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Aquifer Storage and Recovery

Aquifer storage and recovery is a water resources management technique for actively storing water underground during wet periods for recovery when needed, usually during dry periods. The timeframe can range from months to decades. Intentional aquifer storage, with the intent of using the water later, has been used for hundreds of years, but is being further developed and refined as demand for fresh water threatens to exceed supply in California and many other parts of the world.

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Forecasting Total Dissolved Solids Concentrations of Groundwater from the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project

The USGS seeks to increase understanding of the groundwater system in the vicinity of the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project well field and to estimate future groundwater levels and total dissolved solids concentrations in the wells and the long-term viability of the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project.
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Forecasting Total Dissolved Solids Concentrations of Groundwater from the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project

The USGS seeks to increase understanding of the groundwater system in the vicinity of the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project well field and to estimate future groundwater levels and total dissolved solids concentrations in the wells and the long-term viability of the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project.
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Using the Basin Characterization Model (BCM) to Estimate Natural Recharge in Indian Wells Valley, California

Located in the northern Mojave Desert, the Indian Wells Valley has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing...
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Using the Basin Characterization Model (BCM) to Estimate Natural Recharge in Indian Wells Valley, California

Located in the northern Mojave Desert, the Indian Wells Valley has an arid environment, receiving only 4-6 inches of precipitation annually. Like most desert areas, Indian Wells Valley communities rely mostly on groundwater for their available groundwater supply. Increases in urban and agricultural development have resulted in increased groundwater pumpage for public and agricultural use, causing...
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Owens Valley Hydrogeology

The Owens Valley, a long, narrow valley along the east side of the Sierra Nevada in east-central California, is the main source of water for the city of Los Angeles. The city diverts most of the surface water in the valley into the Owens River-Los Angeles Aqueduct system, which transports the water more than 200 miles south to areas of distribution and use. Additionally, ground water is pumped or...
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Owens Valley Hydrogeology

The Owens Valley, a long, narrow valley along the east side of the Sierra Nevada in east-central California, is the main source of water for the city of Los Angeles. The city diverts most of the surface water in the valley into the Owens River-Los Angeles Aqueduct system, which transports the water more than 200 miles south to areas of distribution and use. Additionally, ground water is pumped or...
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Sustainable Groundwater Management

In 2014, the State of California adopted historic legislation to help manage its groundwater, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) . According to the act, local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) must be formed for all high and medium priority basins in the state. These GSAs must develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for managing and using groundwater...
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Sustainable Groundwater Management

In 2014, the State of California adopted historic legislation to help manage its groundwater, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) . According to the act, local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) must be formed for all high and medium priority basins in the state. These GSAs must develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for managing and using groundwater...
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Evaluation of the groundwater resources of the Petaluma Valley

The city of Petaluma, located in the Petaluma Valley and home to about 12 percent of the population of Sonoma County, faces growth in population and demand for water. Water supply is provided primarily by water delivered via aqueduct from the Russian River; however, groundwater is a vital supplemental source of water for the city of Petaluma and is the primary source of supply for domestic and...
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Evaluation of the groundwater resources of the Petaluma Valley

The city of Petaluma, located in the Petaluma Valley and home to about 12 percent of the population of Sonoma County, faces growth in population and demand for water. Water supply is provided primarily by water delivered via aqueduct from the Russian River; however, groundwater is a vital supplemental source of water for the city of Petaluma and is the primary source of supply for domestic and...
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Evaluation of water resources in Chuckwalla Valley, Riverside County, California

The Chuckwalla Valley in the southern Mojave Desert in California has been selected as an area with high potential for solar energy development. Six large-scale solar energy projects are currently approved or proposed in this basin, the largest number of solar projects in any one basin in California. Water needs associated with proposed solar energy projects within the basin have generated...
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Evaluation of water resources in Chuckwalla Valley, Riverside County, California

The Chuckwalla Valley in the southern Mojave Desert in California has been selected as an area with high potential for solar energy development. Six large-scale solar energy projects are currently approved or proposed in this basin, the largest number of solar projects in any one basin in California. Water needs associated with proposed solar energy projects within the basin have generated...
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Optimization of Operation of Yuma Area Drainage and Regulatory Wells - Pilot Project

Reclamation's Yuma Area Office (YAO) operates 50 plus drainage wells and 21 regulatory wells to control groundwater levels in low-lying flood plain areas and to supply a significant portion of the Colorado River water the United States (US) is required by treaty to deliver to Mexico.
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Optimization of Operation of Yuma Area Drainage and Regulatory Wells - Pilot Project

Reclamation's Yuma Area Office (YAO) operates 50 plus drainage wells and 21 regulatory wells to control groundwater levels in low-lying flood plain areas and to supply a significant portion of the Colorado River water the United States (US) is required by treaty to deliver to Mexico.
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Sonoma Valley Surface Water/Groundwater-Flow Model

Sonoma County faces potential changes in surface-water availability, including potential impacts on water quality in response to changing land use, increasing population, and climate change.
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Sonoma Valley Surface Water/Groundwater-Flow Model

Sonoma County faces potential changes in surface-water availability, including potential impacts on water quality in response to changing land use, increasing population, and climate change.
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Assessing the Feasibility of Artificial Recharge and Storage and the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Insitu Arsenic Removal in the Antelope Valley, California

Project Update - 8/2/2011: Water having an arsenic concentration of 30 micrograms per liter was infiltrated from a test pond beginning in December, 2010. After water moved downward through the unsaturated zone, arsenic concentrations in Lysimeters as deep as 110 ft beneath the pond were about 2 micrograms per liter. Laboratory column experiments show similar changes in arsenic concentrations in...
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Assessing the Feasibility of Artificial Recharge and Storage and the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Insitu Arsenic Removal in the Antelope Valley, California

Project Update - 8/2/2011: Water having an arsenic concentration of 30 micrograms per liter was infiltrated from a test pond beginning in December, 2010. After water moved downward through the unsaturated zone, arsenic concentrations in Lysimeters as deep as 110 ft beneath the pond were about 2 micrograms per liter. Laboratory column experiments show similar changes in arsenic concentrations in...
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Statistical Evaluation of Factors Affecting Occurrence of Organic Constituents from Fuels in Public-Supply Wells in Southern California

Biofuels, including ethanol, are expected to provide a greater contribution to the fuel supply in the United States. Research in the past decade has shown that ethanol in gasoline can cause plumes of benzene in groundwater to be larger than they would otherwise be.
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Statistical Evaluation of Factors Affecting Occurrence of Organic Constituents from Fuels in Public-Supply Wells in Southern California

Biofuels, including ethanol, are expected to provide a greater contribution to the fuel supply in the United States. Research in the past decade has shown that ethanol in gasoline can cause plumes of benzene in groundwater to be larger than they would otherwise be.
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Water-resources study of Fort Irwin National Training Center

The U.S. Army at Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) obtains all of its potable water supply from Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle Basins within the base boundaries. Groundwater pumping, since as early as 1941, has resulted in water-level declines in all of these basins and the disposal of treated wastewater in the Irwin Basin has resulted in elevated nitrate concentrations in some wells in...
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Water-resources study of Fort Irwin National Training Center

The U.S. Army at Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) obtains all of its potable water supply from Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle Basins within the base boundaries. Groundwater pumping, since as early as 1941, has resulted in water-level declines in all of these basins and the disposal of treated wastewater in the Irwin Basin has resulted in elevated nitrate concentrations in some wells in...
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Land Subsidence in the Santa Clara Valley

Throughout the late 1800s and into the 1920s when two thirds of the Santa Clara Valley had been irrigated, water flowed freely from wells. Water-level declines of more than 200 ft occurred in the Santa Clara Valley from the early 1900's to the mid 1960's (Fowler, 1981). Land subsidence was first detected in 1933 (Poland and Ireland, 1988). As the decades passed, groundwater levels continued to...
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Land Subsidence in the Santa Clara Valley

Throughout the late 1800s and into the 1920s when two thirds of the Santa Clara Valley had been irrigated, water flowed freely from wells. Water-level declines of more than 200 ft occurred in the Santa Clara Valley from the early 1900's to the mid 1960's (Fowler, 1981). Land subsidence was first detected in 1933 (Poland and Ireland, 1988). As the decades passed, groundwater levels continued to...
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