The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Science Program has released the third iteration of the Delta Science Plan for public review. The Delta Science Plan outlines the vision, principles, and strategies guiding science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
All members of the Delta science community and interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide input. This includes federal, state, and local agency scientists, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and members of the public who care about the future of the Delta.
The Delta Science Plan serves as a framework for organizing, coordinating, and communicating science activities to support this vital region. It is part of a broader Delta science strategy that also includes:
- The State of Bay-Delta Science: An ongoing synthesis effort to inform science and policy audiences about the latest scientific understanding of the Bay-Delta system.
- The Science Action Agenda: A focused roadmap of science actions designed to address key management questions and achieve the objectives of the Delta Science Plan.
The draft 2026 Delta Science Plan introduces 24 actions aimed at addressing four “grand challenges” that represent major obstacles in Delta science. These challenges are rooted in multidisciplinary research and reflect the needs of many organizations. Tackling them will require collaboration and forward-thinking strategies from all who are invested in the Delta’s social-ecological resilience.
The four grand challenges in Delta science:
- Grand challenge #1 – Scientists and managers must anticipate a world in which environmental conditions and regulations may be fundamentally different from those faced today.
- Grand challenge #2 – Environmental change is outpacing the traditional pace of science.
- Grand challenge #3 – Flows of scientific information remain decentralized and poorly connected to communities and decision-makers.
- Grand challenge #4 – Other ways of knowing, especially Traditional Knowledge, remain siloed from decision-making.
The 2026 Delta Science Plan builds on existing priorities like adaptive management, science communication, peer review, and funding, while expanding its focus on social science, governance, and Traditional Knowledge. These themes are seen as essential tools for addressing the grand challenges and fostering a more open and collaborative Delta science community.
How to Provide Feedback:
The public comment period runs from November 19, 2025, through January 20, 2026. Your feedback will help shape the final Delta Science Plan and guide the next phase of collaborative science in the Delta. Comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- Online Survey: Click here for the survey.
- Email: Send comments to collaborativescience@deltacouncil.ca.gov
- Mail: Delta Stewardship Council – Delta Science Program; Collaborative Science and Peer Review Unit; 715 P Street, 15-300; Sacramento, CA 95814
