Delta Happenings
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In this issue...
- Commission Member Agar Retires
- DWR Approves Delta Tunnel
- Opportunities in the Delta
- Delta Agency Meetings
- Community Events: MLK Day of Service and More
- Harmful Algal Blooms Report
NEWS
Commission Member Agar Retires
Dennis T. Agar, who has represented the California State Transportation Agency on the Delta Protection Commission for three years, retired at the end of 2023.
Agar worked for Caltrans in various capacities for 34 years. He retired as its District 10 Director, a position he held from 2014 to 2018, and from 2020 to 2023, interrupted only by a stint as HQ Division's Chief of Maintenance.
"Commissioner Agar was a dedicated public servant on the Delta Protection Commission," said Commission Executive Director Bruce Blodgett.
"He supported our mission, and he was a wealth of information on road projects in and around the Delta," Blodgett said. "His voice will be missed, but we wish him well in his retirement."
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DWR approves Delta tunnel
The Department of Water Resources approved the Delta Conveyance Project and certified its final environmental impact report on Dec. 21. Read DWR's press release here.
This approval does not mean construction is approved: DWR must seek "numerous state and federal permits or authorizations, including those required by the State Water Resources Control Board, the Delta Stewardship Council, and compliance with state and federal Endangered Species acts."
While the Delta Protection Commission weighed in (PDF) on the Environmental Impact Report, the Commission does not have authority over the project itself.
However, the DPC has been active in the Section 106 process: The National Historic Preservation Act's Section 106 requires a federal agency permitting a project - in this case, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - to consider the project’s effects on properties included or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
You can read more about the DPC's involvement here.
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OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DELTA
Opening: Motor Vessel Engineer
The Interagency Ecological Program Field Support Unit is currently seeking a Motor Vessel Engineer, "aka 'MacGyver,' where every twist of a wrench and turn of a screwdriver contributes directly to our mission. Power our exploration, protect our journey, and push the boundaries of what is possible."
Read the complete job posting here. Pay is $4,499-5,420 per month. Applicants must take an exam. This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Accrual Credit. Deadline to apply is Jan. 16.
The mission of the Interagency Ecological Program is to provide and integrate relevant and timely ecological information for management of the San Francisco Bay‐Delta ecosystem and the water that flows through it.
Opening: Tribal Representative on Delta Protection Advisory Committee
Applications for a tribal representative on the Delta Protection Advisory Committee will be accepted until the position is filled.
The committee, which meets in the evening every other month at locations in the Delta, advises the Commission on diverse interests in the Delta. The new member will serve a term that expires in 2027.
This position was added by the Delta Protection Commission in September, when it voted to expand DPAC, adding seats for a tribal representative and an additional general-public representative.
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DELTA AGENCY MEETINGS
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DELTA CONSERVANCY BOARD
The Delta Conservancy Board meets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 24. The meeting agenda will be available here after Jan. 10.
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Not sure which Delta agency is which? This fact sheet (PDF) explains the missions and roles of the Delta Protection Commission, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy and the Delta Stewardship Council.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 Jan. 5 in Benicia: First Friday at the Museum - live music, food truck, custom cocktails at the museum. 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Stone Hall, 2060 Camel Road, Benicia Museum of History.
Jan. 6 in Antioch: Hazel Atlas Mine Tour - tour of Hazel Atlas Mine. Registration required, ages 7 and up, warm clothes recommended. 1-2 p.m. at 5175 Somersville Road.
Jan. 9 in Stockton: Docent Meet & Greet - learn more about becoming a docent. 10-11:30 a.m. at the Haggin Museum, 1201 N. Pershing Ave.
Jan. 15 in Antioch: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service - help create a mural at Mission Elementary School, or participate in discussions and activities at the Antioch Senior Center. Registration required.
Jan. 27 in Concord: Contra Costa Historical Society Annual Meeting and Luncheon - "Balfour Guthrie. Brentwood. Boxed fruit: The history and importance of our East County land" is presented by area historian Carol A. Jensen. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Concord Museum & Event Center, 1928 Clayton Rd, Concord.
Harmful Algal Blooms Report
There is still a Harmful Algal Bloom danger advisory at Contra Loma Reservoir at Regional Park. STAY OUT OF THE WATER. KEEP PETS OUT OF THE WATER, AND DO NOT LET THEM EAT SCUM FROM THE SHORE. DO NOT EAT SHELLFISH FROM THE RESERVOIR.
This information may change after the release of this notice. Check for updated information at the HAB Reports Map.
Send us your Delta news, events, or photos:
submit@delta.ca.gov
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Delta Protection Commission
2101 Stone Blvd Suite 200, West Sacramento, CA 95691
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