IEP Stakeholders News

Greetings IEP Community members,

Please mark your calendars! Our next quarterly meeting of the IEP PWT Chair & Stakeholder Group is Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 1: 30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• November 12 meeting agenda (PDF) (meeting link included in agenda)

Review the following documents that will be discussed during the meeting:

• IEP Science Strategy 2025 (PDF) and Synthesis Science Plan 2025 (Excel) (Agenda Item #6)
• Draft IEP 2026 Work Plan (PDF) (Agenda Item #7)

The meeting will be held at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife office (1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento in Garibaldi Conference Room).

• Meeting format is hybrid (in-person + MS Teams).
• If coming in person, send an email to iep@wildlife.ca.gov to RSVP so we can provide your name to the front desk.
• Guest WiFi will not be available inside the building, so please bring your phone to hotspot, if needed.

If you'd like to present at a future meeting, or request a topic for a future meeting, send us an email at iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

REMINDER

Abstract Submissions for 2026 IEP Annual Workshop due October 10!

We are now accepting abstracts for the upcoming March 16-18, 2026 IEP Annual Workshop.

Participants wishing to present an oral presentation, poster, or lightning talk, must submit an abstract (300 words or less) summarizing their contribution. We welcome submissions from all IEP member agencies, affiliates, and stakeholders at all career levels. Preliminary work is welcome! Participants are limited to one abstract as presenting author but may be a contributing author on any number of others. If you are interested in putting a session together based on a series of selected talks make sure to include that information in the submission form. Include the names of all the presenting authors and their talk titles.

• Abstract Submission Form

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 10, 2025 at midnight. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Space to present is limited and selection is not guaranteed. All presenters (both oral and poster) must attend the workshop in person at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Headquarters Building in Sacramento. Registration to attend is free of charge. All oral presentations will be live streamed for remote viewers.

Abstracts will be selected based on various criteria such as relevance, originality, collaboration, career stage, and scientific merit.

Please share this announcement widely with colleagues, staff and others who may be interested. To subscribe to receive workshop announcements, visit the subscription page of the IEP website

Contact workshop organizers Adam Nanninga (Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov) and Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov) if you have questions.

REMINDER

Abstract Submissions for 2026 IEP Annual Workshop due October 10!

We are now accepting abstracts for the upcoming March 16-18, 2026 IEP Annual Workshop.

Participants wishing to present an oral presentation, poster, or lightning talk, must submit an abstract (300 words or less) summarizing their contribution. We welcome submissions from all IEP member agencies, affiliates, and stakeholders at all career levels. Preliminary work is welcome! Participants are limited to one abstract as presenting author but may be a contributing author on any number of others. If you are interested in putting a session together based on a series of selected talks make sure to include that information in the submission form. Include the names of all the presenting authors and their talk titles.

• Abstract Submission Form

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 10, 2025 at midnight. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Space to present is limited and selection is not guaranteed. All presenters (both oral and poster) must attend the workshop in person at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Headquarters Building in Sacramento. Registration to attend is free of charge. All oral presentations will be live streamed for remote viewers.

Abstracts will be selected based on various criteria such as relevance, originality, collaboration, career stage, and scientific merit.

Please share this announcement widely with colleagues, staff and others who may be interested. To subscribe to receive workshop announcements, visit the subscription page of the IEP website

Contact workshop organizers Adam Nanninga (Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov) and Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov) if you have questions.

Greetings IEP Community members,

The Delta Science Program is hosting the 2025 Adaptive Management Forum on October 14-15! This event brings together scientists and managers to share ideas on the state of knowledge and best practices for adaptive management in the Delta. Day 1 will feature presentations, panel discussions, a poster session, and activities meant to explore different components and applications of adaptive management in the Delta. Day 2 will be a site visit to Lookout Slough Tidal Restoration and Flood Improvement Project to see what adaptive management looks like on the ground.

Attendance is free. Register to attend in person or virtually.

See the detailed agenda (PDF) for more information on speakers and session topics.

Submit poster abstracts (Forms) by September 26.

Questions? Email adaptivemanagement@deltacouncil.ca.gov

Please share this announcement with others who may be interested!

Greetings IEP Community members,

The Cultured and Supplementation of Smelt (CASS) Steering Committee has released their annual memo to request proposals for the use of cultured Delta Smelt originating from the U.C. Davis Fish Conservation & Culture Laboratory from the 2026 year-class (PDF). Review the memo to learn more about the proposal submittal process.

The deadline to submit fish request proposals to the CASS has been extended to October 10. There will only be one opportunity to submit requests for 2026 brood year fish; 2025 brood-year post-spawn adult fish may also be available. Requests must be submitted to Nora De Cuir (Kearns & West) at ndecuir@kearnswest.com. All requests should follow the template included in the memo and provide all the requested information.

Share this announcement with others who may be interested.

Greetings IEP Community,

The Cal-Neva American Fisheries Society Chapter would like us to share the announcement of their upcoming 2026 Biennial Meeting.

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Cal-Neva AFS Chapter

Cal-Neva Biennial Meeting — 59th Cal-Neva AFS 2026 Conference

When: February 10 – 13, 2026 (Hold the dates!)
Where: Hotel Katerina, Chico, CA
Hold Your (Sea) Horses: More information to come soon, including abstract openings!

Visit the Cal-Neva AFS Biennial Meeting page for more information (when available).

 

Greetings IEP Community members,

The eDNA Collaborative is conducting a (very) brief survey to better understand peoples’ trust in environmental DNA (eDNA) methods and data. They are especially interested in perspectives from scientists and managers, even if they have no experience with eDNA. Please take a moment to complete the survey AND share it with your colleagues, project work team members, and others who may be interested.

The survey only takes 5 minutes (really!).

Survey Link: The eDNA Collaborative -Gauging Trust in Environmental DNA (eDNA) Science (Google Form)

Questions on the survey can be directed to:

Shana Hirsch
Assistant Professor
University of Washington
Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering
phone (206) 384-7350

Susanna Theroux, PhD
Principal Scientist
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
3535 Harbor Blvd, Suite 110
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
susannat@sccwrp.org
www.sccwrp.org

Greetings IEP Community members,

The Culture and Supplementation of Smelt (CASS) Captive Propagation Working Group (CPWG) has released their 2025 fish request solicitation memo "Guidelines and Considerations for Requesting Delta Smelt from the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery (PDF)". This solicitation memo is only for the refuge population of Delta Smelt from the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery. This represents an additional opportunity for requesters to seek Delta Smelt for applied science or research purposes. 

Review the memo to learn more about the request process.

All fish requests should be made by September 15, 2025. Contact information for questions related to the request and environmental compliance and permitting is included in the memo. Approved requests will be communicated by October, with fish expected to become available in late fall (i.e., November).

Share this announcement widely with others who may be interested.

Open Call for Abstract Submissions for the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop!

Abstracts due by October 10!

We are now accepting abstracts for the upcoming March 16-18, 2026 IEP Annual Workshop.

Participants wishing to present an oral presentation, poster, or lightning talk, must submit an abstract (300 words or less) summarizing their contribution. We welcome submissions from all IEP member agencies, affiliates, and stakeholders at all career levels. Preliminary work is welcome! Participants are limited to one abstract as presenting author but may be a contributing author on any number of others. If you are interested in putting a session together based on a series of selected talks make sure to include that information in the submission form. Include the names of all the presenting authors and their talk titles.

• Abstract Submission Form

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 10, 2025 at midnight. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Space to present is limited and selection is not guaranteed. All presenters (both oral and poster) must attend the workshop in person at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Headquarters Building in Sacramento. Registration to attend is free of charge. All oral presentations will be live streamed for remote viewers.

Abstracts will be selected based on various criteria such as relevance, originality, collaboration, career stage, and scientific merit.

Please share this announcement widely with colleagues, staff and others who may be interested.

How to Receive Future Workshop Updates

To receive future updates on the workshop make sure you and your colleagues are subscribed to the IEP Workshop listserv. Visit the subscription page on the IEP website to sign up for the annual workshop listserv and other IEP listservs.

Questions?

If you have a question on the abstract submission process, contact the workshop organizers Adam Nanninga (Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov) or Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov).

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

DWR's Water Resources Science Symposium: "Science Drives Our Decision-Making"!

Join water resources professionals from across the state for a day of learning, discussion, and collaboration. Explore sessions that address California's most pressing water resource challenges and highlight the innovative solutions shaping California's water future.

Date: September 23, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: California Natural Resources Agency Auditorium (715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814)
Registration (EventBrite): REGISTER NOW (registration is free, but required as space is limited)
Flyer: Symposium Flyer (PDF)

Agenda Highlights:

Session 1 – Science-Driven Decisions

Real-world examples of how cutting-edge science and modeling have informed major decisions in water operations, flood response, fisheries, and watershed management.

Session 2 – Tools and Partnerships

Lightning talks showcasing innovative tools, data platforms, and monitoring approaches developed with external partners covering topics from climate assessments and machine learning to generic monitoring, aquifer mapping, and science communication.

Session 3 – Emerging Issues

A thought-provoking panel discussion exploring emerging challenges in climate adaptation, ecological resilience, groundwater sustainability, and the evolving role of open data and collaborative science in shaping water resource decision-making.

Contact the WRS.Symposium@water.ca.gov for questions or more information.