Post Carr Fire bioassessment data report, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | November 12th, 2024

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, analyzed water and sediment chemistry, benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fis

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, analyzed water and sediment chemistry, benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish and amphibian assemblages, fish and invertebrate tissues, instream habitat characteristics, and sediment heterogeneity at 10 stream sites within Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California, during August 2020, 2 years after the Carr Fire. The post-Carr Fire data were compared to available pre-Carr Fire data to help determine if there have been wildfire-induced changes in the aquatic communities within the Whiskeytown National Recreational Area. Benthic sediment results for metals of biological concern were compared with consensus-based probable effect concentrations from previously published sediment-quality guidelines. Results from 2020 sampling indicated exceedances of these guidelines at one site for cadmium, chromium, copper, and zinc; there were exceedances of the guidelines at three sites for nickel. Concentrations of metals of biological concern in fish and invertebrate tissue samples generally varied among sites and years, with no pattern with specific reference to the Carr Fire. Average zinc and lead concentrations in composite invertebrate samples were slightly higher in 2020 than in previous years, and arsenic levels were lower in 2020 for invertebrate and fish tissues. Post-Carr Fire stream-habitat and sediment-size characterization values did not change substantially when compared to pre-Carr Fire values, or had high variation among all sites and years. Fish and amphibian inventories demonstrated that fewer total fish and amphibians were collected post-Carr Fire, but higher numbers of native Sacramento Sucker (Catostomus occidentalis) and Sacramento Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) were collected than in previous years. The combined histories of mining and frequent wildfires in the area pose an increased risk for metal contamination throughout the aquatic system. Continued monitoring for multilevel trophic effects of contaminants can provide information about the overall health of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and surrounding region.

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

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

Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | October 24th, 2024

Pulse of the Delta 2011

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | March 16th, 2011

Welcome to the first issue of the Pulse of the Delta: Monitoring and Managing Water Quality in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta, the new publication of the emerging D

Welcome to the first issue of the Pulse of the Delta: Monitoring and Managing Water Quality in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta, the new publication of the emerging Delta Regional Monitoring Program (RMP). This report is a direct response to Delta RMP stakeholders’ desire for an accessible water quality summary for the Delta that addresses important regional questions. Table of Contents: Did Contaminants Play a Role in the Pelagic Organism Decline? The Delta RMP: Re-thinking Water Quality Monitoring in the Delta Ammonia in the Delta: The science, implications for management How Delta Studies Have Reshaped Our Understanding Pyrethroid Insecticides Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Adapting to a Moving Target New Pesticides

Pulse of the Delta 2012

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | August 2nd, 2013

This second edition of the Pulse of the Delta includes the following sections: The KEY TOPIC article introduces this year’s theme, LINKING SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT THR

This second edition of the Pulse of the Delta includes the following sections: The KEY TOPIC article introduces this year’s theme, LINKING SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT THROUGH REGIONAL MONITORING (PAGE 6). The MANAGEMENT UPDATE section provides updates on Delta RMP development (PAGE 12) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Delta Clean Water Act evaluation (PAGE 18). It further provides an update on the development of Nutrient Numeric Endpoints for San Francisco Bay, due to the relevance of this topic to Delta stakeholders (PAGE 28). And as a new feature, the Management Update section now also provides a regulatory status update for pollutants of concern. This edition of the Pulse of the Delta introduces a NEW STATUS AND TRENDS section with updates on important monitoring results (PAGE 44) and leading indicators (PAGE 50) for the Delta. The STATUS AND TRENDS section was made possible thanks to significant contributions by the Interagency Ecological Program, U.S. Geological Survey, the Central Valley Regional Water Board, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Water Resources, and scientists at the UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University Romberg Tiburon Center. Two FEATURE ARTICLES provide an overview of recent research findings that could help wetland managers reduce the methylmercury problem and a glimpse into the future of the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP). One of the main challenges as ecosystem restoration efforts are moving forward will be the mercury problem. Large-scale restoration of wetland areas will be required to provide a sufficient amount of aquatic habitat for restoring the Delta ecosystem. At the same time, water quality managers will need to identify actions to protect people and wildlife from exposure to methylmercury that may originate from restored wetlands, due to a legacy of mercury contamination in Delta soils. Recently completed and ongoing studies in the Yolo Bypass provide new information on management options for controlling methylmercury production in wetlands and offsite transport (PAGE 66). IEP scientists have been monitoring and researching the San Francisco Estuary since 1970. Now the IEP has arrived at an important crossroads, and its future is being decided at the same time as environmental managers are determining what a desirable future ecosystem would look like, how it would function, and how it can be established (PAGE 76).

Quality of groundwater used for domestic supply in the Gilroy-Hollister basin and surrounding areas, California, 2022

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | December 1st, 2025

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a 2022 California Groundwater Ambient Monitorin

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a 2022 California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP) water-quality survey of 33 domestic and small-system drinking-water supply wells in the Gilroy-Hollister Valley groundwater basin and the surrounding areas, where more than 20,000 residents are estimated to utilize privately owned domestic wells.

Recent advances in understanding flow dynamics and transport of water-quality constituents in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | December 1st, 2016

This chapter describes advances during the past decade in understanding flow dynamics and how water-quality constituents, such as salinity, heat, oxygen, nutrients, conta

This chapter describes advances during the past decade in understanding flow dynamics and how water-quality constituents, such as salinity, heat, oxygen, nutrients, contaminants, and more, move within California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Water-quality constituents are affected by water diversions and other human manipulations of flow and they greatly affect the quantity and quality of habitats in the Delta. Along with human intervention, the Pacific Ocean, the Central Valley watershed, and the atmosphere, are a few drivers of flow and transport in the Delta. These drivers provide a conceptual framework for presenting recent findings. The tremendous expansion of acoustic and optical instruments utilized in the Delta over the past decade has greatly improved our understanding of how tidal variability affects flow and transport. Sediment is increasingly viewed as a diminishing resource needed to sustain habitat and tidal marsh, especially as sea level rises. Connections between the watershed, Delta, and San Francisco Bay that have been studied recently highlight that a landscape view of this system is needed rather than consideration of each region individually. Interactions of multiple drivers and information gaps are discussed.

Reconnaissance of Acid Drainage Sources and Preliminary Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives at the Copper Bluff Mine, Hoopa Valley Reservation, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 26th, 2003

Acidic drainage from the inactive Copper Bluff mine cascades down a steep embankment into the Trinity River, on the Hoopa Valley Reservation in northern California. The C

Acidic drainage from the inactive Copper Bluff mine cascades down a steep embankment into the Trinity River, on the Hoopa Valley Reservation in northern California. The Copper Bluff mine produced about 100,000 tons of sulfide-bearing copper-zinc-gold-silver ore during 1957–1962. This report summarizes the results of a water-resources investigation begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1994 with the overall objective of gathering sufficient geochemical, hydrologic, and geologic information so that a sound remediation strategy for the Copper Bluff mine could be selected and implemented by the Hoopa Valley Tribe. This study had the following specific objectives: (1) monitor the quality and quantity of the mine discharge, (2) determine seasonal variability of metal concentrations and loads, (3) map and sample the underground mine workings to determine sources of flow and suitability of mine plugging options, and (4) analyze the likely consequences of various remediation and treatment options.

Recycled Water Research Needs in California: Monitoring and Treatment Performance for Constituents of Emerging Concern

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | April 4th, 2017

The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) held a workshop on October 27-28, 2015 in Costa Mesa focused on the state of the science, monitorin

The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) held a workshop on October 27-28, 2015 in Costa Mesa focused on the state of the science, monitoring techniques, and water treatment reliability for constituents of emerging concern (CECs) in recycled water. The goal of the workshop was to help the State Water Board identify knowledge gaps to identify and prioritize CEC monitoring and treatment activities that will ensure water supplies from recycled water, including potable reuse, are protective of public health and the environment. The workshop included presentations from experts regarding monitoring and treatment performance for CECs, as well as breakout sessions intended to review and discuss the most important CEC research needs. At the conclusion of each day, a summary of recommendations based on the breakout discussions was developed by the participants. Below are general takeaway messages developed during the workshop. These messages reflect discussions at the workshop and are not intended to represent the views of all participants.

Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Field Sampling Report 2016

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 1st, 2017

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is the primary source for long-term contaminant monitoring information for the Bay. The RMP

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is the primary source for long-term contaminant monitoring information for the Bay. The RMP is an innovative and collaborative effort among the scientific community, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), and the regulated discharger community. The Program was initiated by the Water Board as a pilot study in 1989 and has been collecting water, sediment, and bivalve tissue data since its official inception in 1993. Regular monitoring of sport fish tissue and bird eggs for toxic contaminants was incorporated into the Program in 1997 and 2006, respectively.