A new episode of The Climate Dispatch podcast is out today! Check it out on Spotify, Apple, Youtube or at sc.org/climatedispatch
In this episode, we journey to California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a sprawling estuary that provides drinking water to 27 million people, supports millions of acres of farmland, and serves as a critical habitat for hundreds of species. Despite its importance, most Californians know little about the Delta or the challenges it faces.
With staff members from the Restore the Delta campaign guiding us, we travel through Stockton and the surrounding waterways to explore the beauty, complexity, and fragility of this remarkable ecosystem. Along the way, we hear from scientists, advocates, and local anglers who depend on the Delta and are witnessing firsthand the impacts of declining water quality, harmful algal blooms, disappearing fish populations, and decades of water diversion.
What happens when the health of an ecosystem is pushed beyond its limits? How do we balance California’s growing demand for water with the needs of the communities, wildlife, and landscapes that make that water possible? And what can the Delta teach us about stewardship, resilience, and our connection to the natural systems we rely on every day?
Join us as we explore one of California’s most important, and most overlooked, places.
Guests
Morgen Snyder, Director of Policy and Programs, Restore The Delta
Spencer Fern, Delta Science Program Manager, Restore The Delta
Bud Chaddock, local angler and activist
Featuring music from Thanya Iyer