Sen. Dodd: Discover the Delta Foundation is Nonprofit of the Year
ISLETON – Discover the Delta Foundation under the leadership of founder Ken Scheidegger has worked for nearly two decades to preserve the history and culture of the California Delta and educate people about the importance of the watershed, both as a natural resource and economic driver. For its efforts, Discover the Delta Foundation has been named Sacramento County Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Bill Dodd.
“Water is the lifeblood of our state and the Delta is its beating heart, so it is vitally important that people learn about it and take care of it,” Sen. Dodd said. “Ken and the foundation have been local champions of the region, ensuring generations of Californians get science-based information about this complex ecosystem and are enlightened about the history of the people who live here. I commend them for taking on this worthy challenge.”
“We must understand an area’s past while planning for the future,” said Ken Scheidegger. “Today, our government has designated the Delta as California's only National Heritage Area -- while most of its 40 million people barely know where it is or that most get their water from this source. This nonprofit has created an opportunity for scientists from many fields of study along with Delta farmers, vintners, recreationists and residents.”
Discover the Delta Foundation was founded in 2006 by Scheidegger, a former oceanography professor specializing in bays and estuaries who taught at Oregon State University and worked for the National Science Foundation before becoming a leading Delta business owner. The foundation’s mission: to ensure Californians have basic Delta knowledge and that there is adequate scientific information available to help solve long-term Delta issues.
He and a group of like-minded Delta residents and business owners have been working to make that happen, in part through the construction of a visitor center at the intersection of highways 12 and 160. Once built, the public will have a chance to look at exhibits to learn about the ecological, geographical, and economic role of the California Delta. Among other things, the center will explain challenges posed by climate change.
Link: https://www.discoverthedelta.org/
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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.