John "Ryan" Banta, PhD
Ryan Banta is the Associate Director of Projects for the California Water Science Center, leading a team of multidisciplinary scientists studying water related topics.
Dr. Banta’s interests are based in the earth sciences. He received a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis majoring in Soil and Water Science with an Environmental Toxicology minor. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of Nevada, Reno. His graduate and postdoctoral research focused on interdisciplinary approaches to investigate high resolution trace element ice core records from Greenland and Antarctica. Ryan currently works with the U.S. Geological Survey as the Associate Director of Projects for the California Water Science Center where he leads a dynamic team to meet the science goals of local, state, and federal partners on topics related to water quality, water quantity, and hydrologic processes.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 24
Modeling in support of development of biocriteria for wadeable California streams and rivers
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) of California has initiated a process to develop biological objectives for wadeable freshwater streams and rivers for the entire state.
Sources of Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Nutrients to Malibu Lagoon and Near-Shore Ocean Water, Malibu, California
Malibu Lagoon and near-shore ocean water in Malibu, Calif. have concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) that occasionally exceed public health standards for recreational water.
Pathogen Total Maximum Daily Loads Modeling in the Chino Basin
The Santa Ana River in Southern California is the primary water supply for approximately 2 million people. The main constituent of regulatory concern is pathogens that have impaired the use of waters for the beneficial uses of warm freshwater habitat and noncontact water recreation. Pathogen loadings from the tributary watershed flows into lakes and streams leading into the Santa Ana River...
Inundation Area '06 New Year's Flood in the Laguna-Mark West Drainage
The Laguna de Santa Rosa, located in Sonoma County, California, flows into Mark West Creek, which drains into the Russian River. The Laguna-Mark West drainage is the largest drainage contributing to the Russian River, encompassing approximately 21% of the total Russian River basin. Runoff from precipitation in headwater areas enters fast-flowing creeks that transport water and sediment downstream...
Effects of Climate on Snowmelt and Water Availability for Reservoirs in the Southern Sierra Nevada
Potential changes in air temperature and precipitation due to changes in climate may result in more variable or smaller snow packs and earlier snowmelt in the southern Sierra Nevada in upcoming years. These conditions are likely to result in increased difficulty in planning reservoir operations for hydroelectric power and water availability during springtime snowmelt in this region. Reservoir...
Science Programs and Partnerships
The USGS partners with local, state, and other federal agencies through cooperative agreements for a variety of reasons. The USGS and partners jointly plan the scientific work conducted under cooperative agreements resulting in science that has broad relevance to address current water issues. Partners choose to work with the USGS because of the agency's broad technical expertise, its long-standing...
USGS ground- and boat-based support for the NASA airSWOT mission on the Sacramento River, California
This field work on the Sacramento River will be performed at two scales: a coarse-scale sampling from Keswick Dam to the I-5 Bridge near the city of Sacramento using Hobo stage recorders at approximately 10 – 20 km spacing; and fine-scale surveys in two reaches, one from approximately 30 km upstream and downstream of Colusa and another 30 km reach downstream of Knight’s Landing using Hobo stage...
Bay Area Ensemble Modeling for Conservation and Biodiversity
The objective of this study is to provide downscaled ensemble projections of climate and hydrology for the next century for the state of California with specific application to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Atmospheric Deposition Contributions to Mercury Yields in Select Watersheds in the Western United States and Canada
The atmosphere plays an important role in the delivery to and cycling of mercury (Hg) in the environment and it can be a major source of Hg contamination to surface waters. Globally, atmospheric deposition of Hg is the primary source of Hg related concerns for human and ecosystem health (Fitzgerald and others, 1998). In California and other areas in the United States, Hg use in gold and silver...
Effects of Huisache Removal on Evapotranspiration
USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center scientists are evaluating potential changes in the hydrologic budget, specifically evapotranspiration, as a result of brush management (applied to huisache) as a conservation practice.
Evapotranspiration Science in Oklahoma and Texas
Evapotranspiration is the evaporation of water from plant leaves and the ground surface and is an important component of a water budget. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) monitors evapotranspiration rates to evaluate how changes in land cover and soil moisture content may change water budgets. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.
Water-Quality Assessment of Wolford Mountain Reservoir on Muddy Creek near Kremmling, Colorado
In March 1985 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD), began a monitoring program on Muddy Creek in anticipation of the construction of a water storage project.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 24
Modeling in support of development of biocriteria for wadeable California streams and rivers
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) of California has initiated a process to develop biological objectives for wadeable freshwater streams and rivers for the entire state.
Sources of Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Nutrients to Malibu Lagoon and Near-Shore Ocean Water, Malibu, California
Malibu Lagoon and near-shore ocean water in Malibu, Calif. have concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) that occasionally exceed public health standards for recreational water.
Pathogen Total Maximum Daily Loads Modeling in the Chino Basin
The Santa Ana River in Southern California is the primary water supply for approximately 2 million people. The main constituent of regulatory concern is pathogens that have impaired the use of waters for the beneficial uses of warm freshwater habitat and noncontact water recreation. Pathogen loadings from the tributary watershed flows into lakes and streams leading into the Santa Ana River...
Inundation Area '06 New Year's Flood in the Laguna-Mark West Drainage
The Laguna de Santa Rosa, located in Sonoma County, California, flows into Mark West Creek, which drains into the Russian River. The Laguna-Mark West drainage is the largest drainage contributing to the Russian River, encompassing approximately 21% of the total Russian River basin. Runoff from precipitation in headwater areas enters fast-flowing creeks that transport water and sediment downstream...
Effects of Climate on Snowmelt and Water Availability for Reservoirs in the Southern Sierra Nevada
Potential changes in air temperature and precipitation due to changes in climate may result in more variable or smaller snow packs and earlier snowmelt in the southern Sierra Nevada in upcoming years. These conditions are likely to result in increased difficulty in planning reservoir operations for hydroelectric power and water availability during springtime snowmelt in this region. Reservoir...
Science Programs and Partnerships
The USGS partners with local, state, and other federal agencies through cooperative agreements for a variety of reasons. The USGS and partners jointly plan the scientific work conducted under cooperative agreements resulting in science that has broad relevance to address current water issues. Partners choose to work with the USGS because of the agency's broad technical expertise, its long-standing...
USGS ground- and boat-based support for the NASA airSWOT mission on the Sacramento River, California
This field work on the Sacramento River will be performed at two scales: a coarse-scale sampling from Keswick Dam to the I-5 Bridge near the city of Sacramento using Hobo stage recorders at approximately 10 – 20 km spacing; and fine-scale surveys in two reaches, one from approximately 30 km upstream and downstream of Colusa and another 30 km reach downstream of Knight’s Landing using Hobo stage...
Bay Area Ensemble Modeling for Conservation and Biodiversity
The objective of this study is to provide downscaled ensemble projections of climate and hydrology for the next century for the state of California with specific application to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Atmospheric Deposition Contributions to Mercury Yields in Select Watersheds in the Western United States and Canada
The atmosphere plays an important role in the delivery to and cycling of mercury (Hg) in the environment and it can be a major source of Hg contamination to surface waters. Globally, atmospheric deposition of Hg is the primary source of Hg related concerns for human and ecosystem health (Fitzgerald and others, 1998). In California and other areas in the United States, Hg use in gold and silver...
Effects of Huisache Removal on Evapotranspiration
USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center scientists are evaluating potential changes in the hydrologic budget, specifically evapotranspiration, as a result of brush management (applied to huisache) as a conservation practice.
Evapotranspiration Science in Oklahoma and Texas
Evapotranspiration is the evaporation of water from plant leaves and the ground surface and is an important component of a water budget. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) monitors evapotranspiration rates to evaluate how changes in land cover and soil moisture content may change water budgets. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.
Water-Quality Assessment of Wolford Mountain Reservoir on Muddy Creek near Kremmling, Colorado
In March 1985 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD), began a monitoring program on Muddy Creek in anticipation of the construction of a water storage project.