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A profile of a silver ship with a USGS logo, has three people standing at the bow end dressed in dark colors with yellow pers
USGS R/V Peterson
USGS R/V Peterson
USGS R/V Peterson

The USGS R/V Peterson conducts monthly cruises covering the San Francisco Estuary up to the Sacramento River at Rio Vista, California. The USGS has been researching and monitoring the San Francisco Estuary since 1969.

The USGS R/V Peterson conducts monthly cruises covering the San Francisco Estuary up to the Sacramento River at Rio Vista, California. The USGS has been researching and monitoring the San Francisco Estuary since 1969.

Scientist on boat wearing blue pants, green shirt, hat, life jacket, holding white net, with bridge and land in background.
A USGS technician conducts a phytoplankton net tow to measure harmful algae and toxins in San Francisco Bay.
A USGS technician conducts a phytoplankton net tow to measure harmful algae and toxins in San Francisco Bay.
Collection of six bay maps show colorful algae blooms developing expanding then returned to pre-bloom levels.
Remotely sensed chlorophyll estimates during the 2022 HAB event.
Remotely sensed chlorophyll estimates during the 2022 HAB event.
Remotely sensed chlorophyll estimates during the 2022 HAB event.

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.

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.

Forester's Tern
Return of the Terns
Return of the Terns
Return of the Terns

Now that Forster’s terns have returned to nesting in Pond A16, an important nesting colony has been re-established, with hopes that this tern colony will grow in future years and help reverse the decline of the Forster’s tern population in San Francisco Bay.

Now that Forster’s terns have returned to nesting in Pond A16, an important nesting colony has been re-established, with hopes that this tern colony will grow in future years and help reverse the decline of the Forster’s tern population in San Francisco Bay.

Woman looks through a spotting scope at the ocean
Conducting a high tide waterbird survey on San Fransisco Bay
Conducting a high tide waterbird survey on San Fransisco Bay
Conducting a high tide waterbird survey on San Fransisco Bay

San Francisco Bay and the surrounding wetlands and ponds provide important habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.

View from the sky of a landscape with a river running through it, and the river is winding back and forth.
Mokelumne River Bathymetry
Mokelumne River Bathymetry
Mokelumne River Bathymetry

A winding strip of rainbow colors shows the bathymetry (depth) of the bed of the Mokelumne River just above its confluence with the San Joaquin in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta east of San Francisco Bay.

A winding strip of rainbow colors shows the bathymetry (depth) of the bed of the Mokelumne River just above its confluence with the San Joaquin in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta east of San Francisco Bay.

Two women stand together smiling on a boat wearing life jackets and sun hats with other safety gear.
Fieldwork in the Delta
Fieldwork in the Delta
Fieldwork in the Delta

Shruti Khanna (left, California Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Judy Drexler (USGS California Water Science Center) on the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel Parke Snavely during fieldwork in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Shruti Khanna (left, California Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Judy Drexler (USGS California Water Science Center) on the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel Parke Snavely during fieldwork in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

A woman and a man stand on the stern of a boat wearing safety gear, man is pressing on a piece of equipment.
Gomex sediment corer preparation
Gomex sediment corer preparation
Gomex sediment corer preparation

Dan Powers (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Marcuson (USGS PCMSC) prepare to deploy a Gomex sediment corer from the R/V Snavely in the Mokulumne River near confluence of San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA.

Dan Powers (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Marcuson (USGS PCMSC) prepare to deploy a Gomex sediment corer from the R/V Snavely in the Mokulumne River near confluence of San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA.

A small boat sits on calm waters with trees in the distance, and a cloudy sky.
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

A small boat sits on calm waters with trees in the distance, and a cloudy sky.
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Man holds a Lesser Snow Goose marked with a GPS collar
USGS biologist Jeffrey Kohl holds a Lesser Snow Goose
USGS biologist Jeffrey Kohl holds a Lesser Snow Goose
USGS biologist Jeffrey Kohl holds a Lesser Snow Goose

USGS biologist Jeffrey Kohl holds a Lesser Snow Goose marked with a GSM/GPS solar-powered neck collar.

marsh
Egret Flyover, Petaluma River
Egret Flyover, Petaluma River
Egret Flyover, Petaluma River

While heading out to a survey plot off of San Pablo Bay, an egret flies over the Petaluma River in the early morning.

While heading out to a survey plot off of San Pablo Bay, an egret flies over the Petaluma River in the early morning.

Mallard Duckling
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh
Mallard Duckling from Suisun Marsh

This mallard duckling was captured in Suisun Marsh. USGS scientists are weighing, measuring and banding waterfowl to understand how they are using the marsh and for capture-recapture data. 

This mallard duckling was captured in Suisun Marsh. USGS scientists are weighing, measuring and banding waterfowl to understand how they are using the marsh and for capture-recapture data. 

suisun marsh
Wrapping Up the Site
Wrapping Up the Site
Wrapping Up the Site

Moving from one site to the next requires hauling needed gear along with. These three have their hands full taking things back to the truck after processing waterfowl from a maintained site. 

Moving from one site to the next requires hauling needed gear along with. These three have their hands full taking things back to the truck after processing waterfowl from a maintained site. 

collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks
Two Scientists Collecting Ducks

Researchers use wire mesh to construct traps for collecting waterfowl in Suisun Marsh, CA.

Researchers use wire mesh to construct traps for collecting waterfowl in Suisun Marsh, CA.

Site prep
Walking Out to Prep Site for Waterfowl Trap in Suisun Marsh
Walking Out to Prep Site for Waterfowl Trap in Suisun Marsh
Walking Out to Prep Site for Waterfowl Trap in Suisun Marsh

Brock, a USGS volunteer, walks out to a future waterfowl trapping site with a bucket full of rice in hopes that it will attract waterfowl to the area.

Brock, a USGS volunteer, walks out to a future waterfowl trapping site with a bucket full of rice in hopes that it will attract waterfowl to the area.

Photo of USGS employee building a decoy waterfowl nest for outreach demonstration.
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney builds a decoy waterfowl nest for an outreach demonstration. 

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney builds a decoy waterfowl nest for an outreach demonstration. 

USGS employee building a decoy waterfowl nest for outreach demonstration.
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest 2
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest 2
WERC Scientist Building Decoy Waterfowl Nest 2

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney builds a decoy waterfowl nest for an outreach demonstration.

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney builds a decoy waterfowl nest for an outreach demonstration.

USGS employee showing kids how to measure vegetation around waterfowl nests.
Kids Learning to Measure Vegetation with WERC Scientist
Kids Learning to Measure Vegetation with WERC Scientist
Kids Learning to Measure Vegetation with WERC Scientist

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney shows kids how to measure the vegetation surrounding waterfowl nests. Density and height of vegetation can influence the survival of waterfowl eggs and chicks and affect their risk of falling prey to ravens, skunks, and other predators.

Taken 7/11/2017 at Grizzly Ranch, Suisun City, CA. USGS biological science technician Breanne Cooney shows kids how to measure the vegetation surrounding waterfowl nests. Density and height of vegetation can influence the survival of waterfowl eggs and chicks and affect their risk of falling prey to ravens, skunks, and other predators.

Photo of child and USGS employee studying an egg.
Child Looking at Egg
Child Looking at Egg
Child Looking at Egg

Taken 7/11/2017 in Suisun City. The California Waterfowl Association hosts a "Youth Hunter Camp" for children at the Grizzly Ranch in Suisun City, CA. Here, a USGS employee and a child look through a tube at an egg to observe its contents.

Taken 7/11/2017 in Suisun City. The California Waterfowl Association hosts a "Youth Hunter Camp" for children at the Grizzly Ranch in Suisun City, CA. Here, a USGS employee and a child look through a tube at an egg to observe its contents.