Unified Interior Regions
California
The Southwest Region includes California, Nevada, and Arizona. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight and support, facilitates internal and external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science directions.
States L2 Landing Page Tabs
Isopachs--Point Conception to Hueneme Canyon, California
This part of DS 781 presents data for the isopachs for the Point Conception to Hueneme Canyon, California, region. The vector data file is included in "Isopachs_PointConceptionToHuenemeCanyon.zip," which is accessible from https://doi.org/10.5066/F7891424.
As part of the USGS's California State Waters Mapping Project, a 50-m grid of...
Processed, high-resolution, chirp seismic-reflection data collected in San Pablo Bay (northern California) during field activity 2014-639-FA from 10/06/2014 to 10/10/2014
This dataset includes processed, high-resolution chirp seismic-reflection data collected in 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in San Pablo Bay, northern California.
Data Release for the BOEM-USGS Study of the Regional Importance of Manmade Structures as Rockfish Nurseries in the Santa Barbara Channel
New GIS data available from multiple sources has been modified for the purpose of characterizing the seafloor for the Regional Importance of Manmade Structures as Rockfish Nurseries study. This release contains 5 data sets: 10-meter bathymetry contours, and air photo, lidar, sidescan sonar, and multibeam seafloor character zip files, each from 600kb - 4.3MB.
Seafloor character from multibeam echo sounder data-Santa Barbara Channel
Substrate was classified using the method of (Cochrane 2008) for this study multibeam sonar. Sea floor character derived from multibeam sonar data is available for the mainland coast within the study area from the California State Waters Mapping Program (Johnson and others, 2012; Johnson and others, 2013a; Johnson and others, 2013b; Johnson and others, 2013c). The number of
Seafloor character from sidescan sonar data-Santa Barbara Channel
Substrate was classified using the method of (Cochrane and Lafferty, 2002) for this study. Sea floor character derived from towed sidescan sonar data is available for the mainland coast within the study area from USGS online publications (Cochrane and others, 2003; Cochrane and others, 2005). The number of substrate classes was reduced because rugosity could not be derived for all
Seafloor character from lidar data-Santa Barbara Channel
Seafloor character was derived from interpretations of lidar data available for the mainland coast within the study area from the California State Waters Mapping Program (Johnson and others, 2012; Johnson and others, 2013a; Johnson and others, 2013b; Johnson and others, 2013c). The number of substrate classes was reduced because rugosity could not be derived for all areas.
Seafloor character from air-photo data-Santa Barbara Channel
Seafloor character was derived from interpretations of aerial photograph-derived kelp-distribution data available for Santa Cruz Island in the Santa Barbara Channel, California (Kushner and others 2013). The number of substrate classes was reduced because rugosity could not be derived for all areas.
10 m depth contours-Santa Barbara Channel
This Data Release contains GIS data generated by USGS for use in a BOEM funded project to compare natural rockfish nursery habitat to habitat created by manmade structures in the eastern Santa Barbara Channel. The contours were created from published Data Elevation Models of Carignan and others (2009) and Dartnell and others (2012). Contours were generated using the ESRI Contour tool in s
Soil Water Deficit Estimates (California Drought) for the Basin Characterization Model
Soil water deficit was calculated from soil moisture storage simulated for Jan. 1, 2014 for 23 water-supply basins surrounding the California Central Valley that drain to the Bay-Delta by using the monthly California Basin Characterization Model and ArcGIS.
CoSMoS Southern California projected flooding hazards
Isopachs--Bolinas to Pescadero, California
This part of DS 781 presents data for the isopachs for the Bolinas to Pescadero, California, region. The vector data file is included in "Isopachs_BolinastoPescadero.zip," which is accessible from https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/BolinasToPescadero/data_catalog_BolinasToPe....
As part of the...
Bathymetry--Drakes Bay and Vicinity, California
This part of DS 781 presents data for the bathymetry map of Drakes Bay and Vicinity map area, California. The raster data file for the bathymetry map is included in "Bathymetry_DrakesBay.zip," which is accessible from https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/DrakesBay/data_catalog_DrakesBay.html. These data accompany the...
PubTalk 10/2016 — Rockfalls in California's Sierra Nevada
Rock falls in California’s Sierra Nevada - Pursuing explanations for exfoliation and seemingly spontaneous fracture of rock
Sea Otters
Three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists have lead an annual population census to assess the local populations' recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
B-roll Sampling and Coring in San Pablo Bay
All clips show the deck of a barge in San Pablo Bay, California.
- Clip 1 - USGS technicians lower and raise a grab sampler
- Clips 2, 3, 4 - USGS technicians lower and raise a vibracore
- Clip 5 - Tanker passes as USGS technicians work on anchor lines
- Clip 6 - USGS technicians raise anchor, while another works on a vibracore tube
Deploying instrument package into Monterey Canyon
On October 6, 2016, scientists lower an instrument package on a taut-wire mooring into the canyon. The sediment trap (long funnel-shaped device) is designed to capture mud and sand carried in turbidity flows; the other sensors measure currents and suspended sediment.
Sediment trap deployment
Sediment trap is being prepared for deployment into Monterey Canyon offshore of Monterey, California.
USGS Science in Point Reyes National Seashore (California)
Interviews with staff at Point Reyes National Seashore tell how this National Park Service unit uses USGS science to educate visitors, and manage the park.
Alluvial Thickness Model, Yucaipa area, California
To help visualize the Yucaipa groundwater basin geometry, this animation of the elevation of the top of the basement rocks was created. The animation allows the viewer to “fly” over the Yucaipa groundwater basin, viewing the land surface, geology (grouped by major geologic perioid and colored by deposit type), faults (color coded based on location), wells in different
Wind turbines at the Altamont Pass Wind Farm
The Altamont Pass Wind Far is located in northern California.
What is the Delta?
This short video is intended to serve as an introduction to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta, and is the first in a series of four short videos highlighting USGS science in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary. This video serves to orient the viewer to physical characteristics of the Delta, the challenges facing it, and the work the USGS is
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawk wasps sting and paralyze tarantulas to feed their young. USGS Ecologist Todd Esque captured this video of a tarantula hawk wasp dragging a tarantula through the desert in Mexico.
Public Lecture Series — The New Eyes in the Sky
Putting Drones to Work for Scientific Research
By: Jeff Sloan, Geographer, Project Leader — USGS National Unmanned Systems Project Office
- Why is there so much interest in unmanned technology?
- What are the rules to legally y within the National Airspace?
- How does this technology increase safety, lower costs, and
New tamarisk leaves re-grow after tamarisk leaf beetle defoliation
Tamarisk leaves regrow following defoliation by the biological control agent, tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabda spp.).
Toxins in coal-tar-based sealcoats in parking lots may be the culprit in contaminated house dust, according to a USGS study. PAHs – or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – are large molecules found in oil, coal and tar deposits, and can have toxic effects.
Greater sage-grouse populations have declined substantially in many areas in the West, though populations in some locations remain relatively stable, according to a comprehensive publication written by federal, state, and non-governmental organizations. The population assessment is one of numerous sage-grouse topics covered in the 24 chapters released today.
Advances in Science, Technology, have Bay Area better prepared for the next big earthquake (archive)
Twenty years after the Loma Prieta earthquake caused loss of life and widespread property damage, advances in science, technology and engineering have the San Francisco Bay Area better prepared for the next big earthquake. When the Loma Prieta quake hit just after 5 p.m. October 17, 1989 – 20 years ago Saturday – the digital age was in its infancy.
As people in northern California begin to assess damage from the high winds and heavy rain of October 13 and 14, they may wonder what hit them.
On October 17, minutes before the scheduled start of the third game of the 1989 World Series in San Francisco, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked the California coast from Monterey to San Francisco.
On October 17, minutes before the scheduled start of the third game of the 1989 World Series in San Francisco, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked the California coast from Monterey to San Francisco. Centered near Loma Prieta peak in the mountains south of San Jose, the quake killed 63 people and caused an estimated $6 billion to $10 billion in property loss.
Rainstorms this year in the area burned by the Station Fire have the potential to trigger debris flows that may impact neighborhoods at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains as well as areas in Big Tujunga Canyon, Pacoima Canyon, Arroyo Seco, West Fork of the San Gabriel River, and Devils Canyon, according to an assessment released today by the U.S. Geological Survey.
USGS will Grant Universities $5 Million to Beef Up Public Safety Grants totaling $5 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being awarded to 13 universities nationwide to upgrade critical earthquake monitoring networks and increase public safety.
Keeping up with plants: the challenge for Arctic geese: A large-scale redistribution of geese seems to be occurring in boreal and tundra ecosystems, perhaps because of the changing balance and distribution of the plants they eat.
On October 17, the San Francisco Bay Area will be marking the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake -- the Bay Area's most significant and destructive earthquake during recent times. As part of the anniversary commemoration, the U.S. Geological Survey is holding an evening public lecture about scientific and technological advances in earthquake studies achieved since 1989.
Idaho Developed Mapping Method Garners Prestigious Award. Data from earth observing Landsat satellites plays a central role in a new, award-winning type of mapping that tracks water use. Water-use maps help save taxpayer money by increasing the accuracy and effectiveness of public decisions involving water – for instance, in monitoring compliance with legal water rights. The maps are especially
New hydrologic studies in the Walker River basin and Walker Lake will guide policy makers in the management of scarce water resources. Agricultural practices between 1882 and 2008 resulted in a significant drop in Walker Lake's water level, and caused the Lake to become more saline.