Water Quality
Providing foundational data and scientific analysis to address water quality issues facing California
Providing foundational data and scientific analysis to address water quality issues facing California
California Flood Science
Helping emergency managers and others protect life and property from floods and other water-related hazards
Helping emergency managers and others protect life and property from floods and other water-related hazards
Surface Water
Understanding the science about California surface-water use for irrigation, public consumption, and ecosystems
Understanding the science about California surface-water use for irrigation, public consumption, and ecosystems
Science Programs and Partnerships
Supplying necessary scientific information to local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations
Supplying necessary scientific information to local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations
Aquatic Ecology
Gaining better understanding of the effects that human activity, hydrologic extremes, and climate change have on aquatic ecosystems
Gaining better understanding of the effects that human activity, hydrologic extremes, and climate change have on aquatic ecosystems
Groundwater
Using science to assess and quantify the availability and quality of California's groundwater resources
Using science to assess and quantify the availability and quality of California's groundwater resources
California Drought
Monitoring the effects of drought in California through data collection and research
Monitoring the effects of drought in California through data collection and research
California Water Science Center
The U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center provides reliable, impartial, foundational data and scientific analysis to address water issues facing California today. We conduct hydrologic monitoring and investigative studies in partnership with tribal, federal, state, and local agencies to assist them in managing California's water resources.
Large Storms & Floods in California History
Large Storms & Floods in California History
Storms unleash torrential rain and intense winds, posing significant challenges to infrastructure and triggering widespread flooding. Since it became a state in 1850, California has experienced numerous large storms and floods.
New Study on Mercury Contamination
New Study on Mercury Contamination
Legacy Mercury Contamination from Historical Gold Mining -- A visualization tool for spatial data on sediment, water, and biota in the Sierra Nevada, California
California Water & Drought Data
California Water & Drought Data
Basic hydrologic data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving are major parts of the California Water Science Center program.
News
Publications
Relations of groundwater quality to long-term surface disposal of produced water near the Midway-Sunset and Buena Vista Oil Fields, California, USA Relations of groundwater quality to long-term surface disposal of produced water near the Midway-Sunset and Buena Vista Oil Fields, California, USA
Contamination of groundwater by oil-field fluids in proximity to oil and gas development has been an issue of concern to water users and regulators given long histories of development and legacy disposal practices. A robust set of geochemical tracers including petroleum hydrocarbon compounds, thermogenic gases, inorganic ion concentrations, stable isotopes, radioactive isotopes, and...
A joint Gaussian process model of geochemistry, geophysics, and temperature for groundwater TDS in the San Ardo Oil Field, California, USA A joint Gaussian process model of geochemistry, geophysics, and temperature for groundwater TDS in the San Ardo Oil Field, California, USA
Decline in availability of fresh groundwater has expanded interest in brackish groundwater resources; however, the distribution of brackish groundwater is poorly understood. Water resources in sedimentary basins across the United States often overlie oil and gas development. Mapping of groundwater total dissolved solids (TDS) using data from oil well geophysical logs has become an...
Occurrence of pesticides in Oregon coastal waters Occurrence of pesticides in Oregon coastal waters
Pesticides are used globally for a wide range of applications including agricultural, forestry, roadsides, freshwater systems, and personal use. While pesticides have ensured efficient crop production, they are frequently transported away from application sites and are found in almost all terrestrial and aquatic environments. Pesticides are frequently detected in watersheds and rivers...
Science
Leading the Way: Specialized Laboratory Contributions to Environmental Health
The Environmental Health Program features a Unified Core Technology Team comprised of multiple laboratories with specialized expertise that support the overall program research assessing actual and perceived risks from environmental contaminants and pathogens. Individual Core Technology Teams work closely with the Integrated Science Teams to ensure current and emerging techniques are being used to...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Decoding Harmful Algal Blooms: Unraveling the Mystery
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a significant environmental concern due to their potential effects on health, ecosystems, and economies. Algal toxins, which are toxic compounds produced by certain species of cyanobacteria and algae, are commonly linked to these blooms. It's important to note that algal toxins can still be present even when a bloom is not visible, highlighting the need for ongoing...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Kansas Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Nevada Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
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California Water Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center