How to Respond? An Introduction to Current Bay–Delta Natural Resources Management Options

Ted Sommer

doi:10.15447//sfews.2020v18iss3art1

Abstract

Abstracts are not presented with Essays. -The SFEWS Editors

Highlights

As one of the best-studied estuaries on the planet, San Francisco Bay and its upstream brackish and freshwater tidal regions (“Bay–Delta”; Figure 1) has an impressive history of research and scientific progress
The Bay–Delta can be considered an estuary of superlatives. It is one of the most invaded estuaries in the world (Cohen and Carlton 1998), drains a high percentage of California (46%), provides water to 8% of the population of the US, supports the world’s fifth-largest economy (Moyle et al. 2018), and has very long list of specialstatus species
Other decisionsupport tools such as structured decision-making (Gregory et al 2013) can provide a platform to incorporate the most promising management options for testing in the light of the numerous social, environmental, and economic factors that need to be considered

Summary

INTRODUCTION

As one of the best-studied estuaries on the planet, San Francisco Bay and its upstream brackish and freshwater tidal regions (“Bay–Delta”; Figure 1) has an impressive history of research and scientific progress. Much of the scientific research forms the foundation of our understanding of recent and long-term changes in the Bay–Delta and its watershed, and continues to guide resource management (Sommer et al 2019). While the heavy reliance on science for natural resources management is highly desirable, my experience is that many scientists and policy-makers have only a hazy idea about what tools are available to address different resource management issues. This communications gap is not surprising given the system’s complex geography and ecology. There aren’t any comprehensive reference documents that catalogue our regional “toolbox.” Environmental regulatory documents such Biological Opinions can be helpful, but examples for the Bay–Delta are typically long, overly technical, and emphasize relatively few facets of the toolbox, e.g., water operations and habitat restoration

South Delta Barriers

Findings

Example technical constraints