohl has spent her career focused on people’s connection to the land. “When I think of the Delta Protection Commission, I think of landscapes, the land, places,” she said. “I also think of the best of public service and what government can do to protect places.”
She grew up in Amador County, but her childhood was steeped in Delta life. She enjoyed boating and camping in the Delta with her parents and grandparents, and still remembers the family’s drive to Rio Vista in 1985 to see Humphrey the Whale.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Delta Protection Commission and to be serving the Delta in this new capacity,” Bohl said. “With new challenges and opportunities on the horizon, the Commission’s mission to protect, maintain, enhance, and enrich the overall quality of the Delta environment and economy has never been more important.”
Bohl has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Southern Oregon University and a master’s degree in community development from the University of California, Davis. She is a 2014 Water Education Foundation Water Leader, and serves on the board of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 5, 2025) – Established by Congress in 2019, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area – California’s first and only National Heritage Area (NHA) – is set to be branded and marketed.
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.
For more information about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA, see our fact sheet (PDF) and the NHA Management Plan (PDF), visit the DPC’s website or call (916) 375-4800.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 17, 2025) – The Delta Protection Commission has scheduled public workshops on July 15 and 17 to hear about the impacts of farmland conversion for habitat and flood control projects on farmers, reclamation districts, and other affected parties.
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Agriculture is a cornerstone of the Delta economy, and changes to farmland use can create challenges for those who rely on it.
Preliminary research by Delta Protection Commission staff suggests that more Delta farmland is being converted for habitat and flood management projects than for urban development. Additional conversions are planned. UPDATE: The preliminary results of our study are now available (PDF).
The Delta Protection Commission is preparing a report to better understand the scale and impacts of these changes, and to offer practical, achievable recommendations to prevent negative impacts.
Input from these workshops will be included in the final report, “Delta Farmland Conversions: Water Supply, Flood Control, and Habitat Projects,” which is expected to be presented to the Delta Protection Commission in September.
Workshop dates, times and locations are:
Following the second workshop, the Delta Protection Commission will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. at the same location as the workshop: The Point Restaurant. At that meeting, staff will share a summary of input received at the workshops.
Sign Up
To attend, please use the sign-up form below to ensure adequate seating is available at each workshop.
DPC Chair Diane Burgis
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 6, 2025) – The Delta Protection Commission is seeking a new Executive Director to guide protection and enhancement of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
The DPC is one of three Delta-focused state agencies, and the only one overseen by an independent Commission composed mainly of elected representatives of Delta counties, cities, and reclamation districts.
“The Delta is rich in natural resources, agricultural production, history, and diverse communities and cultures. But it’s also a fragile place that needs our protection and support,” said Commission Chair Diane Burgis, who is a Contra Costa County supervisor.
“We’re looking for someone who can navigate the complexities of working with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies while providing strong vision, leadership, and direction for a staff of eight,” Burgis said.
More details, including key attributes of an ideal candidate, are available here.
What the DPC Does
The functions of the DPC include:
Land Use: Protecting 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: Promoting 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: Fostering 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.
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.
It also advocates for Delta interests with regard to the proposed Delta Conveyance Project.
Applying
To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, immediately submit your resume, cover letter, and a list of six work-related references (two supervisors, two direct reports, and two colleagues, who will not be contacted until final stages and only with prior permission of the candidate). Resume should reflect years and months of employment, beginning/ending dates, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed.
Resume review will begin the morning of Monday, July 7, 2025.
Please submit your application here.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 2, 2025) – The Delta Protection Commission is accepting applications for four seats and additional alternates on its Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Advisory Committee.
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.
Apply for the openings here, or use the form below.
If you have questions, please email dpc@delta.ca.gov.
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.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2025) – The Delta Protection Commission has named Dan Ray of Davis as its Interim Executive Director, effective Feb. 27.
Ray will oversee the agency’s day-to-day operations and manage its staff of eight.
Ray retired as Chief Deputy Executive Officer of the Delta Stewardship Council in 2017 and subsequently worked as a retired annuitant for the Commission.
Previously, he served in the Department of Water Resources Delta Levees Program, the California Bay Delta Authority, and the CalFed Bay Delta Program.
He also served as Chief of California State Parks’ Planning Division, where he represented State Parks on the Delta Protection Commission.
Earlier in his career Dan developed management programs on the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and California’s coast.
“Dan brings a wealth of experience to this role,” said Commission Chair and Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis. “We are grateful that Dan has agreed to come out of retirement to take on this role temporarily. The Commission will also be moving forthwith to recruit and select a new permanent Executive Director.”
UPDATE: The final Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan (26MB PDF) is now available.
West Sacramento, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2025) – The U.S. Department of Interior today approved the Management Plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (Delta NHA).
“The Delta Protection Commission developed a plan that promotes the continued appreciation and protection of the natural, historic, and cultural resources associated with the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, a place important to our nation’s history and heritage,” wrote Charles F. Sams III, Director of the National Park Service.
“We commend you for completing this well-conceived plan and for involving the interested Tribes, citizens, and organizations in the five counties of the Delta region.”
The Delta NHA, created by Congress in 2019 (PDF), is California’s first and only National Heritage Area. The Delta Protection Commission, a California state agency, was designated the local coordinating entity for the Delta NHA.
“We are grateful to Interior for its approval,” said DPC Executive Director Bruce Blodgett. “The Management Plan is critical for the success of the NHA, because it serves as a guide for the DPC and the NHA partnership network going forward.”
Diane Burgis, Chair of the Delta Protection Commission, also lauded Interior’s action. “The Delta is precious and fragile,” she said. “It is a national treasure, worthy of recognition, celebration, and protection. The approval of the Management Plan acknowledges that and assures us that we are on the right path.”
The NHA
The NHA’s boundary extends from Sacramento to Stockton to Vallejo with the junction of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers at its heart (see map below).
The Management Plan outlines five broad themes that will be celebrated as implementation moves forward:
- Water: Precious Lifeblood for the Delta and California – The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is California’s oasis, located at the center of the state’s water challenges and opportunities, and a water passage between the Pacific Ocean and inland California.
- The Beating Heart of Natural California – The Delta lies at the center of California’s biological and physical environment, supporting numerous biologically diverse species and connecting California’s freshwater resources to the Pacific Ocean.
- Abundance, Diversity, Resistance, and Survival – Native Americans in the Delta – Native Americans thrived in the Delta prior to European settlement, developing complex and diverse societies, deeply rooted in the landscape, that have endured despite existential threats such as disease and genocide.
- The Delta Becomes California’s Cornucopia – Through capital, human labor, and technology, the Delta became one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, with the ability to grow a large variety of crops, farmed by large and small operations.
- Cultural Influences of the Delta – Enduring Legacies of American, Asian, European, and Latin American Immigrants: Bringing their own ambition and skills to the Delta, cultural and ethnic communities from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States shaped the region’s agriculture and industry during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century and continue to leave an indelible imprint on the landscape.
Next Steps
The Management Plan will go to the Commission for final approval in March.
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Media contact: Bruce Blodgett, Executive Director, Delta Protection Commission, (530) 650-6811 or bruce.blodgett@delta.ca.gov.
The Management Plan:
OAKLEY, Calif. (July 19, 2024) – The Delta Protection Commission created a new advisory committee on Thursday to recommend policies, processes, and governance as the Commission implements the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan.
The National Heritage Area Advisory Committee is governed by the charter (PDF) approved Thursday. It succeeds the NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee, whose work is done now that the Management Plan has been submitted to the National Park Service.
In addition to advising the Commission, Committee members act 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 has two members of the Delta Protection Commission and 12 members of the public. There will also be non-voting ex officio members representing the Legislature and public agencies.
Interested members of the public may apply to serve on this committee through 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16. The Delta Protection Commission is expected to make the appointments Sept. 19.
Committee members are expected to attend six bimonthly in-person meetings per year, which are held in the NHA at rotating locations. Four seats will expire in September 2025, four in September 2026, and four in September 2027. The expiration date for individual seats will be chosen randomly at the first NHA Advisory Committee meeting.
Apply for the openings here, or use the form below.
If you have questions, please email dpc@delta.ca.gov.
Top: Commissioners Paul Steele (left) and Jim Paroli (right). Bottom L-R: Commissioner Alan Nakanishi, NHA Advisory Committee Chair Elizabeth Patterson, DPC Program Manager Blake Roberts
HOOD, Calif. (March 7, 2024) – The Delta Protection Commission (DPC) today approved a draft of the Management Plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (Delta NHA) to submit to the Secretary of the Interior.
“There’s no place in the world like the Delta, with its unique geology, ecology, and history,” said Commission Chair Diane Burgis. “The Management Plan is our roadmap for how we talk about our history and how different agencies and community groups throughout the Delta’s five counties can work together to celebrate our shared heritage.
“Approving the Plan today is a big step toward receiving federal support and starting work on the ground,” she said.
The Commission’s action follows a 30-day public comment period on the draft plan. This is a critical part of the process, because unlike National Parks, National Heritage Areas are large, lived-in spaces. Local communities’ input is essential.
“We are so grateful to everyone who took time to attend meetings, review and comment on the draft Management Plan, and write letters of commitment,” said DPC Executive Director Bruce Blodgett. “Your input makes the plan stronger, and the partnerships that will come from letters of commitment ensure the Delta NHA becomes a vibrant resource that all Californians can be proud of.”
Among its supporters are members of the Delta’s Congressional Delegation: John Garamendi, Josh Harder, Ami Bera, Mike Thompson, Mark DeSaulnier, and Doris Matsui. They noted in support letters that approval of the management plan is key to unlocking funding authorized by Congress for the NHA – up to $10 million over 10 years.
The Delta National Heritage Area – the first and so far only NHA in California – was created in 2019 by Congress (PDF). It is one of 62 NHAs – places where historic, cultural, and natural resources create cohesive, nationally important landscapes.
The NHA’s boundary extends from Sacramento to Stockton to Vallejo with the junction of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers at its heart. The history of California’s Delta and Carquinez Strait is a rich tapestry of indigenous peoples and immigrants from around the world, natural beauty and wildlife and engineering marvels, bustling metropolitan areas and picturesque rural towns. The native peat soils provide for fertile cropland and its water supports 27 million Californians.
The Delta Protection Commission, a California state agency, was designated the local coordinating entity for the Delta NHA. It drafted the Management Plan in cooperation with the commission’s Delta NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee, the National Park Service, California State Parks, tribes, and stakeholders.
The Management Plan will now be submitted to the National Park Service, under the Secretary of the Interior, for approval, a process that could take six months. After federal approval, the plan will come back to the Commission for a final vote, and implementation of the plan can begin.
Media contact: Blake Roberts, (530) 650-6572 or blake.roberts@delta.ca.gov
