Bethel Island is an island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of Contra Costa County, California, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Antioch. The island describes itself as 'the heart of the California Delta'.
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Bethel Island, California, is located in East Contra Costa County. It is one of the western islands within the California Delta region.
The 1,450 ha (3,600-acre) island is bounded on the west and northwest by Taylor Slough, on the north and east by Piper Slough, on the southeast by Sand Mound Slough, on the east by Frank's Tract, and on the southwest by Dutch Slough.
The island is approximately 3,500 acres in size.
The Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District (BIMID) has five directors, elected from the local community. They are responsible primarily for maintaining the levee around the island. They also have responsibilities for water supply and drainage; parks and playgrounds; and the local airports.[1]
As of January 2012, the Directors are:
BIMID was created by the California State Legislature in 1960, replacing Reclamation District No. 1619.
BIMID owns 100 acres of land in the center of the island between Bethel Island Road and Piper Road. Appromiately 85 acres is used for sourcing sand to maintain the levee; plus approximately 15 acres used to plant new trees to mitigate for tree removal elsewhere on the island.
The BIMID property on Stone Road consists of the District offices, a meeting room and a small equipment yard.
The island is mostly below sea level, with an 14.9 mile perimeter levee. The area is home to approximately 3,700 people, with 1,300 residential houses on the island, plus four mobile home parks, 13 commercial marinas, a commercial business area and agricultural land.
Bethel Island Golf Course, designed by Bob Baldock, is home to Bethel Island Men`s Golf Club, which is affiliated to Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) and offers official USGA handicaps.