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The Delta: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Recreation Survey — Chapter I. Introduction

Background

In May of 1995, the Delta Protection Commission (DPC) entered into agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to conduct a survey of registered boat owners and licensed anglers who use the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for recreation. The purpose of the survey was to determine the number of boaters and anglers who use the Delta, their length of stay, the areas where they recreate, the activities in which they participate, and the amount of money they spend while recreating in the Delta. This information could be used by the DPC, and other federal, State, and local agencies in their planning processes.

The DPC and the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) provided funding assistance for this survey. DPR provided both funding assistance and staff support, and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) provided some staff support.

The DPC created a Recreation Study Oversight Subcommittee to assist the DPR in the survey. Individuals appointed were: Commissioner Don Nottoli, Chair; Commissioner Bill Curry; Commissioner Don Murphy; Kate Hansel representing the DWR; Mervin Hee representing the Department of Fish and Game (DFG); and citizen members: Sally Shanks, Chris Lauritzen, Steve Woodard, and Gil Labrie.

The Survey

General Description. The overall goal of the survey was to assess and document the recreational use of the Delta by boaters and anglers and to include the following: 1) estimate the number of boaters and anglers who use the Delta for recreation; 2) identify the type of recreation activities boaters and anglers engage in; 3) identify the locations of these activities and when the activities occurred; 4) determine if boaters and anglers were satisfied with the facilities currently available in the Delta; and 5) identify any significant changes in boaters' and anglers' recreation activities over the last five years.

The survey included mailing questionnaires to a random sample of all recreational boat owners in California, and to a random sample of all licensed anglers in California. It should be noted, that because this survey was limited to the recreation interests and habits of boaters and anglers, it is not a comprehensive survey of all recreation activities which occur in the Delta.

Ideally, a survey of this type would include all recreation users of the Delta. However, that would have been very expensive and beyond the funds available for this project. Since previous studies indicated that most recreational visitors to the Delta participated in boating and/or fishing, it was reasonable to conclude that a survey of boaters and anglers would provide meaningful information on how the majority of recreationists recreate in the Delta. By limiting the survey to boaters and anglers, the survey was feasible to conduct with the available funds. Since anglers are required to purchase a California fishing license and boaters are required to register their vessels with the State, it was relatively inexpensive to obtain the names and addresses of a random sample of anglers and boaters through the DFG and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), respectively. More importantly, the licenses provide a means of accessing a statistically reliable and valid sample of recreation users, not available through any other feasible means.

Boundary of the survey area. For the purposes of this survey, the Delta was identified as all public and private lands where outdoor recreation activities can be expected to occur, within or directly adjacent to the "Legal Delta," as defined in Section 12220 of the State Water Code.

In general, the survey area is bounded by Interstate 5 on the east, the City of Sacramento on the north, the Yolo Bypass and the City of Pittsburg on the west, and Interstate 205 on the south.

Why a survey of recreation use of the Delta was needed and how the results can be used. The last comprehensive survey of recreation use in the Delta was completed in 1980 by California State University for DWR. Since that time, recreation in the Delta has changed significantly. The sudden popularity of personal watercraft, for example, has had a significant impact on recreation in the Delta. The lingering recession of the 1990s has impacted the local economy, affecting the disposable income recreation users bring to the Delta, and affecting the local manufacturing and service industries which supply recreation related goods and services. The influx of immigrants into the area changed the way the Delta is used for fishing and other recreation activities. The quantity and quality of water flowing through the Delta has changed, impacting the availability of catchable fish, and impacting the ability of the Delta to provide a quality recreation experience. California's population, in terms of the number of Californians now versus 1980, and the demographics (age, income, etc.) is continuing to change. Any of these factors could have had a significant impact on recreation use of the Delta in recent years.

The survey results can be used by the DPC to adopt new findings, policies, and recommendations for the Land Use and Resource Management Plan for the Primary Zone of the Delta. In addition, the DPC and the DBW could use the results of the survey to encourage both public agencies and private entities to provide appropriate levels of recreation facilities and services and to provide adequate public access to Delta lands and waterways.

The survey results can also be used by State, federal, and local agencies responsible for managing the natural resources of the Delta. It can be a tool to help provide better day-to-day operation and management of those facilities and programs that impact the recreation user. Also, the results of this survey can be used by the same agencies to determine if there is a need for additional recreation facilities in the Delta and to properly plan for the future use and development of the Delta for recreation.

In addition, the results of this survey can be used by Delta marinas, and by other recreation oriented local businesses, to assess the current demand for recreation-related goods and services, and to help plan for changes in their current and future businesses.

The Delta

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a 1,100 square mile region of California's Central Valley, located 50 miles east of the city of San Francisco. It is a flat, low-lying area where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers converge and empty into the more saline waters of the San Francisco Bay. The Delta is a network of several hundred islands, interconnected by 700 miles of waterways.

The Delta seems rural, even isolated, yet it is within a short drive of several urban population centers. It is bordered by the City of Sacramento on the north, City of Stockton on the east, and the smaller cities of Tracy and Pittsburg to the south and west, respectively. A few miles further west is the San Francisco Bay Area.

There are several key natural and manmade features that combine to make the Delta a truly unique environment, and give it a sense of place. These resources and features are water, levees, agriculture, and fish and wildlife.

  • Water. The Delta is an important source of water. It is estimated that the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers contribute about 42% of the natural water runoff in the State. In addition to providing water for irrigating Delta agriculture lands, the Delta provides water for urban Bay Area needs. Water is exported south for both agriculture and urban domestic needs. The State Water Project (SWP) exports up to 4.2 million acre feet per year and the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) exports another 3.3 million acre feet per year. Water also sustains the important fish and wildlife habitat and provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and other recreation activities.
  • Levees. When California first became a state, the Delta was mostly a tidal marsh. During the rainy winter season, it became a great inland lake. However, beginning in the late 1800s, more than 1,100 miles of levees were constructed, protecting the larger islands from flooding and changing the Delta's environment forever. Due to soil subsidence most of the islands are now below sea level, and will be forever dependent on a system of well-maintained levees.
  • Agriculture. The larger islands are used primarily for agriculture. The 350,000 acres of reclaimed agricultural lands are used for row crops, pastures, orchards, and vineyards, producing crops valued at $500 million annually. The use of Delta lands for agriculture continues to be supported by local landowners and government officials. Efforts to convert these lands to other uses has been vigorously opposed.
  • Fish and Wildlife. The Delta provides valuable habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife. Ninety-one species of fish and 225 species of birds can be found in the Delta. The Pacific Flyway passes directly over the Delta. Some of the smaller unimproved islands in the Delta provide suitable habitat for birds and other wildlife. In recent years, large tracts of land in the Delta have been set aside for wildlife management and protection.
Recreation in the Delta

Water has always been a magnet, drawing people to the Delta for recreation. With 700 miles of channels, nearly all of which are navigable, it is one of the largest waterway complexes in the western United States. In addition to open waterways, the Delta offers secluded, meandering sloughs cloaked with overhanging riparian vegetation. It follows, therefore, that recreation in the Delta is water-oriented, primarily boating and fishing.

Conveniently located near several large population centers, it serves a growing urban population. The population of the five counties adjoining the Delta is expected to increase to 5.2 million by the year 2005.

While most of the navigable waterways in the Delta are public, most of the land is private. The lack of public lands serves to limit the use of the Delta for recreation. Public use of the Delta is concentrated in a few areas where marinas and other facilities provide access to the Delta waterways. There are over a hundred private marinas that provide most of the recreation opportunities in the Delta. There are very few public parks. Some of the recreation areas in the Delta are only accessible by boat, further limiting the use of the Delta by the general public. The Delta's 1,100 miles of improved levees also provide access to the Delta for some recreationists, mainly bank anglers. However, much of the levee system is also private; therefore, the anglers are often trespassing.

A. Water-based recreation activities

Almost every type of recreation boating activity can be found in the Delta. Houseboats, sailboats, fishing boats, personal watercraft, speedboats, canoes, rowboats, and inflatable boats, can be found in the Delta's waterways. The more common boating activities are cruising, water-skiing, fishing from a boat, sailing, and boat camping. Many attractive fishing and swimming areas are accessible by boat.

  • Fishing from a boat. Delta waters are home to a variety of game fish including catfish, sturgeon, steelhead, striped bass, large mouth (black) bass, American shad, salmon, crappie, bluegill, and carp. Private marinas and small businesses provide most of the facilities for boat fishing, including launch ramps, bait and tackle shops, and boat rentals.
  • Water-skiing. The Delta has long been popular destination for water-skiing. Water-skiers appreciate the open flat waters. However, the lack of beaches is a drawback.
  • Sailing. Many sailors enjoy the Delta. Sailing in the Delta, however can be challenging because of stiff winds, changing tides, low bridges, and narrow channels.
  • Cruising. A preferred activity of power boat operators is simply to cruise the various waterways of the Delta. This is the boater's version of driving for pleasure.
  • Operating personal watercraft (PWC). For some local residents, the Delta provides a convenient location for the use of PWC. The manufacture and sale of PWC, also known by brand names as Jet Skis or Sea-Doos, is a fairly recent phenomenon. Like the larger powerboats, personal watercraft are often used for high-speed cruising, but can be used for fishing, or even water-skiing. Jumping the wake of passing powerboats seems to be a popular sport. Private marinas provide the primary points of access. Most PWC operators stay close to the their launch sites.
  • Canoeing and Kayaking. Compared to other types of boating, canoeing and kayaking are not very common in the Delta. These activities generally occur in places and at times where fast powerboats or PWCs are not operating. Popular areas for canoeing and kayaking are the Cosumnes and Mokelumne Rivers and Snodgrass and Sevenmile Sloughs. The most popular time for this type of boating is Fall through Spring.
  • Houseboating. The Delta is well known for its houseboating opportunities. The rental of houseboats has declined in recent years due to the recession and to changes in the tax codes which reduced profits for the owners.
  • Hunting from a boat. Delta waters available to the public for hunting include Sherman Island Waterfowl Management Area, Franks Tract State Recreation Area, and Big Break.
  • Swimming from a boat. Swimming from shore is limited in the Delta because of the lack of beaches; therefore, swimming from a boat is a popular alternative.
  • Boat camping. Many boaters stay overnight on their vessels. Some anchor in a quiet slough or other secluded spots for a few hours, a day, or longer. There is no restriction on the length of time someone may anchor in most of the Delta, and some boats serve as summer vacation homes.
  • Swimming from shore. This activity takes place in many locations, often in the calm, slow-moving waters away from powerboats. There are only a few public swimming beaches.
  • Bank fishing. Bank fishing occurs along much of the Delta's 1,100 miles of leveed shoreline. Since vehicular access is essential to most anglers, most bank fishing occurs on levees and berms closest to improved roads. Besides informal fishing off the levees, there are several public fishing access points located at Geogiana Slough, the Cliff House, the White Slough Wildlife Area, and the public fishing pier in Antioch.
  • Windsurfing. Windsurfing is a sport that was uncommon in the Delta ten years ago. It requires consistent wind conditions that occur in only a few locations in the Delta. The southernmost reach of the Sacramento River near Rio Vista is becoming a world-class windsurfing area. Not very many people participate in windsurfing in the Delta, however, the large, brightly colored sails of the sailboard make it a visible activity.

B. Land-based recreation activities

Not all recreation activities in the Delta are associated with water. The more popular land-based recreation activities are identified below.

  • Hunting. Waterfowl and pheasant are the most commonly hunted game. Hunting in the Delta occurs primarily on private agricultural lands and duck clubs during the fall and winter. Access to these private lands is limited to landowners and members of hunting clubs who are allowed to hunt for a fee. According to DFG staff, there are 33 hunting clubs in the Delta comprising about 52,000 acres. While most hunting occurs on private property, hunting is allowed on some public lands.
  • Camping and picnicking. Camping and picnicking are popular in the Delta. Opportunities for these activities are primarily provided by private marinas. Some of the larger public parks, such as Brannan Island State Recreation Area and Discovery Park in Sacramento, provide extensive picnic grounds adjacent to Delta waterways.
  • Walking for pleasure. In the Delta this activity occurs whenever people participate in outdoor recreation activities. Opportunities for walking in the Delta are very limited due to the lack of public parks and trails. Also, Delta roads are often narrow and winding and, therefore, dangerous for pedestrians.
  • Bicycling. Lightly traveled, scenic roadways adjacent to Delta waterways present an important bicycling opportunity. However, riding a bicycle on the Delta's narrow and winding roads can be dangerous. Due to a lack of designated bicycle lanes and trails in the Delta, bicyclists must share the public roadways with high-speed traffic.
  • Viewing and photographing wildlife. The Delta provides habitat for 225 species of migratory and residential birds, and is, therefore, a destination for bird-watching and other nature study activities. The lack of public land and the limited road system restrict opportunities for study and observing nature. However, Stone Lakes Wildlife Area, Cosumnes Preserve, and similar large nature areas provide this activity in a few locations.
  • Sightseeing (driving for pleasure). A pleasant drive through the scenic and tranquil Delta region is a primary reason why some recreationists visit. Use of the car ferries which connect several of the islands can be a unique experience, as well as a visit to the towns of Locke, Isleton, and other historic Delta communities.
  • Attending special events. Several communities in and around the Delta sponsor special events that draw large crowds and bolster the local economy. The City of Isleton hosts the annual Crawdad Festival, while nearby Courtland promotes its Pear Fair each summer. Stockton is the location for a number of large boating events throughout the year and the Asparagus Festival, and Rio Vista sponsors a bass derby each fall. Walnut Grove hosts the Catfish Jubilee, while Bethel Island sponsors a 1950s Bash dedicated to restored automobiles from that era.