Potential for Using the Upper Coachella Valley Ground-Water Basin, California, for Storage of Artificially Recharged Water

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | September 15th, 1980

The California Department of Water Resources, through the Future Water Supply Program, is investigating the use of ground-water basins for storage of State Wate

The California Department of Water Resources, through the Future Water Supply Program, is investigating the use of ground-water basins for storage of State Water Project water in order to help meet maximum annual entitlements to water project contractors. This report presents a preliminary evaluation of the geohydrologic fac- tors affecting storage of water by artificial recharge in the upper Coachella Valley, Calif. The ground-water basin of the upper Coachella Valley seems to be geologically suitable for large-scale artificial recharge. A minimum of 900,000 acre-feet of water could probably be stored in the basin without raising basinwide water levels above those that existed in 1945. Preliminary tests indicate that a long-term artificial recharge rate of 5 feet per day may be feasible for spreading grounds in the basin if such factors as sediment and bacterial clogging can be controlled.

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | July 28th, 2022

With California facing a severe drought and wildfire season, public awareness has risen of the impact of climate change as well as state policies to reduce greenhouse gas

With California facing a severe drought and wildfire season, public awareness has risen of the impact of climate change as well as state policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A sharp increase in petroleum prices has led to discussions about expanding oil production and renewable energy sources. These are among the key findings of a statewide survey on environmental issues conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California from July 8 to 15, 2022.

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | August 8th, 2024

Californians have been facing a record heat wave and wildfires across the state this summer. The state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit prompted spending cuts for

Californians have been facing a record heat wave and wildfires across the state this summer. The state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit prompted spending cuts for climate and energy programs. In response, the legislature approved a $10 billion state bond for the November ballot that asks voters to approve more funding for drought, floods, wildfires, coastal resilience, and extreme heat mitigation. The deep partisan divide on climate and energy policies surfaced in the presidential debate on June 27. These are the key findings of the Californians and the Environment survey on local, state, and national issues and coastal and inland topics that was conducted June 24–July 2, 2024.

Practical methods to find polluted areas in urban stormwater catchments to support management actions

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | January 14th, 2022

Predicted Water-Level and Water-Quality Effects of Artificial Recharge in the Upper Coachella Valley, California, Using a Finite-Element Digital Model

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | April 15th, 1978

This study was begun in mid-1973 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Desert Water Agency (DWA) and the Coachella Valley County Water District (CVCWD). T

This study was begun in mid-1973 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Desert Water Agency (DWA) and the Coachella Valley County Water District (CVCWD). The purpose of the study was to (1) analyze the present water quality conditions of the ground-water basin, (2) determine the water-level changes that will result from recharging the aquifer, and (3) determine the water-quality changes that will result from recharging the aquifer. The study included: (1) Collecting, evaluating, tabulating, and computer processing all available ground-water-quality data for the study area; (2) describing the areal distribution of water quality throughout the ground-water basin; (3) updating the pumpage and other hydrologic data compiled for the analog model of the study area (Tyley, 1974); (4) developing a digital hydraulic (flow) model utilizing the finite-element method; and (5) developing a digital solute-transport (water quality) model utilizing the finite-element method. This report presents the results of the 3-year study and the predictions of the possible effects of ground-water recharge on the water resources of the upper Coachella Valley.

Predicting Redox Conditions in Groundwater at a National Scale Using Random Forest Classification

American Chemical Society (ACS) | March 7th, 2024

Primary Production in the Delta: Then and Now

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | October 3rd, 2016

To evaluate the role of restoration in the recovery of the Delta ecosystem, we need to have clear targets and performance measures that directly assess ecosystem function

To evaluate the role of restoration in the recovery of the Delta ecosystem, we need to have clear targets and performance measures that directly assess ecosystem function. Primary production is a crucial ecosystem process, which directly limits the quality and quantity of food available for secondary consumers such as invertebrates and fish. The Delta has a low rate of primary production, but it is unclear whether this was always the case. Recent analyses from the Historical Ecology Team and Delta Landscapes Project provide quantitative comparisons of the areal extent of 14 habitat types in the modern Delta versus the historical Delta (pre-1850). Here we describe an approach for using these metrics of land use change to: (1) produce the first quantitative estimates of how Delta primary production and the relative contributions from five different producer groups have been altered by large-scale drainage and conversion to agriculture; (2) convert these production estimates into a common currency so the contributions of each producer group reflect their food quality and efficiency of transfer to consumers; and (3) use simple models to discover how tidal exchange between marshes and open water influences primary production and its consumption. Application of this approach could inform Delta management in two ways. First, it would provide a quantitative estimate of how large-scale conversion to agriculture has altered the Delta's capacity to produce food for native biota. Second, it would provide restoration practitioners with a new approach—based on ecosystem function—to evaluate the success of restoration projects and gauge the trajectory of ecological recovery in the Delta region.

Primary Production in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: A Science Strategy to Quantify Change and Identify Future Potential

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | May 20th, 2019

Today’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is an unusually low-productivity estuary. The constraints on primary production and the relative importance of different production

Today’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is an unusually low-productivity estuary. The constraints on primary production and the relative importance of different production sources to the food web are major ecological uncertainties in the Delta system. Understanding how the extensive historical changes in the Delta landscape have altered primary production has the potential to inform restoration planning and management across the region.  The Delta Landscapes Project (SFEI-ASC 2014) has recently produced information that allows us, for the first time, to answer questions about historical primary production and carrying capacity from quantified changes in the areal extent and spatial configuration of habitat types in the Delta since the mid-19th century. Our focus is on estimating primary production because the potential capacity of ecosystems to support fish, bird and other wildlife populations is set by primary production – the supply of food required to produce animal biomass. 

Principles for Agreement on Bay-Delta Standards Between the State of California and the Federal Government

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | December 15th, 1994

In order to provide ecosystem protection for the Bay-Delta Estuary, representatives of the State and Federal governments and urban, agricultural and environmental interes

In order to provide ecosystem protection for the Bay-Delta Estuary, representatives of the State and Federal governments and urban, agricultural and environmental interests agree to the implementation of a Bay-Delta protection plan through the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) consistent with the following principles.These Principles describe changes to the California Urban Water Agency/-Agricultural Water Users (CUWAIAG) proposal as the base case for Bay-Delta protections, which are intended to be in force for three years, at which time they may be revised.

Prioritizing Candidate Green Infrastructure Sites within the City of Ukiah: A Demonstration of the Site Locator Tool of GreenPlan-IT. Report prepared for the City of Ukiah Department of Public Works under Supplemental Environmental Project # R1-018-0024

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | April 1st, 2019

Green infrastructure (GI), also known as Low Impact Development (LID), has emerged as an integral aspect of multi-benefit, watershed approaches to address concerns about

Green infrastructure (GI), also known as Low Impact Development (LID), has emerged as an integral aspect of multi-benefit, watershed approaches to address concerns about stormwater quality and quantity in an urban environment. When carefully applied, GI installations, such as rain gardens, tree-well planters, and permeable pavement, can be cost-effective, resilient ways to manage storm water at its source with measurable, cumulative environmental and community benefits.