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California Flood Science

Helping emergency managers and others protect life and property from floods and other water-related hazards

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California Drought

Monitoring the effects of drought in California through data collection and research

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Science Programs and Partnerships

Supplying necessary scientific information to local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations

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Surface Water

Understanding the science about California surface-water use for irrigation, public consumption, and ecosystems

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Groundwater

Using science to assess and quantify the availability and quality of California's groundwater resources

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Water Quality

Providing foundational data and scientific analysis to address water quality issues facing California

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Aquatic Ecology

Gaining better understanding of the effects that human activity, hydrologic extremes, and climate change have on aquatic ecosystems

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California Water Science Center

The U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center provides reliable, impartial, foundational data and scientific analysis to address water issues facing California today. We conduct hydrologic monitoring and investigative studies in partnership with tribal, federal, state, and local agencies to assist them in managing California's water resources.

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Wetland Restoration on Molokaʻi

A woman stands in the distance of a coastal wetland covered in pickleweed

A new study by USGS Research Hydrologist, Dr. Judith Drexler, details actions needed for re-establishing coastal wetlands on Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi.

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Join the USGS Team

Hydrologic technicians, Kyle Nakatsuka and Thomas Jetson, deploying a flow sensor on a shoal in San Francisco Bay.

Explore careers at the USGS, experience a day in the life of employees, navigate USAJobs, and see frequent questions on Federal hiring.

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California Water & Drought Data

Basic hydrologic data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving are major parts of the California Water Science Center program.

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News

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USGS Water Science Centers Join Forces at the 2023 Lake Tahoe Summit

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NorCal News Station Showcases Work of USGS Hydrotechs on the Sacramento River

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Data Inspires Transformation

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Publications

Salinity trends in a groundwater system supplemented by 50 years of imported Colorado River water

The Indio subbasin of the Coachella Valley is a desert area of southern California where a growing population depends primarily on groundwater for drinking and agricultural uses. The aquifer system has been supplemented with Colorado River water through managed recharge and widespread irrigation since the mid-20th century. We use a combination of geochemical modeling and trend analysis to identify
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Jennifer S. Harkness, Patrick Michael McCarthy, Bryant Jurgens, Zeno Levy
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Karst groundwater vulnerability determined by modeled age and residence time tracers

Karst aquifers are a vital groundwater resource globally, but features such as rapid recharge and conduit flow make them highly vulnerable to land-surface contamination. We apply environmental age tracers to the south-central Texas Edwards aquifer, a karst resource in a rapidly urbanizing and drought-prone region, to assess vulnerability to land-surface contamination and risks unique to karst aqui
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MaryLynn Musgrove, Bryant Jurgens, Stephen P. Opsahl
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Carbon sequestration and subsidence reversal in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay: Management opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation

The aquatic landscapes of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (hereafter, the Delta) and Suisun Bay represent both a significant past and future soil carbon stock. Historical alterations of hydrologic flows have led to depletion of soil carbon stocks via emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), and loss of elevation as a result of subsidence. Optimizing ecosystem hydrology in the Delta and Suisun Bay could
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Patty Oikawa, Steve Deverel, Dylan Chapple, Judith Z. Drexler, Dylan Stern
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center
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Science

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concrete-lined river running through an industrial area

Water-Quality Monitoring in the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin of the Los Angeles River Watershed

As part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), this project will enhance water-quality monitoring on a reach of the Los Angeles River slated for revitalization. The UWFP reconnects urban communities—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies.
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California Water Science Center
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Water-Quality Monitoring in the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin of the Los Angeles River Watershed

As part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), this project will enhance water-quality monitoring on a reach of the Los Angeles River slated for revitalization. The UWFP reconnects urban communities—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies.
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Drain carrying runoff from farm fields in Imperial Valley

Selenium Cycling in Salton Sea Wetlands

The effect of selenium toxicity on wildlife has been known for more than 50 years. This issue drew particular attention in the 1980s when embryo deformity and mortality was observed in birds at a wildlife refuge in California. Harmful effects from selenium were determined to be connected to irrigation drainage water. As a result, an effort began to monitor levels of selenium in irrigation drainage...
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California Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Selenium Cycling in Salton Sea Wetlands

The effect of selenium toxicity on wildlife has been known for more than 50 years. This issue drew particular attention in the 1980s when embryo deformity and mortality was observed in birds at a wildlife refuge in California. Harmful effects from selenium were determined to be connected to irrigation drainage water. As a result, an effort began to monitor levels of selenium in irrigation drainage...
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Natural Gas Compressor Station

Results of Hexavalent Chromium Background Study in Hinkley, California

John Izbicki, PhD, a Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) California Water Science Center (CAWSC), led a five-year scientific study to determine the range of natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) hexavalent chromium concentrations, also referred to as chromium-6 or Cr(VI), in Hinkley Valley. The study was cooperatively funded by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control...
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California Water Science Center
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Results of Hexavalent Chromium Background Study in Hinkley, California

John Izbicki, PhD, a Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) California Water Science Center (CAWSC), led a five-year scientific study to determine the range of natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) hexavalent chromium concentrations, also referred to as chromium-6 or Cr(VI), in Hinkley Valley. The study was cooperatively funded by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control...
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