Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Sets Its Eyes on Collaboration

Stakeholders and community members attended the Delta Heritage Forum, where they heard stories of the rich and diverse history of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and had the opportunity to meet up to  collaborate on heritage projects.

Delta Protection Commission

In March 2019, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area was designated as California’s first and only National Heritage Area (NHA). Recognizing the importance of developing strong and diverse partnerships, the Delta Protection Commission, which serves as the management entity for the NHA, held a community forum to foster collaboration and provide a platform for sharing stories of the region’s rich heritage.

Sessions covered a variety of topics, from the history of Filipino farm workers to the role of agricultural tourism at family farms, such as Steamboat Acres in Courtland (above).

Delta Protection Commission

The Delta Heritage Forum took place in early June at the historic Jean Harvie Community Center in Walnut Grove. The free, all-day event featured panels and presentations about the Delta’s history and culture—and ways to actively preserve and share it. The gathering was also an opportunity for members of the Delta’s communities and stakeholders to meet and network. More than 70 people attended, including representatives from community organizations, cultural institutions, and government agencies, as well as individuals drawn there by personal interest in the Delta’s nationally important resources.

Nicknamed “California’s cornucopia,” the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is among the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. Its agricultural wealth has long attracted immigrants from around the globe. Its connection to the Pacific Ocean has made it an important water highway and strategic naval location throughout history and today. The mission of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA is to protect and enhance the unique cultural, recreational, and natural resources and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving, living landscape.

The forum took place in Walnut Grove, CA, at the historic Jean Harvie Community Center, which was built in 1926 as an elementary school.

Delta Protection Commission

Blake Roberts, Senior Environmental Planner of the Delta Protection Commission, explained that he hopes the participants in the forum will serve as a core group of partners in the future development of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA.


Discover more news and stories from America's National Heritage Areas.