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: 1867
Arsenic management through well modification and simulation Arsenic management through well modification and simulation
Arsenic concentrations can be managed with a relatively simple strategy of grouting instead of completely destroying a selected interval of well. The strategy of selective grouting was investigated in Antelope Valley, California, where groundwater supplies most of the water demand. Naturally occurring arsenic typically exceeds concentrations of 10 (mu or u)g/L in the water produced from...
Authors
Keith J. Halford, Christina L. Stamos, Tracy Nishikawa, Peter Martin
Comparison of XAD with other dissolved lignin isolation techniques and a compilation of analytical improvements for the analysis of lignin in aquatic settings Comparison of XAD with other dissolved lignin isolation techniques and a compilation of analytical improvements for the analysis of lignin in aquatic settings
This manuscript highlights numerous incremental improvements in dissolved lignin measurements over the nearly three decades since CuO oxidation of lignin phenols was first adapted for environmental samples. Intercomparison of the recovery efficiency of three common lignin phenol concentration and isolation techniques, namely XAD, C18with both CH3OH (C18M) and CH3CN (C18A) used...
Authors
Robert G. M. Spencer, George R. Aiken, Rachael Y. Dyda, Kenna D. Butler, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Peter J. Hernes
Post-construction monitoring of a Core-Loc™ breakwater using tripod-based LiDAR Post-construction monitoring of a Core-Loc™ breakwater using tripod-based LiDAR
The goal of the technology application described herein is to determine whether breakwater monitoring data collected using Tripod (or Terrestrial) Light Detection and Ranging (T-LiDAR) can give insight into processes such as how Core-Loc™ concrete armour units nest following construction, and in turn how settlement affects armour layer stability, concrete cap performance, and armour unit...
Authors
Jessica H. Podoski, Gerald W. Bawden, Sandra Bond, Thomas D. Smith, James Foster
Mercury concentrations in fish from a Sierra Nevada foothill reservoir located downstream from historic gold-mining operations Mercury concentrations in fish from a Sierra Nevada foothill reservoir located downstream from historic gold-mining operations
This study examined mercury concentrations in whole fish from Camp Far West Reservoir, an 830-ha reservoir in northern California, USA, located downstream from lands mined for gold during and following the Gold Rush of 1848–1864. Total mercury (reported as dry weight concentrations) was highest in spotted bass (mean, 0.93 μg/g; range, 0.16–4.41 μg/g) and lower in bluegill (mean, 0.45 μg...
Authors
Michael K. Saiki, Barbara A. Martin, Thomas W. May, Charles N. Alpers
The tidally averaged momentum balance in a partially and periodically stratified estuary The tidally averaged momentum balance in a partially and periodically stratified estuary
Observations of turbulent stresses and mean velocities over an entire spring–neap cycle are used to evaluate the dynamics of tidally averaged flows in a partially stratified estuarine channel. In a depth-averaged sense, the net flow in this channel is up estuary due to interaction of tidal forcing with the geometry of the larger basin. The depth-variable tidally averaged flow has the...
Authors
M.T. Stacey, Matthew L. Brennan, Jon R. Burau, Stephen G. Monismith
Gene movement and genetic association with regional climate gradients in California valley oak (Quercus lobata Née) in the face of climate change Gene movement and genetic association with regional climate gradients in California valley oak (Quercus lobata Née) in the face of climate change
Rapid climate change jeopardizes tree populations by shifting current climate zones. To avoid extinction, tree populations must tolerate, adapt, or migrate. Here we investigate geographic patterns of genetic variation in valley oak, Quercus lobata Née, to assess how underlying genetic structure of populations might influence this species’ ability to survive climate change. First, to...
Authors
Victoria L. Sork, Frank W. Davis, Robert Westfall, Alan L. Flint, Makihiko Ikegami, Hongfang Wang, Delphine Grivet
Determining sources of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon Determining sources of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon
This study was conducted to determine the main sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors to the McKenzie River, Oregon (USA). Water samples collected from the mainstem, tributaries, and reservoir outflows were analyzed for DOC concentration and DBP formation potentials (trihalomethanes [THMFPs] and haloacetic acids [HAAFPs]). In addition...
Authors
Tamara E.C. Kraus, Chauncey W. Anderson, Karl Morgenstern, Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. Pellerin, Brian A. Bergamaschi
Simulation and analysis of conjunctive use with MODFLOW's farm process Simulation and analysis of conjunctive use with MODFLOW's farm process
The extension of MODFLOW onto the landscape with the Farm Process (MF-FMP) facilitates fully coupled simulation of the use and movement of water from precipitation, streamflow and runoff, groundwater flow, and consumption by natural and agricultural vegetation throughout the hydrologic system at all times. This allows for more complete analysis of conjunctive use water-resource systems...
Authors
R. T. Hanson, W. Schmid, C.C. Faunt, B. Lockwood
Comparison of watershed disturbance predictive models for stream benthic macroinvertebrates for three distinct ecoregions in western US Comparison of watershed disturbance predictive models for stream benthic macroinvertebrates for three distinct ecoregions in western US
The successful use of macroinvertebrates as indicators of stream condition in bioassessments has led to heightened interest throughout the scientific community in the prediction of stream condition. For example, predictive models are increasingly being developed that use measures of watershed disturbance, including urban and agricultural land-use, as explanatory variables to predict...
Authors
Ian R. Waite, Larry R. Brown, Jonathan G. Kennen, Jason T. May, Thomas F. Cuffney, James L. Orlando, Kimberly A. Jones
Pyrethroid insecticide concentrations and toxicity in streambed sediments and loads in surface waters of the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA Pyrethroid insecticide concentrations and toxicity in streambed sediments and loads in surface waters of the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA
Pyrethroid insecticide use in California, USA, is growing, and there is a need to understand the fate of these compounds in the environment. Concentrations and toxicity were assessed in streambed sediment of the San Joaquin Valley of California, one of the most productive agricultural regions of the United States. Concentrations were also measured in the suspended sediment associated...
Authors
Joseph L. Domagalski, Donald P. Weston, Minghua Zhang, Michelle L. Hladik
3D volumetric modeling of grapevine biomass using Tripod LiDAR 3D volumetric modeling of grapevine biomass using Tripod LiDAR
Tripod mounted laser scanning provides the means to generate high-resolution volumetric measures of vegetation structure and perennial woody tissue for the calculation of standing biomass in agronomic and natural ecosystems. Other than costly destructive harvest methods, no technique exists to rapidly and accurately measure above-ground perennial tissue for woody plants such as Vitis...
Authors
K.E. Keightley, G.W. Bawden
Influence of organic carbon loading, sediment associated metal oxide content and sediment grain size distributions upon Cryptosporidium parvum removal during riverbank filtration operations, Sonoma County, CA Influence of organic carbon loading, sediment associated metal oxide content and sediment grain size distributions upon Cryptosporidium parvum removal during riverbank filtration operations, Sonoma County, CA
This study assessed the efficacy for removing Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts of poorly sorted, Fe- and Al-rich, subsurface sediments collected from 0.9 to 4.9 and 1.7–13.9 m below land surface at an operating riverbank filtration (RBF) site (Russian River, Sonoma County, CA). Both formaldehyde-killed oocysts and oocyst-sized (3 μm) microspheres were employed in sediment-packed flow...
Authors
D.W. Metge, R.W. Harvey, G. R. Aiken, R. Anders, G. Lincoln, James Jasperse