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History

Reclamation District 800 is one of 60 major islands or tracts ranging in size from a few acres to 15,000 acres that make up the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The District itself is 6,933 acres protected by 19.2 miles of levees.  

In 1909, the West-Wilhoit Company, based in Stockton, petitioned the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County to have the lands bounded by Italian Slough on the south, Old River on the east and Indian Slough on the north to be formed into a reclamation district in accordance with the provisions of the Political Code of the State of California.  The enactment of this petition formed the bulk of Reclamation District 800 as we know it today.   

Reclamation District 800 is a Special District and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of its levee system.  The District also manages drainage and water circulation within the lakes and lagoons of Discovery Bay by returning the water back into the Delta.  Reclamation District 800 also reviews construction on and around levees and slopes within the District.   

The Reclamation District is governed by a 5-member Board of Trustees who are elected by the landowners within the District boundaries.  The annual operating budget for RD 800 is approximately two million dollars.  Funding for the District is from assessments, property taxes and reimbursements from the State of California.