DWR Celebrates Science and Partnerships as Essential Guides to California Water Management

Science isn't just part of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) work - it drives it. From forecasting storms to managing reservoirs and protecting ecosystems, DWR relies on rigorous science and strong partnerships to guide decisions and prepare for an increasingly uncertain water future. Science is the critical foundation for all that DWR does.

Partnerships strengthen that foundation. DWR works with a wide network of partners that fosters collaboration, information sharing, and scientific progress. One of the core values in DWR's Strategic Plan is Science Drives Our Decision-Making, emphasizing that the department "is dedicated to using and advancing the best available science to make informed management decisions." This commitment is reflected in support for staff-driven scientific inquiry and publication, scientific community engagement, and promotion and adoption of cutting-edge technologies that enhance California's water future.

Science in Action

More than 300 scientists and 1,000 engineers at DWR apply science in all aspects of the department's mission. Specialists from many fields contribute to solving complex problems. "It's like a team sport, or an orchestra," said Louise Conrad, DWR's Lead Scientist. "You can produce amazing work because of that combined set of skills. People really thrive on each other."

The science produced and used at DWR is supported by independent scientific peer review. DWR contributes its expertise by authoring or funding, on average, more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications each year.

The emerging science is yielding results. DWR, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and others are developing juvenile production estimates for endangered Chinook salmon. The project aims to provide real-time data about fish entering the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that is critical to understanding ecosystem conditions and informing water operations. "We need rapidly evolving information that changes in real time," said Conrad.

Partners Make the Difference

Partnerships are a staple of DWR's scientific work, which is found in the Partnership Development & Transparency core value of DWR's Strategic Plan. Through more than 100 collaborations with federal and state agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations, and private-sector partners, DWR expands its capacity to study and manage California's water resources.

Partnerships advance knowledge about atmospheric rivers, climate change adaptation, ecosystem health, and emerging monitoring technologies. They build and strengthen relationships. "The more we work together, the more trust is built," said Conrad.

Collaboration, Uncertainty, and the Power of Decisions

DWR's strong science culture and partnerships are driving collaboration and creative problem-solving across the state. That means inviting connections and sharing DWR's science and innovation interests. DWR did that in 2025 with the first Water Resources Science Symposium, a public event that showcased DWR's science and research activities and promoted the benefit of the partnerships that advance science and fill information gaps.

To support the most informed decision-processes, scientists are increasingly embracing risk-informed decision science analyses - a method that accounts for uncertainty in a situation and its effect on decision making. Conrad noted DWR's peer-reviewed Delivery Capability Report for the State Water Project, which identifies the relative scale of risk across different climate change scenarios and DWR's ability to deliver water.

DWR also uses the State Water Project Adaption Strategy, a forward-looking roadmap for adapting water delivery operations to the challenges posed by a changing climate.

The work proceeds with the understanding that the horizon of discovery is ever widening. With essential partners, DWR is embracing this frontier and enhancing its science capacity to guide California water management into the future.

For more information and to explore the tools, data, and collaborations driving this work:

• DWR's Science Page
• Science & Technology Partnership Dashboard
• Peer Reviewed Publications Dashboard, 2020 - 2025
• Contact [email protected]