Historical photo of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine in the Sierra Nevada in California.
Steve Ackley
(He/him)Steve Ackley - Public Affairs Specialist - California Water Science Center
After serving a term as an Information Specialist for the California Water Science Center from 2018 to July of 2022, Steve returned as a Public Affairs Specialist in 2023. Prior to coming to the USGS, Steve worked in corporate marketing for 20+ years. Before that, he was a high school English teacher.
Science and Products
USGS Participates in 2021 Orange County Youth Environmental Summit
From April 19th through the 23rd, 2021, the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) participated in the first virtual Orange County Youth Environmental Summit (YES). The award-winning program, formerly known as the Children's Water Education Festival, offers 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders opportunities for learning and engagement. Through interactive sessions, YES teaches youth that
USGS Participates in Earth Day Festivities on Alcatraz Island
On April 20th, the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) participated in annual Earth Day festivities on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Involvement in the event included science presentations on the island, demonstrating the ongoing research of the USGS Estuarine Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport team based in Sacramento.
Historical photo is of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine
Historical photo of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine in the Sierra Nevada in California.
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada. This map show locations of remediation efforts.
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada. This map show locations of remediation efforts.
Photo of members of the team associated with USGS research done in collaboration with UC Davis.
linkThe above photo includes members of the team associated with research done in collaboration with UC Davis. From left to right, Angela DePalma-Dow (Lake County, conference co-organizer), Sergio Valbuena (UC Davis), Charles Alpers (USGS), Alicia Cortes (UC Davis), and Samantha Sharp (UC Davis).
Photo of members of the team associated with USGS research done in collaboration with UC Davis.
linkThe above photo includes members of the team associated with research done in collaboration with UC Davis. From left to right, Angela DePalma-Dow (Lake County, conference co-organizer), Sergio Valbuena (UC Davis), Charles Alpers (USGS), Alicia Cortes (UC Davis), and Samantha Sharp (UC Davis).
California Tiger Lillies
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
California Tiger Lillies 2
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station in California's Plumas National Forest.
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station in California's Plumas National Forest.
Scientist checks soil moisture data logging and transmission components
USGS Hydrologist Jim Howle checks data logging and transmission components using a laptop computer.
USGS Hydrologist Jim Howle checks data logging and transmission components using a laptop computer.
Soil monitoring station installation team. USGS and USDA.
Soil monitoring station installation team, with personnel from USGS and USDA, at Squirrel Creek installation site.
Soil monitoring station installation team, with personnel from USGS and USDA, at Squirrel Creek installation site.
Soil moisture monitoring station mast assembly
Shown clockwise from top left are: 1] setting up mast to support the station components, 2] installing data logging and transmitting equipment, 3] attaching solar panel and antennae, 4] finished assembly.
Shown clockwise from top left are: 1] setting up mast to support the station components, 2] installing data logging and transmitting equipment, 3] attaching solar panel and antennae, 4] finished assembly.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit at different depths. Inset: close-up of sensor showing the two probes that gather the data.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit at different depths. Inset: close-up of sensor showing the two probes that gather the data.
Digging pit for the soil moisture sensors
A team member helps dig the pit for the soil moisture sensors in the Plumas National Forest in California. Inset: close-up of soil removed from Squirrel Creek pit.
A team member helps dig the pit for the soil moisture sensors in the Plumas National Forest in California. Inset: close-up of soil removed from Squirrel Creek pit.
Squirrel Creek Panorama
Panorama of area near Squirrel Creek soil moisture response unit installation in California's Feather River watershed.
Panorama of area near Squirrel Creek soil moisture response unit installation in California's Feather River watershed.
Attaching solar panel and antennae
USGS scientists attaching solar panel and antennae to soil moisture response unit.
USGS scientists attaching solar panel and antennae to soil moisture response unit.
El Dorado National Forest after the 2014 King Fire
The 2014 King Fire burned 97,717 acres in the El Dorado National Forest and on private timberlands. The fires in these burn areas reduce the forest canopy, exposing snowpack to direct sunlight. This increases the rate of snowmelt and evaporation, impacting runoff and groundwater replenishment.
The 2014 King Fire burned 97,717 acres in the El Dorado National Forest and on private timberlands. The fires in these burn areas reduce the forest canopy, exposing snowpack to direct sunlight. This increases the rate of snowmelt and evaporation, impacting runoff and groundwater replenishment.
Science and Products
USGS Participates in 2021 Orange County Youth Environmental Summit
From April 19th through the 23rd, 2021, the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) participated in the first virtual Orange County Youth Environmental Summit (YES). The award-winning program, formerly known as the Children's Water Education Festival, offers 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders opportunities for learning and engagement. Through interactive sessions, YES teaches youth that
USGS Participates in Earth Day Festivities on Alcatraz Island
On April 20th, the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) participated in annual Earth Day festivities on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Involvement in the event included science presentations on the island, demonstrating the ongoing research of the USGS Estuarine Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport team based in Sacramento.
Historical photo is of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine
Historical photo of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine in the Sierra Nevada in California.
Historical photo of the Malakoff Diggins hydraulic gold mine in the Sierra Nevada in California.
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada. This map show locations of remediation efforts.
Sample map - Legacy Mercury Contamination in California’s Sierra Nevada. This map show locations of remediation efforts.
Photo of members of the team associated with USGS research done in collaboration with UC Davis.
linkThe above photo includes members of the team associated with research done in collaboration with UC Davis. From left to right, Angela DePalma-Dow (Lake County, conference co-organizer), Sergio Valbuena (UC Davis), Charles Alpers (USGS), Alicia Cortes (UC Davis), and Samantha Sharp (UC Davis).
Photo of members of the team associated with USGS research done in collaboration with UC Davis.
linkThe above photo includes members of the team associated with research done in collaboration with UC Davis. From left to right, Angela DePalma-Dow (Lake County, conference co-organizer), Sergio Valbuena (UC Davis), Charles Alpers (USGS), Alicia Cortes (UC Davis), and Samantha Sharp (UC Davis).
California Tiger Lillies
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
California Tiger Lillies 2
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
Lilium pardalinum, or California Tiger Lillies, found along Squirrel Creek in the Plumas National Forest.
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station in California's Plumas National Forest.
USGS team in front of Squirrel Creek monitoring station in California's Plumas National Forest.
Scientist checks soil moisture data logging and transmission components
USGS Hydrologist Jim Howle checks data logging and transmission components using a laptop computer.
USGS Hydrologist Jim Howle checks data logging and transmission components using a laptop computer.
Soil monitoring station installation team. USGS and USDA.
Soil monitoring station installation team, with personnel from USGS and USDA, at Squirrel Creek installation site.
Soil monitoring station installation team, with personnel from USGS and USDA, at Squirrel Creek installation site.
Soil moisture monitoring station mast assembly
Shown clockwise from top left are: 1] setting up mast to support the station components, 2] installing data logging and transmitting equipment, 3] attaching solar panel and antennae, 4] finished assembly.
Shown clockwise from top left are: 1] setting up mast to support the station components, 2] installing data logging and transmitting equipment, 3] attaching solar panel and antennae, 4] finished assembly.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit at different depths. Inset: close-up of sensor showing the two probes that gather the data.
Soil moisture sensors positioned in pit at different depths. Inset: close-up of sensor showing the two probes that gather the data.
Digging pit for the soil moisture sensors
A team member helps dig the pit for the soil moisture sensors in the Plumas National Forest in California. Inset: close-up of soil removed from Squirrel Creek pit.
A team member helps dig the pit for the soil moisture sensors in the Plumas National Forest in California. Inset: close-up of soil removed from Squirrel Creek pit.
Squirrel Creek Panorama
Panorama of area near Squirrel Creek soil moisture response unit installation in California's Feather River watershed.
Panorama of area near Squirrel Creek soil moisture response unit installation in California's Feather River watershed.
Attaching solar panel and antennae
USGS scientists attaching solar panel and antennae to soil moisture response unit.
USGS scientists attaching solar panel and antennae to soil moisture response unit.
El Dorado National Forest after the 2014 King Fire
The 2014 King Fire burned 97,717 acres in the El Dorado National Forest and on private timberlands. The fires in these burn areas reduce the forest canopy, exposing snowpack to direct sunlight. This increases the rate of snowmelt and evaporation, impacting runoff and groundwater replenishment.
The 2014 King Fire burned 97,717 acres in the El Dorado National Forest and on private timberlands. The fires in these burn areas reduce the forest canopy, exposing snowpack to direct sunlight. This increases the rate of snowmelt and evaporation, impacting runoff and groundwater replenishment.