VOL. 37 • ISS. 21

chambers of commerce, visitor’ s bureaus, businesses and boosters in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta.

The area, also called the“ California Delta,” strives to enhance the enjoyment for visitors to this unique 1,000-mile waterway, while striving to protect and preserve the area’ s fragile beauty. The organization was established more than a quarter-century ago. Many members of the chambers first came to the Delta on holiday or vacation, fell in love with this boating and fishing paradise, and later established their roots in the Delta. Some first experienced these profuse waterways on a rental houseboat, or on a fishing charter for sturgeon or striped bass; others rolled in on RVs and liked the area’ s hospitality. The Delta is a fresh-water system primarily comprised of fertile agricultural islands that sit below sea level, but are protected by a stout system of levees. It is fed by five major rivers, including the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River. There is a remoteness to the lightly populated inner Delta. The lifestyle here is decidedly laid back, a sort of Huck Finn kind of existence. Boating, fishing, and camping are a way of life. Some of the historic river towns are little changed from the Gold Rush era when paddlewheel steamboats came piping their arrival with the steam-driven calliope. Drawbridges yawn open to let boating traffic pass, you cross some waterways on lumbering cable-drawn car ferries, the postman delivers mail by boat. Although Sacramento and Stockton are at the Delta’ s doorsteps, and San Francisco,“ Silicon Valley,” and the great valley city of Fresno are no more than a two-hours drive from the California Delta, word about the attributes of this great place has not been quick to spread. In a way, the river people appreciate that. It’ s gratifying to be privy to knowledge of a cool place that is not widely known. On the other hand, people enjoy the Delta so much that the chambers want to show it off to visitors. For all its rural charm, the California Delta caters to visitors’ needs. It boasts over 100 marinas and waterside resorts, full-hookup RV parks and campgrounds. There are quaint waterside restaurants for dining, grocery stores for provisions bait and tackle shops, and over 50 boat launching facilities. Public parks and bank-fishing sites are numerous. For more information drop by the Delta Chambers booth at this year’ s show or visit them on the web at www. calforniadelta. org. You can give them a call at( 916) 777-4041.

Sept 28- Oct 12, 2018

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THE FISH SNIFFER

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