The centerpiece of the foundation’s programs is the Discover the Delta Information Center, a 7,728-square-foot building that will be built along the Sacramento River at state highways 12 and 160 just east of Rio Vista. State Route 12 is a major east-west route across Northern California.  Approximately 9,000,000 (yes millions!) of vehicles pass by this intersection per year, making this an ideal location for the Center.

• The center will serve as a gateway for visitors entering the Delta from the two busy highways.
• Located on a two-acre foundation-owned site, the complex will include the information center building, parking for cars and school buses, arbor and outdoor sitting area and displays of historic agricultural equipment.
• The visitors will also be able to receive tourist related information about the Delta from a display of brochures, from a computer kiosk and from a docent working at the help desk.
• The remaining ground floor space will include permanent and revolving interpretive displaysfeaturing information about the Delta levees, communities, agriculture, contribution of the Chinese and more.
• A Hal Schell Memorial Area will feature historic photographs of the Delta.
• The second floor will contain a 100-person meeting room for nonprofit and community groups working to increase the awareness or improve the Delta.
• This floor will also provide space for food preparation, offices for the foundation and volunteers.

Click Here to view the Google Satellite map of the Highway 160 and 12 intersection.
Click on the map below to view the Google Earth satellite photo of the building site.

The Delta Discovery Center will provide the following functions:

Information Center
The Information Center provides visitors with information about the Delta’s recreational opportunities via computers kiosks, pamphlets and fliers and from information specialists.

• BROCHURES -- A display area will make available brochures, magazines and other publications from businesses in the Delta (2008).
• ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION -- Information on how to protect the environment from state and nonprofit agencies will be distributed (2008).
• COMPUTER KIOSKS -- Visitors will be able to receive information and book tours of the Delta via computer kiosks.
• SELF GUIDED TOURS -- A display area will provide information on Discover the Delta Foundation self guided tours for boaters, cyclers and visitors in automobiles.
• PERSONAL SERVICE -- Visitors can receive personalized information about Delta activities from an information specialist.
• DELTA LOCATOR -- An interactive computer display will allow visitors to find islands and other locations in the Delta.

Tour Center
The Tour Center will help visitors find and book a tour of the Delta. The center will serve as a staging area for tours and field trips that are sponsored by the foundation and by others.

• ENVIRONMENTAL TOURS -- Staff will book tours of the Delta environment by foundation endorsed operators.
• PADDLE BOATING TOURS -- Visitors will be able to arrange for tours of the Delta on human powered boats.
• WINERY TOURS -- Visitors will be able to tour family owned wineries in the Delta and sample some award winning  wine varieties.
• LEVEE TOURS -- Visitors can learn about the history, construction, purposes and maintenance of the Delta’s unique levee system with a field trip that includes the Dutra Museum in Rio Vista.
• PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS -- Photographers can tour popular shooting locations with local experts).
• WILDLIFE TOURS -- Learning about the Delta wildlife will be the purpose of these tours.
• AMERICAN INDIANS -- Information about the American Indians and the Delta will be given on tours of the Hog/Spud Island Delta Center).

Interpretive Center
The Interpretive Center will provide visitors with illustrations and hands on exhibits that show the Delta’s geology, culture, history, environment, recreation, agriculture and people.

• DELTA LEVEES -- An interpretive display will show the history and function of the Delta system with models, photographs and equipment.
• CHINESE -- The contribution of the Chinese in building the Delta levee system will be shown in an interpretive display.
• FARMING  -- Interpretive displays of exhibits, photographs and historic equipment will tell the story of Delta agriculture.
• BOATING -- Visitors will learn about the Delta’s history and current boating use with displays, photographs and equipment.
• WINE MAKING -- Visitors will learn about the Delta wineries and be able to sample wines in a comfortable grape arbor.
• ART DISPLAYS -- Local and traveling Delta art will be shown in two gallery areas in the center;

Education Center
Located on the second floor, the Education Center is the center of activity for increasing the awareness of the Delta, teaching students and providing meeting space for community groups.

• MEETING ROOM -- A 100-person meeting room and kitchen will provide space for community groups working on Delta issues.
• OFFICES -- The center will provide office space for the foundation and  groups working on Delta issues.
• DELTA SIGNS -- The center will support the planning and implementation of efforts to install and maintain informational signs along the Delta roads and waterways.
• SCHOOL SUPPORT -- The center will have facilities to support field trips and educational programs on the Delta.
• WRITING SCHOLARSHIP -- The Hal Schell Scholarship Program will promote writing and art work on the Delta.

Computer Center
The computer center provides support for research, gathering and disseminating data, public information, education, planning and community group involvement on Delta issues.

• DIGITAL LIBRARY -- A digital library will provide information for those working to increase the awareness of protecting and restoring the Delta.
• GRAPHICS CENTER -- The computer will support high quality photography, graphics and video in order to support instructional efforts.
• DIGITAL THEATER -- The center will provide photographs, slide shows, videos, movies to be shown in the meeting room.
• DELTA MODELING -- Computers will serve as a center for developing flows and other computer models programs that can be used by students and community groups.
• GIS CAPACITY -- The computer center will support geographic information system programs that can be used in education and planning.

Volunteer Center
The volunteer center provides space and support for a coordinator and volunteers who will work on the programs and projects that are run out of the information center.

• OFFICE SPACE -- The center will provide office space for the foundation’s volunteer coordinator.
• DOCENT TRAINING -- The center will provide equipment and space for recruitment, training and recognition of volunteer docents.
• FIELD TRIP GUIDES -- The center will provide facilities for volunteers to recruit participants for field trips.
• FOUNDATION SUPPORT -- The center will provide space for volunteers to work on the programs necessary to sustain the foundation.   
• DELTA WRITER -- The center will provide support for volunteers who conduct research, write and provide photographs for foundation publications.