On the San Joaquin River in Oakley, a small bay marks the spot where a farm went underwater.
The name
The park is named for a break in the levee system that flooded an asparagus farm between the San Joaquin River and Dutch Slough in 1928, according to Wikipedia. The break formed a small bay near where river water mixes with salt water from San Francisco Bay. The park district says Big Break is part of the 1,150-square-mile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which drains half of California and forms the largest estuary on the Pacific coast, sometimes called the "Inland Coast." The mix of salt and fresh water creates an "edge effect" that increases habitat and species diversity.
The visitor center
Wikipedia says the $11 million, 5,000-square-foot Delta Visitor Center opened in October 2012. It has a 1,200-square-foot interactive map that shows how water flows through the Delta. The park is home to at least 70 bird species, including herons, egrets and white-tailed kites, along with beavers, river otters and western pond turtles.
Visiting
The district lists the address as 69 Big Break Road. Parking is free. Gate hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through February. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.