In 2020, a panel of social scientists from across the country provided a roadmap and motivation for increasing social science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Five years later, we’re asking — “What do we have to show for it?” Humans are a central part of the Delta system. A truly resilient Delta that supports a reliable statewide water supply and healthy ecosystems — as well as thriving communities — must understand 1) the people who live, work, and recreate in and around the estuary, 2) how the region impacts their health and well-being, and 3) how their behavior influences environmental issues. The social sciences can help us design management approaches that earn trust, reflect shared values, and advance equity.