Steve Ackley (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 126
Sentinel Site Modeling
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) installed more than 40 climate and biodiversity monitoring stations, called sentinel sites, on public lands across the state. These sites collect detailed data on things like temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and more to track how the environment is changing. Each site is meant to reflect conditions in the surrounding area, but...
In situ chlorophyll fluorometer validation and comparison study
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) supplies drinking water to much of California. The Delta also provides irrigation water to the Central Valley and is an important habitat to many aquatic and terrestrial species. In the past decade, there has been an increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Delta. While some HABs are nontoxic, others contain cyanobacteria that can produce dangerous...
Evaluating the Geohydrology in the San Gorgonio Pass Area
The San Gorgonio Pass, in southern California, is located between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain ranges. The mountain ranges to either side of the pass rise almost 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above. The San Gorgonio Pass serves as a corridor for U.S. Interstate 10. It is also known for its strong winds that make it a popular spot for wind turbine energy production.
Water Availability of the Salton Sea Watershed
Throughout history, the Salton Sea has formed and dried up due to flooding from the Colorado River. It was most recently formed in 1905 when the Colorado River broke through an irrigation canal and flowed uncontrolled into the Salton Sea watershed. The Salton Sea is a terminal lake (it has no outlets). It is also a transboundary watershed, with area in both the state of California and Mexico’s...
Drought in California
The USGS closely monitors the occurence and effects of drought through data collection and research. USGS science supports water managers in preparing for possible future drought by providing information about long-term hydrologic, climatic, and environmental changes. These studies support successful planning and science-based decision-making by water managers who must address complex issues and...
Wildfires in California
Over the last several decades, both the incidence of large wildfires and the duration of the wildfire season across much of the United States have increased (Westerling and others, 2006, American Water Works Assn, 2008; Finco and others, 2012). Future wildfire projections based on forecasted climate scenarios indicate both an increase in the expected severity of wildfires, and an expansion of...
High-frequency Monitoring of Delta Island Drainage Waters
From the second half of the 19th century, land reclamation has transformed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The landscape of the Delta has gone from a network of shifting waterways and tidal marshland to channels and islands fixed in position by hardened levees.
Water-Quality Monitoring in the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin of the Los Angeles River Watershed
As part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), this project will enhance water-quality monitoring on a reach of the Los Angeles River slated for revitalization. The UWFP reconnects urban communities—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies.
Emergency Drought Barrier’s Impacts on cyanoHABs and Water Quality
Drought is making the Delta Saltier. Less freshwater coming from watershed runoff and reservoir releases means that more salty water flows into the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta (Delta) from the Pacific Ocean. Changes in Delta salinity have far-reaching impacts, affecting the water supply for agriculture, drinking, wildlife, and Delta ecosystems.
Incorporating Impacts of Wildfire and Vegetation Recovery into a Watershed Model of the Feather River Basin
Changes in vegetation in a large watershed due to wildfire can have a substantial influence on actual evapotranspiration rates and water availability. After a large, intense wildfire, evapotranspiration rates are expected to decrease. As vegetation reestablishes, the evapotranspiration rates increase over a period of years, back to pre-fire conditions. Watershed models typically use input layers...
Assessing impacts of wildfire on water and habitat quality in downstream aquatic ecosystems using remote sensing
This project focuses on the downstream effects of wildfires on lakes, reservoirs, and coastal water within the larger context of the USGS project on Post-fire Hazards and Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE): Support for Response, Recovery, and Mitigation. The overall objective of this work is to leverage the historic satellite remote sensing record to provide insight on the impact of...
Salinas Valley Operational Model: Interlake Tunnel and San Antonio Spillway Modification Project
An operational model for Salinas Valley is needed to evaluate and compare ecosystem, conservation, and water demands. This model must simulate current operations, assess benefits of and evaluate scenarios for tunnel operation and potential reservoir and spillway modifications.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 126
Sentinel Site Modeling
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) installed more than 40 climate and biodiversity monitoring stations, called sentinel sites, on public lands across the state. These sites collect detailed data on things like temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and more to track how the environment is changing. Each site is meant to reflect conditions in the surrounding area, but...
In situ chlorophyll fluorometer validation and comparison study
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) supplies drinking water to much of California. The Delta also provides irrigation water to the Central Valley and is an important habitat to many aquatic and terrestrial species. In the past decade, there has been an increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Delta. While some HABs are nontoxic, others contain cyanobacteria that can produce dangerous...
Evaluating the Geohydrology in the San Gorgonio Pass Area
The San Gorgonio Pass, in southern California, is located between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain ranges. The mountain ranges to either side of the pass rise almost 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above. The San Gorgonio Pass serves as a corridor for U.S. Interstate 10. It is also known for its strong winds that make it a popular spot for wind turbine energy production.
Water Availability of the Salton Sea Watershed
Throughout history, the Salton Sea has formed and dried up due to flooding from the Colorado River. It was most recently formed in 1905 when the Colorado River broke through an irrigation canal and flowed uncontrolled into the Salton Sea watershed. The Salton Sea is a terminal lake (it has no outlets). It is also a transboundary watershed, with area in both the state of California and Mexico’s...
Drought in California
The USGS closely monitors the occurence and effects of drought through data collection and research. USGS science supports water managers in preparing for possible future drought by providing information about long-term hydrologic, climatic, and environmental changes. These studies support successful planning and science-based decision-making by water managers who must address complex issues and...
Wildfires in California
Over the last several decades, both the incidence of large wildfires and the duration of the wildfire season across much of the United States have increased (Westerling and others, 2006, American Water Works Assn, 2008; Finco and others, 2012). Future wildfire projections based on forecasted climate scenarios indicate both an increase in the expected severity of wildfires, and an expansion of...
High-frequency Monitoring of Delta Island Drainage Waters
From the second half of the 19th century, land reclamation has transformed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The landscape of the Delta has gone from a network of shifting waterways and tidal marshland to channels and islands fixed in position by hardened levees.
Water-Quality Monitoring in the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin of the Los Angeles River Watershed
As part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), this project will enhance water-quality monitoring on a reach of the Los Angeles River slated for revitalization. The UWFP reconnects urban communities—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies.
Emergency Drought Barrier’s Impacts on cyanoHABs and Water Quality
Drought is making the Delta Saltier. Less freshwater coming from watershed runoff and reservoir releases means that more salty water flows into the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta (Delta) from the Pacific Ocean. Changes in Delta salinity have far-reaching impacts, affecting the water supply for agriculture, drinking, wildlife, and Delta ecosystems.
Incorporating Impacts of Wildfire and Vegetation Recovery into a Watershed Model of the Feather River Basin
Changes in vegetation in a large watershed due to wildfire can have a substantial influence on actual evapotranspiration rates and water availability. After a large, intense wildfire, evapotranspiration rates are expected to decrease. As vegetation reestablishes, the evapotranspiration rates increase over a period of years, back to pre-fire conditions. Watershed models typically use input layers...
Assessing impacts of wildfire on water and habitat quality in downstream aquatic ecosystems using remote sensing
This project focuses on the downstream effects of wildfires on lakes, reservoirs, and coastal water within the larger context of the USGS project on Post-fire Hazards and Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE): Support for Response, Recovery, and Mitigation. The overall objective of this work is to leverage the historic satellite remote sensing record to provide insight on the impact of...
Salinas Valley Operational Model: Interlake Tunnel and San Antonio Spillway Modification Project
An operational model for Salinas Valley is needed to evaluate and compare ecosystem, conservation, and water demands. This model must simulate current operations, assess benefits of and evaluate scenarios for tunnel operation and potential reservoir and spillway modifications.