Water-Resources Data for the Devils Hole Area, Nye County, Nevada, July 1978 - September 1988

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 1st, 1993

Data on water levels, spring discharge, and consumption of electric power by irrigation pumps collected at Devils Hole and vicinity from July 1978 through September 1988

Data on water levels, spring discharge, and consumption of electric power by irrigation pumps collected at Devils Hole and vicinity from July 1978 through September 1988 are reported herein. These data were collected to document the effects of irrigation pumping on the pool level at Devils Hole and the recovery following cessation of irrigation pumping in August 1982. The pool contains the endangered species of pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis. Data on fluctuations in water level and springflow are presented in graphic form. Data on consumption of electric power by pumps in irrigation wells, useful as an index of the pumpage, are presented in tabular form.

Water, energy and environment nexus: The California experience

International Journal of Water Resources Development (Taylor & Francis) | July 21st, 2010

The paper addresses the local and inter-state connections between water, energy and the environment. Using California and the western USA as a case study, the paper highl

The paper addresses the local and inter-state connections between water, energy and the environment. Using California and the western USA as a case study, the paper highlights the difficulties of balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders and protecting valuable resources while providing reliable and safe supplies of both water and energy to agricultural, industrial and residential customers. The investigation of these complex relationships is necessary to inform local and national policy decisions regarding the management of water, energy and the environment.

Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework

Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier) | November 22nd, 2022

Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit framework

Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier) | November 5th, 2022

Low-income, rural frontline communities of California's Central Valley experience environmental and socioeconomic injustice, water insecurity, extremely poor air quality,

Low-income, rural frontline communities of California's Central Valley experience environmental and socioeconomic injustice, water insecurity, extremely poor air quality, and lack of fundamental infrastructure (sewage, green areas, health services), which makes them less resilient. Many communities depend financially on agriculture, while water scarcity and associated policy may trigger farmland retirement, further hindering socioeconomic opportunities. Here we propose a multi-benefit framework to repurpose cropland in buffers inside and around (400-m and 1600-m buffers) 154 rural disadvantaged communities of the Central Valley to promote socioeconomic opportunities, environmental benefits, and business diversification. We estimate the potential for (1) reductions in water and pesticide use, nitrogen leaching, and nitrogen gas emissions, (2) managed aquifer recharge, and (3) economic and employment impacts associated with clean industries and solar energy. Retiring cropland within 1600-m buffers can result in reductions in annual water use of 2.18 km3/year, nitrate leaching into local aquifers of 105,500 t/year, greenhouse gas emissions of 2,232,000 t CO2-equivalent/year, and 5388 t pesticides/year, with accompanying losses in agricultural revenue of US$4213 million/year and employment of 25,682 positions. Buffer repurposing investments of US$27 million/year per community for ten years show potential to generate US$101 million/year per community (total US$15,578 million/year) for 30 years and 407 new jobs/year (total 62,697 jobs/year) paying 67 % more than prior farmworker jobs. In the San Joaquin Valley (southern Central Valley), where groundwater overdraft averages 2.3 km3/year, potential water use reduction is 1.8 km3/year. We have identified 99 communities with surficial soils adequate for aquifer recharge and canals/rivers within 1600 m. This demonstrates the potential of managed aquifer recharge in buffered zones to substantially reduce overdraft. The buffers framework shows that well-planned land repurposing near disadvantaged communities can create multiple benefits for agriculture and industry stakeholders, while improving quality of life in disadvantaged communities and producing positive externalities for society.

Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States Series, Part 2

Pacific Institute | October 15th, 2024

In the United States, federal, tribal, state, and local laws and policies exist to govern the provision of water and sanitation services to communities and homes. The law

In the United States, federal, tribal, state, and local laws and policies exist to govern the provision of water and sanitation services to communities and homes. The laws are designed to ensure the protection of public health and the environment; deliver sufficient, safe water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and other household needs; and remove and treat domestic (i.e., household) waste. People without complete plumbing or safe water live within the “water access gap.” As explored in the first report in this series, climate change—from extreme temperatures to droughts, floods, extreme storms, and wildfires—is making it hard to close this gap and keep it from growing. Water and sanitation systems in frontline communities already feel the disproportionate “first and worst” impacts of climate change to these systems and to their access to water and sanitation. Laws and policies should help anticipate and plan  or the incremental and catastrophic impacts of climate change and protect those most harmed by the effects. Unfortunately, in most cases, the climate is changing faster than the law can respond, thereby leaving frontline communities’ water and sanitation systems vulnerable to damage or destruction. This is part two in the three-part Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States series. Click here for part one and here for part three.

Water: Science, Policy, and Management: Challenges and Opportunities

American Geophysical Union (AGU) | January 1st, 2003

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Water Resources Monograph Series, Volume 16. From the local to the global scale, water use and sustainabilit

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Water Resources Monograph Series, Volume 16. From the local to the global scale, water use and sustainability are issues of pressing importance. Never before has water science needed to inform water policy so much, and never before have we seen how challenging it is to advance that relationship. How rapidly is the demand for water growing? What climate- or pollution-imposed limits to water supplies exist, and how can we best manage them? Will privatization benefit water management, resource development, and the environment? How can science work more closely with the policy and engineering communities to perfect knowledge-based water planning? Water: Science, Policy, and Management discusses these issues, and more. Scientists in water research and geography, water policy experts, water managers and engineers, lawyers grappling with water issues, and environmentalists concerned with the state of water internationally will find this book a significant resource now and in the coming years.

Water/Wastewater Utilities and Extreme Climate and Weather Events: Case Studies on Community Response, Lessons Learned, Adaptation, and Planning Needs for the Future

Water Research Foundation | July 21st, 2014

This project consisted of a series of workshops that (1) examined the actions taken by water and wastewater utility practitioners who faced a recent extreme weather and c

This project consisted of a series of workshops that (1) examined the actions taken by water and wastewater utility practitioners who faced a recent extreme weather and climate-related event and documented their planning and response; (2) determined and recorded lessons learned; (3) documented and analyzed the decision process, including decision makers, organizations involved, and data needed for making decisions when faced with an extreme event; and (4) summarized communication approaches used to inform the public. The final report, published by WERF, consists of the workshop results and a series of case studies highlighting lessons learned and recommended actions. Additionally, the case studies were published separately and are available on this project page under Project Resources/Project Papers.

Waterline responses to climate forcing along the North American West Coast

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | June 7th, 2025

Understanding waterline variability at seasonal to interannual timescales is crucial for predicting coastal responses to climate forcing. However, relationships between l

Understanding waterline variability at seasonal to interannual timescales is crucial for predicting coastal responses to climate forcing. However, relationships between large-scale climate variability and coastal morphodynamics remain underexplored beyond intensively monitored sites. This study leverages a newly developed 25-year (1997–2022) satellite-derived waterline dataset along the North American West Coast. Our results reveal distinct latitudinal patterns in seasonal waterline change, with excursions exceeding 25 m in the Pacific Northwest, decreasing to less than 10 m in Southern California and farther south. Waterline fluctuations strongly follow wave power in the Pacific Northwest (R = −0.78), northern California (R = −0.75), and Baja California (R = −0.62), while Baja California Sur aligns more with sea-level variations (R = −0.42). Interannually, waterline change exhibits latitudinal dependence: south of southern California, variability is low, with major erosion confined to strong El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, while northern regions show mixed responses. ENSO-driven storm track shifts modulate winter wave climate, resulting in enhanced (attenuated) erosion from southern California to Baja California Sur during El Niño (La Niña). However, further north, ENSO impacts are less consistent, reflecting a complex interplay of storm track displacement and intensification. These findings highlight the spatial complexity of ENSO-driven morphodynamics and provide a framework for assessing climate-induced coastal vulnerability.

Watershed Action Plan Santa Ana Region - Riverside County

Riverside County | January 18th, 2017

The Watershed Action Plan (WAP) for the Santa Ana Watershed Region of Riverside County (SAR) and its Permittees is a requirement of the Riverside County Municipal Separat

The Watershed Action Plan (WAP) for the Santa Ana Watershed Region of Riverside County (SAR) and its Permittees is a requirement of the Riverside County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), Permit Order No. R8-2010-0033 as adopted by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) in January 29, 2010 (2010 MS4 Permit). The purpose of this requirement is to coordinate existing watershed approaches to address water quality and hydromodification impacts resulting from urbanization within the SAR. This requirement is to be achieved by evaluating existing programs relating to the integration of water quality, stream protection, stormwater management, and re-use strategies with land planning policies, ordinances, and plans within each jurisdiction to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). Throughout implementation of the 2010 MS4 Permit along with the development of this plan, the Regional Board has emphasized that the plans for each jurisdiction should address cumulative impacts of development on vulnerable streams; preserve or restore, consistent with the MEP standard, the structure and function of streams; and protect surface water and groundwater quality.

Watershed Condition, Turbidity, and Implications for Anadromous Salmonids in North Coastal California Streams

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | May 21st, 2008

It is widely acknowledged that historically intensive human disturbances increased erosion and sediment delivery rates to extreme levels in the 1950s through the 1970s ac

It is widely acknowledged that historically intensive human disturbances increased erosion and sediment delivery rates to extreme levels in the 1950s through the 1970s across the north coast, and are likely continuing to affect turbidity durations to some degree. A more controversial question is to what extent contemporary land use is affecting present-day erosion, sediment delivery and turbidity. Using turbidity exceedence levels to indicate watershed disturbance, we approached this question from several perspectives. Part A of this report follows up and expands on an earlier analysis (Klein, 2003) for which turbidity data sets from only eight sites were available. In the present study, annual turbidity data sets were assembled from up to 28 continuous turbidity and stage recording stations located on small streams in the northcoast region from Del Norte County in the north to Mendocino County in the south. Data spanning three water years (WY2003-2005) were processed to calculate lengths of time turbidity was higher than several thresholds. Turbidity thresholds ranged from 25 (frequently cited in the salmonid literature as causing ill effects when exceeded) to 1000 FNU. Turbidity exceedence analyses, similar to conventional flow exceedence analyses, were also performed, allowing comparison of turbidity levels at various exceedence probabilities. Part B of this report uses turbidity relationships to harvest rate to model potential effects on anadromous salmonids within a cumulative watershed effects (CWE) framework. To evaluate CWEs on anadromous salmonids and the stream ecosystem, annual turbidigraphs were produced from WY1991 through WY2005 at annual average harvest rates of 0% to 6% for an 8 mi2 old second-growth watershed in North Coastal California. The turbidigraphs were very conservative in that they used the ‘Lower Bound Lines’ to estimate turbidity from discharge, rather than a line of best fit. Turbidity thresholds established at 10, 25, and 50 FNU were applied to assess chronic background, moderate, and severe stress to stream ecosystems in each water year. A simple model of smolt growth and survival-to-adult-return (SAR), as influenced by the annual turbidigraph, indicated the minimum supportable adult steelhead population size could be more than halved at the 2% average annual timber harvest rate compared to that supported by an old second-growth watershed.