Publications
The following list of California Water Science Center publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists.
Filter Total Items: 1865
Assessing natural recharge in Indian Wells Valley, California: A Basin Characterization Model case study Assessing natural recharge in Indian Wells Valley, California: A Basin Characterization Model case study
The communities in Indian Wells Valley (IWV), in the northern Mojave Desert in California, rely on groundwater for domestic and agricultural use. Mountain front recharge from the surrounding Sierra Nevada is the main source of natural recharge to the valley. Increased urbanization, agricultural development, and groundwater pumping during recent decades put IWV in a state of critical...
Authors
Dina Saleh, Lorraine E. Flint, Michelle A. Stern
Revisiting chlorophyll a thresholds for San Francisco Bay: Insights from observations of phytoplankton molecular abundance Revisiting chlorophyll a thresholds for San Francisco Bay: Insights from observations of phytoplankton molecular abundance
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a hazard for coastal environments worldwide; identifying screening thresholds of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) associated with increased risk of HABs is a management priority. Molecular surveillance of coastal phytoplankton and bivalve biotoxins could be used to link chl-a with HAB risk, but requires an understanding of whether the HAB risks increase uniformly as...
Authors
Daniel Killam, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Martha Sutula, Raphael Kudela, James Hagy, Stephanie Anderson, David Senn
Multiple-well monitoring site adjacent to the Midway- Sunset and Buena Vista Oil Fields, Kern County, California Multiple-well monitoring site adjacent to the Midway- Sunset and Buena Vista Oil Fields, Kern County, California
Groundwater quality in and around oil fields in the Southern San Joaquin Valley is of interest to many California residents that rely heavily on groundwater for domestic, commercial, and agricultural use. To help assess the effects of historical oil-field activities and natural geologic sources on groundwater near the southwest margins of the Kern County Groundwater Subbasin, a multiple...
Authors
Rhett R. Everett, Janice M. Gillespie, Riley Gannon, Anthony A. Brown, Andrew Morita
Groundwater quality near an oil field in a stream-dominated recharge setting, California, USA Groundwater quality near an oil field in a stream-dominated recharge setting, California, USA
Alluvial valley aquifers are important sources of water supply in many areas but effects of co-located oil and gas development on these resources have not been widely reported, especially in settings where recharge is dominated by stream infiltration. Interpreting the presence of geochemical indicators in the context of hydrology, geology, and other factors provides a more complete...
Authors
Jennifer S. Stanton, Michael J. Stephens, Matthew K. Landon, David H. Shimabukuro, Andrew G. Hunt, Justin T. Kulongoski, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Theron A. Sowers
Conducting feasibility assessments of potential conservation reintroductions: A case study with the imperiled foothill yellow-legged frog, Rana boylii Conducting feasibility assessments of potential conservation reintroductions: A case study with the imperiled foothill yellow-legged frog, Rana boylii
Conservation translocations are an increasingly common and often necessary component of recovering species that have become extirpated from portions of their range. Understanding and ameliorating potential threats that reduce the likelihood of successful population establishment at recipient sites is a key component of successful translocation planning. We examined multiple potential...
Authors
Daniel Macias, Patrick M. Kleeman, Michelle L. Hladik, Kelly L. Smalling, Paul G. Johnson, Daniel A. Grear, Jonathan P. Rose, Brian J. Halstead
Evaluation of water quality in the Langford Valley–Irwin Groundwater Subbasin, Fort Irwin National Training Center, California, 1993–2019 Evaluation of water quality in the Langford Valley–Irwin Groundwater Subbasin, Fort Irwin National Training Center, California, 1993–2019
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert of California, obtains its potable water supply from the Bicycle Valley and Langford Valley groundwater basins; Langford Valley groundwater basin is further subdivided into the Langford Well Lake and Irwin groundwater subbasins. The Irwin groundwater subbasin contains younger
Authors
Jill N. Densmore, John A. Izbicki, Meghan C. Dick, Sandra Bond
Assessing future hydrologic extremes using an integrated hydrology and river operations model in the Russian River watershed Assessing future hydrologic extremes using an integrated hydrology and river operations model in the Russian River watershed
Study region
Authors
Saalem Tilahun Adera, Ayman H. Alzraiee, Richard G. Niswonger, Enrique Triana, Derek W. Ryter, John A. Engott
Utilizing hydrophones to detect streambed mobilization in the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama Utilizing hydrophones to detect streambed mobilization in the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama
This paper describes a study that deployed underwater acoustic sensors (hydrophones) to detect streambed mobilization in the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama, New Mexico. Fine sediment accumulation in the gravel‑cobble bed affects brown trout spawning habitat, and understanding incipient motion thresholds is essential for planning effective environmental flushing flows released...
Authors
Rebecca Braz, Mathieu D. Marineau, Christopher P. Ely
Effect of passive integrated transponder tag size on survival, tag loss, and growth of Santa Ana Sucker Effect of passive integrated transponder tag size on survival, tag loss, and growth of Santa Ana Sucker
Objective The Santa Ana Sucker Pantosteus santaanae is endemic to southern California and is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Seasonal limitations on conventional sampling and inconsistencies in survey methodologies have led to an incomplete understanding of population dynamics. Alternative sampling methods have the potential to fill important knowledge gaps in...
Authors
Jordan Mae-Jean Buxton, Marissa L. Wulff, Brock M. Huntsman, Kai Palenscar, Brett Mills, Kerwin Russell, Alicia Ruan, Tevin Bui
Status of Clear Lake Hitch in Lower Blue Lake, Lake County, California Status of Clear Lake Hitch in Lower Blue Lake, Lake County, California
No abstract available.
Authors
Jordan Mae-Jean Buxton, Marissa L. Wulff, Veronica L. Violette, Danielle L. Palm, Matthew J. Young, Frederick Feyrer
Using a BACI design to assess stream ecology and chemistry response after wildfire Using a BACI design to assess stream ecology and chemistry response after wildfire
Wildfires can have complex effects on aquatic communities, which can be either beneficial or adverse depending on the setting. In California, USA, the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires has greatly increased over the last few decades. Understanding the effects of fire on aquatic ecosystem health and human land use has become increasingly important in managing the interface of the...
Authors
Marissa L. Wulff, Jason T. May, Brock M. Huntsman, Ian R. Waite, Larry M. Brown