California Water Science Center Scientists Share their Research at 2026 IEP Annual Workshop
From March 16th through the 18th, Scientists from the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) presented their research at the 2026 Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Workshop in Sacramento.
This year's workshop featured invited speakers, interactive sessions, poster sessions, and a luncheon for early career professionals. CAWSC scientists presented their research as invited speakers as well as during the poster sessions. Details and links for more information are provided below. The IEP Workshop is held each spring to share new research results that advance science important to the IEP and the larger Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta science community.
Talks:
Of special note...
Assessing Drivers of Phytoplankton Blooms in the South Delta
Nick Framsted, Physical Scientist
Nick was one of this year's winners of the IEP Early Career Award for Best Oral Presentation. Congratulations, Nick!
Other talks by CAWSC scientists included the following:
Spatial and Ecological Responses to a Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Kyle Leathers, Biologist
Designs for Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Keith Bouma-Gregson, Research Biologist
Predation on Delta Smelt During Experimental Releases: Evidence from Gill Nets and Gastric Lavage
Veronica Violette, Fish Biologist
Ghost Fish – Using Bioenergetics Modeling to Link Estuarine Physics to a Rare Estuarine Fish
Matthew Young, Research Fish Biologist
Poster presentations:
Go with the flow: assessing potential transport of harmful algae and toxins in San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Amelia Ayers, Physical Scientist
Evaluation of the effectiveness of in situ chlorophyll sensors for detecting cyanobacterial colonies
Tim Baxter, Hydrologic Technician
Cameras and Nets: Linking methods to inform the community composition of fish at Delta Smelt release sites
Jeff Gronemyer, Biological Science Technician
Visualizing Long-Term Raw and Modeled Water Quality Data in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary
Alek Hernes, Hydrologic Technician
Read all the presentation and poster abstracts on the 2026 IEP Workshop website.
All the IEP recordings can be found on the IEP Master Playlist hosted on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s YouTube channel.
To learn more about the work CAWSC scientists are doing in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, visit our Bay-Delta science page.