Delta Happenings
In this issue
EVENTS
NEWS
JOBS
ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK
ONGOING
DELTA AGENCY MEETINGS
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EVENTS
 Upcoming events in the Delta include:
- Enjoy museum exhibits, a petting zoo, games, music, quilts, and ice cream at the East Contra Costa Historical Society's Opening Day on April 4.
- Keep Antioch Beautiful at a volunteer cleanup on April 18.
- Interact with nature and wildlife at the family-oriented California Duck Days April 25 at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters in Davis.
Submit your Delta event for the calendar here.
NEWS
Delta Conservation Incentive Program Workshop: March 26
 Farmers can learn about available incentive programs for bird habitat and conservation incentive programs at a workshop 1-3 p.m. Thursday, March 26, on Staten Island.
A variety of programs pay farmers for efforts that aid conservation, such as flooding for migratory birds at key times of the year, stopping subsidence, and converting row crops to bird-friendly rice. There is also an egg salvage program in which California Waterfowl will rescue duck nests from fields before they are disced, mowed, or harvested at no cost to farmers.
The workshop is hosted by the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership and offers the chance to connect with other key partners, including California Waterfowl and the California Ricelands Waterbird Foundation.
RSVP here or email birds@TNC.org.
LAO Report: Bay-Delta Plan
The Legislative Analyst's Office last week released a report on the Bay-Delta Plan: The Bay Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight.
Its key takeaways:
- Long Delays in Updating the Bay‑Delta Plan Further Threaten Native Fish
- (State Water Resources Control) Board Likely to Adopt VAs, Which Theoretically Could Balance Multiple Competing Goals
- …Yet Significant Uncertainties About VAs Remain
- Legislature Has Important Oversight Role
Save the Date: Interweaving Traditional Knowledge Roundtable Series
 An Interweaving Traditional Knowledge Roundtable Series kicks off on June 30. The series will explore traditional knowledge, tribal history and collaborative approaches to stewardship in the Delta and its watershed.
The series is co-hosted by the Delta Stewardship Council, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and the California Indian Environmental Alliance.
The second and third roundtables will be held July 14 and July 28. All will have virtual attendance options; the third will be virtual only.
'Halt the Hitchhiker' Invasive Species Challenge: Cash for Winning Ideas
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation launched a new three-phase prize challenge to identify innovative solutions that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species through watercraft ballast compartments.
The Halt the Hitchhiker: Invasive Species Challenge seeks approaches that can kill, exclude, or inactivate aquatic invasive species while remaining safe for watercraft, users, and the environment.
Phase 1 - Concept Papers: Up to six winners will receive up to $25,000 each for proposing novel, non-harmful ballast inspection or decontamination concepts.
Phase 2 - Virtual Pitch: Phase 1 winners will present virtual pitches demonstrating a path to engineered design. Up to three winners will receive up to $50,000 each.
Phase 3 - Prototype Development: Phase 2 winners will develop prototypes for laboratory-scale testing. Up to three winners will receive the following maximum amounts: First Prize: up to $125,000, Second Prize: up to $75,000, Third Prize: up to $50,000, pursuant on meeting criteria.
Photo Gallery: Three Sisters Gardens Spring Skills Share
 See photos from a day filled with laughter, curiosity, and dirty hands at a West Sacramento community garden skills workshop last weekend.
DPC Annual Report Available
The 2025 Annual Report for the Delta Protection Commission is now available online in both text and PDF form.
Antioch Desalination Project Honored
The City of Antioch's Brackish Water Desalination Project has been named a 2026 Project Award winner by the American Public Works Association Northern California Chapter.
JOBS
Delta Protection Commission: Sr. Environmental Planner - 4/20 Deadline
The Delta Protection Commission is hiring a Senior Environmental Planner with responsibilities that are key to the DPC’s mission: land use and levees.
This Senior Environmental Planner will perform planning, project development, and grants management; conduct analytical studies; formulate procedures and policies; make recommendations to the Executive Director on a broad spectrum of program-related issues that impact the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; and represent the Commission as assigned.
Applications close April 20.
Delta Conservancy: Sr. Environmental Scientist - 3/31 Deadline
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy is hiring a Senior Environmental Scientist to lead and manage complex ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation projects.
This person will also collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders; federal, state, and local agencies; non-governmental organizations; and Native American Tribes.
Applications close March 31.
Seasonal Job: Small Craft Operator for USFWS in Lodi - Extended to 3/31
The Interagency Ecological Program is seeking a small craft operator to support the Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Program and Enhanced Delta Smelt Monitoring Program.
The position is for seasonal work lasting less than six months, and is based out of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lodi office. Applications close March 31.
ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK
Route 4 Delta Pavement Improvement Project
Caltrans has a $22 million project to repair and upgrade nine miles of State Route 4 between the Old River Bridge east of Discovery Bay and South Whiskey Slough Road in Holt.
Overnight, one-way traffic control will be in place at various eastbound and westbound locations Sundays-Thursdays. Two 55-hour/weekend-long full highway closures will take place on dates to be announced.
The project is expected to be complete in February 2027. Learn more.
Marine Traffic Closures of Eight Mile Road Bridges to Continue through March 27
The marine-traffic closures of Eight Mile Road bridges over Honker Cut and Bishop Cut are expected to continue through March 27. The closures are part of a project to rehabilitate the mechanical and electrical systems on movable-span bridges in San Joaquin County. Learn more (PDF).
Caltrans Work on Old River Bridge on SR-4
Upgrades and repairs of the Old River Bridge on State Route 4, located at the San Joaquin/Contra Costa county line, east of Discovery Bay, will result in 24-hour one-way traffic controls through November. Learn more (PDF).
ONGOING
Applications Open for Delta Protection Advisory Committee
Applications to fill five seats on the Delta Protection Advisory Committee are open through Tuesday, March 31. The terms of five Committee seats expire in May 2026: Delta Organization (Mariah Looney), Delta Agriculture Seat 1 (Jeff Iniguez), Delta Recreation (vacant), State Agency (Edward Hard), Utilities-Related Infrastructure (Sam Garcia). Incumbents are eligible to reapply. Learn more and apply.
DELTA AGENCY MEETINGS
The 2026 schedule for the Delta Protection Commission's public bodies is here. The schedule includes meeting packets as they become available, and approved minutes.
March 25: Delta NHA Advisory Committee meets. The agenda is posted here.
March 25: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy meets. The agenda is posted here.
March 26: Delta Stewardship Council meets. The agenda is posted here.
April 1: Delta Independent Science Board meets. The agenda is posted here.
April 7: Delta Protection Advisory Committee meets. The agenda will be posted here at least 10 days in advance.
May 21: Delta Protection Commission meets at 5 p.m. The agenda will be posted here at least 10 days in advance.
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.
Send us your Delta news, events, or photos:
submit@delta.ca.gov
The DPC is on social media:
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Delta Protection Commission
2101 Stone Blvd Suite 200, West Sacramento, CA 95691
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