Delta Center
Juan Mercado
District Director
Delta Center
The Delta Center is the first newly constructed CCC facility in Northern California in decades. Based in Stockton, six field crews work on projects ranging from the Sierra Nevada to the greater San Joaquin Valley, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. Project work includes trail building, tree mortality efforts and delta restoration.
Given the Delta Center’s strategic location, it serves as the CCC’s flood center. All Corpsmembers participate in the annual Flood Fighting Exercise that includes training on techniques in constructing sandbag structures, levee protection and ensuring public safety. The Delta Center facilities can serve as a staging location for the CCC during flood emergencies across the state.
Corpsmembers also assist in the kitchen as part of a culinary crew. The culinary team is responsible for the daily preparation of meals for the center, packing food for spike crews working in remote locations for days at a time, and training for large scale feeding during emergency response events.
The center calls the San Joaquin Central Valley home and is located just off Highway 99 in Stockton. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summers and drop to freezing in the winters.
The Delta Center’s facilities include dormitories, a dining hall, classrooms, computer lab, recreational facilities, and outdoor space along with administrative and supply/tool buildings.
7000 South Newcastle Road
Stockton, CA 95215
209-235-1700
CCC Delta Center
Delta Center Video Tour
Life at the Delta Center
Delta Corpsmembers help renovate the habitat for the endangered Western Pond Turtle at Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi, CA, one of many local, community beneficial project the center completes.
The Delta Center encourages Corpsmembers to be active in many volunteer and recreational events in the community, such as setting up booths at local festivals and participating in local parades, Earth Day activities, the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival, Coastal Cleanup days and more.
An active Corpsmember Advisory Board (CAB) works with residential staff to plan and manage the monthly recreation schedule for Corpsmembers. The CAB is responsible for the supervision of the gym, TV room with a billiard table, the center snack shack, vegetable garden, the recycling program, and selecting weekend volunteer events.
During their days off, Corpsmembers can visit the downtown Stockton marina, the Haggin Museum and the historic Bob Hope Theater, among other notable destinations in San Joaquin County. Only an hour away from the Capital in Sacramento, Corpsmembers are also just 90 minutes from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Projects
Delta Corpsmember K’lema Burleson prepares to answer a question regarding her equipment during her crew’s readiness exercise near New Hogan Reservoir in Calaveras County, CA.
The Delta Center performs a wide range of projects that includes conservation and restoration of ecosystems, fuel hazard reduction, arborist work projects, planting of native shrubs and trees, invasive weed/plant eradication, trail construction in accordance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), and campground construction. These projects take place primarily in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, and San Joaquin counties and throughout the Sacramento River Delta.
Partnerships are developed and maintained with sponsoring agencies such as the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), United States Forest Service, California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, Department of Water Resources, Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California Department of Food and Agriculture, Department of General Services, Amador Fire Safe Council, San Joaquin County Department of Transportation, and local nonprofit land conservancies and councils.
Wildland Firefighting: The CCC Delta Center operates two wildland firefighting hand crews in partnership with CAL FIRE. Corpsmembers receive training and hands-on experience working with CAL FIRE captains responding year-round to wildfires locally and across the state. The center is collaborating with the CAL FIRE Tuolumne Calaveras (TCU) unit to operate the crews. Wildland hand crews help build fire line with hand tools and conduct mop-up work.
CCC-NOAA Veterans Corps Fisheries Program: In partnership with NOAA, this program provides post-9/11 veterans new opportunities to build their skills and work experience by restoring and protecting fisheries resources. Veteran Corpsmembers work side-by-side with experts from state, federal, and non-profit restoration partners. Work involves habitat restoration and monitoring projects identified by NOAA Fisheries. Veterans must possess a DD214 to participate in this program.
Another duty of the CCC is to respond emergencies such as natural disaster relief, search and rescue, fires, and floods. The Delta Center’s location allows for response to emergencies in the Sierra to the coast, and all crews are ready at a moment’s notice to provide services and relief to the citizens of California.
Education and Training
New Corpsmembers attend Corpsmember Orientation, Motivation, Education and Training at the Delta Center where they learn about the basics of the CCC.
All Corpsmembers at the Delta Center complete Corpsmember Orientation, Motivation, Education, and Training (COMET) and core training courses. Through a partnership with John Muir Charter School, CCC Delta Center offers classes to Corpsmembers in need of their high school diploma. Corpsmembers also have the opportunity to intern with other state departments, like Department of Boating and Waterways and Caltrans.
Other specialized trainings and certification opportunities include:
- First Aid & CPR
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certificate
- Arbor (Includes tree climbing, rope safety, knots, limbing)
- Boating and Waterway Safety Certification
- Boating Card
- Bobcat Equipment Safety & Operation
- Chain Saw Training
- Chipper Safety & Training
- Construction & Trades
- Flora and Fauna Identification
- Herbicide Application and Safety
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40-Hour Training
- Leave No Trace
- Map and Compass Course
- Pesticide Handler Safety
- Power Tools Safety and Operation
- Safety Stand Down
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
- Small Engine Repair
- Trail Construction and Maintenance
- Tree Climbing Safety
Corpsmembers will also be engaged in lifestyle and life skills classes that will help them throughout their time in the CCC and the rest of their lives.