SECTIONS 85280 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 85280

85280. (a) The Delta Independent Science Board is hereby
established in state government.
(1) The Delta Independent Science Board shall consist of no more
than 10 members appointed by the council. The term of office for
members of the Delta Independent Science Board shall be five years. A
member may serve no more than two terms.
(2) Members of the Delta Independent Science Board shall be
nationally or internationally prominent scientists with appropriate
expertise to evaluate the broad range of scientific programs that
support adaptive management of the Delta. The members shall not be
directly affiliated with a program or agency subject to the review
activities of the Delta Independent Science Board.
(3) The Delta Independent Science Board shall provide oversight of
the scientific research, monitoring, and assessment programs that
support adaptive management of the Delta through periodic reviews of
each of those programs that shall be scheduled to ensure that all
Delta scientific research, monitoring, and assessment programs are
reviewed at least once every four years.
(4) The Delta Independent Science Board shall submit to the
council a report on the results of each review, including
recommendations for any changes in the programs reviewed by the
board.
(b) After consultation with the Delta Independent Science Board,
the council shall appoint a lead scientist for the Delta Science
Program.
(1) The lead scientist shall meet all of the following
qualifications:
(A) Hold an advanced degree in a field related to water or
ecosystem management.
(B) Have a strong record of scientific research and publication in
peer-reviewed scientific journals in a field related to water or
ecosystem management.
(C) Have experience advising high-level managers in science-based
decisionmaking in the areas of water management and ecosystem
restoration.
(D) Have the capability to guide the application of an adaptive
management process to resource management policy decisions in the
Delta.
(2) The term of office for the lead scientist shall be no more
than three years. The lead scientist may serve no more than two
terms.
(3) The lead scientist shall oversee the implementation of the
Delta Science Program. In carrying out that responsibility, the lead
scientist shall regularly consult with the agencies participating in
the program.
(4) The mission of the Delta Science Program shall be to provide
the best possible unbiased scientific information to inform water and
environmental decisionmaking in the Delta. That mission shall be
carried out through funding research, synthesizing and communicating
scientific information to policymakers and decisionmakers, promoting
independent scientific peer review, and coordinating with Delta
agencies to promote science-based adaptive management. The Delta
Science Program shall assist with development and periodic updates of
the Delta Plan's adaptive management program.
(c) The Delta Science Program shall function as a replacement for,
and successor to, the CALFED Science Program and the Delta
Independent Science Board shall replace the CALFED Independent
Science Board.