California Sea Grant College Program (CASG) is a federally funded, university-affiliated organization that supports applied ocean and coastal science for all of California through research grants, fellowships, extension programming, and communications and outreach. CASG’s mission is to provide the information, tools, training and relationships needed to help California conserve and sustainably prosper from our coastal and marine environment.
The CASG Extension Program, situated within CASG, aims to extend knowledge from universities to California communities to better balance use and conservation of coastal and marine resources. Through building relationships and trust, Extension Specialists work with state and federal agencies, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, local businesses and members of the California coastal community to identify emerging marine resource problems and opportunities, conduct applied scientific research and share findings with stakeholder groups. CASG Extension Program has a Social Science Extension Specialist, Dr. Tara Pozzi, based at University of California, Davis (UC Davis) who has the expertise and resources to work with, support and connect the Delta Extension Fellow to appropriate stakeholders in the Delta region.
Once the largest wetland on the West Coast of the United States, the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) has undergone significant ecological and social transformation. Today, it serves as the hub of California’s water supply, while also providing a home to an array of animal and plant species and more than 600,000 people. The region’s robust science, planning and management efforts support two coequal goals of ensuring statewide water supply reliability and protecting ecosystem health, while maintaining the region’s unique cultural, recreational, natural resource and agricultural values. However, the Delta’s natural resources, local livelihoods and residents are becoming increasingly vulnerable to sea level rise, drought, flooding and heat.
In recent years, there has been concerted effort to better understand community needs and strengthen resilience of Delta community members. In 2023, the first Delta Residents Survey was completed to provide baseline data on the well-being of residents in the region. Additionally, the Delta’s first regional adaptation plan was published this past year to guide adaptation planning and implementation. Together, these efforts provide a strong foundation of knowledge about environmental hazards and risks in the region, as well as high-priority solutions that can be implemented. There is ongoing collaboration to continue monitoring social well-being and advance adaptation projects across the region, while also developing stronger relationships with Delta communities.
To support these efforts, California Sea Grant and the Delta Stewardship Council are partnering to host a 24-month Delta Extension Fellowship (upon Council approval of the funding). The fellow will support the community outreach campaign for the 2027 Delta Residents Survey and provide technical data management and analysis support for the survey results. Secondly, they will assist with the analysis, validation and communication of research about communities that are impacted by Delta water management with a focus on communities that receive Delta water outside of the legal Delta. Third, the fellow will organize a prioritized set of community resilience trainings. The position will be physically based in Davis, CA. The fellow will have the opportunity to work directly with members of California Sea Grant, the Delta Stewardship Council and University of California, Davis. In addition, the fellow will be a member of the California Sea Grant extension team and will be mentored by a California Sea Grant Extension Specialist.