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Streamflow

To help emergency managers and others protect life and property due to floods and other water-related hazards, the USGS delivers a continuous source of streamflow information. The USGS California Water Science Center maintains nearly 500 streamgages that collect data to determine the amount of water flowing in rivers and streams in California. Automatic alerts are transmitted when water levels change rapidly and/or reach flood stage. These alerts help emergency managers assess potential hazardous conditions near the gage or for downstream locations.

Filter Total Items: 59

Effects of Climate on Snowmelt and Water Availability for Reservoirs in the Southern Sierra Nevada

Potential changes in air temperature and precipitation due to changes in climate may result in more variable or smaller snow packs and earlier snowmelt in the southern Sierra Nevada in upcoming years. These conditions are likely to result in increased difficulty in planning reservoir operations for hydroelectric power and water availability during springtime snowmelt in this region. Reservoir...
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Effects of Climate on Snowmelt and Water Availability for Reservoirs in the Southern Sierra Nevada

Potential changes in air temperature and precipitation due to changes in climate may result in more variable or smaller snow packs and earlier snowmelt in the southern Sierra Nevada in upcoming years. These conditions are likely to result in increased difficulty in planning reservoir operations for hydroelectric power and water availability during springtime snowmelt in this region. Reservoir...
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Methylmercury cycling and export from agricultural and natural wetlands in the Yolo Bypass

The purpose of the work conducted by the USGS California Water Science Center is to help guide Yolo Wildlife Area management practices by identifying the relationships between management effects on dissolved organic matter properties and the resulting role of dissolved organic matter in mercury methylation and biotic uptake measured by the cooperating USGS scientists. The information gathered will...
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Methylmercury cycling and export from agricultural and natural wetlands in the Yolo Bypass

The purpose of the work conducted by the USGS California Water Science Center is to help guide Yolo Wildlife Area management practices by identifying the relationships between management effects on dissolved organic matter properties and the resulting role of dissolved organic matter in mercury methylation and biotic uptake measured by the cooperating USGS scientists. The information gathered will...
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Investigation of Linkages Between Management Practices Used in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Rice Production and Loads of Dissolved Organic Matter and Disinfection Byproduct Precursors

The primary objective of this study is to expand our current understanding of how to manage rice production in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in a manner that minimizes loads of water quality contaminants to Delta waters.
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Investigation of Linkages Between Management Practices Used in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Rice Production and Loads of Dissolved Organic Matter and Disinfection Byproduct Precursors

The primary objective of this study is to expand our current understanding of how to manage rice production in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in a manner that minimizes loads of water quality contaminants to Delta waters.
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Development of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) for the Yuba River Basin, Northeastern California, with application for streamflow predictability and flood forecasting

Reservoirs in the Yuba River Basin are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the Feather-Yuba Forecast Coordinated Operations Program, and play an important role in flood management, water quality, and the health of fisheries as far downstream as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The basin has been developed for hydropower and irrigation diversions, so that measured...
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Development of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) for the Yuba River Basin, Northeastern California, with application for streamflow predictability and flood forecasting

Reservoirs in the Yuba River Basin are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the Feather-Yuba Forecast Coordinated Operations Program, and play an important role in flood management, water quality, and the health of fisheries as far downstream as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The basin has been developed for hydropower and irrigation diversions, so that measured...
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Spatially Explicit Mapping of Hydrologic Residence Time Paired with Water Quality Measurements to Determine the Effects of the Emergency Drought Barrier

The purpose of this study is to assess the distribution of water residence times across the central Delta using rapid water isotope measurements (δ2H, δ18O) made with a boat-based flow-through instrument.
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Spatially Explicit Mapping of Hydrologic Residence Time Paired with Water Quality Measurements to Determine the Effects of the Emergency Drought Barrier

The purpose of this study is to assess the distribution of water residence times across the central Delta using rapid water isotope measurements (δ2H, δ18O) made with a boat-based flow-through instrument.
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High-Speed Mapping of Nutrient Distributions and Water Quality Survey - Lower South San Francisco Bay

This project aims to characterize spatial heterogeneity for key water quality parameters, and pilot the use of underway-flowthrough mapping of biogeochemical properties as a cost-effective approach to monitoring.
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High-Speed Mapping of Nutrient Distributions and Water Quality Survey - Lower South San Francisco Bay

This project aims to characterize spatial heterogeneity for key water quality parameters, and pilot the use of underway-flowthrough mapping of biogeochemical properties as a cost-effective approach to monitoring.
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Phytoplankton production and nutrient transformations in shallow water wetland habitats

The objectives of this study are to quantify and characterize (1) phytoplankton production on Liberty Island, (2) utilization and transformation of nutrients, and (3) attenuation/loss of phytoplankton as the material is transported from Liberty Iisland into Cache Slough.
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Phytoplankton production and nutrient transformations in shallow water wetland habitats

The objectives of this study are to quantify and characterize (1) phytoplankton production on Liberty Island, (2) utilization and transformation of nutrients, and (3) attenuation/loss of phytoplankton as the material is transported from Liberty Iisland into Cache Slough.
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Comprehensive Mercury Studies

The objective specific to work conducted by the CAWSC is to produce a continuous time-series of suspended-sediment flux at an existing site in Alviso Slough.
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Comprehensive Mercury Studies

The objective specific to work conducted by the CAWSC is to produce a continuous time-series of suspended-sediment flux at an existing site in Alviso Slough.
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Development of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) for the Kings River Basin, California, with application for streamflow predictability and flood forecasting

This study will provide an analysis tool for forecasting seasonal and longer term streamflow variations, and for evaluating climate and land cover variations in the Kings River Basin. This study will directly or indirectly address several water-resource issues identified in the USGS Science Strategy document (USGS, 2007): drinking water availability, the suitability of aquatic habitat for biota...
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Development of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) for the Kings River Basin, California, with application for streamflow predictability and flood forecasting

This study will provide an analysis tool for forecasting seasonal and longer term streamflow variations, and for evaluating climate and land cover variations in the Kings River Basin. This study will directly or indirectly address several water-resource issues identified in the USGS Science Strategy document (USGS, 2007): drinking water availability, the suitability of aquatic habitat for biota...
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Nitrogen Dynamics Along the Sacramento River and Links to Phytoplankton Dynamics: Resolving Spatial and Temporal Variability Using In-Situ, High-Frequency Measurements and Other Tools

The overall project objective is to further our understanding of the link between nitrogen and phytoplankton dynamics in the Sacramento River and to elucidate effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent on food web dynamics.
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Nitrogen Dynamics Along the Sacramento River and Links to Phytoplankton Dynamics: Resolving Spatial and Temporal Variability Using In-Situ, High-Frequency Measurements and Other Tools

The overall project objective is to further our understanding of the link between nitrogen and phytoplankton dynamics in the Sacramento River and to elucidate effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent on food web dynamics.
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Bay Area Ensemble Modeling for Conservation and Biodiversity

The objective of this study is to provide downscaled ensemble projections of climate and hydrology for the next century for the state of California with specific application to the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Bay Area Ensemble Modeling for Conservation and Biodiversity

The objective of this study is to provide downscaled ensemble projections of climate and hydrology for the next century for the state of California with specific application to the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Development of unimpaired flows for mountain basins draining to the Bay Delta

The objective of this study is to develop daily historical climate surfaces and simulate unimpaired basin discharge, including surface water flow and baseflow, from all basins that drain to the Bay Delta. Basin drainage will be calibrated to DWR reconstructed flows, and comparisons of results will be made with other independently developed watershed models for basins in which they coincide. A...
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Development of unimpaired flows for mountain basins draining to the Bay Delta

The objective of this study is to develop daily historical climate surfaces and simulate unimpaired basin discharge, including surface water flow and baseflow, from all basins that drain to the Bay Delta. Basin drainage will be calibrated to DWR reconstructed flows, and comparisons of results will be made with other independently developed watershed models for basins in which they coincide. A...
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