San Francisco Estuary Institute

Causes: Environment, Science & Technology, Technology

Mission: Provide scientific support and tools for decision-making and communication through collaborative efforts.

Programs: Regional monitoring program (rmp): the rmp is a subset of the clean water program. Chemical contamination in san francisco bay is governed by the san francisco bay regional water quality control board (the water board). The water board has a well-articulated framework for managing contamination in the bay contained in the water quality control plan (plan). The plan classifies the valued attributes of the bay as "beneficial uses" and establishes water quality objectives that are protective of these beneficial uses. The rmp is an innovative collaborative effort between the institute, the water baord, and the regulated discharges community. This program for contaminants of concern in the san francisco estuary is the primary source of information and is used to evaluate beneficial use impairment in the bay due to chemical contamination.

environmental informatics(ei)- working with both internal and external collaborators, environmental informatics operationalizes credible scientific knowledge using innovative technologies. The program is a union of multiple disciplines, organized to promote data management, visualization, analysis, and software development in support of ongoing and emerging needs. Environmental informatics staff guide statewide technology efforts aimed to promote data transparency and exchange. They enjoy a strong track record of success and salience in a highly competitive technology environment. By augmenting the capacity of key public partners, the team credibly translates authoritative aquatic ecosystem data into dynamic, visually stimulating information to guide and evaluate environmental planning, management, and regulatory decisions.

clean water program: our clean water program is one of the nation's premier water quality science supporting aquatic resource protection. Clean water anticipates and meets the water quality information needs of managers and the public. The regional monitoring program for water quality in san francisco bay is the flagship of the clean water program.