Environmental Monitoring Program

Program Overview

The Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) was established in 1971 to: 1) collect environmental data for resource management, 2) better understand estuarine processes, and 3) document compliance with water right decisions. EMP staff collect monthly water quality, chlorophyll, phytoplankton, benthic, and zooplankton samples at fixed locations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Bay, and San Pablo Bay. The EMP is one of the nation’s oldest environmental monitoring programs and has compiled over four decades of consistent and comprehensive water quality and biological data.

History

  • 1971: Start of Environmental Monitoring Program Water Rights Decision 1379
  • 1978: Water Rights Decision 1485
  • 1983: Addition of continuous monitoring stations 
  • 1999: Water Rights Decision 1641
  • 1995: Integration with CDFW Zooplankton Monitoring
  • 2017: New Research Vessel Sentinel

Methods

Relevant Reports

Obtain IEP Newsletter reports by sending email to iep@wildlife.ca.gov

  • IEP Newsletter Vol. 30, Issue 3, 2017
  • IEP Newsletter Vol. 29, Issue 2, 2016
  • IEP Newsletter Vol. 26, Issue 4, 2014

Related Information

Article: How Sheds Help Ensure Healthy Water Quality for Millions of Californians

Principal Investigator

Ted Flynn, Theodore.Flynn@water.ca.gov
California Department of Water Resources

Program Staff

Benthic Lead - Elizabeth Wells
Elizabeth.Wells@water.ca.gov

Phytoplankton Lead -Tiffany Brown
Tiffany.Brown@water.ca.gov

Discrete Water Quality Leads
Sarah Perry, Sarah.Perry@water.ca.gov 
Julianna Manning, Julianna.Manning@water.ca.gov

Zooplankton Lead - Arthur Barros
Arthur.Barros@wildlife.ca.gov

Looking for Data?

Discrete Water Quality:
Sarah Perry, Sarah.Perry@water.ca.gov

Phytoplankton:
Tiffany Brown, Tiffany.Brown@water.ca.gov

Zooplankton:
Arthur Barros, Arthur.Barros@wildlife.ca.gov

Benthic:
Elizabeth (Betsy) Wells, Elizabeth.Wells@water.ca.gov