IEP Stakeholders News

Greetings IEP Community,

We are sharing a Save the Date announcement from the Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom Strategy Implementation Team (CHABS-IT). Please see their message below and share with others who may be interested.

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The Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom Strategy Implementation Team (CHABS-IT) is pleased to announce the second annual Delta CHABs Workshop on March 19, 2026 in the California Natural Resources Building. The goal of the workshop is to implement Recommendation 1.5 of the Delta CHAB Monitoring Strategy (PDF): to hold an annual meeting focusing on Delta CHABs. The workshop will focus on CHAB monitoring, fostering a collaborative approach to implementing the Delta CHAB Strategy, and promoting coordination, collaboration, and communication among agency and community partners. More information is available in the 2026 Delta CHABS Workshop flyer (PDF).

A detailed agenda and registration link will be available in February.

Contact Keith Bouma-Gregson (kbouma-gregson@usgs.gov) and Scott Navarro (scott.navarro@deltacouncil.ca.gov) with questions.

We hope to see you in March!

Sincerely,

Keith Bouma-Gregson, Ph.D. (he/him)
U.S. Geological Survey
California Water Science Center
6000 J St., Placer Hall
Sacramento, CA 95819
kbouma-gregson@usgs.gov | 510-230-3691 (cell)
Biogeochemistry Group
Staff Profile

Greetings IEP Community Members,

The 2026 IEP Annual Workshop is coming to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Headquarters (715 P Street, Sacramento) on March 16-18, 2026. Live presentations will be held in the auditorium and posters will be showcased on the 2nd floor (Rooms 2-221 B+C). The event is FREE and will be hybrid (in-person and remote). Registration for both in-person attendance and remote attendance opens February 2, 2026.

Signups are currently open for participants interested in the Early Career Mentor Luncheon, volunteers to help during the workshop, and judges to help us evaluate oral talks and posters from early career participants. See below for a quick overview on workshop registration, a summary overview of the workshop program, signups for the mentor luncheon, volunteers, and judges. This information along with registration information is now posted on the IEP Annual Workshop page.

Share this email with colleagues, managers, early career staff and others interested in the workshop, and make sure to subscribe to the workshop email list to receive future updates!

Workshop Registration

Registration to attend the workshop (in-person or remotely) opens February 2, 2026!

The Workshop Program and Abstract Booklet is currently being finalized and will be available on the IEP Annual Workshop page when registration opens. For now, please peruse the summary overview of the program and discuss with managers, supervisors, and staff on which days you are interested in attending. Review the Area Guide, Workshop FAQ, anda flyer for an after-hours climbing event at Sacramento Pipeworks and PintWorks Restaurant and Brewery.

• Summary Overview of 2026 IEP Workshop (PDF)
• Area Guide (PDF)
• Workshop FAQ (PDF)
• After-Hours Climbing Event Flyer (PDF)

Mentor Luncheon

Are you interested in attending the Early Career Mentor Luncheon as a mentee or mentor? Registration is still open for Mentors and Mentees. Seating is limited so make sure to register before the end of January. The Mentor Luncheon connects new and early career scientists and students with career researchers, managers, and practitioners in the San Francisco Bay-Delta community.

• Luncheon Date: Monday, March 16, 2026 (12:12 p.m. - 1:42 p.m.)
• Registration: Early Career Luncheon Registration Form (registration end January 27)
• Contact Kristi Arend or Brian Schreier for questions.

Workshop Volunteers Needed!

The IEP Workshop needs volunteers for the program to run efficiently and smoothly. We need mic runners, timekeepers, overflow room monitor, and backup volunteers. Volunteers get automatic registration for the day they volunteer. Volunteer slots are 1/2 day minimum.

• Volunteer Signup Form (signup closes February 23)
• Contact the Volunteer Chair Tim Malinich for questions.

Early Career Award Judges

Judges are needed to evaluate the presentation and posters of participating early career candidates. If you are interested in being a judge, a signup will be included in the EventBrite in-person workshop registration (registration opens February 2). If you want to signup now or if you have questions, contact the Awards Chair, Ted Flynn.

Workshop Questions?

Contact the workshop organizing chair, Adam Nanninga, and IEP Program Support.

Greetings IEP Stakeholders,

The Delta Stewardship Council asked IEP to share information on the 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference and the call to participate on the conference planning committee. If you or any of your colleagues are interested in being a part of the planning team, please email bdsc@deltacouncil.ca.gov.

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2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference

The Delta Stewardship Council is about to kick-off planning for the fall 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference!

The Delta Stewardship Council will once again co-sponsor the biennial conference with USGS. Letitia Grenier from PPIC and Rene Henery from Trout Unlimited will provide their leadership as conference co-chairs for the upcoming conference. Being part of the planning team is a great way to learn about the inner workings of planning a conference, share your great ideas, take a leadership role in one or more aspects of the conference, and network across the Delta with the rest of the planning team.

Potential roles include:

• Program chair and poster chair (collecting and reviewing abstracts, creating a schedule and grouping abstracts into sessions and tracks)
• Arts and humanities chair
• Sponsor chair
• Policy chair

The first virtual planning kick-off meeting will be held January 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. If you or any of your colleagues are interested in being a part of the planning team, please email bdsc@deltacouncil.ca.gov.

Additionally, we would love to have some fresh perspectives and new planning committee members, so please share this opportunity with colleagues who may be interested.

Extended Call for Abstracts for Furloughed Federal Employees

The Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) would like to welcome back our federal workers!

We understand that some of you may have been affected by the federal shutdown and were unable to submit an IEP workshop abstract by the initial deadline of October 10. We have a limited number of slots available in the program specifically reserved for federal partners.

If you are a federal employee who was furloughed during the shutdown and was unable to submit an IEP workshop proposal by the initial October 10 deadline, we welcome you to submit your proposal for consideration now. We have a limited number of oral talk and poster slots available.

If interested, complete the proposal template (Word) and email it to iep@wildlife.ca.gov and cc Adam Nanninga (Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov) no later than December 19, 2025 (6:00 p.m. PST) to be considered. Space is limited, and there is no guarantee that all proposals submitted will be accepted.

Please share this announcement with other federal partners who may be interested.

Questions can be directed to iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

Note: This email is being shared on multiple listservs. Apologies for the cross postings.

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).