Tag: Delta Stewardship Council

Legislation to save the Delta Independent Science Board under negotiation

Delta ISB meeting
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

As explained in a previous blog post, the Delta Independent Science Board (Delta ISB) was defunded in Fiscal Year 2020-21. In June of 2020 the Delta Stewardship Council staff discontinued contracts paying the Delta ISB members at professional scientific rates. The Delta ISB members then served without compensation until November of 2020, when the contracts … Continue reading Legislation to save the Delta Independent Science Board under negotiation

Letter: FY 2020-21 appropriation for Delta Independent Science Board diverted

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

On May 26, 2021, California Water Research sent a letter to the chairs of the California Senate and Assembly budget committees and subcommittees regarding the FY 2020-21 appropriations for support of the Delta Independent Science Board.  We wrote: Re: FY 2020-21 appropriation to the Delta Stewardship Council has not been used as intended by the … Continue reading Letter: FY 2020-21 appropriation for Delta Independent Science Board diverted

Did COVID budget cuts get allocated to the Delta Independent Science Board?

Photo of sign saying funding cut
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

For fiscal years 2017-2020, the Delta Independent Science Board had $2.0 million in funding to pay the Delta Independent Science Board members through contracts, about $670,000 a year. Almost all of this funding was lost In FY 2020-21, when the compensation for the Board members was changed to a $100 per diem salary. Due to … Continue reading Did COVID budget cuts get allocated to the Delta Independent Science Board?

“No legal basis” for 90% pay reduction for Delta Independent Science Board members

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

In October 2020, the Delta Stewardship Council changed the compensation structure for the Delta Independent Science Board. From 2010-2020, the nationally and internationally prominent scientists on the board were compensated through contracts which paid professional scientific rates. The Council changed the compensation to a salary of $100 per diem. This change crippled the Delta Independent … Continue reading “No legal basis” for 90% pay reduction for Delta Independent Science Board members

California Water Research calls for formal consideration of Delta Independent Science Board compensation

Transparency
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

At the May 21, 2021 Delta Stewardship Council meeting, Deirdre Des Jardins, Director of California Water Research, called for the Delta Stewardship Council to formally consider compensation for the Delta Independent Science Board at the next meeting. The request was supported by comments of Councilmember Don Nottoli. OK, this is Deirdre Des Jardins with California … Continue reading California Water Research calls for formal consideration of Delta Independent Science Board compensation

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

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