Science activity

Science activity #49805, updated 17 November 2022

Do light, nutrient, and salinity interactions drive the “bad Suisun” phenomenon? A physiological assessment of biological hotspots in the San Francisco Bay-Delta

Description / purpose

This project assessed the physiological basis for reduced phytoplankton growth in Suisun Bay, prior to the major upgrade at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP), which is responsible for 90% of the nitrogen released into the bay. The work involved analyzing almost three decades of historical eld data from the bay-delta and using it to build a model to evaluate environmental drivers of phytoplankton biomass. Discoveries from the eld data were then tested through laboratory culturing experiments. By illuminating the interacting e ects of bottom- up drivers (light, nutrients, salinity) on phytoplankton, this research helps provide a fundamental understanding of this complex ecosystem.

Linked science activities

None specified

Activity status

  • 1 Awarded / Initiating (2018)
  • 2 In progress / Ongoing (2018 - 2020)
  • 3 Complete

Funding summary

Total allocated funding: $200,143

Label Value
Contract # or labor code 5298
Implementing organization University of California - Santa Cruz [UCSC]
Funding organization Delta Stewardship Council
Funding Source Delta Stewardship Council - General Fund
Date of award 2018-02-01
Date of fiscal year-end Not provided
Total award amount $200,143
State type of obligation Not provided
Federal type of obligation Not provided
Reimbursability Not provided
Procurement mechanism Contracted competitive or direct award

Location

Subbasins
Delta regions

Geographic tags

None specified

Products and outputs

Type Title Description Views
News Delta Science Fellow 2018: A physiological assessment of biological hotspots in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Project fact sheet 10
File Is Intermediate salinity partly responsible for low primary productivity in the upper San Francisco Estuary, California? Presentation at the 2020 Ocean Sciences Meeting, S 0
File Bottom-up drivers of phytoplankton biomass in the upper San Francisco Estuary. Presentation at the 2018 Nutrient Management Strat 0
File Facial Recognition for San Francisco Bay Plankton. Public Seminar at the Exploratorium Museum, San Fr 0