Delta Protection Advisory Committee

    The Delta Protection Advisory Committee (DPAC) provides recommendations to the Delta Protection Commission on diverse interests within the Delta, including the Delta’s ecosystem, water supply, socioeconomic sustainability, recreation, agriculture, flood control, environment, water resources, utility infrastructure, and other Delta issues. This fifteen-member committee is appointed by the Commission and meets regularly; members serve three-year terms and may be re-appointed. Meetings are open to the public and everyone’s input is welcome.

    The Committee was created by the Delta Protection Act, Public Resources Code Section 29753(a). This is its Charter (PDF).

    You can see the Committee’s meeting schedule here.

    DPAC Members

    Term expiration years are in parentheses; all terms expire in May of the given year.

    Delta General Public:

    Delta Water Exporter: Russ Ryan (Vice Chair), Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (2028)

    Delta Agriculture:

    • Seat 1: Jeff Iniguez, Wilson Farms vineyard manager (2026)
    • Seat 2: Craig Watanabe, Mandeville Island/CCRC Farms, 2016 alum of Delta Leadership Program (2027)

    Delta Business:

    • Seat 2: Emily Pappalardo, principal engineer and partner in DCC Engineering Co. Inc. in Walnut Grove, 2016 alum of Delta Leadership Program  (2027)
    • Seat 1: Arron Pellarin, Village West Marina in Stockton (2028)

    Delta Conservation/Habitat Non-governmental Organization: Jerred Dixon, Nature Conservancy/Staten Island (2028)

    Delta Cultural Preservation: Douglas Hsia, Locke Foundation, 2022 alum of Delta Leadership Program (2027)

    Delta Flood Entity: Jeffrey Twitchell, flood protection engineering consultant (2028)

    Delta Organization: Mariah Looney, Restore the Delta (2026)

    Delta Recreation:

    • Seat 1: Todd Bruce, Delta Recreationist (2026)
    • Seat 2: Morris Lum, Recreational Boaters of CA, 2022 alum of Delta Leadership Program (2027)

    Delta Utility/Infrastructure: Sam Garcia, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (2026)

    Delta Tribe: Steven Hutchason, Wilton Rancheria (2027)

    State Agency:

    • Seat 2: Erin Chappell, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (2027)
    • Seat 1: Edward Hard, California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways (2026)

    Ex-Officio Members

    • Heather Swinney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2025 alum of Delta Leadership Program
    • Jessica Fischer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    • Mario Manzo, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
    • Jeff Henderson, Delta Stewardship Council
    • Campbell Ingram, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

    For more information contact Executive Director Amanda Bohl.

    If you are interested in receiving updates, join our mailing list.