Water Quality
Providing foundational data and scientific analysis to address water quality issues facing California
Providing foundational data and scientific analysis to address water quality issues facing California
California Flood Science
Helping emergency managers and others protect life and property from floods and other water-related hazards
Helping emergency managers and others protect life and property from floods and other water-related hazards
Surface Water
Understanding the science about California surface-water use for irrigation, public consumption, and ecosystems
Understanding the science about California surface-water use for irrigation, public consumption, and ecosystems
Science Programs and Partnerships
Supplying necessary scientific information to local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations
Supplying necessary scientific information to local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations
Aquatic Ecology
Gaining better understanding of the effects that human activity, hydrologic extremes, and climate change have on aquatic ecosystems
Gaining better understanding of the effects that human activity, hydrologic extremes, and climate change have on aquatic ecosystems
Groundwater
Using science to assess and quantify the availability and quality of California's groundwater resources
Using science to assess and quantify the availability and quality of California's groundwater resources
California Drought
Monitoring the effects of drought in California through data collection and research
Monitoring the effects of drought in California through data collection and research
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 making decisions.
Historical Floods
Historical Floods
Storms unleash torrential rain and intense winds, posing significant challenges to infrastructure and triggering widespread flooding. Since it became a state in 1850, California has experienced numerous large storms and floods.
Golden State Reflections
Golden State Reflections
Our science supports the Department’s commitment to national resilience and resource management by providing expertise and delivering well-documented data and interpretive products.
California Water & Drought Data
California Water & Drought Data
Basic hydrologic data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving are major parts of the California Water Science Center program.
Publications
Carbon and nitrogen isotopes of different native fish tissues from the Santa Ana River, California Carbon and nitrogen isotopes of different native fish tissues from the Santa Ana River, California
Objective Stable isotopes are commonly used to understand the role of fishes in aquatic food webs. However, variability in species- and tissue-specific isotopic values can affect the inference that is drawn from a stable isotope study. We evaluated differences in stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) among three tissue types (white muscle, caudal fin rays, and eye lenses)...
Effects of flow on pesticides in water and zooplankton in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Effects of flow on pesticides in water and zooplankton in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Zooplankton are a key food source for juvenile fishes in estuaries worldwide, including California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (hereafter Delta); both zooplankton quality and quantity are critical to ecosystem health. Zooplankton may be affected by pesticides in water and the food web, and the Delta is known to contain complex pesticide mixtures. In this study, we evaluated pesticide
Identifying organic contaminants at trespass cannabis grows on federal land in California, USA Identifying organic contaminants at trespass cannabis grows on federal land in California, USA
Despite the legalization of recreational cannabis in California, USA, illegal cannabis cultivation remains pervasive, partly through the establishment of illegal cultivation on public lands (trespass grows). These operations often illegally divert water for irrigation and perform unauthorized applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This work investigates a broad suite of...
Science
Where land meets sea: USGS science for coastal habitats
USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Management Research Program, Science and Decisions Center, Species Management Research Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center