RBOC in conjunction with our federal government relations partners at BoatUS is supporting pending federal legislation S.228 (Feinstein) and H.R. 1004 (Garamendi) – The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Establishment Act. This legislation would designate the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as the first National Heritage Area (NHA) in the State of California.
RBOC representatives had been involved in the public process to develop the Delta Protection Commission’s NHA Feasibility Study and applaud the Commission for the extensive public involvement and engagement efforts which had been undertaken.
RBOC firmly believes that this project is closely aligned with our principles to protect and enhance the recreation and boating interests of California including the Delta. What impresses us most about this project is the commitment to establish a federal recognition of the Delta due to its assemblage of cultural and historical resources.
NHA designation has the potential to help gain visibility to the role the Delta has served in the nation by being an important location for water based recreation, dating back to the Gold Rush era in the 1850s. A Delta NHA can also link recreational and historic sites of the Delta, utilizing the waterways as corridors.
Recreational Boaters of California gives full support for the NHA designation and looks forward to future collaborative planning and implementation.