2024 Annual Report

Below are highlights from the Delta Conservancy’s work in 2024, grouped by goals set in the Conservancy’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan:

•  Goal 1 : Enhance ecological conservation, restoration, and climate adaptation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh.

•  Goal 2 : Support economically and ecologically sustainable working lands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh.

•  Goal 3 : Support and enhance communities and economies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh.

•  Goal 4 : Enrich understanding of the ecological, cultural, and historical value of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh; the importance of resilience, diversity, and inclusivity; and the need for stewardship.

•  Goal 5 : Maintain an effective, sustainable, adaptable, and inclusive organization.

The interactive map below shows projects that were awarded funding and or became active in 2024.

The Delta Conservancy's Ecological Restoration and Climate Adaptation Program focuses on restoring critical ecosystems in the Delta while enhancing the region’s resilience to climate change. The program is a critical tool for the Conservancy to fulfill its mission and meet the state’s goals of climate resilience,  30x30  (conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030), Nature Based Solutions,  Outdoors for All , and more.

Projects Completed: Under the  Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014  (Proposition 1), Conservancy-funded projects have benefited more than 11,350 acres of habitat in the Delta. Examples of projects funded include restoration of riparian and wetland habitat, invasive species control and monitoring, and flood management. In all, the Conservancy has approved $42 million for 34 Proposition 1 grants. Three Proposition 1 projects were completed in 2024. As of December 2024, there were 11 active Proposition 1 projects and 23 closed projects.

An essential function of the Conservancy is to work with partners to solve critical conservation challenges and advance collective work in the Delta.

To support the Conservancy’s guiding principles to work collaboratively and use the best available science, the Conservancy co-leads the  Delta Interagency Invasive Species (DIISC) Team  made up of invasive species experts. The Delta is one of the world’s most heavily invaded estuaries, with at least 185 non-native species present and more species likely to arrive.  In October , the  golden mussel , an invasive, non-native bivalve, was discovered in the Delta, marking the first known occurrence in North America. The DIISC Team is a partner in the ongoing efforts to coordinate the response to this emerging infestation.

The DIISC Team exchanges information, coordinates activities, and identifies research needs and funding sources. The DIISC Team holds quarterly coordination meetings and organizes a biennial Delta Invasive Species Symposium.

In 2024, staff began facilitating a DIISC Team working group to develop general guidance for adaptive management of invasive aquatic vegetation in tidal wetland restoration sites and expect to release the guidance in 2025. DIISC Team leadership also attended the Suisun Resource Conservation District fall landowner workshop and presented on the role of connectivity and early detection in aquatic weed management, which were the topics of the 2023 and 2021 Delta Invasive Species symposiums.

The Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee (DPIIC) Restoration Subcommittee, which is led by staff from the Conservancy and the Delta Stewardship Council, was formed in 2022 to identify and implement strategies for reducing barriers to landscape-scale restoration and increasing estuary-wide restoration coordination, as recommended in the  Delta Plan’s ecosystem chapter .

In 2024, the DPIIC Restoration Subcommittee discussed the impacts, risks, and management of invasive aquatic vegetation in tidal wetland restoration projects and presented an update on the Restoration Subcommittee’s work to the full DPIIC. Materials from the fall 2023 Delta Restoration Forum were also summarized and  shared online , allowing the information to be seen by a wider audience.

At its November 13 meeting, the Restoration Subcommittee attended a series of site visits in the south Delta to highlight restoration opportunities, the role of restoration in levee maintenance, and the relationship between restoration and agriculture in the region. Among others, the subcommittee visited the site of the Van Buskirk Multi-Benefit Ecosystem Restoration Planning Project, which is one of the Conservancy’s Proposition 1-funded projects.

Within the  Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation Program  are  Nature-Based Solutions: Wetland Restoration  projects funded by the Conservancy. In 2024, the Conservancy advanced nature-based solutions on more than 11,000 deeply subsided acres in the Delta by funding four new projects totaling $34.2 million. Projects include planning, implementation, and acquisition of property for habitat restoration and incentivizing farmers to convert existing agriculture to wildlife/carbon-friendly rice, which will bring about significant improvements to the land’s resilience and economic viability.

Throughout the year, the Conservancy’s executive team and other staff facilitated several tours in the Delta to provide education on the region’s needs and highlight nature-based solutions projects.

The  Delta Drought Response Pilot Program  (DDRPP) was launched to test drought-resistant field management practices in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed given its unique hydrology. Under the program, farmers received financial incentives to reduce their water use and protect wildlife and water quality in the Delta. The collaborative program has helped improve mutual understanding of agricultural practices and water conservation opportunities within the Legal Delta.

In June, Conservancy staff held a forum on the program at the Ryde Hotel. The event had approximately 50 attendees, including grantees, community members, and other interested parties. Participants heard about the outcomes of the program, shared their experiences, and offered feedback.

In July, the Conservancy released  a final report on outcomes of the 2023 DDRPP program . Participants of the Conservancy’s July Board meeting also took part in a site visit to get a firsthand look at a DDRPP project where water conservation practices are still being implemented. As part of a multi-year study, a UC Davis research team is using micrometeorological stations to continue collecting data at six sites that were enrolled in the program. The collected measurements will help inform remote sensing technologies and improve future drought response.

The Delta Fish Friendly Farming (FFF) Program, a collaboration with farmers, was designed to improve water quality near working lands in the Delta and encourage best management practices. Projects included a water recirculation pump and native hedgerows to reduce pesticide drift.

The FFF certification aids farmers in increasing income through marketing and serves as an approved compliance pathway for the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, reducing regulatory burdens.

More than 10,000 acres of farmland were enrolled in the Delta FFF Program. Water quality improvement projects were certified from December 2023 through February 2024.

With funding from the SWRCB, the Conservancy contracted with the California Land Stewardship Institute (CLSI) to implement the program.

Learn more about the Delta FFF Program by visiting  CLSI’s website  and reading this  Delta Protection Commission article on sustainable agriculture .

The Conservancy's Community Enhancement Program is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Delta residents by fostering economic vitality, recreational opportunities, and cultural preservation in the region.

In 2024, the Conservancy funded four new community projects for $1.8 million, including planning for a public fishing dock, a new museum, enhancements to an existing museum, and acquisition of properties for gateway monuments. The projects are funded by  Proposition 68 , which was approved by voters in 2018 and is for projects that enhance Delta communities and keep them economically strong. Four previously funded Prop 68 projects were completed in 2024.

Proposition 68 requires that 20 percent of the allocation go to projects that support Severely Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs). As of January 2025, 94 percent of the Conservancy’s Proposition 68-funded grants support SDACs.

Climate Resilience, Community Access, and Natural Resource Protection (CAR) funding also supports the Conservancy’s Community Enhancement Program, and there are currently five active CAR projects.

In all, the program has committed $16.5 million for 16 projects across the Delta, including funding for welcome and educational centers, park improvements, museums, and increasing public access.

The Delta Conservancy helps organize and participates in cleanup events to educate and promote awareness of the importance of protecting and improving water quality in the Delta for both humans and wildlife.

The Conservancy and the Rio Vista Windsports Association partnered to hold two waterway cleanups on Sherman Island in 2024. As part of Coastal Cleanup Day in September, staff and volunteers collected enough trash along the Sacramento River on Sherman Island to fill a 40-yard dumpster (generously donated by Waste Management). Staff also volunteered at a cleanup in Rio Vista/Sandy Beach.

Education and enrichment are important components of the Conservancy’s programs and are reflected in its initiatives. Additionally, a robust communications strategy is essential to effectively engage interested parties, promote the Conservancy's mission, and advocate for the Delta’s ecological and economic wellbeing.

In 2024, Conservancy staff participated in an array of in-person events, including the State of the Estuary Conference in Oakland, Native American Day at the Capitol, and the Bay-Delta Science Conference in downtown Sacramento.

Conservancy staff also designated time to educate California students, including participating in field days organized by the Center for Land-Based Learning’s Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program and speaking to high school and college students about the Delta’s importance and complexities.

To further the Conservancy’s commitment to serving the Delta community and the state of California as a whole, it remains critical that the Conservancy address equity issues and work to remove barriers to accessing state resources, employment, and Conservancy programs.

In 2024, the Conservancy assessed barriers in the grant system that inhibit equal access to state funding and barriers in the hiring process; provided technical assistance to applicants and grantees from small organizations and underrepresented communities; and increased our knowledge and tools by participating in trainings and workgroups.

Additionally, the Conservancy’s Disability Advisory Committee held quarterly meetings and staff-wide informational sessions on disability etiquette, increasing accessibility outdoors, and creating accessible documents.

The Conservancy also made progress on improving tribal engagement:

• Leadership completed training on tribal consultation and initiated our first consultation in December.
• Staff had booths at two tribal events.
• The Conservancy worked with grantees to encourage tribal outreach for all management and acquisition projects regardless of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) or NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements.
• The Conservancy continues to pursue legislation to change the Conservancy code to allow grants directly to tribes and tribal entities.

In 2024, the Conservancy completed required administrative and operational tasks in accounting, budgeting, contracts, human resources, communications, and general support. These tasks coincided with planning for the current state budget and passage of the Climate Bond, and migrating all electronic files into a cloud-based system.

With state and federal budget uncertainty in mind, the Conservancy prioritized securing additional funding in 2024. Over the course of the year, the Conservancy submitted multiple grant proposals and was successful in being awarded funding for the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Education and Outreach Grant Program, which is administered by California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways. The funding will be used to educate recreational boaters about proper vessel sewage disposal and the use of pumpout facilities, and monitoring pumpout and dump stations.

California voters approved the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, which includes $29 million to the Delta Conservancy to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and to increase public access. Staff will begin work on developing grant guidelines and a solicitation package and anticipate opening a solicitation in fall of 2025.