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Audience at Tahoe summit, Wednesday, August 9, 2023. With Sen. Alex Padilla as event host.

USGS Booth at 2023 Tahoe Summit - Wednesday, August 9th, 2023, with host Sen. Alex Padilla

Cover - 2023 Lake Tahoe Summit Info Sheet. Title: 2023 Lake Tahoe Water Monitoring and Research Activities

Santa Ana R BL Prado Dam CA - 11074000

Roosevelt elk are primarily found in coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest, including parts of Oregon, Washington, and northern California. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and marshlands, and are often associated with old-growth and second-growth forests.

USGS Hydrotech Jon Ferguson over Sacramento River. Hydrologic technicians from the USGS California Water Science Center were featured on Sacramento News Channel ABC10 KXTV.

A USGS technician conducts a phytoplankton net tow to measure harmful algae and toxins in San Francisco Bay.

A Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) compressor station in Hinkley, California. Although hexavalent chromium occurs naturally in groundwater in the Mojave Desert, concentrations increased in Hinkley Valley beginning in 1952 when the PG&E discharged it into unlined ponds. From there, hexavalent chromium entered the aquifer.

Hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen under specific circumstances, occurs naturally in groundwater in the Mojave Desert. However, concentrations of hexavalent chromium increased in California’s Hinkley Valley beginning in 1952 when the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) discharged it into unlined ponds.

California Water Science Center Geologist Mackenzie Shepherd share drill shavings from groundwater well with a young student at the Children's Water Education Festival in Irvine, CA. 

Sunset over Bay-Delta wetland. Sunset over Bay-Delta wetland. Sunset over Bay-Delta wetland.

At the USGS, we monitor our nation’s water. Our data informs many people, from kayakers to water managers. Gage Greatness allows any Twitter user to vote for their favorite gage (data collection station).

This is the Truckee River at Tahoe City gage upon arrival during the cold and snowy December morning. The YAGI antenna was covered with over a foot of snow. This gaging station has been a part of the annual Lake Tahoe Summit, which takes place every summer.

Banner for 2023 IEP workshop. California Water Science Center has many presenters.

Pictured are a few of the 2023 CAWSC poster presenters: (from L to R) Danielle Palm, Matthew Uychutin, and  Andrea Jaegge.

Figure 4. Map of the upper Feather River watershed showing outlines of two of the largest wildfires in the basin from recent years: North Complex Fire in 2020 and Dixie Fire in 2021.

Figure 1. Upper Feather River watershed showing 15 different soil moisture response units (SMRU) proposed sites of soil moisture monitoring stations (2 proposed sites for each SMRU).

Nine consecutive rainstorms have poured on California since December 26, 2022, after three years of intensive drought.

At atmospheric river brought heavy precipitation to California from December 31, 2022 through January 2, 2023.  USGS crews took 77 measurements at 58 sites across the state, with northern California being hardest hit.  This map shows where some of the highest streamflow occurred.  Data are provisional and subject to revision.

Sharon Mulready, USGS Hydrologic Technician, recording the high-water mark on gage 11161000 San Lorenzo River Santa Cruz. The stream is filled with a tremendous amount of sediment moved by the storm on December 31st, 2022.

High water on Alameda Creek, California. Taken at Alameda Diversion Dam near Sunol, CA.