Science Communication
The Delta Science Program recognizes that communication is essential to building the Delta science community and delivering pertinent information to scientists, decision-makers, the public, and other interested parties. Effective science communication transforms information into knowledge and knowledge into action. The Delta Science Program communicates science to a wide range of audiences through hosting events, supporting various publications, and generating outreach materials.
Events
The Delta Science Program organizes and sponsors conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, reviews, interagency forums, and other events. View our events calendar and subscribe to receive email announcements to learn about upcoming events.
Bay-Delta Science Conference
The biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference is jointly sponsored by the Delta Stewardship Council and the U.S. Geological Survey as a forum for presenting scientific analyses and results relevant to managing the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The goal of the conference is to provide new information and syntheses to the broad community of scientists, engineers, resource managers, and other interested parties working on Bay-Delta issues.
The most recent Bay-Delta Science Conference was held in Sacramento from September 30 to October 2, 2024. The theme was “Cultivating Connections for a Dynamically Changing Environment.” More information is available on BayDeltaScienceConference.com.
Symposia and Workshops
The Delta Science Program partners with the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute to hold symposia covering science topics directly related to management needs. These symposia are free to the public and often produce synthesis documents. Past examples of successful symposium topics include Managed Relocation Under a Changing Climate, Contaminants, Delta and Longfin Smelt, and Salmon Disease Ecology. To learn more about previous symposia and workshops, including access to synthesis reports, please visit the Delta Science Program synthesis webpage.
On May 9, 2025, a symposium entitled “Microplastic Pollution: Impact on the San Francisco Bay-Delta and Remediation Strategies” will be held at the International Center at UC Davis. This symposium will explore the impacts of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems, focusing on the heavily urbanized San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its diverse habitats. Attendance is free with registration.
Products and Publications
Delta Science Tracker
The Delta Science Tracker provides a communication platform for researchers, program and resource managers, and the public. This online tool hosts a comprehensive inventory of scientific research and monitoring activities conducted in the Delta and provides direct access to numerous products and outputs of those activities.
Delta Breeze Newsletter
The Delta Science Program publishes the Delta Breeze newsletter to highlight projects and upcoming opportunities funded by the Science Program and its partners.
Nutria Pocket Guide
During a California Department of Fish and Wildlife interagency nutria coordination meeting in the fall of 2018, county agricultural commissioners and federal, state, and county agencies and organizations expressed the need for nutria outreach materials. The group requested a pocket-sized, field-friendly identification pamphlet that can be widely distributed to landowners, field staff, and other interested members of the public.Partners
San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science (SFEWS)
SFEWS is an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes research about the science and resource management of San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and the upstream watersheds. The journal is funded by the Delta Stewardship Council, with support from the UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment and the eScholarship Publishing group.
Maven’s Notebook
Maven’s Notebook is an independent website that covers California water news. It features original news as well as curated content. It focuses on the major water planning processes currently underway in California as well as the latest developments in Delta science. The Delta Stewardship Council provides funding for Maven’s Notebook.
Estuary News Archive
The Delta Stewardship Council was a core funder of Estuary News. A quarterly publication in operation for over 30 years, Estuary News reported on a wide range of Delta and San Francisco Estuary watershed news. Visit the archive to view past issues.