the Delta Regional Monitoring Program

Nutrient Symposium

September 27, 2022

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the Delta RMP Nutrient Symposium

We had a wonderful turnout and heard informative presentations regarding the current monitoring and research occurring within the Delta and how this work relates to data gaps identified in the Delta Nutrient Research Plan. This information will be key in the DRMP’s long-term nutrient planning efforts. Below are links to the recorded meeting and copies of the presentations.

Symposium Documents

Meeting Recordings

Presentation Slides

EVENT Description

The DRMP hosted an event to inform DRMP stakeholders on recent nutrient activities in the Delta including an assessment of data gaps and an evaluation of management questions.

The Nutrient Symposium focused on providing more understanding regarding previously funded DRMP studies, status and trends of nutrients in the Delta, nutrient modelling, and opportunities to develop collaborations and partnership. The outcomes will inform multi-year nutrient study efforts.

Goals / Objectives

Inform upcoming DRMP long-term nutrient planning efforts.
Inform DRMP stakeholders on recent nutrient activities in the Delta including an assessment of data gaps and an evaluation of management questions.
Improve understanding of management activities associated with water quality problems identified in the Delta Nutrient Research Plan.

Agenda

8:20-8:30

Welcome and introduction

Steering Committee Co-Chairs Meredith Howard and Debbie Webster

8:30-9:50

Looking Back: A Review of Delta RMP- Funded Nutrient and HAB Projects

Opening Remarks: Adam Laputz
Overview of the Delta Nutrient Research Plan: Tom Grovhoug
Overview of Delta RMP Studies: Tim Mussen

This session will begin with an overview of nutrient management in the Delta and an introduction to the Delta Nutrient Research Plan, which has been identified by the Delta RMP as an important roadmap for prioritizing nutrient research including a summary of how nutrient problems in the Delta impact various stakeholders.

Presenters will review projects associated with nutrients and phytoplankton that the Delta RMP has partially or fully funded.

10:00 - 12:35

Status & Trends in Nutrient Studies

Opening Remarks: Janis Cooke
Filing in the Blanks: Nutrient Data Gaps and Special Studies in the Delta: Dylan Stern
Sacramento River Nutrient Studies: Lisa Thompson
Nutrients, Phytoplankton, and Harmful Algal Bloom Research by the U.S. Geological Survey: Tamara Kraus and Keith Bouma-Gregson
Expanding the Spatial and Seasonal Research on Delta Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms: Ellen Preece

This session will focus on the evaluation of how changes in nutrient inputs affect the Delta, potential implication of management activities on HABs, and evaluation of data gaps. The focus will be on nutrient special studies currently underway by the Delta RMP and other agencies.

1:20-3:10

Predicting the Future – Nutrient Modeling

Opening Remarks: Melissa Turner
SFEI Delta-Suisun Biogeochemical Model: David Senn
SPARROW Model of Nutrients in California Streams: Joe Domagalski
Modeling Delta Water Quality Using Coupled Hydrodynamic and Biogeochemical Models: Zhenlin Zhang

This session will provide an update on current nutrient modeling efforts in the Delta including work partially funded by the Delta RMP and future work planned. Discussion of how modeling can be used to assess the effectiveness of nutrient management. Identification of modeling limitations and potential areas where additional data can help inform / update existing models. Review of existing tools to predict changes in nutrients and discussion of data gaps. Discussion of integration with other important factors, such as HAB, diatom, or macrophyte growth, and their potential for informing nutrient management programs.

3:20-4:35

Nutrient Monitoring Collaborations and Partnerships

Opening Remarks: SC Co-Chairs Meredith Howard and Debbie Webster
USGS Nutrient Monitoring Program: Brian Bergamaschi
Department of Water Resources Municipal Water Quality Investigations (MWQI), Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) and Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP): Ted Flynn and Leslie Palencia
San Francisco Bay Regional Monitoring Program: Tom Mumley

Updates from other monitoring programs in the Delta including short-term and long-term goals of those programs. Discussion focused on how partnerships and collaboration can foster data sharing and maximizing resources.