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: 1831
Recent scientific contributions by the U.S. Geological Survey in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Estuary Recent scientific contributions by the U.S. Geological Survey in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Estuary
Introduction The San Francisco Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Estuary (hereafter, Bay-Delta) is the largest estuary on the West Coast of the United States. The Bay-Delta covers more than 1,600 square miles and drains a watershed of more than 75,000 square miles, which is greater than 40 percent of California. The region surrounding the Bay-Delta is home to about 10 million people...
Authors
Judith Z. Drexler, Jake Weltzin
Conducting feasibility assessments of potential conservation reintroductions: A case study with the imperiled foothill yellow-legged frog, Rana boylii Conducting feasibility assessments of potential conservation reintroductions: A case study with the imperiled foothill yellow-legged frog, Rana boylii
Conservation translocations are an increasingly common and often necessary component of recovering species that have become extirpated from portions of their range. Understanding and ameliorating potential threats that reduce the likelihood of successful population establishment at recipient sites is a key component of successful translocation planning. We examined multiple potential...
Authors
Daniel Antonio Macias, Patrick M. Kleeman, Michelle L. Hladik, Kelly Smalling, Paul G. Johnson, Daniel A. Grear, Jonathan P. Rose, Brian J. Halstead
Evaluation of water quality in the Langford Valley–Irwin Groundwater Subbasin, Fort Irwin National Training Center, California, 1993–2019 Evaluation of water quality in the Langford Valley–Irwin Groundwater Subbasin, Fort Irwin National Training Center, California, 1993–2019
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert of California, obtains its potable water supply from the Bicycle Valley and Langford Valley groundwater basins; Langford Valley groundwater basin is further subdivided into the Langford Well Lake and Irwin groundwater subbasins. The Irwin groundwater subbasin contains younger
Authors
Jill N. Densmore, John A. Izbicki, Meghan C. Dick, Sandra Bond
Assessing future hydrologic extremes using an integrated hydrology and river operations model in the Russian River watershed Assessing future hydrologic extremes using an integrated hydrology and river operations model in the Russian River watershed
Study regionThe Russian River watershed, situated in coastal, northern California, experiences hydrologic extremes, including periodic droughts and flooding. Water managers are working to maintain sustainable water supplies and environmental flows, while mitigating flood risks.Study focusThis paper introduces an integrated hydrology and river operations model for the Russian River...
Authors
Saalem Tilahun Adera, Ayman H. Alzraiee, Richard G. Niswonger, Enrique Triana, Derek W. Ryter, John A. Engott
Effect of passive integrated transponder tag size on survival, tag loss, and growth of Santa Ana Sucker Effect of passive integrated transponder tag size on survival, tag loss, and growth of Santa Ana Sucker
Objective The Santa Ana Sucker Pantosteus santaanae is endemic to southern California and is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Seasonal limitations on conventional sampling and inconsistencies in survey methodologies have led to an incomplete understanding of population dynamics. Alternative sampling methods have the potential to fill important knowledge gaps in...
Authors
Jordan Mae-Jean Buxton, Marissa L. Wulff, Brock Huntsman, Kai Palenscar, Brett Mills, Kerwin Russell, Alicia Ruan, Tevin Bui
Status of Clear Lake Hitch in Lower Blue Lake, Lake County, California Status of Clear Lake Hitch in Lower Blue Lake, Lake County, California
No abstract available.
Authors
Jordan Mae-Jean Buxton, Marissa L. Wulff, Veronica L. Violette, Danielle L. Palm, Matthew J. Young, Frederick Feyrer
Using a BACI design to assess stream ecology and chemistry response after wildfire Using a BACI design to assess stream ecology and chemistry response after wildfire
Wildfires can have complex effects on aquatic communities, which can be either beneficial or adverse depending on the setting. In California, USA, the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires has greatly increased over the last few decades. Understanding the effects of fire on aquatic ecosystem health and human land use has become increasingly important in managing the interface of the...
Authors
Marissa L. Wulff, Jason T. May, Brock Huntsman, Ian R. Waite, Larry M. Brown
Assessing environmental drivers and protist community dynamics that shaped the historic August 2022 Heterosigma akashiwo bloom in San Francisco Bay, California Assessing environmental drivers and protist community dynamics that shaped the historic August 2022 Heterosigma akashiwo bloom in San Francisco Bay, California
San Francisco Bay, California, typically has chlorophyll a (chl-a) concentrations below 10 µg L−1, despite nutrient loadings exceeding those in many estuaries with recurring harmful algal blooms (HABs). However, in August 2022 there was a Heterosigma akashiwo (raphidophyte) bloom with chl-a concentrations exceeding 450 µg L−1, resulting in widespread hypoxia and fish die-off. We used...
Authors
Schuyler Crain Nardelli, Keith Bouma-Gregson, David Senn, Daniel Killam, Ariella Chelsky, Erica S. Kress, Emily T. Richardson, Timothy Otten, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Brian A. Bergamaschi
Hydrogeologic characterization of the Cahuilla Valley and Terwilliger Valley Groundwater Basins, Riverside County, California Hydrogeologic characterization of the Cahuilla Valley and Terwilliger Valley Groundwater Basins, Riverside County, California
The relation between the groundwater and the amount of natural recharge to the Cahuilla Valley and Terwilliger Valley groundwater basins is not well understood. During the 20th century, the reliance on groundwater near Anza, California, used for agricultural, domestic, and municipal reasons has increased, and there is the potential for changes in groundwater availability related to...
Authors
Christina L. Stamos, Allen H. Christensen, Geoffrey Cromwell, Meghan C. Dick, Christopher P. Ely, Elizabeth R. Jachens, Sarah E. Ogle, Mackenzie M. Shepherd
Post-wildfire sediment fluxes and turbidity plumes in a coastal-draining watershed Post-wildfire sediment fluxes and turbidity plumes in a coastal-draining watershed
Coastal watersheds impacted by wildfires experience higher erosion resulting in increased sediment delivery to the ocean that alters limiting factors (i.e., light) for marine organisms. With increasing wildfire magnitude and severity, it is critical to explore changes in riverine discharges to the ocean to assess cascading hazards associated with wildfires. In situ data, remotely sensed...
Authors
Amanda M. Lopez, Tesfa W. Meshesha, Christine M. Lee, Ibrahim N. Mohammed, Erin L. Hestir, Thomas C. Harmon, Dulcinea Marie Avouris
Advancements in satellite observations of inland and coastal waters: Building towards a global validation network Advancements in satellite observations of inland and coastal waters: Building towards a global validation network
The use of satellite-based remote sensing imagery for water quality monitoring of inland and coastal waters has become widespread over the last few decades, with the expansion of, and investment in, operational Earth-observing missions. Satellite-based sensors are uniquely suited to provide synoptic, system-wide water quality parameter estimates that supplement traditional field-based...
Authors
Dulcinea Marie Avouris, Fernanda Maciel, Samantha L. Sharp, Susanne E. Craig, Arnold G. Dekker, Courtney A. Di Vittorio, John R. Gardner, Emma C. Goldsmith, Juan I. Gossn, Steven R. Greb, Brice K. Grunert, Daniela Gurlin, Mahesh Jampani, Rabia M. Khan, Ben Lowin, Lachlan McKinna, Colleen B. Mouw, Igor Ogashawara, Sara Rivero Calle, Wilson B. Salls, Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza, Blake Schaeffer, Bridget N. Seegers, Jari Silander, Emily A. Smail, Menghua Wang, P. Jeremy Werdell
Chronic, low concentration pesticide exposure alters reproduction and behavior in the intertidal sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima Chronic, low concentration pesticide exposure alters reproduction and behavior in the intertidal sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima
Widespread pesticide and herbicide use paired with frequent transport away from application sites has led to pesticide presence in nearly all terrestrial and aquatic environments globally. Pesticides have unintentional toxic effects on non-target organisms by interfering with cellular processes, behavior, feeding, reproduction, and disrupting endocrine processes. The aggregating anemone
Authors
Bria Bleil, Elise F. Granek, Nathan L. Kirk, Michelle L. Hladik