The Delta Science Program was established to develop scientific information and synthesis for the state of scientific knowledge on issues critical for managing the Bay-Delta system. That body of knowledge must be unbiased, relevant, authoritative, integrated across state and federal agencies, and communicated to Bay-Delta decision-makers, agency managers, stakeholders, the scientific community, and the public. The Lead Scientist is responsible for leading, overseeing, and guiding the Science Program.

Science Program Vision Statement:
All Bay-Delta water and environmental policy is founded on the highest caliber science.

Science Program Mission Statement:
Our mission is to provide the best possible scientific information for water and environmental decision-making in the Bay-Delta system.

Science Program Strategic Objectives:
Support research.
Initiate, evaluate and fund research that will fill critical gaps in our understanding of the current and changing Bay-Delta system;

Synthesize scientific information.
Compile, analyze, and integrate scientific information across disciplines;

Facilitate independent peer review.
Promote and provide independent, scientific peer review of processes, plans, programs and products;

Coordinate science.
Coordinate with agencies to promote science-based adaptive management;

Communicate science.
Interpret and communicate scientific information to policy-and decision-makers, scientists and the public.

Clifford N. Dahm, Ph.D.
Lead Scientist
Dr. Clifford N. Dahm is an internationally-recognized expert in aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry, climatology and restoration biology. As Lead Scientist, he works with the CALFED Science Program staff, the CALFED Independent Science Board, CALFED implementing agency scientists, and the scientific community at large to promote and coordinate the use of peer-reviewed science throughout the CALFED Program. A professor of biology at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Cliff leads the Hydrogeoecology Research Group at UNM. He has also worked as a science advisor to the South Florida Water Management District, helping guide ecosystem restoration programs on the Kissimmee River, and has served as a peer reviewer for setting flows and levels for healthy rivers in the Tampa Bay area. More recently, Cliff has been involved in water management and drought issues in the Southwest, addressing ammonia toxicity to fish, setting minimum flows and evaluating storage options. He also has experience managing large granting programs at the National Science Foundation.

His current scientific leadership roles include director of the Freshwater Sciences Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, and co-principal investigator of the Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Program. He recently completed a term as president of the North American Benthological Society, the premier national and international stream and river professional society. He is a member of the Science Steering Group for the Global Water Budget Program of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Cliff has a PhD in oceanography and aquatic ecology from Oregon State University (OSU) as well as a master's degree in chemical oceanography from OSU and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Boise State University.

Lauren Hastings, Ph.D.
Deputy Executive Officer, Science
As Deputy Director, Lauren oversees implementation of the CALFED Science Program, including overall program management and working collaboratively with state and federal agencies, academic institutions, scientific experts and stakeholders to promote sound use of science within the CALFED Program. Prior to managing the Science Program, Lauren worked for the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) where she focused on incorporation of science into ERP activities. Lauren's primary interests are communicating scientific information to California Bay-Delta policy- and decision-makers, promoting science-based adaptive management, and supporting research that will fill critical gaps in our understanding of the Bay-Delta system. Prior to working for CALFED, Lauren worked for the USGS in Sacramento, managing two field research projects evaluating effects of various water- and land-management strategies on mitigating subsidence of Delta peat soils. Lauren has a PhD and MS in Soil Chemistry from UC Davis, and a BA in biology from Luther College.

Sam Harader
Program Manager
Sam has a Master's degree in Fisheries (with a water quality emphasis) from Humboldt State University and did his undergraduate studies in Biology at Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay). He is a Bay Area native having grown up in Hayward, Castro Valley, and Alameda. After graduating from Humboldt State, Sam took a job working for Coast Oyster Co. in Eureka where he worked his way up to be the manager in charge of production on a 3600-acre intertidal oyster farm. Since 1989 Sam has worked in water quality programs at the city, county, and state level. Most of these last 22 years has been spent on Delta-related water quality issues including eight years with the CALFED Water Quality Program and a year with the State Water Board's Bay-Delta unit. Sam joined the Science Program as a Program Manager in February 2010.

Marina Brand
Program Manager II
Marina joined the Delta Science Program in September 2010 and supervises half of the technical staff. Her areas of supervision include supporting the Delta Independent Science Board, science communication, ecosystems, landscape ecology, adaptive management, and climate change. Prior to joining the Delta Science Program, Marina served as the Assistant Chief of the Division of Environmental Planning and Management at the California State Lands Commission (SLC) and represented the SLC as a Commissioner on the Delta Protection Commission. Prior to that, she worked for the California Department of Fish Game in a variety of positions gaining experience in natural community conservation planning and habitat restoration, as well as others. Prior to moving to the Sacramento region, Marina spent 13 years working in San Diego County local government and as a private biological consultant. Marina holds a B.A. in Psychology/Zoology and a M.S. in Biology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and is the author/co-author of two papers based on her Master's research.

Michelle Shouse
Special Assistant to the Lead Scientist/USGS Coordinator
Michelle comes to the Science Program after working for eight years as a part of the USGS San Francisco Bay Group as a biologist. She received her graduate degree in marine biology from San Francisco State in 2002. Michelle's work in the Bay focused on benthic community ecology. Specifically, Michelle sought to identify community level responses to anthropogenic pollution in the shallow water benthic environment. As part of the USGS team, Michelle spent countless hours on boats sampling the Delta, facilitating interdisciplinary research. As a boat operator for USGS, Michelle will continue to be a part of research in the Delta.

As a member of the Science Program, Michelle is the USGS coordinator, overseeing all USGS funds committed to the CALFED Science Program. Michelle advises the Lead Scientist and the Science Program Deputy Director in developing budgets and financial plans for the program. She is the representative for the USGS within the Science Program to identify how the Science Program and USGS Scientists can best contribute to meeting the CALFED Program goals and objectives. Michelle assists the Lead Scientist in technical aspects of the Science Program and relevant programs within the USGS.

Christopher Enright
Senior Water Resources Engineer, P.E.
Chris joined the program in 2010 after spending 21 years as a water resources engineer at DWR. For the last 15 years, Chris served as the chief of Suisun Marsh Planning in the Division of Environmental Services. His research interests include hydrodynamics and transport processes, estuarine landscape ecology, and wetland restoration. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara where he developed interest in California water resources issues. He holds a BS in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University where he emphasized water resources planning and management by applying open channel hydraulics, numerical methods, and operations research methods to hydrological and water quality problems. As a research fellow and the Telonicher Marine Lab he developed a hydrodynamics and sediment transport model of the Redwood Creek estuary in Redwood National Park. He also holds a MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Davis where he applied operations research and numerical methods to problems in water resources planning and management.

Lindsay Correa
Environmental Scientist
Lindsay works on projects that support the Delta Science Program's efforts to integrate science into policy planning and decision-making. She promotes peer review science through coordinating independent peer review panels, science advisors, and science workshops. Before joining the Delta Science Program staff, Lindsay gained relevant environmental science experience during her tenure with the California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care Research Center, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Caltrans District 5's Environmental Planning Branch. Lindsay was a Luce Fellow in Environmental Management at the University of Washington where she studied the integration of marine science, policy and management. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in marine biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and earned a Masters in Marine Affairs and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management from the University of Washington.

Laura Walker
Research Writer
Laura is the writer and editor of Science News and other Science Program Communication products. Before joining the Science Program, she was a freelance writer, editor, writing instructor and professional speaker for more than a decade. An award-winning author, Laura has written more than a dozen humor books – both fiction and non-fiction – including "Reconstructing Natalie" and "Thanks for the Mammogram!" which was endorsed by Dr. Ernie Bodai, the driving force behind the Breast Cancer Research Postage Stamp. A recipient of the California Newspaper Publishers Association scholarship, she received her BA in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento, where she minored in English. Laura formerly worked as a reporter for The Vacaville Reporter and The Sacramento Bee where she covered everything from pigeon racing and emu ranching to cemetery board meetings. She now looks forward to covering science meetings that are a little livelier.

Jill McGee
Executive Secretary
Jill has worked with the Science Program for over 3 years. Her previous position of 16 years was with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly CYA). Her unit managed the prison population. She now enjoys working with a program attempting to manage the fish population.

Dusty Boeger
Science Program Webmaster
Dusty was exposed to the importance of water in California at an early age. Growing up in rural Northern California surrounded by rice fields and almond orchards, he learned early in life that water was precious. Sticking close to home, Dusty received a BA in English from UC Davis with special focus on creative writing and teaching. His writing efforts culminated in the co-authoring of the book "Education Corruption in the State of California". In 1997 he shifted his career focus and moved to the Bay Area to work in the Silicon Valley. Before joining the Science Program in May of 2004, Dusty worked as a website developer and graphic artist for an educational software company developing online learning systems for high school students. In addition to his duties with the Science Program, Dusty is also manages the websites for the Delta Stewardship Council and Delta Conservancy.