Images

Figure 4. Map of the upper Feather River watershed showing outlines of two of the largest wildfires in the basin from recent years: North Complex Fire in 2020 and Dixie Fire in 2021.

Nine consecutive rainstorms have poured on California since December 26, 2022, after three years of intensive drought.

At atmospheric river brought heavy precipitation to California from December 31, 2022 through January 2, 2023.  USGS crews took 77 measurements at 58 sites across the state, with northern California being hardest hit.  This map shows where some of the highest streamflow occurred.  Data are provisional and subject to revision.

Sharon Mulready, USGS Hydrologic Technician, recording the high-water mark on gage 11161000 San Lorenzo River Santa Cruz. The stream is filled with a tremendous amount of sediment moved by the storm on December 31st, 2022.

High water on Alameda Creek, California. Taken at Alameda Diversion Dam near Sunol, CA.

Figure 5. Soil moisture sensors installed in a soil moisture monitoring pit as part of a USGS monitoring station for real-time soil moisture monitoring. Photo credit: Michelle Stern, USGS.

High flows at streamgage 11172945 (Alameda Creek above Div Dam near Sunol, California) were captured by USGS hydrologic technician Louis Cannarozzi on 12/31/2022. Heavy precipitation caused higher-than-normal streamflow in many areas as an atmospheric river moved through northern California.

Photos during the construction of one of the LoRa-cellular gateway antenna towers in the Feather River Watershed.

USGS hydrologic technician Travis Hiett measures streamflow using a truck mounted boom and price AA meter at the Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar, California on December 31, 2022. Travis captured the highest direct measurement ever recorded at this site—63,700 cubic feet per second—in over 100 years of record.

The Consumes River experienced record streamflow over the 2022 New Year's holiday weekend as an atmospheric river moved through northern California.  Crews captured the highest direct measurement ever recorded at this site—63,700 cubic feet per second—in over 100 years of record. (Credit: Susan Brockner, USGS. Public domain.) 

The MODFLOW-2005 framework branched into multiple specialized versions that are combined form the MODFLOW One-Water Hydrologic Flow Model (MF-OWHM).

Map showing principal aquifers (PAs) and wells that were sampled as part of a Nationwide assessment of the quality of groundwater used for public supply.  

Remotely sensed chlorophyll estimates during the 2022 HAB event (mg m^-3). Data are from the ESA Sentinel-3 satellite and are processed using a locally tuned algorithm for San Francisco Bay.

Webcam image and hydrograph from Truckee River webcam. Truckee River at Boca Bridge near Truckee, CA.

USGS scientist Michelle Sneed explaining the extensometer to group from the 2022 Water Education Foundation Central Valley Tour.

Kamahu’ehu’e Pond is covered in non-native pickleweed on the southeast coast of Moloka’i, Hawai’i.

Bees gathering pollen on tree blossoms near an agricultural location in Northern California. 

Rock Drought Barrier on West False River, near Frank's Tract in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Info graphic showing the various matrices sampled for this project and how bees might be exposed to pesticides.

Photo showing a harmful algal bloom (also known as “blue algae”) on the surface of Clear Lake. Photo by Nick Framsted, UC Davis.

Bees gathering pollen on a wildflower near an agricultural location in Northern California.