1. Award purpose - the delta science program is part of a state of california agency, the delta stewardship council (council)

This Cooperative Agreement award from the Bureau of Reclamation under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (CFDA 15.517) program provides $2,254,032 to the Delta Stewardship Council's Delta Science Program. The objective is for the Delta Science Program to conduct independent science and engineering reviews that support Reclamation's environmental initiatives in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco Bay Estuary, and upstream tributaries. The reviews will focus on protecting endangered species through programs like the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), Delta Conveyance and EcoRestore, and Collaborative Science and Adaptive Management efforts. The Delta Science Program will organize and facilitate up to two independent science and engineering review panels per year to evaluate the science and engineering underlying these environmental initiatives, ensuring they are based on sound principles and practices. This award will enhance the reliability of California's water supply and protect the Delta ecosystem through transparent, unbiased scientific assessments.

The council is charged with developing and overseeing implementation of a delta plan to guide state and local actions in the delta in a manner that furthers the CO-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for california and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the delta ecosystem. The coequal goals shall be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the delta as an evolving place (CA water code 85054). The delta science program reports to the council. The mission of the delta science program is to provide the best possible unbiased scientific information to inform water and environmental decision making in the delta. This agreement will engage the delta science program to help reclamation fulfill its need for independent expert review of the science and engineering underlying the cvpia, delta conveyance and ecorestore, collaborative science and adaptive management program collaborative adaptive management team, long-term operations biological opinions, water infrastructure improvements for the nation act requirements, and other associated initiatives.2. Activities to be performed - the objective of this agreement is for the councils delta science program to conduct independent science and engineering review services that support reclamation, and its partners need for evaluations to protect endangered species act listed species in the sacramento-SAN joaquin delta, SAN francisco BAY estuary, and upstream tributaries.3. Expected deliverable or outcome - at the request of reclamation, the councils delta science program may organize and facilitate up to two independent science engineering review panels per year following its policy and procedures for independent scientific peer review. For each review, the councils delta science program, with guidance from the delta lead scientist, will: (a) develop the review panel charge and identify subject matter expertise needed (b) secure candidates to serve on the independent review panel (c) collect relevant information required to support the independent review panel and make materials publicly available (d) facilitate and manage public and non-public meeting logistics for each review.4. Intended beneficiary (IES) - the purpose of this agreement is to ensure that planning and implementation of reclamations actions to protect ESA listed species through the cvpia, delta conveyance and ecorestore, collaborative science and adaptive management program collaborative adaptive management team, long-term operations biological opinions, water infrastructure improvements for the nation act requirements, and other associated initiatives are based on sound, independent science and engineering principles and practices, and that evaluations of the effects of these programs and initiatives be conducted in a transparent manner. Independent scientific and engineering reviews of various reclamation actions to improve environmental conditions for ESA listed species impacted by the operation of the CVP support the CO-equal goals of ecosystem restoration and reliable water supply and will benefit the public by ensuring that these activities are based on the most up to date scientific and engineering understanding. 5. Subrecipient activities - there are no subrecipient activities for this award.