San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science is established to provide the opportunity for electronic publication of peer-reviewed papers dealing with all aspects of the San Francisco Estuary, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, its upstream watersheds, and adjacent coastal ocean. Also appropriate are papers focused on other estuary watershed systems whose findings and conclusions are directly relevant to the issues of the San Francisco Estuary. Subjects considered appropriate for publication include any aspect of the physics, chemistry, geology, or biology of this large system. Particular emphasis will be placed on papers that bridge the individual technical disciplines and provide novel or informative insights into attributes and functioning of this system or similar systems elsewhere.

Manuscripts may be published singularly (or collectively) in any of the following categories:

• Research Article - A technically sound and well-documented research paper of standard length (approximately 25 pages).
• Research Monograph – A technically sound and well-documented research paper greater than standard length that reports on a single, complex topic relevant to the management and restoration of estuary–watershed systems and their resources.
• Policy and Progam Analysis - A technically sound and well-documented review and analysis of important policy and programmatic issues relevant to the management and restoration of estuary–watershed systems and their resources.
• Essay - A scholarly, in-depth, well-informed, and balanced perspective or commentary on topics of interest to science and policy practitioners of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Estuary region.
• Note - A short paper that present a single concept, idea, or method.
• Commentary - A critique of the data or interpretations of a work previously published in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science.
• Editorial - An article presenting the views of the Editors or Associate Editors of San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science. (Submissions in this category are reserved for these individuals.)
• Special Issue - An issue featuring a collection of articles that cover different aspects of an important and timely topic.
• Data Review - A comprehensive and critical review or summary of available data on specific, important topics. Such reports must explicitly describe the potential questions and uses to which the data could be applied. Basic data reports, without interpretation or synthesis, are not appropriate for publication in this category.