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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: 1811

Geochemical and mineralogical controls on trace element release from the Penn Mine base-metal slag dump, California Geochemical and mineralogical controls on trace element release from the Penn Mine base-metal slag dump, California

Base-metal slag deposits at the Penn Mine in Calaveras County, California, are a source of environmental contamination through leaching of potentially toxic elements. Historical Cu smelting at Penn Mine (1865-1919) generated approximately 200,000 m3 of slag. The slag deposits, which are flooded annually by a reservoir used for drinking water and irrigation, also may be in contact with...
Authors
M.B. Parsons, D.K. Bird, M.T. Einaudi, Charles N. Alpers

Survey of fishes and environmental conditions in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, California Survey of fishes and environmental conditions in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of fishery resources in Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore. During February/March, May, August, and November 1999, fish were sampled with floating variable-mesh gill nets and small minnow traps from as many as 14 sites in the lagoon. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total ammonia(NH3 + NH4+), salinity, turbidity...
Authors
M. K. Saiki, B.A. Martin

Distribution of algae in the San Joaquin River, California, in relation to nutrient supply, salinity and other environmental factors Distribution of algae in the San Joaquin River, California, in relation to nutrient supply, salinity and other environmental factors

1. The taxonomic composition and biomass of the phytoplankton and the taxonomic composition of the phytobenthos of the San Joaquin River and its major tributaries were examined in relation to water chemistry, habitat and flow regime. Agricultural drainage and subsurface flow contribute to a complex gradient of salinity and nutrients in this eutrophic, 'lowland type' river. 2. Because of...
Authors
H.V. Leland, L. R. Brown, D. K. Mueller

InSAR analysis of natural recharge to define structure of a ground-water basin, San Bernardino, California InSAR analysis of natural recharge to define structure of a ground-water basin, San Bernardino, California

Using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis of ERS-1 and ERS-2 images, we detect several centimeters of uplift during the first half of 1993 in two areas of the San Bernardino ground-water basin of southern California. This uplift correlates with unusually high runoff from the surrounding mountains and increased ground-water levels in nearby wells. The deformation of...
Authors
Z. Lu, W.R. Danskin

Nature and chlorine reactivity of organic constituents from reclaimed water in groundwater, Los Angeles County, California Nature and chlorine reactivity of organic constituents from reclaimed water in groundwater, Los Angeles County, California

The nature and chlorine reactivity of organic constituents in reclaimed water (tertiary-treated municipal wastewater) before, during, and after recharge into groundwater at the Montebello Forebay in Los Angeles County, CA, was the focus of this study. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in reclaimed water from this site is primarily a mixture of aromatic sulfonates from anionic surfactant...
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, C.E. Rostad, L. B. Barber, R. A. Schroeder, R. Anders, M.L. Davisson

Chinese mitten crab surveys of San Joaquin River basin and Suisun Marsh, California, 2000 Chinese mitten crab surveys of San Joaquin River basin and Suisun Marsh, California, 2000

Juvenile Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) are known to use both brackish and freshwater habitats as rearing areas. The objectives of this study were to examine the habitat use and potential effects of mitten crabs in the freshwater habitats of the San Joaquin River drainage up-stream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. After several unsuccessful attempts to catch or observe...
Authors
Jason T. May, Larry R. Brown

An evaluation of borehole flowmeters used to measure horizontal ground-water flow in limestones of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 1999 An evaluation of borehole flowmeters used to measure horizontal ground-water flow in limestones of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 1999

Three borehole flowmeters and hydrophysical logging were used to measure ground-water flow in carbonate bedrock at sites in southeastern Indiana and on the west-central border of Kentucky and Tennessee. The three flowmeters make point measurements of the direction and magnitude of horizontal flow, and hydrophysical logging measures the magnitude of horizontal flowover an interval. The...
Authors
John T. Wilson, Wayne A. Mandell, Frederick L. Paillet, E. Randall Bayless, Randall T. Hanson, Peter M. Kearl, William B. Kerfoot, Mark W. Newhouse, William H. Pedler

Pesticides associated with suspended sediments entering San Francisco Bay following the first major storm of water year 1996 Pesticides associated with suspended sediments entering San Francisco Bay following the first major storm of water year 1996

Estuaries receive large quantities of suspended sediments following the first major storm of the water year. The first-flush events transport the majority of suspended sediments in any given year, and because of their relative freshness in the hydrologic system, these sediments may carry a significant amount of the sediment-associated pesticide load transported into estuaries. To...
Authors
Brian A. Bergamaschi, Kathryn Kuivila, Miranda S. Fram

Distribution of inorganic mercury in Sacramento River water and suspended colloidal sediment material Distribution of inorganic mercury in Sacramento River water and suspended colloidal sediment material

The concentration and distribution of inorganic Hg was measured using cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry in samples collected at selected sites on the Sacramento River from below Shasta Dam to Freeport, CA, at six separate times between 1996 and 1997. Dissolved (ultrafiltered, 0.005 μm equivalent pore size) Hg concentrations remained relatively constant throughout the system...
Authors
D.A. Roth, Howard E. Taylor, Joseph L. Domagalski, Peter D. Dileanis, D.B. Peart, Ronald C. Antweiler, Charles N. Alpers

Tannin diagenesis in mangrove leaves from a tropical estuary: A novel molecular approach Tannin diagenesis in mangrove leaves from a tropical estuary: A novel molecular approach

Molecular-level condensed tannin analyses were conducted on a series of mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) leaves at various stages of decomposition in a tropical estuary. Total molecular tannin yields ranged from 0.5% ash-free dry weight (AFDW) in the most highly degraded black leaves (6-7 weeks in the water) up to >7% AFDW in fresh leaves (80% procyanidin (PC) with the remainder being...
Authors
P.J. Hernes, R. Benner, G.L. Cowie, M.A. Goi, B.A. Bergamaschi, J. I. Hedges

Eddy covariance measurement of CO2 flux to the atmosphere from a area of high volcanogenic emissions, Mammoth Mountain, California Eddy covariance measurement of CO2 flux to the atmosphere from a area of high volcanogenic emissions, Mammoth Mountain, California

Three pilot studies were performed to assess application of the eddy covariance micrometeorological method in the measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) flux of volcanic origin. The selected study area is one of high diffuse CO2 emission on Mammoth Mountain, CA. Because terrain and source characteristics make this a complex setting for this type of measurement, added consideration was given...
Authors
Dean E. Anderson, Christopher D. Farrar
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