IEP Stakeholders News

Greetings IEP Community Members,

The Delta Coordination Group's Science and Monitoring Work Group, an interagency team of government scientists and resource managers, recently released their report "Summer-Fall Habitat Actions for Delta Smelt — Report on Effectiveness of Actions Taken Between 2011 and 2024 (PDF)".

This report describes the science behind the Delta Smelt Summer-Fall Habitat Action, including Fall X2 and the operation of the Suisun Marsh Salinity Control Gates. It provides a weight-of-evidence approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions intended to improve Delta smelt habitat, survival, and recruitment.

Questions? Contact Rosemary Hartman at the California Department of Water Resources (Rosemary.Hartman@water.ca.gov).

Greetings IEP Community Members,

The Aquatic Vegetation Project Work Team plans to host a free Delta Aquatic Identification Workshop in September if there is enough interest. Please complete this survey by June 12.

• Aquatic Vegetation Identification Workshop Survey

Tentative Agenda

During the first half of the workshop, experts will give presentations covering common species of emergent, floating, and submersed aquatic vegetation found in the Bay-Delta ecosystem, including native and non-native species. During the second half, participants will get hands-on identification experience with live specimens of many of the species covered in the presentations. The workshop will be approximately four hours and will likely take place at the California Department of Water Resources West Sacramento office (3500 Industrial Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691).

Feel free to share this survey link with others.

Nicholas Rasmussen and Shruti Khanna
Co-chairs of the Aquatic Vegetation Project Work Team

Greetings IEP Community Members,

The Delta Science Program would like us to share the announcement from the National Academies on their call for experts for Cycle #2 Central Valley Project & State Water Project Review. Nominations are due this Friday, May 22, 2026.

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Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project: Cycle 2

We are seeking experts to participate in a study on monitoring and modeling to support long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. To be considered, please submit your nomination by May 22, 2026.

• Nomination Link

The National Academies are convening an ad hoc committee to conduct a biennial review of the scientific activities that support the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project (CVP). Conducted alongside the State Water Project, these coordinated federal-state water operations move millions of acre-feet of water annually across California and have implications for species protected under the Endangered Species Act. This second cycle of the review will focus on monitoring and modeling improvements to better understand how ecosystem functions are affected by project operations.

We are seeking suggestions for experts with experience in the following areas:

• Fish biology, ecology, genetics, modeling, and monitoring
• Habitat restoration
• Freshwater ecology
• Climate science
• Endangered Species Act and other relevant laws and regulations
• Water resources management, including reservoir operations
• Surface water hydrology, including estuarine circulation
• Statistics or biostatistics

Selected experts may contribute as committee members, speakers, participants, or peer reviewers for the resulting consensus study and report. Nominations will inform the development of a volunteer committee and related activities for this study.

Submissions are due by May 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM (ET).

You’re Invited – Delta ISB Panel on Nature-based Solutions

Over the coming months, the Delta Independent Science Board will host a series of panels to explore nature-based solutions, including associated challenges and needs, to help shape a potential review that is meaningful and useful for the Delta community.

The first panel will take place on May 22, 2026 at 1 pm at the Board’s meeting, focusing on perspectives from State agencies to understand what is happening in California. Panelists include:

• Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency
• Campbell Ingram, Delta Conservancy
• Tawny Mata, California Department of Food and Agriculture
• Nick Martorano, State Water Resources Control Board, and
• Steve Rothert, California Department of Water Resources.

Later in the year, the Delta ISB will also host panels focused on work at the national level and within the Delta.

You can participate via Zoom or in-person at the California Natural Resources Agency (Room 2-302, 715 P St, Sacramento, CA 95814).

See the meeting notice for additional information (PDF).

Questions? Contact disb@deltacouncil.ca.gov

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Mark your calendar! Our next quarterly meeting of the IEP PWT Chair & Stakeholder Group is Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• May 13 meeting agenda (PDF) (meeting link included in agenda)

The meeting is hybrid (in person + MS Teams). The meeting will be held in the Garibaldi Conference Room at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605) West Sacramento office. 

If you'd like to join us in person, RSVP to iep@wildlife.ca.gov so we can provide your name to the front desk. No guest WiFi will be available, but you can hotspot with your phone, if needed.

Would you like to present at a future meeting or request a topic for the agenda? Contact us at iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

This is a reminder that the 2026 Delta Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom (CHABs) Workshop is less than 2 weeks away. The workshop will be held on March 19, 2026, at the California Natural Resources Building in Sacramento (also a remote attendance option). The agenda is below and the registration link included the agenda.

• March 19 Delta CHABs Workshop Agenda (PDF) (registration link inside the agenda)

Please register by March 17th. We look forward to seeing you all there to discuss the ongoing efforts to understand and manage CHABs in the Delta.

If you have any questions, please contact Keith Bouma-Gregson (kbouma-gregson@usgs.gov).

Delta CHABs Implementation Team Co-chairs:
Keith Bouma-Gregson, Ellen Preece, Laura Twardochleb, and Scott Navarro

Location:
California Natural Resources Building
715 P St, Sacramento, CA 95814, Room 2-302A & 2-302B (In-person or remote; sessions after lunch will be in-person only)
March 19, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Goal: Implement Recommendation 1.5 of the Delta CHABs Monitoring Strategy (PDF)

“Recommendation 1.5: Hold an annual meeting focused specifically on Delta CHABs
As recommendations are implemented and lessons are learned, consistent meetings with people engaged in Delta CHAB monitoring are necessary. This allows a cohesive approach to CHAB monitoring and community-based course correction to support adaptive management. An annual meeting is an important event that can be used to inform the community about ongoing efforts related to CHABs.”

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Registration is now open for the 2026 Delta Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom (CHABs) Workshop on March 19, 2026. Registration to attend is required and the registration link is included in the agenda.

• 2026 Delta CHABs Workshop Agenda (PDF)

We look forward to seeing you all there to discuss the ongoing efforts to understand and manage CHABs in the Delta.

Please contact Keith Bouma-Gregson (kbouma-gregson@usgs.gov), if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Delta CHABs Implementation Team Co-Chairs
(Keith Bouma-Gregson, Ellen Preece, Laura Twardochleb, and Scott Navarro)

Greetings IEP Community Members,

This is a reminder that registration for the Interagency Ecological Program Annual Workshop is open. We have a limited number of tickets remaining for in person attendance, so don't wait to reserve your seat. Registration for in person attendance ends March 6 or once tickets are sold out, whichever comes first. Registration for remote attendance will remain open through the workshop.

Registration

Registration links, workshop program, abstract booklet, area guide, and FAQ can be found on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.

Judges Needed

We need judges to evaluate early career candidates for best presentation and poster.

• In-person attendees can register inside the EventBrite ticket platform.
• Remote attendees should contact Ted Flynn (Ted.Flynn@water.ca.gov).

After Hours Event

There will be an after hours event held on Tuesday, March 17 from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

View the After Hours Flyer (PDF) for more information.

• Come Climb the Walls with Us at Sacramento Pipeworks!
• Brag Over Brews Afterwards at PintWorks Restaurant & Brewery

Contact Peter Nelson (Peter.Nelson@water.ca.gov) for after hours event questions.

Workshop Questions?

General questions related to the workshop should be directed to iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

Note: This information is being shared for broad distribution. If you'd like to receive emails only pertinent to the workshop, subscribe to the IEP Workshop email list.
 

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Mark your calendars! Our next quarterly meeting of the IEP PWT Chair & Stakeholder Group is Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• February 11 meeting agenda (PDF) (meeting link included in agenda)

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

• Meeting format is hybrid (in-person + MS Teams)
• Want to attend in person? RSVP to iep@wildlife.ca.gov so we can provide your name to the front desk
• No guest WiFi is provided, so please bring your own phone to hotspot, if needed.

If you'd like to present at a future meeting, or would like to request a topic for agenda consideration, email iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Registration for the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop opens Monday, February 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. The workshop is a hybrid, free event that will be held March 16-18, 2026 in the auditorium of the California Natural Resources Agency building. Participants can attend in person or virtually.

Registration

Registration, program, and abstract booklet can be found on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.

• Use the "In-Person Registration (EventBrite)" button for in person attendance.
• Use the "Remote-Only Registration (Zoom)" button for remote attendance.

Volunteers Needed

• We need volunteers to assist as microphone runners and timekeepers in the auditorium.
• Shifts are half-day, and volunteers get to sit in the auditorium and hear the presentations.
• Volunteers are automatically registered to attend in person for their day(s) of service. 

Sign up now! Volunteer Registration Form

Judges Needed

We need volunteer judges to evaluate early career candidates for best presentation and poster.

• In-person attendees can register inside the EventBrite platform.
• Remote attendees should contact Ted Flynn (Ted.Flynn@water.ca.gov).

After Hours Event

• After Hours Event (PDF) - Climbing and bragging while dining

Questions?

Visit the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page for more information:

• Area Guide (PDF) - info on transit, parking, food
• Workshop Program Overview (PDF) - basic overview of the sessions
• Workshop FAQ (PDF) - answers to all your questions
• Contact us at iep@wildlife.ca.gov

Note: This announcement is being shared on multiple email listservs, so you may receive multiple announcements.