IEP Monitoring Programs

Core monitoring surveys make up the long-term backbone of the IEP monitoring program (see examples). These surveys have come into existence since before many existing environmental or endangered species laws, and due to their long-term record, are critical to understanding recent variability in the environment, population sizes, and general trends in climate and hydrology in the San Francisco Estuary and associated watersheds.

Examples of use of the data collected in these surveys can be found here:

• The Seasonal Monitoring Report provides a brief look at the long-term trends in data collected by these surveys.
• Is Extinction Inevitable for Delta Smelt and Longfin Smelt? An Opinion and Recommendations for Recovery (Hobbs et al. 2017)
• Evidence of a Shift in the Littoral Fish Community of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Mahardja et al. 2017)
• Long-Term Trends in Summertime Habitat Suitability for Delta Smelt, Hypomesus transpacificus (Nobriga et al. 2008)

Many current important survey programs were created in response to needs by agency managers and policymakers for additional information or more “real-time” water project decision-making requirements. As we become more sophisticated in our understanding of San Francisco Estuary ecology, our information needs evolve and grow. The IEP works with our member agencies, stakeholders, the research community, and the public to understand changing information needs and collect relevant species and environmental data.

Research Fleet Monitoring Status

Are you interested in knowing the status of IEP field monitoring activities? A table on field monitoring activities is published monthly and available for download.

Current Monthly IEP Field Monitoring Status