Groundwater Supply
Groundwater Supply
Every day, millions of gallons of groundwater are pumped to supply drinking water for almost one-half of the Nation’s population. Groundwater is also critical to agriculture, one of California's main economic drivers. The California Water Science Center studies aquifers throughout the state that are critical sources of groundwater used for public supply. This research informs us about the quality and availability of groundwater for drinking, where and why groundwater quality is degraded, and where groundwater quality is changing.
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Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Land Subsidence in the Antelope Valley Groundwater Basin
Prior to 1972, groundwater provided more than 90 percent of the total water supply in Antelope Valley, California (~50 miles northeast of Los Angeles); since 1972, it has provided between 50 and 90 percent (the balance provided by imported surface water). Most groundwater pumping in the valley occurs in the Antelope Valley groundwater basin, which includes the rapidly growing cities of Lancaster...
Simulating Land Subsidence
The California Water Science Center has been involved in multiple studies simulating land subsidence associated with groundwater withdrawal. The simulations can be used to estimate the magnitude, location, and timing of subsidence. They can also be used to evaluate management strategies to mitigate adverse effects from subsidence while also optimizing water availability.
Land Subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation. Beginning around the 1920's, farmers relied upon groundwater for water supply. Over time, overpumping caused groundwater-level declines and associated aquifer-system compaction and land subsidence that resulted in permanent aquifer-system storage loss.
Yucaipa Subbasin Integrated Hydrologic Model
The USGS is developing a hydrologic model of the Yucaipa Subbasin to aid in evaluating and managing the groundwater resources in the area. The study results will provide a greater understanding of the geohydrology of the subbasin, and aid in the development of a groundwater-monitoring plan, as well as in the evaluation of potential hydrologic effects of future groundwater development and...
Yucaipa Valley Hydrogeology
This study assesses the quality of water in the Yucaipa area, primarily in the Yucaipa plain. This hydrogeology study will aid local water purveyors in understanding and evaluating local resources and using those resources effectively in combination with water imported from northern California and from the adjacent San Bernardino area.
Pesticide Fate Research Group (PFRG)
Pesticides are used in both agricultural and urban settings to manage unwanted plants, insects, fungi, and other pests. However, these substances and their breakdown products can move beyond their intended application sites through various means, ending up in areas where they weren't meant to be. This movement can happen via the air, through water (both surface and groundwater), and by sticking to...
California Water Use
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Information Program compiles the nation's water-use data at the county, state, and national levels. USGS five-year reports on national and state water-use estimates between 1950-2015 are posted on the web at: http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/. USGS water-use data for states and counties for 1985-2015 are available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wu.
Temecula Hydrogeology
This site provides hydrologic data collected or compiled by the USGS for the Temecula area; some additional data may be available from the USGS database National Water Information System (NWIS) .
San Bernardino Optimal Basin Management
The San Bernardino area of southern California has complex water-management issues. As an aid to local water managers, this report provides an integrated analysis of the surface-water and ground-water systems, documents ground-water flow and constrained optimization models, and provides seven examples using the models to better understand and manage water resources of the area. As an aid to...
Injection, storage, and extraction of water, Roseville, California
The purpose of this study is evaluate how vertical variations in aquifer properties and well hydraulics may affect the injection, storage, and extraction of water and the transport of associated disinfection by-products in the Mehrten Formation underlying the City of Roseville.
California Water Use, 2010
In 2010, Californians withdrew an estimated total of 38 billion gallons of water per day, compared with 46 billion gallons per day in 2005.
Sources of Microbial Contamination at Public Beaches, Santa Barbara
The focus of this study is on analysis of existing hydrologic, chemical, and microbiological data; collection of surface-water and shallow ground-water hydrologic, chemical, and microbiological data; and characterization of dissolved organic carbon composition.