Presentation by the Delta Stewardship Council for the ISSRM VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2020

1. ISSRM – July 2020
SUPPORTING SOCIAL SCIENCE TO
INFORM DECISION-MAKING IN
CALIFORNIA’S DELTA
Rachael Klopfenstein,
Cory Copeland, Henry DeBey
Delta Stewardship Council

2. Table of Contents
• Background on the Delta
• Social Science Task Force
• Final Strategy Report
• Finding 1
• Finding 2
• Finding 3
• Implementation
• Key takeaways
• Learn more
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3. 3
Central Valley – 23 to 90%
Southern California – 30%Central Coast – 2 to 30 %
The Delta
• Home to more than 515,000 people
• Home to 750 plant and animal species,
some threatened and endangered
• Designated National Heritage Area
• Water diversions from the Delta supply
a portion of the water needs of
California’s cities and farms
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Bay Area – 33%

4. Delta Stewardship Council
• CA Delta Reform Act of 2009 created the Council
• Charged with providing direction for the long-term future and
management of the Delta and achieving the coequal goals:
• Long-term reliable water supply
• Protect and restore Delta ecosystems
• ….all while protecting the Delta as an evolving place
• The Delta Plan includes recommendations, regulations, and
performance metrics and establishes a comprehensive
approach to furthering the coequal goals.
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5. Delta Science Program
• Mission: to provide the best possible
unbiased scientific information to
inform water and environmental
decision-making in the Delta
• Challenge: Science used to inform
decision-making in the Delta has
largely relied primarily on biophysical
sciences, with less emphasis on
social sciences
• Response: Convened panel (late
2018) in collaboration with the UC
Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences
Institute and now implementing panel
recommendations 5

6. Social Science Task Force
• Panel of social scientists charged with developing a
strategic plan to strengthen and integrate social sciences
into the science, management, and policy landscape of the
Delta.
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Jim Sanchirico (Chair): agricultural and natural resource economics
Rob Johnston: environmental economics
Kelly Biedenweg: human dimensions of natural resource management
Josue Medellin-Azuara: engineering, business, economics
Holly Doremus: environmental law
Chris Weible: political conflict and public policy

7. Final Strategy Report
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Findings (3) and
Recommendations (8)
• Appendices
• Case studies (8)
Available online.
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8. Finding 1
There is a lack of social science capacity and investment
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Recommendations
• Invest in a broad array of
social science studies
• Invest in building an external
network of social scientists
• Invest in internal social
science capacity

9. Finding 2
Research activities are ongoing, but there is no long-term
vision for social science integration
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Recommendations
• Collaboratively develop
conceptual framework that
includes social science
• Secure funding for monitoring
and reporting on social
indicators
• Integrate social and
biophysical science to
improve decision making

10. Finding 3
The adaptive management process is not informed by the
social sciences
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Recommendations
• Continuously evaluate
institutional, cultural, and
individual barriers to learning
• Reduce barriers to integrating
new knowledge in future
management decisions

11. Implementation
• Action Plan to implement recommendations. Objectives
include:
• Widespread awareness and uptake of the Strategy report
• Established and coordinated external network of social scientists
• Enhanced funding for social science
• Enhanced internal coordination
• Enhanced internal capacity
• Integration of social sciences into the Delta Science Strategy
• Collaboratively developed conceptual framework for the Delta
• Identification of social indicators
• Identified actions for further implementation of the Strategy report
• Expanding Delta Plan requirements:
• Social Benefits Disclosure
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12. Key takeaways
• Process (i.e., public workshops, draft report comment period)
played a significant role in the uptake of the Strategy report
• Maintaining momentum is important for success and
champions of social science integration are necessary
• Collaboration is key to implementing recommendations across
the Delta science enterprise
• Look for lessons learned from other large aquatic systems!
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13. Thank you!
• Read the Social Science Strategy
• Explore the Delta Stewardship Council
• Connect with Rachael.Klopfenstein@deltacouncil.ca.gov
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