News | Center for Watershed Sciences

Kyle Phillips of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences prepares to paddle up Meins Landing for plankton surveys in Suisun Marsh.

Managed Wetlands a Culinary Hot Spot for SF Bay Fish, But They Need Delivery Options

by Rachel Alsheikh
March 27, 2026

Featured Research

A new study in Estuaries and Coasts titled Pulsed Zooplankton Production in Seasonally Managed Wetlands Could Supplement Food Availability for a Threatened Fishery in the San Francisco Estuary has found that managed wetlands produce 11 to 22 times more zooplankton than tidal habitats, including tidal restoration sites.

A man with short, dark hair is featured next to a dark blue graphic announcing an award.

Professor Kaveh Madani receives the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize

by Christine A Parisek
March 19, 2026

We are delighted to announce that Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize laureate! The Stockholm Water Prize is the most prestigious award for outstanding achievements in water.

Aerial view of a school of fish swimming in green water.

Tell me something good about salmon

February 06, 2026

Featured Research

By George Whitman

Rocks under water. Photo by Steve Huntington on Unsplash.

Job Opportunity – Graduate Student Researcher

by Christine A Parisek
January 22, 2026

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER – 50% position:Policy and governance in California water management & climate adaptation

A recreation of a Maidu village during the fall and spring run harvesting season, 1850. This painting was constructed using archaeological reports, historical documents and consultations with the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe. Illustration curtesy of Kathryn Killackey, used with permission.

Ancient food remains reveal clues into salmon’s distant past

November 17, 2025

Featured Research

Written by George E. Whitman

The Winnemem Wintu and other indigenous communities light fires along the riverbank to guide salmon home. Illustration by Blane Bellerud.

Dr. Carson Jeffres highlights the salmon society on NPR’s Insight

October 29, 2025

CWS News

Written by George E. Whitman

[Closed] M.S. positions in Aquatic Ecology and Water Resources Engineering

by Christine A Parisek
October 28, 2025

The Center for Watershed Sciences (CWS; https://watershed.ucdavis.edu) at the University of California, Davis invites applications for 2-3 funded M.S. research positions. The graduate student researchers will collaborate with CWS researchers and with biologists and engineers at the US Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to design and conduct a research project that addresses high-priority knowledge gaps pertinent to water operations, aquatic ecosystem management, and/or fish conservation in Central California.

https://deltacouncil.ca.gov/pdf/science-program/flyers/2025-10-14-15-adaptive-management-forum-save-the-date-flyer.pdf

Recap of 2025 Adaptive Management Forum

by Christine A Parisek
October 27, 2025

The 2025 Adaptive Management Forum brought together scientists, managers, and policy experts to talk about how to make smarter decisions for the Delta’s ecosystems. Missed it? The recording’s on YouTube. The keynote speaker, Karrigan Börk, UC Davis law professor and Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, highlighted (1) how laws can help or get in the way, (2) how dealing with uncertainty and risks is important, and (3) what other areas of law have lessons we can use in adaptive management.

[Closed] Job Opportunity – Water Training Coordinator

by Christine A Parisek
October 17, 2025

Job Ads

Academic Coordinator II - Water Training CoordinatorPOSITION OVERVIEWSalary range: The salary range for this position is $84,246 -$164,103
“Off-scale salaries”, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experienceAPPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: October 17, 2025

Topics: Administrative Law & Regulation • Environmental Law & Property Rights Sponsors: Energy & Environment Practice Group Webinar

What’s the Harm? ESA Rulemaking After Loper Bright

by Christine A Parisek
October 03, 2025

CWS News

The recording of the recent Federalist Society discussion, led by CWS Director Karrigan Börk, “What’s the Harm? ESA Rulemaking After Loper Bright,” is now available online. In this talk, Börk examines how rescinding the regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act could reshape agency authority and environmental protections.