DRERIP uses an adaptive management approach to incorporate scientific input into restoration planning tools. Development of these restoration planning tools is occuring in three phases over the course of several years:

1. Process design and planning.
2. Development of Delta planning tools including species life history and ecosystem conceptual models. Identification of procedures for scientific screening and evaluation.
3. Application of Delta planning tools, including the evaluation of proposed restoration actions. Analysis of the feasibility and prioritization of the actions.

Phase 1: Process Design

Phase 1 involved establishing the overall process, and defining the product development groups, including membership and leaders.

This phase was largely conducted by the Adaptive Management Planning Team (Current AMPT team members (PDF)) with input from CALFED's Independent Science Board and the former ERP Science Board. Experts to assist in model development were also identified.

The phase ended with approval to move forward by the Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) Implementing Agency Managers and briefings to public/stakeholder groups.

Specific tasks and products produced in this phase included:

• A Process Map detailing the teams, subsequent phases and interactions;
• Membership and commitments for each of the product development groups;
• Development of draft species life cycle models;
• Instructions for the Species Experts, including a template for the development of species life history models;
• A detailed Framework describing the development of Driver-Linkage-Outcome (DLO) ecosystem conceptual models.
• Initiation of the scientific evaluation process development; and
• Definition of a Peer Review Strategy.
  See a detailed explanation of the peer review process. (PDF)

Phase 2: Development of Delta Planning Tools

The goal of this phase was to capture the current state of scientific knowledge about key Delta species and key ecosystem components through development of life history and ecosystem conceptual models.

A scientific evaluation process, including screening and full evaluation steps, was developed to apply the models in a restoration planning context.

This effort involved approximately 60 experts over a several year time period to develop species life history models and ecosystem element models.

AMPT co-leaders Tina Swanson, Bruce Herbold, Stuart Siegel, Mike Johnson and Bill Harrell coordinated the work of the ecosystem model developers.

Scientific peer review and collegial review of the Delta Conceptual Models were and will continue to be an important part of the process.

Scientific evaluation of restoration actions in light of the current state of knowledge will be facilitated by use of an Action Evaluation Worksheet, which AMPT developed. See the Scientific Evaluation Process page for links to the Coarse Level and Full Scientific Evaluation worksheets.

Phase 3: Plan Development

In 2008 - 2009, the ERP agencies and individual AMPT members will work with similar planning efforts towards the goal of restoring the Delta ecosystem. This work will include the evaluation of restoration actions and the identification of species recovery intentions.