Data to Decisions: How to Make Science More Relevant for Management of the San Francisco Estuary

Science is the foundation for a wide range of activities, including evaluation, innovation, and technology, which in turn support management. Without good science, resource management in regions such as the estuary is handicapped, and must proceed with outdated conceptual models, operating strategies, and technologies. At the same time, we recognize that poor communication can interfere with conversations between scientists and managers, even when high-quality data and publications are available. In this essay, we have tried to address an important part of this issue: helping scientists to understand how to produce actionable science. Our hope is that these suggestions will, at the least, help improve dialog between scientists and the managers responsible for the estuary’s resources.