Delta as an Evolving Place Report Card

Progress on Delta as an Evolving Place objective is mixed. The metrics underlying performance measures for the Delta as an Evolving Place reveal diverging outcomes. Insufficient progress toward Delta Plan subsidence reversal and carbon sequestration targets is most alarming. Losing land to subsidence impacts agriculture, the economy, flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Land management practices in the Delta should focus on rebuilding soil, stopping and reversing subsidence, and sequestering carbon.

The following Delta as an Evolving Place report card was developed as part of the Delta Plan Review that used the established performance measures to rate progress in implementing the Delta Plan over the past ten year (2013-2023). Read the 2024 Delta Plan Review full report to learn about additional review findings and the recommended actions that will inform Delta management priorities in next five years.

The overall performance measure score is rated “VERY GOOD” (76%-100% of target met), as of 2018 based on the metric of:

  1. Prevent farmland loss to urban development: Between 2014 and 2018, there has been an overall farmland loss of 2,150 acres to urban development. The change in farmland to urban land use occurred in locations planned for urban development, as described in local government general plans at the time of Delta Plan adoption in 2013.

View more: Farmland Loss | Delta Stewardship Council (ca.gov)

The performance measure rating is “FAIR” (26-50% of target met) based on an arithmetic mean of eight metrics derived from a recent Socioeconomic Indicators report prepared by the Delta Protection Commission. The Socioeconomic Indicators report compared two five-year periods: 2011-2015 and 2016-2021. These eight indicators were selected as alternative metrics to replace the no longer maintained Regional Opportunity Index (ROI) –the designated metric for this performance measure in the Delta Plan. Ratings in these socioeconomic metrics were evaluated based on: a) 5% change over the five-year period (the performance target for the ROI in the Delta Plan is 5% increase by 2025); b) compared to the statewide average; or c) adjusted for inflation and compared to statewide values for monetary-based indicators: 

  1. Education Level (GOOD): From 2017-2021, 88.7% of Delta residents aged 25 and older had at least a high school education, compared to 83.8% from 2011-2015. 
  2. School District Poverty (GOOD): School district poverty rates indicate educational access and socioeconomic opportunities for young people in the region. In 2015, the school district poverty rate for the Delta was 20.5%, which was similar to the statewide level rate at 19.9%. In 2021, the rate for the Delta was 14.3%, compared to 15.4% statewide.
  3. Median Household Income (VERY GOOD): Median household income from 2011-2015 is slightly lower in the Delta compared to the state ($59,844 vs. $61,818). Between 2016 and 2021, the median household income in the Delta was $86,322, exceeding the state median of $84,097. 
  4. Unemployment Rate (GOOD): The Delta’s unemployment rate for 2016-2021 was 7.3%, compared to 6.5% statewide. In 2011-2015, the Delta rate was 12.4%, compared to 9.9% statewide. Thus, there was an improvement in the unemployment rate from 2011-2015 (Delta was 2.5% higher than statewide) to 2016-2021 (Delta was 0.8% higher than statewide).
  5. Education Revenue per Student (POOR): The most recent data in 2018-2019 indicated that the Delta was no longer spending more per student than the rest of the state, as in 2013-2014. In 2013-2014, the average cost-adjusted revenue per pupil for districts within the Delta was $8,160 compared to $6,781 statewide. In 2018-2019, the average cost-adjusted revenue per pupil in the Delta was $9,151 compared to $10,813 state-wide.
  6. Home Value (POOR): Delta median home values have increased from 64% of the statewide average in 2011-2015 to 78% of the statewide average in 2016- 2021. This suggests Delta homes are becoming less affordable than those in the rest of the state. 
  7. Homeownership (GOOD): From 2016 to 2021, 61.7% of homes in the Delta were owner-occupied, which was higher than the statewide average (55.5%). From 2011-2015, the Delta homeownership rate was 59.5%, compared to 54.0% statewide.
  8. Road Conditions (POOR): According to California Department of Transportation data, the proportion of Delta lane miles that require major rehabilitation, replacement, or capital preventative maintenance has slightly increased from 21.4% in 2016 to 23.4% in 2021.

View more: Delta Economy | Delta Stewardship Council (ca.gov).

The overall performance measure score is rated “POOR” (0%-25% of target met), based on two metrics of:

  1. Increase publicly accessible land (FAIR): The Delta includes over 58,000 acres of public land accessible for recreation and tourism. There has been no increase in publicly accessible land in the Delta since 2020, but there were steady increases between 2013 and 2019. About 10% of the Delta and Suisun Marsh is publicly accessible to visitors.
  2. Fishing licenses sold (GOOD): Interest in Delta fishing is steadily increasing. Fishing license sales rose 4.3% in 2022 compared to 2018. Sales peaked in 2020, possibly due to the pandemic. Sales slightly decreased in 2021 and 2022 but are overall higher than in 2018 across all six Delta counties.

View more: Delta Tourism | Delta Stewardship Council (ca.gov)

The overall performance measure score is rated “POOR” (0%-25% of target met), based on the metric of:

  1. Subsidence reversal and/or carbon sequestration activities. Between 2018 and 2023, projects implemented in the Delta for subsidence reversal and carbon sequestration activities covered a total area of about 3,300 acres (10% of the target). Most subsidence reversal and carbon sequestration projects are smaller pilot-scale projects. Additional projects are proposed and are in the planning phases.

View more: Subsidence Reversal and Carbon Sequestration | Delta Stewardship Council

The overall performance measure score is rated “FAIR” (25%-50% of target met), based on the metric of:

  1. Number of community action plans adopted and initiated to achieve legacy community Delta Plan objectives. Out of 11 Legacy Towns, 5 have adopted a Community Action Plan.

View more: Legacy Communities | Delta Stewardship Council (ca.gov)