Category: Delta science

Delta Stewardship Council members call for resolution of Delta Independent Science Board funding crisis

Delta Stewardship Council meeting 5-21
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

At the Delta Stewardship Council's May 21, 2021 meeting, the Delta Independent Science Board Chair, Stephen Brandt gave a presentation on the Independent Science Board's Invasive Species report.  The presentation concluded with a plea for restoration of compensation for the Independent Science Board so they could continue their work. Councilmember Frank Damrell asked about Senate … Continue reading Delta Stewardship Council members call for resolution of Delta Independent Science Board funding crisis

Delta Stewardship Council guts independent peer review in the Delta Science Program

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

In 2000, California state and federal agencies made a commitment to using the best available science for management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The 2000 CALFED Record of Decision made a 30 year commitment to “bring world-class science to all elements of the program; ecosystem restoration, water supply reliability, water use efficiency and conservation, water … Continue reading Delta Stewardship Council guts independent peer review in the Delta Science Program

Facing reduced funding, Delta Independent Science Board considers changing scientific reviews

Delta ISB meeting
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

At the Delta Independent Science Board’s May 4, 2021 meeting, the board members will discuss potentially restructuring thr Delta Independent Science Board's scientific reviews. Due to a lack of funding for board members to do the scientific reviews themselves, the board is considering changing the structure of reviews to rely more on staff. As mandated … Continue reading Facing reduced funding, Delta Independent Science Board considers changing scientific reviews

On the Delta Independent Science Board and Inconvenient Truths

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

Remarks by Deirdre Des Jardins at the April 16, 2021 Delta Independent Science Board meeting. One of the most valuable contributions of the Delta Independent Science Board is when they speak inconvenient truths. One example of this is the BDCP / WaterFix project, which is a “hard” adaptation to climate change.  The locations for the … Continue reading On the Delta Independent Science Board and Inconvenient Truths

Questions surround creation of employee positions for Delta Independent Science Board members

Delta ISB meeting
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 4 Comments

In 2020, there were six vacancies on the Delta Independent Science Board, created by term limits for five members, and one member stepping down. The Delta Stewardship  Council ran a nationwide search in 2019 to recruit new members. Candidates were required to be "internationally prominent scientists with appropriate expertise” and were promised to be “paid … Continue reading Questions surround creation of employee positions for Delta Independent Science Board members

Delta Independent Science Board defunded

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

The Delta Independent Science Board's scientific reviews have essentially been defunded for Fiscal Year 2020-21, and the future of the Independent Science Board itself is threatened. The Independent Science Board is part of the Delta Science Program, which was created in 2000 to “bring world-class science" to all elements of the CALFED program. The Delta … Continue reading Delta Independent Science Board defunded