Discovery Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Contra Costa County, California in the United States, about 60 miles (97 km) from San Francisco. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. As of 2020, its population was 15,358, a 15% percent gain from 13,352 at the 2010 census.
Discovery Bay was originally a waterfront community built on a network of man-made waterways and residential islands, except for the southeast quadrant, which comprises the golf course of Discovery Bay Country Club. The homes generally have private docks with access to the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. Newer developments have been added on former agricultural land to the north and west of the initial town-site. Road access is via California State Route 4.
History
Discovery Bay began as a planned community in 1964, and originally designated as "Riverside" and "River Lake." It was built on land known as the Byron Tract, which was previously used for growing barley and potatoes. In 1968, Jurgen Lunding led an effort to give the community its current name.
In July 2007, Discovery Bay received its own ZIP code: 94505. Formerly, it had shared 94514 with Byron. The ensuing celebration included a paddle boat raft-up that set a world record.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which of it is land and of it (19.5%) is water.
19 miles of 100-year flood protection levees maintained by Reclamation District 800 provide flood protection for part of the reclaimed swampland beneath Discovery Bay. But most residences (the waterfront properties with San Francisco Bay delta access) are not levee-protected. The primary duties of the area's community services district, known as The Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District, are handling water, sewer, landscaping and recreation. The CSD Board has five members who are elected by community residents. While the CSD Board has no land use or zoning authority, the CSD can advise the county on decisions related to police and fire services, residential and commercial development, and more.
In December 2016, the CSD Board announced that Discovery Bay resident Mike Davies would become the general manager of CSD, effective January 3, 2017. He would replace the interim manager, Catherine Kutsuris. Davies had served as a police officer in Brentwood, California, including five years as chief of police there. Retiring from Brentwood Police Department in 2006, he was hired at the California Police Officers Standards and Training organization in Sacramento.