Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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.

News

New Maps Identify Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada

New Maps Identify Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada

USGS Scientists Present Findings at Clear Lake Integrated Science Symposium 2024

USGS Scientists Present Findings at Clear Lake Integrated Science Symposium 2024

USGS Water Science Centers Join Forces at 2024 Lake Tahoe Summit

USGS Water Science Centers Join Forces at 2024 Lake Tahoe Summit

Publications

Quality of groundwater used for domestic supply in the eastern Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills, California

SummaryMore than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from privately owned domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a water-quality survey of domestic and small-system drinking-water supply wells in the eastern Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills where more than 25,000 residents are estimated to use privately owned domestic wells. Study results show that inorgani
Authors
George L. Bennett

Sand supply to San Francisco Bay from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers of the Central Valley, California

Sediment from the Central Valley via the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun Bay is a primary source of sand to San Francisco Bay, California. Sand is mined from San Francisco Bay for commercial purposes, such as for use in concrete for construction. To better understand the supply of sand to Suisun Bay and San Francisco Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the S
Authors
Mathieu D. Marineau, David Hart, Christopher P. Ely, Lester McKee

Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known colloquially as “forever chemicals”, have been associated with adverse human health effects and have contaminated drinking water supplies across the United States owing to their long-term and widespread use. People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water that contains PFAS because of a lack of systematic analysis, particularly in dom
Authors
Andrea K. Tokranov, Katherine Marie Ransom, Laura M. Bexfield, Bruce D. Lindsey, Elise Watson, Danielle Dupuy, Paul Stackelberg, Miranda S. Fram, Stefan Voss, James A. Kingsbury, Bryant Jurgens, Kelly Smalling, Paul M. Bradley

Science

In situ chlorophyll fluorometer validation and comparison study

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) supplies drinking water to much of California. The Delta also provides irrigation water to the Central Valley and is an important habitat to many aquatic and terrestrial species. In the past decade, there has been an increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Delta. While some HABs are nontoxic, others contain cyanobacteria that can produce dangerous...
link

In situ chlorophyll fluorometer validation and comparison study

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) supplies drinking water to much of California. The Delta also provides irrigation water to the Central Valley and is an important habitat to many aquatic and terrestrial species. In the past decade, there has been an increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Delta. While some HABs are nontoxic, others contain cyanobacteria that can produce dangerous...
Learn More

Evaluating the Geohydrology in the San Gorgonio Pass Area

The San Gorgonio Pass, in southern California, is located between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain ranges. The mountain ranges to either side of the pass rise almost 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above. The San Gorgonio Pass serves as a corridor for U.S. Interstate 10. It is also known for its strong winds that make it a popular spot for wind turbine energy production.
link

Evaluating the Geohydrology in the San Gorgonio Pass Area

The San Gorgonio Pass, in southern California, is located between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain ranges. The mountain ranges to either side of the pass rise almost 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above. The San Gorgonio Pass serves as a corridor for U.S. Interstate 10. It is also known for its strong winds that make it a popular spot for wind turbine energy production.
Learn More

Habitat Vulnerability to Climate Change: Identifying Climate Change Induced Mass Mortality Events Across Large Landscapes of the United States

USGS researchers will characterize extreme climatic events across U.S. following a review of case studies of mass mortality events associated with climate extremes including drought, precipitation, freeze, heat waves, and storm events.
link

Habitat Vulnerability to Climate Change: Identifying Climate Change Induced Mass Mortality Events Across Large Landscapes of the United States

USGS researchers will characterize extreme climatic events across U.S. following a review of case studies of mass mortality events associated with climate extremes including drought, precipitation, freeze, heat waves, and storm events.
Learn More
Was this page helpful?