Science activity

This program operates under the Interagency Ecological Program's (IEP) Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP). "The Benthic Organism monitoring effort was started in 1975 and currently monitors 10 sites across the estuary's salinity gradient, from Suisun Bay upstream to Clifton Court Forebay and Stockton, on a monthly basis. Benthic invertebrates are collected with a PONAR grab, preserved, identified, and enumerated. In addition to mandated monthly monitoring of benthic invertebrates, we also conducted special studies of benthic invertebrates using spatial intensive sampling schemes. These special studies complement the long-running mandated monitoring and provide a more comprehensive picture of the benthic community of the Upper San Francisco Estuary." Changes in benthic fauna presence, abundance and distribution associates physical factors are measured in the estuary to evaluate the impacts of water project operations. 426 species in 10 phyla have been collected to date. Data is also used to detect introduced species. Sediment composition data also collected to document general trends at sites where benthic organisms are collected. https://emp.baydeltalive.com/projects/12727/page