North Coast

Variations on a method for evaluating decadal-scale changes in the groundwater quality of two GAMA coastal study units 2004–14, California GAMA Priority Basin Project

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 8th, 2018

Decadal changes in groundwater quality in two study units on the north-central California coast were evaluated by the Priority Basin Project (PBP) of the Groundwater Ambi

Decadal changes in groundwater quality in two study units on the north-central California coast were evaluated by the Priority Basin Project (PBP) of the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. Groundwater samples collected from wells during 2004–05 were compared on a pair-wise basis to samples collected from the same wells during 2014. The data set consisted of paired-samples from 50 public supply wells in 2 GAMA-PBP study units (25 wells each in the North San Francisco Bay and the Monterey Bay and Salinas Valley Basins), with analytical results for 160 water-quality constituents. Statistical analysis was done on grouped results for the 59 constituents that were detected in at least 10 percent of the samples during either sampling period to evaluate decadal-scale change by a step-trend analysis. The data for both of the sampling periods were processed three different ways, resulting in three variations of the paired results to be submitted for statistical analyses. The first evaluation method variation processed data only to facilitate comparison of data when one or both of the results was a non-detection. The second and third variations applied the additional requirement that differences between initial and decadal-sample results exceed a defined threshold to prevent small differences from supporting the conclusion of a step trend. One method for setting the difference threshold between initial-sampling and resampling results is based on criteria used by the GAMA-PBP to determine whether or not replicate results are acceptable. The other difference-threshold-setting method uses a calculated confidence interval around each result based on demonstrated analytical variability for the constituents during each sampling period. Finally, constituents for which decadal-scale changes were statistically significant were identified using the Wilcoxon-Pratt signed-rank test on each of the three evaluation method variations. Step trends were identified by at least 1 of the 3 method variations for 33 constituents. After considering other factors, however, such as water-quality context and the results of quality-control samples, it was concluded that decadal changes were meaningful for 14 constituents in at least 1 of the 2 study units. Constituents for which step trends indicated meaningful increases were dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, nitrate, orthophosphate, calcium, chloride, sulfate, iron, and lithium. Constituents for which step trends indicated meaningful decreases were temperature, arsenic, lead, the isotopic ratio of carbon-13, and tritium.

Water Accounting in Western US, Australia, and Spain: Comparative Analysis

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) | January 10th, 2020

Water Allocation in California - Legal Rights and Reform Needs

Golden Gate University (GSU) | March 31st, 1982

FOREWARD: Water supply, allocation, use and conservation are constantly debated in California, often appearing as highly charged political issues in candidates' races and

FOREWARD: Water supply, allocation, use and conservation are constantly debated in California, often appearing as highly charged political issues in candidates' races and on election ballots. This year is no exception, with major ballot propositions already scheduled for the June primary election and being circulated to qualify for the November general election. Accordingly this Research Paper on legal aspects of water allocation is being published for the valuable background it affords readers wishing to learn more about the subject. The author draws on his legal expertise, as well as his experience as Staff Director of the Governor's Commission to Review California Water Rights Law. The paper emphasizes the crucial role of water rights in California water management, and it points to the need for and present lack of a political consensus on water law reform. The author concludes by suggesting forces that could bring about interest-group realignments and other developments favorable to achieving the needed consensus on water law and management reform that so far has eluded Californians. Stanley Scott Assistant Director Institute of Governmental Studies March 1982

Water and Energy in California

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | December 6th, 2022

Water and Energy Sector Vulnerability to Climate Warming in the Sierra Nevada: Simulating the Regulated Rivers of California’s West Slope Sierra Nevada

California Energy Commission (CEC) | August 7th, 2012

Climate warming is expected to affect the beneficial uses of water in the Sierra Nevada, impacting nearly every resident of California. This paper describes the developme

Climate warming is expected to affect the beneficial uses of water in the Sierra Nevada, impacting nearly every resident of California. This paper describes the development and results from an integrated water resource management model encompassing water operations and hydropower generation for the west slope Sierra Nevada spanning the Feather River basin in the north to the Kern River basin in the south at the weekly time step. This model application includes management of reservoirs, run-of-river hydropower plants, water supply demand locations, conveyances, and instream flow requirement. Model validation indicates that most major hydropower turbine flows were simulated well, with wetter years modeled more effectively than drier years. The results of this work indicated that hydropower generation will be reduced by approximately 8 percent with 6°C (10.8°F) warming, consistent with other studies, with a conservative parameterization of no change in precipitation. Reservoir operations adapt to capture earlier and greater runoff volumes that result from earlier and greater runoff due to climate warming. Seasonal compensation in operations is insufficient to overcome warming mediated losses.

Water Available for Replenishment 2018

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | April 12th, 2018

Water Budget Development for SGMA Compliance, Case Study: Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin

Universities Council on Water Resources Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education | December 28th, 2017

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is the first comprehensive legislative effort to reform groundwater management in the state of California after years of

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is the first comprehensive legislative effort to reform groundwater management in the state of California after years of uncoordinated and voluntary governance of this resource. The objective of this study is to: a) describe the SGMA in California, b) describe a method for estimating a water budget, and c) present the implementation of this method for the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin (UVGB). An estimated water budget, done on a monthly time step from 1991 to 2015, was developed in order to characterize the UVGB. Results suggest that the groundwater basin is not in overdraft, and that a portion of the Russian River is a gaining river (approximately 18,952 AF/y) from November to June, and a losing river (approximately 393 AF/y) from July to October. Furthermore, lateral groundwater movement is identified through the groundwater mass balance. Based on previous work and the results of this study, the observed later groundwater losses signify connectivity between the UVGB and the Sanel Valley Groundwater Basin (SVGB). Local groundwater managers and users can use this information to inform proposed action plans and monitoring protocols that will allow them to achieve and maintain groundwater sustainability in the UVGB by the year 2040.

Water Features of the Smith River Plain, Del Norte County, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | December 1st, 1957

Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region

North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) | May 1st, 2011

The basic purpose of the state's basin planning effort is to determine the future direction of water quality control for protection of California's waters. The goal of

The basic purpose of the state's basin planning effort is to determine the future direction of water quality control for protection of California's waters. The goal of this Basin Plan is to provide a definitive program of actions designed to preserve and enhance water quality and to protect beneficial uses of water in the North Coast Region. The plan is concerned with all factors and activities which might affect water quality. It emphasizes, however, actions to be taken by the State Water Board and the Regional Water Board since they have primary responsibility for maintenance of water quality in the North Coast Region. This Basin Plan is comprehensive in scope. It contains a brief description of the North Coast Region, and describes its water quality and quantity problems and the present and potential beneficial uses of the surface and ground waters within the Region. The water quality objectives contained in the plan are prescribed for the purposes of protecting the beneficial uses. The Implementation Plans section describes the measures, which include specific prohibitions, action plans, and policies which form the basis for the control of water quality. Statewide plans and policies are included as well as a description of Regional Water Board surveillance and monitoring activities. The plan contains provisions for public participation, complies with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, and establishes a setting and the framework for the development of discharger regulation. Basin plans complement and may be more stringent than water quality control plans and policies adopted by the State Water Board, such as the "Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California" and the "Water Quality Control Policy for the Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California". Provisions of State Water Board plans supersede basin plans; however, the same state plans may allow for site-specific objectives and exceptions in order to meet localized needs and circumstances. This Basin Plan is used as a regulatory tool by the Regional Water Board's technical staff. Regional Water Board orders cite the Basin Plan's water quality standards and prohibitions applicable to a particular discharge. The Basin Plan also is used by other agencies in their permitting and resource management activities. It also serves as an educational and reference document for staff, dischargers and members of the public. To check for any updates or amendments since this document was loaded into the library, please check the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Plan's basin plan page.

Water quality for agriculture

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) | July 15th, 1985