Sarah Roberts
Sarah Roberts is a Physical Scientist in the USGS California Water Science Center’s Oil, Gas, and Groundwater Program. She began her USGS career in 2012 as a Hydrologic Technician and now supports a range of groundwater research and monitoring efforts throughout the state.
Sarah has studied a wide range of water resource topics, including groundwater level changes, groundwater–surface water interaction, groundwater quality, water balance components in desert regions with heavy extraction, and cross-border water use concerns. She also serves as a Record Liaison for the California Water Science Center, where she helps ensure data integrity, accessibility, and compliance with national standards.
Professional Experience
2022- present: California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater program. Provided field support for hydrologic data collection and groundwater monitoring, and managed collaborative project data.
2018-2022: Groundwater Availability and Use Assessments program. Provided geospatial analysis, mapping, and GIS support for various projects. Conducted aquifer and well integrity testing in desert regions. Collected surface and groundwater data for analysis with varying federal, state, and local cooperators.
2012-2018: Data Management and Support program. Managed multiple USGS databases and coordinated with numerous federal, state, and local agencies to compile, establish, and manage groundwater wells for the center.
Education and Certifications
M.S. Geography with a focus on Watershed Science, San Diego State University
B.A. Physical Geography, San Diego State University
Science and Products
Water Chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Poso Creek Oil Field study area, February 2020-December 2021, Kern County, California Water Chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Poso Creek Oil Field study area, February 2020-December 2021, Kern County, California
The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in...
Water chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Santa Maria Valley Oil Field study area, July 2018–March 2019, Santa Barbara County, California Water chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Santa Maria Valley Oil Field study area, July 2018–March 2019, Santa Barbara County, California
The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in...
Water and sediment data used to evaluate selenium hazards in the Salton Sea ecosystem Water and sediment data used to evaluate selenium hazards in the Salton Sea ecosystem
Due to declining water levels and increasing salinity in the Salton Sea which may increase the hazards to wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are re-evaluating selenium concentrations in the region. As part of this work, selenium concentrations in water and sediment samples and selected other inorganic constituents were compiled from published reports...
Selenium hazards in the Salton Sea environment—Summary of current knowledge to inform future wetland management Selenium hazards in the Salton Sea environment—Summary of current knowledge to inform future wetland management
Quaternary marine and continental shales in the western United States are sources of selenium that can be loaded into the aquatic environment through mining, agricultural, and energy production processes. The mobilization of selenium from shales through agricultural irrigation has been recognized since the 1930s; however, discovery of deformities in birds and other wildlife using...
Authors
Michael R. Rosen, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Krishangi D. Groover, Isa Woo, Sarah A. Roberts, Melanie J. Davis, Cristiana Y. Antonino
The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series
Cores from Searsville Lake within Stanford University’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, California, USA, are examined to identify a potential GSSP for the Anthropocene: core JRBP2018-VC01B (944.5 cm-long) and tightly correlated JRBP2018-VC01A (852.5 cm-long). Spanning from 1900 CE ± 3 years to 2018 CE, a secure chronology resolved to the sub-annual level allows detailed exploration of...
Authors
M. Allison Stegner, Elizabeth A. Hadly, Anthony D. Barnosky, SeanPaul La Selle, Brian Sherrod, R. Scott Anderson, Sergio A. Redondo, Maria Viteri, Karrie Weaver, Andrew Cundy, Pawel Gaca, Neil Rose, Handong Yang, Sarah A. Roberts, Irka Hajdas, Bryan A. Black, Trisha Spanbauer
Science and Products
Water Chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Poso Creek Oil Field study area, February 2020-December 2021, Kern County, California Water Chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Poso Creek Oil Field study area, February 2020-December 2021, Kern County, California
The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in...
Water chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Santa Maria Valley Oil Field study area, July 2018–March 2019, Santa Barbara County, California Water chemistry data for samples collected at groundwater sites in the Santa Maria Valley Oil Field study area, July 2018–March 2019, Santa Barbara County, California
The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in...
Water and sediment data used to evaluate selenium hazards in the Salton Sea ecosystem Water and sediment data used to evaluate selenium hazards in the Salton Sea ecosystem
Due to declining water levels and increasing salinity in the Salton Sea which may increase the hazards to wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are re-evaluating selenium concentrations in the region. As part of this work, selenium concentrations in water and sediment samples and selected other inorganic constituents were compiled from published reports...
Selenium hazards in the Salton Sea environment—Summary of current knowledge to inform future wetland management Selenium hazards in the Salton Sea environment—Summary of current knowledge to inform future wetland management
Quaternary marine and continental shales in the western United States are sources of selenium that can be loaded into the aquatic environment through mining, agricultural, and energy production processes. The mobilization of selenium from shales through agricultural irrigation has been recognized since the 1930s; however, discovery of deformities in birds and other wildlife using...
Authors
Michael R. Rosen, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Krishangi D. Groover, Isa Woo, Sarah A. Roberts, Melanie J. Davis, Cristiana Y. Antonino
The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series The Searsville Lake Site (California, USA) as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series
Cores from Searsville Lake within Stanford University’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, California, USA, are examined to identify a potential GSSP for the Anthropocene: core JRBP2018-VC01B (944.5 cm-long) and tightly correlated JRBP2018-VC01A (852.5 cm-long). Spanning from 1900 CE ± 3 years to 2018 CE, a secure chronology resolved to the sub-annual level allows detailed exploration of...
Authors
M. Allison Stegner, Elizabeth A. Hadly, Anthony D. Barnosky, SeanPaul La Selle, Brian Sherrod, R. Scott Anderson, Sergio A. Redondo, Maria Viteri, Karrie Weaver, Andrew Cundy, Pawel Gaca, Neil Rose, Handong Yang, Sarah A. Roberts, Irka Hajdas, Bryan A. Black, Trisha Spanbauer