Publications
The following list of California Water Science Center publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists.
Filter Total Items: 1825
Repeated surveys by acoustic Doppler current profiler for flow and sediment dynamics in a tidal river Repeated surveys by acoustic Doppler current profiler for flow and sediment dynamics in a tidal river
A strategy of repeated surveys by acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) was applied in a tidal river to map velocity vectors and suspended-sediment indicators. The Sacramento River at the junction with the Delta Cross Channel at Walnut Grove, California, was surveyed over several tidal cycles in the Fall of 2000 and 2001 with a vessel-mounted ADCP. Velocity profiles were recorded...
Authors
R.L. Dinehart, J.R. Burau
Preliminary results from a shallow water benthic grazing study Preliminary results from a shallow water benthic grazing study
The nutrient-rich, shallow waters of San Francisco Bay support high rates of primary production, limited not by nutrients but by light availability and benthic grazing (Alpine and others 1992; Cloern 1982). Phytoplankton blooms are an important food source for upper trophic levels. Consequently animal populations, such as fish, may suffer under conditions of high benthic bivalve grazing...
Authors
N.L. Jones, Stephen G. Monismith, Janet K. Thompson
Comparison of velocity-log data collected using impeller and electromagnetic flowmeters Comparison of velocity-log data collected using impeller and electromagnetic flowmeters
Previous studies have used flowmeters in environments that are within the expectations of their published ranges. Electromagnetic flowmeters have a published range from 0.1 to 79.0 m/min, and impeller flowmeters have a published range from 1.2 to 61.0 m/min. Velocity-log data collected in five long-screened production wells in the Pleasant Valley area of southern California showed that...
Authors
M.W. Newhouse, J. A. Izbicki, G.A. Smith
Major and trace element composition of copiapite-group minerals and coexisting water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California Major and trace element composition of copiapite-group minerals and coexisting water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
Copiapite-group minerals of the general formula AR4(SO4)6(OH)2·nH2O, where A is predominantly Mg, Fe2+, or 0.67Al3+, R is predominantly Fe3+, and n is typically 20, are among several secondary hydrous Fe sulfates occurring in the inactive mine workings of the massive sulfide deposit at Iron Mountain, CA, a USEPA Superfund site that produces extremely acidic drainage. Samples of copiapite...
Authors
H.E. Jamieson, C. Robinson, Charles N. Alpers, R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Ronald C. Peterson
Assessing water source and channel type as factors affecting benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages in the highly urbanized Santa Ana River Basin, California Assessing water source and channel type as factors affecting benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages in the highly urbanized Santa Ana River Basin, California
The Santa Ana River basin is the largest stream system in Southern California and includes a densely populated coastal area. Extensive urbanization has altered the geomorphology and hydrology of the streams, adversely affecting aquatic communities. We studied macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages in relation to two categorical features of the highly engineered hydrologic system...
Authors
Carmen A. Burton, Larry R. Brown, Kenneth Belitz
Phytoplankton community ecology: Principles applied in San Francisco Bay Phytoplankton community ecology: Principles applied in San Francisco Bay
In his seminal 1961 paper 'The paradox of the plankton' Am Nat 95:137-147, G. E. Hutchinson asked why many species of phytoplankton can coexist while competing for a small number of limiting resources in an unstructured habitat. Hutchinson anticipated the resolution of his paradox, recognizing that communities are organized by processes beyond resource competition including species...
Authors
J. E. Cloern, R. Dufford
Total mercury concentrations in fillets of bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and other fishes from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California Total mercury concentrations in fillets of bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and other fishes from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California
This study was conducted during September-October 2002 to verify preliminary findings of elevated total mercury concentrations in skinless fillets of sportfishes inhabiting Lake Natoma. Although we measured total mercury concentrations, most mercury in fish flesh occurs in the methylated form. In August 2000, other investigators collected a small number of fish containing mercury...
Authors
M. K. Saiki, B.A. Martin, T.W. May, Charles N. Alpers
Comparison of the lognormal and beta distribution functions to describe the uncertainty in permeability Comparison of the lognormal and beta distribution functions to describe the uncertainty in permeability
The permeability of a single hydrostratigraphic unit is associated with considerable uncertainty due to measurement errors and significant spatial variability. Historically this uncertainty is characterized by a lognormal distribution. This distribution is generally heavy tailed, so using this distribution to describe the permeability has the limitation that all positive values of...
Authors
K.L. Ricciardi, G.F. Pinder, K. Belitz
Transtensional deformation in the Lake Tahoe region, California and Nevada, USA Transtensional deformation in the Lake Tahoe region, California and Nevada, USA
Dextral transtensional deformation is occurring along the Sierra Nevada–Great Basin boundary zone (SNGBBZ) at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada microplate. In the Lake Tahoe region of the SNGBBZ, transtension is partitioned spatially and temporally into domains of north–south striking normal faults and transitional domains with conjugate strike-slip faults. The normal fault domains...
Authors
Richard A. Schweickert, M.M. Lahren, K.D. Smith, J. F. Howle, G. Ichinose
The role of the unsaturated zone in artificial recharge at San Gorgonio Pass, California The role of the unsaturated zone in artificial recharge at San Gorgonio Pass, California
The hydrogeology of the unsaturated zone plays a critical role in determining the suitability of a site for artificial recharge. Optimally, a suitable site has highly permeable soils, a capacity for horizontal flow at the aquifer boundary, a lack of impeding layers, and a thick unsaturated zone. The suitability of a site is often determined by field and laboratory measurements of soil...
Authors
Alan L. Flint, Kevin M. Ellett
Geochemistry of sulfate minerals in high- and low-temperature environments: A tribute to Robert O. Rye Geochemistry of sulfate minerals in high- and low-temperature environments: A tribute to Robert O. Rye
This special issue is a tribute to Robert O. Rye, known as "Bob" to most, in light of his highly productive and ongoing career. Almost all of the papers in this issue are derived from topical sessions on sulfate minerals in hydrothermal and low-temperature environments. The sessions, held at the 2000 Geological Society of America meeting in Reno, NV, and sponsored jointly by the...
Authors
Robert R. Seal,, John L. Jambor, Charles N. Alpers
Fundamental concepts of recharge in the Desert Southwest: A regional modeling perspective Fundamental concepts of recharge in the Desert Southwest: A regional modeling perspective
Recharge in arid basins does not occur in all years or at all locations within a basin. In the desert Southwest potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation on an average annual basis and, in many basins, on an average monthly basis. Ground-water traveltime from the surface to the water table and recharge to the water table vary temporally and spatially owing to variations in...
Authors
Alan L. Flint, Lorraine E. Flint, J.A. Hevesi