To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Report Title: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
AUTHORIZE the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to sign letter of commitment to the Delta Protection Commission for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The Delta Reform Act of 2009 called on the Delta Protection Commission (DPC) to pursue federal designation of the Delta as a National Heritage Area. National Heritage Areas are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, historic, and recreation resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. They are a grassroot, community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Designated local coordinating entities collaborate with local partners to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs.
After years of tireless efforts by Congressman John Garamendi and Senator Dianne Feinstein, legislation establishing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (NHA) and designating the Commission as the local coordinating entity was signed into law on March 12, 2019. The Commission's first primary task is to prepare and receive approval from the Secretary of Interior for a management plan. The Congressional deadline for submitting the management plan is March 12, 2024, five years after designation. The management plan will outline the significance and purpose of the NHA, as well as the activities that the Commission and a regional network of partners will undertake through the 15-year authorization period ending in 2034.
DPC staff released the public review draft management plan for public review on February 5, 2024. Regional and nationwide National Park Service staff are conducting a concurrent review of the plan. The manage...
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