Lieutenant Governor and State Lands Commission Chair Eleni Kounalakis Announces Removal of Major Abandoned Vessel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
For Immediate Release
Monday, June 9, 2025
Contact: Press@ltg.ca.gov, (916) 445-8994
SACRAMENTO, CA – This month, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Chair of the California State Lands Commission, announced the conclusion of the largest single-site abandoned vessel abatement and site restoration action in Commission history. The project, taking place at the Sevenmile Slough in the Delta, will remove several large derelict vessels that have posed safety, environmental, and navigational hazards for years.
This action represents a major step forward in the Commission’s ongoing work and commitment to safeguard public waterways, reduce environmental risk, and restore the health of the Delta — one of California’s most vital ecosystems.
For more information regarding the announcement, read the California State Lands Commission’s press release here.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Lieutenant Governor and SLC Chair Eleni Kounalakis:
“The expansive Delta is one of California’s most vital and cherished waterways — and it deserves to be protected,” said Lieutenant Governor and State Lands Commission Chair Eleni Kounalakis. “These abandoned vessels not only pose environmental and navigational hazards but also threaten the health and safety of nearby communities. As Chair of the State Lands Commission, I’m proud that we are taking decisive action to restore this site, protect our natural resources, and prevent illegal dumping in our public waterways.”
State Controller and SLC Commissioner Malia M. Cohen:
“The breadth of this undertaking and its benefit on the Delta and taxpayers is stunning. These vessels had been rotting in the water for over a decade. We harnessed our expertise and partnerships to mobilize a seamless removal and restoration operation that enhances public safety, environmental protection, and public access, while saving taxpayer dollars and preventing future incalculable environmental harm.”
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
The Lieutenant Governor serves on, and rotates with the State Controller, as chair of the three-member State Lands Commission, which oversees the control and leasing of millions of acres of state-owned land, including offshore oil resources, as well as use and permitting for all navigable waterways in California. During alternate years, when the Lieutenant Governor serves as Chair of the State Lands Commission, she also serves as a member of the California Ocean Protection Council and the California Coastal Commission.
ABOUT THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION:
The Commission, an independent entity comprised of the Lieutenant Governor, State Controller, and the Governor’s Director of Finance, owns and manages over four million acres of public land in California. In the past decade, the Commission has moved to the forefront of abandoned vessel removal, particularly commercial abandoned vessels that are more difficult and expensive to remove. Over the last two years, the Commission has completed an inventory of abandoned commercial vessels in the Delta, removed nine high-priority abandoned commercial vessels from the Delta, and facilitated the removal of an additional 10 vessels by the responsible party.