DELTA LEGACY COMMUNITIES
A California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation | Supporting the Delta Legacy Communities
ABOUT
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Act of 2010 states, "The Delta’s history is rich with a distinct natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage. It is home to the community of Locke, the only town in the United States built primarily by early Chinese immigrants. Other legacy communities include Bethel Island, Clarksburg, Courtland, Freeport, Hood, Isleton, Knightsen, Rio Vista, Ryde, and Walnut Grove. " These towns have each played their part in the historical and agricultural development of the Central Valley and retain an individual culture and community. We encourage you to visit these one-of-a-kind communities and see why they're worth preserving.
MISSON
Delta Legacy Communities, Inc, a 501(c)(4) Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation, is dedicated to the protection and promotion of all eleven legacy communities. The rich agricultural heritage, the natural wildlife and freshwater estuary, its diverse businesses, communities, recreation and people all contribute to the Delta as a Place. Delta Legacy Communities, Inc. works to protect and promote the uniqueness of the Sacramento Delta and the people that call the region home.
THE DELTA
The Delta – is so called as it is forms a triangle of waterways from Sacramento to Stockton to Pittsburg. It includes land in five counties, 500,000 residents, 62 major named islands and hundreds of smaller islands.
A 1,000 mile waterway system with four main rivers feeds the Delta, including the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Mokelumne, and Calaveras Rivers. The Delta has many small historic towns, with a laid back, unhurried kind of lifestyle. Some date back to the California Gold Rush. Everything from picking wild blackberries to fishing, boating (100 marinas), canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, and wind surfing are available. There always is some kind of special event or festival along the Delta.
If you drink water or wine in California, or eat rice, vegetables, nuts and fruits, you have benefited from the Delta’s natural abundance. Fresh water from the Delta is transported to other areas of California to supply the drinking water for 22 million Californians and for millions of acres of California agricultural land.
Most Delta land remains privately owned and many farms are still owned by the same family that originally purchased the land in the 1850's to 1900's. Most of the 700,000 plus acres in the Delta is used for farming. Wine and table grapes, corn, hay, wheat, pears, the best cherries you will ever eat in your life, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and many other vegetables and fruits are grown in the Delta.
Indians had lived in the historic Delta for centuries when the Spaniards first found it in 1772. French trappers arrived in 1832. But it was the discovery of gold on the American River in 1848 that hastened the reclamation and settlement of the Delta.
History records that some men, disillusioned by their unsuccessful quest for gold, saw gold of another sort in the rich swamplands of the Delta. The first crude levees were built by hand in the early 1850s, but by the 1870s, the clamshell dredge was constructing levees of substance. By the 1930’s over 550,000 acres had been reclaimed in the Delta on 55 man-made islands.
Steamboat service between Sacramento, Stockton and San Francisco was convenient and comfortable during that period. Over 300 paddle wheeler steamboats sloshed their way through Delta waters. During the wet season, it was possible to steam up the San Joaquin River to as far as the outskirts of Fresno, and up the Sacramento River to above Red Bluff. Paddle wheeler pilots would take shortcuts across flooded islands, in what they referred to as "wheat field navigation."
The Transcontinental Railroad made history when it was completed in 1869, freeing a work force of some 12,000 persons. Many of them were Chinese immigrants who settled in the California Delta to help with levee construction, farming, cannery work, and other chores. Their contribution was great and they left an indelible mark on the history of the California Delta.
By the 1920s, the automobile had arrived. There was a flurry of ferry construction and bridge-building. The railroads, which had proven to be tough competition for the steamboats, were finding competition from the refrigerated trucks. By the 1930s, steamboat activity was about finished - the Stockton-built Delta King and Delta Queen were taken out of service just prior to WWII. The Delta King is now in Old Sacramento, while the Delta Queen sloshes along quite ably in the Mississippi River system.
After WWII, Californians began to discover the Delta's water recreational possibilities. The regular waterway dredging for levee maintenance also deepened the waterways, making it possible for deep-draft cruisers to navigate the Delta sloughs, rivers and channels. The Stockton Deepwater Channel and Port was completed in 1933. The Sacramento Deepwater / Ship Channel was dug and completed in 1963, establishing the Port of Sacramento.
Pioneers in the California Delta still have third- and fourth-generation family members in the Delta today. Vestiges of the California Delta's vibrant history are not difficult to find. Museums, large and small are found here and there. Five ferries still exist and may be ridden at no cost. Drawbridges built over 50 to 100 years ago still function. Beautiful old homes, carefully restored, grace the landscape, especially along the Sacramento River.
BOARD MEMBERS
FREEPORT - Bob Lake
Bob Lake represents the town of Freeport for the DLC. Bob is a graduate of Brigham Young University. After graduating from BYU, he secured management positions in the Carnations Foods Corporation and Mobil Chemical Corporation, a division of Mobil Oil Corporation. While at Mobil Chemical, he managed the southwest region of the county. In 1975, longing to get back to California, Bob opened his own distribution company servicing California, Oregon, and Washington. Bob has lived in Freeport for the last 22 years. He is motivated to save the delta from both a historical and ecological standpoint. After all, Freeport is the gateway to the delta and home to the Victory Highway, New York City to San Francisco.
CLARKSBURG - Barabra Daly
HOOD - Daniel Whaley
A San Francisco native, Dan Whaley received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal Berkeley in 1978 and graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1981. Shortly thereafter Dan moved to the Sacramento Delta. By 1986, and while working out of the old Courtland Hardware store, Dan assisted over 300+ farm workers obtain residency status under the federal amnesty program. In 2001, Dan embarked on a new business venture which was a large restoration and development project of the old Stillwater Orchard Industrial property in Hood, known as the River Road Exchange. River Road Exchange first operated as a film studio in its early years, and today is home to the highly successful event venue and family owned Willow Ballroom & Event Center. The property continues as climate controlled storage and is also home to Porta Bella International Design. Owned by Dan’s incredibly talented wife, Donis, Porta Bella is an exquisite interior design business. Living on Sutter Island for over 35 years Dan and Donis have raised two wonderful daughters Angelica and Alexandria.
COURTLAND - Michele Merrill
Michele Maguire Merrill represents the community of Courtland on the DLC, Inc. board. Michele and her husband Eric Merrill have a long time presence in the Delta. They purchased a farm on Twin Cities Road in Walnut Grove in the late 80’s, and have grown grapes there in a partnership for 25 years (Merrill Johnson Vineyards). Since then they became homeowners in Courtland and are also partners with LangeTwins in Diablo Vineyards also in Courtland.Michele has worked in the technology and advertising industries throughout her career. Her career in advertising, event and media management has required a deep understanding of technology markets such as enterprise software, networking and computer security. Michele currently is an executive for an early stage video game development company. Michele is concerned that the Department of Water Resources' and the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority's plan to design, construct and operate a huge Intake on the east bank of the Sacramento River in the North Delta near the Legacy community of Courtland would impose severe, if not fatal, damage to the community's homes, businesses, productive farming operations and rural way of life. Michele is a graduate of Penn State University (BS) and Mills College (MFA).
LOCKE - Douglas Hsia
WALNUT GROVE - Jane Dickson
A native of California, Jane F. Dickson, with her husband Doug and two sons. She has lived in the Delta for thirteen years, and together they run River Pear Orchards on land that has seen centuries of agriculture and several generations of farmers. Jane’s love of the Delta and its communities stems from her early years in Los Angeles learning where food was grown, then moving to Sacramento, seeing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from an airplane, the winding rivers snaking and converging together. Jane started her career in political philosophy at UC Santa Barbara, where she concurrently served on the National Department Highway Transportation Safety Council in Washington D. C. Back to Sacramento, her concern for those with communication disorders led her to complete a degree and graduate work in speech pathology, and for several years she was a caseworker with Sacramento Handicapped Infant Program. She studied at California State University, Fresno, to further her love of teaching and writing (MA). For twenty-three years she taught at Fresno City College and California State University teaching foreign nationals during the summers. Jane served on the Interdisciplinary Prevention Advisory Council for the California Department of Health Services for four years, where she represented non-profit organizations bettering the lives of those with health challenges. With a constant love of learning, Jane returned to school and had a forensic document examination practice in Sacramento. She loves art history and served for five years as a docent at The Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona during her and Doug’s six years in Phoenix.
RYDE - Scott Sackett
Scott Sackett is a native Northern Californian. He and his family have resided in the Delta for over twenty years. He is the President of Fiduciary Management Technologies, a software company that develops and provides financial accounting and case management software and services for use by fiduciaries administering receiverships, bankruptcies, conservatorships, and trusts. Mr. Sackett has served as a state court receiver, Ch. 11 bankruptcy trustee, special master, and referee providing management and technical consulting services to businesses including farming operations, retail shopping centers, multi-family residential properties, construction firms, solar panel manufacturers, law and accounting firms. Mr. Sackett is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering and has been directly involved in the startup of three technology companies delivering sensor and measurement products, network security products, and software products and services to a variety of markets. Mr. Sackett is a past president and a current director of the California Receivers Forum. He is also the past president of the Jesuit High School Booster Club and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Drowning Accident Rescue Team where he volunteered as public safety rescue diver and swift water rescue swimmer in the waterways surrounding the Delta for over 12 years. Mr. Sackett enjoys fishing, waterskiing and coaching high school football and rugby. Mr. Sackett has served as a board member of the River City Rowing Club and is currently the President of the Sacramento Rugby Union.
ISLETON - Bill Wells
A native of Louisiana, Bill Wells moved to California with his parents in 1947 and except for four years serving in the U.S. Navy and seven years living in Hawaii he has lived in the Sacramento area ever since. He is a lifelong boater dating back to a sailboard and El Toro dinghy when he was a child. He boated extensively in Hawaii when he lived there. After a 25-year career with IBM he became a yacht broker in the Delta for several years and has since retired from that. He is currently the Executive Director of the California Delta Chambers & Visitor's Bureau. The organization promotes the assets of the California Delta and works to preserve the region for the enjoyment of future generations of Californians. Bill is a past commodore and current Delta Port Captain of the Northern California Fleet of the Classic Yacht Association as well as an honorary member of the Marina West, Stockton, and Sacramento Yacht Clubs. He and his beloved wife Sue cruise their 1937 Stephens classic yacht Ranger to boating events throughout the Delta. He chronicles his adventures in the monthly Delta Rat Scrapbook column for Bay & Delta Yachtsman magazine. Bill is active in the fight to preserve and protect the California Delta. He served for two plus years on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan public meeting panel and served for two years on the Delta Protection Commission Advisory Committee. He is a frequent contributor to area publications and a guest speaker at events regarding Delta recreation and water issues.
RIO VISTA - Derek Abel
Born in Rio Vista, CA, Derek Abel is proud of his Delta roots. He attended Rio Vista High School. Upon graduation, Derek attended Oregon State, South Lake Tahoe Community College, and San Francisco State University. He then became a culinary student and worked as sous-chef at the Fresh Ketch in South Lake Tahoe. During his time there, he was also a ski instructor at Heavenly in Tahoe. He then moved to San Francisco and worked in management at Fior D’Italia. Derek is now the co-owner and co-operator of Abel Chevrolet-Buick Co. He is the lead vocalist of the Derek Abel Band and has been performing all over Northern California and beyond since 2007. Derek's other passions include rotary club, scuba diving, golf, skiing, racing Corvettes, and skydiving.
BETHEL ISLAND - Andy Rowland
A native Californian, Andy grew up in the central valley where he was introduced to boating at a young age. He graduated from USC business school in 1970 with a BS degree in Finance; and is a veteran with six years in the California National Guard. Andy is retired from a career in sales and marketing in both the appliance and HVAC industries. Positions held over 45 years range from Territory Manager to Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America, Johnson Controls. Andy has always had a passion for outdoor activities including hiking globally. Destinations include the Swiss and Italian Alps, Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and the Chomolhari Circuit in the Himalayans of Bhutan, along with extensive hiking in our own Sierra Nevada Mountains.Andy was introduced to the delta in 2012 when he purchased a vacation home on Bethel Island. Life and boating on the delta became a passion that he has embraced by actively opposing the delta tunnel project; the addition of a 31 foot, Beneteau sailboat; moving to a permanent residence on the island; and an advisor to the Frank’s Tract Project sponsored by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. He is a member of the San Joaquin Yacht Club where he was Port Captain in 2016 and Commodore in 2017. Andy is currently President of the Bethel Island Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of Scout Hall, the community center on Bethel Island. Andy is married to Dianna Rowland and has two amazing daughters who live in NYC and Arlington Virginia.
KNIGHTSEN - Open