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Title	Operation Baseline Project 2B: Phytoplankton, CSU Maritime Academy
Lead	California State University Maritime Academy
Description	Planned upgrades to the Sacramento Regional wastewater treatment plant (Regional San) between 2019 and 2021 will reduce total nitrogen inputs by >60% and shift the dominant form of nitrogen entering the Delta from ammonium (NH4) to nitrate (NO3). These changes will affect the Delta in ways unforeseeable with existing knowledge. The focus of this project is to quantify the links between wastewater nitrogen and phytoplankton standing stock, community composition and carbon and nitrogen production. Working in collaboration with the other two Operation Baseline projects, we will: 1. validate in situ monitoring approaches for phytoplankton standing stock and community composition (i.e. using size-fractionated chlorophyll-a and diagnostic phytopigments via HPLC) and 2. provide estimates of ambient and nitrogen-saturated phytoplankton NH4 and NO3 uptake rates as well as C uptake. Phytoplankton N and C uptake rates will be made along spatial gradients in nitrogen and water residence time (Task 1) and in three wetland habitats with varying influence from wastewater nitrogen (Task 3). Together with the other proposals, this project will provide much needed baseline characterization of nutrient processes in the Delta prior to Regional San upgrades.
Science topics	Algae, Floating aquatic vegetation, Food webs, Nitrogen / ammonia, Open water, Other discharge contaminants, Phytoplankton, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Wastewater discharge, Water operations / exports, Wetlands, Zooplankton
Updated	December 14, 2022

Title	Operation Baseline Project 2C: Zooplankton, Romberg Tiburon Center, SFSU
Lead	San Francisco State University [SFSU]
Description	This project will examine responses of zooplankton (copepods) to variations in the foodweb attributable to nutrient sources. At each wetland site we will determine spatial abundance patterns and rates of reproduction, growth, and mortality. These will be integrated with information on phytoplankton and physical dynamics to determine how population dynamics responds to nutrient conditions. Stable isotopes will be used to assess nutrient source contributions to growth.
Science topics	Algae, Floating aquatic vegetation, Food webs, Nitrogen / ammonia, Open water, Other discharge contaminants, Phytoplankton, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Wastewater discharge, Water operations / exports, Wetlands, Zooplankton
Updated	December 14, 2022

Title	Do light, nutrient, and salinity interactions drive the “bad Suisun” phenomenon? A physiological assessment of biological hotspots in the San Francisco Bay-Delta
Lead	University of California - Santa Cruz [UCSC]
Description	This project assessed the physiological basis for reduced phytoplankton growth in Suisun Bay, prior to the major upgrade at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP), which is responsible for 90% of the nitrogen released into the bay. The work involved analyzing almost three decades of historical eld data from the bay-delta and using it to build a model to evaluate environmental drivers of phytoplankton biomass. Discoveries from the eld data were then tested through laboratory culturing experiments. By illuminating the interacting e ects of bottom- up drivers (light, nutrients, salinity) on phytoplankton, this research helps provide a fundamental understanding of this complex ecosystem.
Science topics	Ammonia, Flushing rates, Light, Open water, Pelagic fish, Phytoplankton, Salinity, Wastewater discharge, Water temperature
Updated	November 17, 2022

Title	Simulating methylmercury production and transport at the sediment-water interface to improve the water quality in the Delta
Lead	University of California - Merced [UC Merced]
Description	The aim of this project was to improve basic knowledge of mercury cycling and aid management of net methylmercury production in the delta by developing a kinetic-thermodynamic reaction model that describes and quantifies mercury cycling in delta sediments. The model was used to assess uncertainties and estimate methylation and demethylation rates — the processes by which methylmercury is produced and breaks down. In addition, the project examined coupling of mercury cycling with cycling of iron, sulfur, and manganese.
Science topics	Bioaccumulation, Chemistry, Hg and methyl mercury
Updated	November 17, 2022

Title	Operation Baseline Project 1: Conceptual Framework
Lead	Delta Stewardship Council
Description	A multidisciplinary team will develop a thorough conceptual model that will describe current conditions and consider changes from the WWTP upgrade. The model will be used to identify the highest priority science questions and investigations to pursue before, during, and after the plant upgrade.
Science topics	Algae, Floating aquatic vegetation, Food webs, Nitrogen / ammonia, Open water, Other discharge contaminants, Phytoplankton, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Wastewater discharge, Water operations / exports, Wetlands, Zooplankton
Updated	December 14, 2022

Title	Operation Baseline Project 2A1: USGS Pilot Studies
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	Two pilot studies were funded to establish a baseline in open water and shallow wetland habitats prior to the WWTP upgrade. Study 1: Nutrient concentrations, transformation rates, and links to the foodweb. Study 2: Method to improve monitoring using fixed stations coupled with high-speed boat measurements
Science topics	Algae, Floating aquatic vegetation, Food webs, Nitrogen / ammonia, Open water, Other discharge contaminants, Phytoplankton, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Wastewater discharge, Water operations / exports, Wetlands, Zooplankton
Updated	December 14, 2022

Title	Operation Baseline Project 2A2: USGS Pilot Studies - Isotopes
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	Evaluate the usefulness of stable isotopes to trace nutrients form effluent water
Science topics	Algae, Floating aquatic vegetation, Food webs, Nitrogen / ammonia, Open water, Other discharge contaminants, Phytoplankton, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Wastewater discharge, Water operations / exports, Wetlands, Zooplankton
Updated	December 14, 2022

Title	Pesticide risk analyses and management actions, chemical fate and transport
Lead	University of California - Santa Barbara [UCSB]
Description	This project work will model the risk of pesticide pollution in 225 sub-catchments of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta. The model will account for water management practices, land use, pesticide use rates, and cumulative pesticide stress. Additionally, this work will produce a web-based tool to simulate current and future risks based on the ranking of primary sources of pesticide contribution. This work will provide a framework to predict risk from chemical stressors. Specific objectives are: (1) enhanced pro-active chemical risk assessment, (2) creation of a tool which enables science-based chemical use decisions, (3) improved risk screening for vulnerable areas, and (4) identification of adverse effects of current and future chemical use strategies.
Science topics	Herbicides
Updated	February 27, 2025

Title	Environmental Monitoring Program: Continuous Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	DWR has conducted water quality monitoring for the California State Water Project since 1968. This program is currently managed by the Division of Operations and Maintenance, Environmental Assessment Branch. Initially, this program sought to monitor eutrophication (an increase in chemical nutrients) and salinity in the SWP. Over time, the water quality program expanded to include parameters of concern for drinking water, recreation, and wildlife. DWR's Division of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) currently maintains 16 continuous water quality monitoring stations located throughout the State Water Project. Data from these automated stations are uploaded to theÂ California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) website. Hourly to daily conductivity, temperature, turbidity, pH, fluorometry, UVA-254 absorption
Science topics	Air temperature, Algae, Chemistry, Chlorophyll A / B, Conductivity, Cyanobacteria, Dissolved oxygen, Drought, Environmental drivers, Estuaries, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Nitrogen, Nutrients, pH, Phytoplankton, Primary production, Salinity, Surface water / flow, Temperature, Tides, Turbidity, Water, Water conveyance / infrastructure, Water management, Water temperature
Updated	May 21, 2024

Title	Water Quality Data for California
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	The USGS collects and analyzes chemical, physical, and biological properties of water, sediment and tissue samples from across the Nation. The Water Data for the Nation discrete sample data base is a compilation of over 4.4 million historical water quality analyses in the USGS district data bases through September 2005. The discrete sample data is a large and complex set of data that has been collected by a variety of projects ranging from national programs to studies in small watersheds.
Science topics	Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Discrete dissolved oxygen monitoring in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	Dissolved oxygen levels in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Chanel (SDWSC) have been monitored since 1968 by the Interagency Ecological Program's (IEP) Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP). The SDWSC is located on the San Joaquin River near Stockton, California. Beginning in 1997, 14 stations were routinely monitored typically in summer and fall. Dissolved oxygen impairment can occur in the SDWSC;therefore, two water quality objectives were established.
Science topics	Chlorophyll A / B, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Main channels, Conductivity
Updated	May 20, 2024

Title	Surface Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB]
Description	Within the ILRP, growers can opt to acquire one of 2 types of permit coverage: Coalition coverage and Individual coverage. If the coalition option is chosen, a grower is allowed to share the cost of compliance, monitoring and reporting with other members of the coalition and reduces/eliminates grower interactions with the Central Valley Water Board (CVWB). The CVWB will then undertake the water quality monitoring. Ambient water and sediment quality monitoring for agricultural discharge will occur using three types of monitoring: Core Monitoring, Assessment Monitoring, and Management Plan Monitoring. Combined, these three levels of monitoring are designed to characterize the discharge from irrigated agriculture as a result of irrigation and storm water runoff.
Science topics	Agriculture, Surface water / flow, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Carbon, Chemistry, Toxicity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Drinking Water Well Monitoring
Lead	California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB]
Description	On 7 February 2018 the State Water Board revised the Waste Discharge Requirements (Order) for the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed. The revised Order includes a new drinking water well monitoring requirement. Beginning 1 January 2019, East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) members must monitor drinking water wells on enrolled parcels for nitrates. High levels of nitrates found in drinking water wells impact public health. Excess nitrates (NO3) in soil are often found in rural and agricultural areas. The most common sources of nitrate are fertilizer, livestock waste, and septic systems. Nitrates in soil are highly mobile and can be easily transported to groundwater. The purpose of Drinking Water Well Monitoring is to identify drinking water wells that have nitrate concentrations exceeding the drinking water standard and notify any well users of the potential health risks.
Science topics	Agriculture, Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Other discharge contaminants
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Surface Water Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	DWR continuously monitors surface water quality and hydrology at 49 sites within the Delta. The extensive DWR Central District Surface Water Monitoring network provides continuous data of flow magnitude and direction and general chemical water quality characteristics. Electrical conductivity (EC) is measured continuously at 24 of these stations. Measurements are recorded at 15-minute intervals and then reduced to a report format. At each EC site, equations are available to convert EC to chlorides and total dissolved solids. Several of the EC stations in the Delta also continuously monitor temperature and provide 15-minute temperature data.
Science topics	Surface water / flow, Stage, Precipitation, Water temperature, Turbidity, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	The California DWR Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a monitoring measures the composition (what kinds?), abundance (how many?), diversity (how many kinds?), and distribution (where are they?) of phytoplankton. It also measures phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll-a;both types of monitoring are performed as part of the IEPâ€™s Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP).
Science topics	Chlorophyll A / B, Phytoplankton, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Main channels, Conductivity
Updated	May 20, 2024

Title	Delta-Mendota Canal Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [USBR]
Description	Reclamation proposes to execute contracts with local water districts to convey non-project water in the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) subject to water quality monitoring, groundwater monitoring and reporting requirements outlined in this document
Science topics	Surface water / flow, Nitrogen / ammonia, Salinity, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	National Pollution Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Self-Monitoring Program
Lead	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA]
Description	The NPDES permit program, created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act (CWA), helps address water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. The permit provides two levels of control: technology-based limits and water quality-based limits (if technology-based limits are not sufficient to provide protection of the water body). NPDES requires self-monitoring for its permitting programs: stormwater, industrial, vessel, and municipal discharges.
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Nitrogen / ammonia, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Conductivity, Stormwater runoff / drainage, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Contra Costa Water District Source Water Monitoring
Lead	Contra Costa Water District [CCWD]
Description	CCWD source water monitoring provides information on Delta water prior to intake and treatment for water supply. Conduct monitoring at several water supply sites located near the intakes of (or inside) the California and North Bay aqueducts and Contra Costa Canal. Water supply programs monitor general water quality and a wide range of constituents of concern relevant to drinking water, including nutrients, OC, bromide, pathogens, and pesticides.
Science topics	Nitrogen / ammonia, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Salinity, pH, Turbidity, Lead, Copper, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Benthic Organism Study
Lead	U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [USBR]
Description	This program operates under the Interagency Ecological Program's (IEP) Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP). "The Benthic Organism monitoring effort was started in 1975 and currently monitors 10 sites across the estuary's salinity gradient, from Suisun Bay upstream to Clifton Court Forebay and Stockton, on a monthly basis. Benthic invertebrates are collected with a PONAR grab, preserved, identified, and enumerated. In addition to mandated monthly monitoring of benthic invertebrates, we also conducted special studies of benthic invertebrates using spatial intensive sampling schemes. These special studies complement the long-running mandated monitoring and provide a more comprehensive picture of the benthic community of the Upper San Francisco Estuary." Changes in benthic fauna presence, abundance and distribution associates physical factors are measured in the estuary to evaluate the impacts of water project operations. 426 species in 10 phyla have been collected to date. Data is also used to detect introduced species. Sediment composition data also collected to document general trends at sites where benthic organisms are collected. https://emp.baydeltalive.com/projects/12727/page
Science topics	Suspended sediment, Bedload, Deposition, Erosion, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Endangered Species Project
Lead	California Department of Pesticide Regulation [DPR]
Description	In California, DPR has been studying endangered species protection issues with federal funding since 1988. DPR activities include mapping sites occupied by federally listed species, evaluating pesticide exposure risks to inhabited sites, classifying risk and developing protection strategies to minimize risk as needed. There are currently 359 federally listed species in California including federally protected endangered and threatened species, proposed endangered, proposed threatened and Category 1 candidate species (that await only administrative processes to become protected species). Collectively, the federally listed species may occupy about 16 million acres, or about 16 percent of the land area of the state, albeit at very low densities. Of all federally listed species in California, the San Joaquin kit fox has by far the greatest overlap with agricultural areas, accounting for about 10 million acres in 14 counties, mostly in the agriculturally rich southern San Joaquin Valley. Other species that are interspersed with agricultural areas include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and many plants.
Science topics	Agriculture, Urban development, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Chinook Salmon, Delta Smelt, Benthos, Shorebirds, Giant garter snake, California tiger salamander, Insects, Other species, Fish, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians and reptiles
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Water Quality Exchange [WQX]
Lead	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA]
Description	The Water Quality Exchange (WQX) is the mechanism for data partners to submit water monitoring data to EPA. The Water Quality Exchange (WQX) is a framework that allows states, tribes and other data partners to submit and share water quality monitoring data via the web to the Water Quality Portal. WQX uses the technology, standards and protocols of the National Environmental Information Exchange Network, or Exchange Network, to provide a means for data partners to share water quality monitoring data to the Water Quality Portal. WQX is not a distributed database, but rather a standard set of data elements that all data partners map to in order to share data. States, tribes and others who store water quality data in a personal database and have the ability to generate XML files, can now submit data directly to the publicly-accessible Water Quality Portal using the WQX framework. In response to the need for common access to standardized water quality data for the nation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council developed the Water Quality Portal (WQP), the largest standardized water quality data access tool available at the time of this writing.
Science topics	Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Microplastics, Nitrogen / ammonia, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [USBR]
Description	Water Quality includes a program of real-time telemetry, generally with 15-minute reporting to the California Data Exchange Center. In addition, the SJRRP initiated a program of manual water quality constituent measurements. Reclamation will evaluate shallow groundwater, irrigation supply, subsurface drain system and San Joaquin River water quality for SJRRP seepage investigations.
Science topics	Chlorophyll A / B, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels, Sloughs, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Perennial Streams Survey
Lead	Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition [SMC]
Description	The Perennial Streams Assessment (PSA) is an ongoing, long-term statewide survey of the ecological condition of wadeable perennial streams and rivers throughout California. The PSA collects samples for biological indicators (BMIs and algae) and chemical constituents (nutrients, major ions, etc.), and also conducts habitat assessments for both in-stream and riparian corridor conditions.
Science topics	Nitrogen / ammonia, Chlorophyll A / B, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Main channels, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Benthos, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Conductivity, Habitat, Invertebrates
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program
Lead	San Francisco Estuary Institute [SFEI]
Description	The Bioaccumulation Oversight Group (BOG) is a subcommittee of the SWAMP Roundtable that provides oversight of SWAMP's statewide bioaccumulation monitoring program. The BOG is also a workgroup of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, and in this role manages the Safe to Eat Portal and is a forum for coordination of bioaccumulation monitoring in California. The mission of the BOG is to assess the impacts of contaminants in fish and shellfish on beneficial uses in California water bodies through statewide monitoring under SWAMP and perform syntheses of information from other studies, and to develop an internet portal that presents this information to decision-makers and the public in a form that they can easily use. See the Workgroup Charter for more information.
Science topics	Fishing, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Pelagic fish, Striped bass
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Beneficial Use Assessment
Lead	California Water Board - Central Valley Region
Description	Since 2007, the Central Valley Water Board has conducted Recreational Beneficial Use Assessments monitoring each summer. Recreation beneficial uses are assessed using E. coli as an indicator of fecal pollution. In 2019, the Central Valley Water Board is conducting weekly sampling in the Lower American River, the Stockton Urban Waterways, and the Upper San Joaquin River. Select a watershed for the latest results. Data are uploaded to an interactive map at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb5/water_issues/swamp/r5_activities/2019_rbua/ and final fecal coliform data are uploaded to CEDEN (http://www.ceden.org/)
Science topics	Recreation & tourism, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Main channels, Socio-economic drivers, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Water Quality in the Nation's Stream and Rivers
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	In 1991, Congress established the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project to address where, when, why, and how the Nation's water quality has changed, or is likely to change in the future, in response to human activities and natural factors. A prominent feature of NAWQA is the development of long-term consistent and comparable information on streams, rivers, ground water, and aquatic systems. The NAWQA Project is designed to answer these questions: 1. What is the current condition of our Nation's streams, rivers, and groundwater? 2. How are these conditions changing over time? 3. How do natural features and human activities affect these conditions, and where are those effects most pronounced? Under the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project, there are several surface water and ecology studies, including the Regional Stream Quality Assessment (RQSA) (a baseline assessment of streams), and current conditions and long-term trends monitoring.
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Carbon, Chlorophyll A / B, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Suspended sediment, Chemistry, Toxicity, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Microplastics, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Benthos, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Fish, Invertebrates
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Groundwater Quality Trends Monitoring
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	Scientists are characterizing groundwater quality in principal aquifers, the primary source of the Nation's groundwater used for drinking. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, such as arsenic and nitrate, and organic constituents, such as pesticides and volatile organic compounds, are compared to benchmarks established for the protection of human health. Users can access an online tool to see how concentrations of pesticides, nutrients, metals, and organic contaminants in groundwater are changing during decadal periods across the Nation, and see in real time how chemical properties of groundwater at some sites are fluctuating. Groundwater quality data were collected from 5,000 wells between 1988-2001 (first sampling event) by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Project. Samples are collected in groups of 20-30 wells with similar characteristics called networks. About 1,500 of these wells in 67 networks were sampled about 10 years later between 2002-2012 (second sampling event) to evaluate decadal changes in groundwater quality. Between 2012 and 2016 (third sampling event), a subset of these networks has been sampled again, allowing additional results to be displayed on the web page: Decadal changes in groundwater quality. This is the third iteration of data added to the website, so this data release is referred to herein as Version 3.0. With the additional data, it is possible to evaluate changes in water quality between the 2nd and 3rd sampling event for 19 additional networks (35 total), changes in water quality between the 1st and 3rd sampling event for 15 additional networks (27 total), and changes across all 3 sampling events for 13 additional networks (27 total). A total of 78 networks have been sampled at least twice. Samples were obtained from monitoring wells, domestic-supply wells, and some public-supply wells before any treatment on the system.
Science topics	Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Salinity, Arsenic, Other discharge contaminants
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	SJCDWQC Surface Water Monitoring
Lead	San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition [SJCDWQC]
Description	The San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition (SJCDWQC or Coalition) performs monthly surface water quality monitoring as part of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program to characterize discharge from irrigated agriculture.
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Agriculture, Surface water / flow, Toxicity, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Other discharge contaminants, Non-forested vegetation, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	SJCDWQC Groundwater Quality Trend Monitoring
Lead	San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition [SJCDWQC]
Description	The San Joaquin County & Delta Water Quality Coalition was established to help irrigated agriculture meet the requirements of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board's (RWQCB) Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) in San Joaquin County, Calaveras County and Contra Costa County. The Coalitions is operated and governed by the San Joaquin County Resource Conservation District. Under the ILRP that was originally adopted in July of 2003, farmers and ranchers that irrigate their land and have runoff from that irrigation or rainfall must belong to a coalition or apply for an individual discharge permit from the Regional Board directly.
Science topics	Agriculture, Conductivity, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Dissolved oxygen, Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Non-forested vegetation, Other discharge contaminants, pH, Stormwater runoff / drainage, Turbidity, Wastewater discharge, Water temperature
Updated	November 14, 2024

Title	Nitrogen Monitoring [Self-Reporting]
Lead	Westside San Joaquin River Watershed Coalition
Description	Beginning in April 2016, members in a high vulnerability groundwater area, for which nitrate is identified as a constituent of concern, must prepare and implement a certified Nitrogen Management Plan (NMP).
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Agriculture, Surface water / flow, Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Non-forested vegetation, Stormwater runoff / drainage
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Sacramento Watershed Coordinated Monitoring Program [SWCMP]
Lead	Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board [Central Valley RWQCB]
Description	SWCMP is a coordinated monitoring effort between DWR and Central Valley RWQCB. This program monitors ambient water quality at locations in the Sacramento River starting upstream of Lake Shasta and going south to Verona, and at the lower end of all large streams tributary to the Sacramento River. It is funded jointly by DWR Northern District Water Quality Section and the Central Valley RWQCB SWAMP. The SWCMP is designed to meet the monitoring needs of the Regional Boardâ€™s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) and the DWR Northern Districtâ€™s Water Quality and Biology section. Coordination allows both agencies to maximize the use of their limited resources.
Science topics	Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Carbon, Suspended sediment, Toxicity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Benthos, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Conductivity, Invertebrates
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	California Rice Commission [CRC] Surface Water Monitoring
Lead	California Rice Commission
Description	The efforts began under the RPP and, beginning in 2004, included activities under the Conditional Waiver for Rice (CWFR) under the ILRP. The CWFR expired at the end of 2014, and in 2015 the Rice Waste Discharge Requirements (Rice WDR) takes effect. The CRC implements water quality monitoring and reporting activities in compliance with the following two programs of the CVRWQCB: -CVRWQCB Order No. R5-2014-0032, Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for Sacramento Valley Rice Growers, and associated Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) Order R5-2014-0032 -Rice Pesticides Program (RPP), pursuant to the Conditional Prohibition of Discharge requirements specified in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins (Basin Plan;Resolution R5-2010-9001)
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Agriculture, Surface water / flow, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Toxicity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Copper, Insecticides, Non-forested vegetation, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	California Rice Commission [CA Rice] Groundwater Monitoring
Lead	California Rice Commission
Description	In 1997, 28 rice wells were installed by the USGS. Since then, several of the wells have been destroyed or replaced and new wells have been installed to complement the original wells. Currently, 24 wells are active and used for water level monitoring and groundwater quality sampling. After two full network sampling events, the USGS used five network wells for trend monitoring as part of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Cycle II groundwater monitoring activities (from 2004 to 2014). Under the current monitoring program, now in Cycle III (2014 to 2024), water level monitoring is conducted bi-annually. In 2017, water quality monitoring will include the full network of active wells
Science topics	Agriculture, Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Suspended sediment, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Seasonally flooded, Non-forested vegetation, Conductivity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Sacramento River Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency
Description	The Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency (WDCWA)â€”a cooperative partnership between the City of Davis and the City of Woodlandâ€”was formed to implement the Davis-Woodland Water Supply Project (DWWSP) and construct a new surface water treatment plant to treat water from the Sacramento River which, once complete, will largely replace the Citiesâ€™ current groundwater supply. In October 2013, CH2M-Hill was selected as the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) Company for this project. In anticipation of this new surface water treatment facility, the WDCWA began an extensive source water monitoring program in August 2009. The purpose of this monitoring program was to characterize the quality of Sacramento River water at the DWWSP intake, to assist in the selection of an effective treatment process train, and to provide the required raw water data necessary for obtaining a Domestic Water Supply Permit from the State Water Resources Control Boardâ€™s Drinking Water Program (DWP;formerly under the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)). After fulfilling the initial one-year monitoring program agreed to by CDPH, a scaled down sampling program was initiated to better understand seasonal trends in water quality, and to fill the time gap between the initial 2009-2010 monitoring efforts and startup of the new Regional Water Treatment Facility (RWTF).
Science topics	Surface water / flow, Groundwater, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Salinity, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity, Water use / demand, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program [GAMA]
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program is California's comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring program that was created by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) in 2000. It was later expanded by Assembly Bill 599 - the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001. AB 599 required the State Water Board, in coordination with an Interagency Task Force (ITF) and Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to integrate existing monitoring programs and design new program elements as necessary, resulting in a publicly accepted plan to monitor and assess groundwater quality in basins that account for 95% of the state's groundwater use. The GAMA Program is based on interagency collaboration with the State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Water Resources, Department of Pesticide Regulations, U.S. Geological Survey, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and cooperation with local water agencies and well owners.
Science topics	Groundwater, Salinity, Hg and methyl mercury, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Nitrogen / ammonia, Other discharge contaminants, Conductivity, Habitat, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Freshwater CyanoHABs Program [Blue-Green Algae Harmful Algal Blooms]
Lead	California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB]
Description	Observations of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and algal toxins have increased globally in recent years. HABs are problematic because they can affect multiple beneficial uses including recreation, aquatic life, and drinking water by reducing aesthetics, lowering dissolved oxygen concentration, causing taste and odor problems, and producing potent toxins. Water Board staff are working with state and local entities to identify and respond to HAB incidents throughout California. The Water Board first began to formally address this issue in 2005 when it formed the Blue Green Algae Work Group, later renamed the California Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom Network (CCHAB). An initial product of this group was the Voluntary Guidance Document (original release 2010, updated 2016). Subsequently, SWAMP prepared California Freshwater HAB Assessment and Support Strategy to articulate a coordinated program to assess, communicate and manage HABs in California.
Science topics	Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Floating aquatic vegetation, Benthos, Saltwater / freshwater marshes, Environmental drivers, Socio-economic drivers, Other species
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Stream Pollution Trends Monitoring Program [SPOT]
Lead	California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB]
Description	The SPoT project is primarily funded by SWAMP. SPoT monitors trends in sediment toxicity and sediment contaminant concentrations in selected large rivers throughout California and relates contaminant concentrations and toxicity to watershed land uses. It is designed to improve our understanding of watersheds and water quality by monitoring changes in both over time, evaluating impacts of development, and assessing the effectiveness of regulatory programs and conservation efforts at the watershed scale.
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Dredging, Urban development, Bedload, Chemistry, Toxicity, Energy and mines, Vessels and shipping channels
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	EMP Zooplankton Study
Lead	California Department of Fish and Wildlife [CDFW]
Description	The Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) has conducted the Zooplankton Study since 1972 to better assess trends in the lower trophic food web in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. The study also detects and monitors zooplankton recently introduced to the estuary and determines their effects on native species. Under the auspices of the Interagency Ecological Program for the San Francisco Estuary and mandated by Water Right Decision D-1641, the EMP Zooplankton Study is part of the Environmental Monitoring Program and is conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFW), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR).
Science topics	Crustaceans, Invertebrates, Main channels, Mysis, Other zooplankton, Sloughs
Updated	October 16, 2024

Title	State Park System Statistics Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Parks and Recreation [PARKS]
Description	California monitors number of "use-days" by individual parks Statewide. Each year the Department publishes California State Park System Statistical Report, which contains data that collectively describe and measure the California State Park System. This data covers the most recent fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. This annual report provides information on the system as it existed and was operated during that 12-month period. Among this data are the identity of the system's official set of classified units and major unclassified properties, their acreage, their visitor attendance, the number of selected visitor use facilities, the revenues generated by the system, the system's operating costs, and levels of staffing used to maintain the system. In addition, as of the 2014-15 Statistical Report, the publication now includes Park Unit Costing information, which offers an increased level of fiscal information that allows for a greater understanding of how the Departmental funding is allocated amongst the various state park units in support of the State Park's System.
Science topics	Recreation & tourism, Environmental drivers, Socio-economic drivers
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Municipal Water Quality Investigation Program [MWQI]
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	DWR's municipal water quality monitoring program studies the effect the Delta has on quality, treatability, and reliability of source waters for municipal use. Discrete water quality samples are collected monthly and biweekly throughout the Delta. The Real Time Data and Forecasting-Comprehensive Program (RTDF-CP) collects continuous data at 5 key locations in the Delta, State Water Project and Central Valley Project, coalesces the data into graphs, and provides model-based water quality forecasts. Together, these resources are essential tools for drinking water purveyors in efficiently managing water treatment operations. MWQI monitoring data are used in drinking water supply studies, to identify long-term trends in drinking water quality, and to help DWR and other agencies research and mitigate drinking water issues in Delta waters and the SWP. Additionally, in collaboration with the BDO, O&M EAB, and OCO, monitoring data are used to further develop the "early warning" system that provides advance notice to Delta water users of possible drinking water quality problems. Monitoring data are collected by two different monitoring strategies;1) discrete grab samples, and 2) continuous real-time monitoring via remotely located instrumentation. Municipal water quality monitoring parameters include: Organic carbon, Anions, Cations, Salinity, Nutrients, Chlorophyll, Metals, and Total dissolved solids
Science topics	Water conveyance / infrastructure, Agriculture, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Carbon, Chlorophyll A / B, Detritus, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Phytoplankton, Other zooplankton, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Microplastics, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels, Sloughs, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	June 14, 2024

Title	Quality Assurance & Quality Control [QA/QC] Program
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	The QA/QC Program implements our QA/QC Policy through Water Resources Engineering Memo (WREM) 60 (PDF). WREM 60 establishes our policies and procedures to assure that quality assurance is used in our chemical and physical measurements, data collection, and data measurement and management activities. Our QA/QC Program ensures that all water-related data is collected in a way that is scientifically sound, legally defensible, comparable and compatible with State and federal agencies, and is properly documented. All of our divisions, districts, contractors, and agency cooperators performing measurement activities are subject to the provisions of WREM 60. QA/QC protocols include: Standard operating procedures Quality assurance templates Quality control standards Quality assurance assessments Department-wide quality assurance guidance documents
Science topics	Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Microplastics, Nitrogen / ammonia, Other discharge contaminants, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	June 14, 2024

Title	Continuous Monitoring of Water Quality & Suspended-Sediment Transport [Bay-Delta]
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	Our group at the USGS continuously monitors suspended-sediment concentration (SSC), turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and water level at many sites throughout the San Francisco Bay (Bay) and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers Delta (Delta). Our work began in 1988 to explore the spatial and temporal variability of water quality and sediment transport and to provide decision makers, resource managers, and the public with the most up-to-date knowledge. Topics we study include water quality, sediment transport, water clarity, erosion and deposition, sediment-associated contaminants and habitat quality, wetland restoration, and sea level rise.
Science topics	Water operations / exports, Water storage, Water conveyance / infrastructure, Surface water / flow, Stage, Velocity, Suspended sediment, Bedload, Deposition, Erosion, Chemistry, Toxicity, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Other discharge contaminants, Intertidal / transition zones, Main channels, Sloughs, Open water, Riparian wildlife, Conductivity, Water use / demand, Water intakes, fish screens & passage
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Water Quality of San Francisco Bay
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	This website provides information about the following components of water quality: salinity, temperature, suspended particulate matter, dissolved oxygen, light penetration, and chlorophyll concentration. These parameters are measured using a submersible instrument package called a CTD. This program complements the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) for the San Francisco Bay/Delta Ecosystem.
Science topics	Solar irradiance, Chlorophyll A / B, Suspended sediment, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Suisun Marsh Monitoring Program
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	The Suisun Marsh Monitoring Program is a monitoring program to collect data on surface and soil water quality, water elevations, vegetation, and wildlife species, required by the Suisun Marsh Preservation Agreement (SMPA) that was signed by DWR, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), and Suisun Resource Conservation District (SRCD).
Science topics	Water operations / exports, Salinity
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Surface Water Protection Program
Lead	California Department of Pesticide Regulation [DPR]
Description	CA Department of Pesticide Regulation is the lead agency for regulating the registration, sales and use of pesticides in California. It is required by law to protect the environment, including surface waters, from environmentally harmful pesticides by prohibiting, regulating, or controlling the uses of such pesticides. The Surface Water Protection Program addresses both agricultural and nonagricultural sources of pesticide residues in surface waters. It has preventive and response components that reduce the presence of pesticides in surface waters. The preventive component includes local outreach to promote management practices that reduce pesticide runoff. Prevention also relies on DPR's registration process in which potential adverse effects to surface water quality, particularly those in high-risk situations are evaluated. The response component includes mitigation options to meet water quality goals, recognizing the value of self-regulating efforts to reduce pesticides in surface water as well as regulatory authorities of DPR, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB).
Science topics	Surface water / flow, Groundwater, Toxicity, Endocrine disruptors, Copper, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Main channels, Sloughs, Backwater, Non-forested vegetation, Habitat
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	National Pipeline Mapping System
Lead	U.S. Department of Transportation [DoT]
Description	The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) is a dataset containing locations of and information about gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants which are under the jurisdiction of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Science topics	Energy and mines
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Well Completion Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	California Water Code Section 13751 requires that anyone who constructs, alters, or destroys a water well, cathodic protection well, groundwater monitoring well, or geothermal heat exchange well must file with the Department of Water Resources a report of completion within 60 days of the completion of the work. Drillers submit their well completion reports with the Online System of Well Completion Reports (OSWCR). OSWCR users create an account based on their C-57 license that DWR will validate. Upon approval users will be able to submit Well Completion Reports.
Science topics	Water conveyance / infrastructure, Groundwater
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System [SMARTS]
Lead	California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB]
Description	SMARTS provides a platform where dischargers, regulators, and the public can enter, manage, and view storm water data including permit registration documents, compliance, and monitoring data associated with California's Storm Water General Permits. SMARTS is compliant with the EPA's Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) which sets requirements for electronic reporting of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and report submittals. The Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System more commonly referred to as SMARTS is the Water Boardâ€™s online database. The Industrial General Permit requires all documents related to Storm Water to be certified and submitted electronically on the website. These documents can include a siteâ€™s Notice of Intent (NOI) or No Exposure Certification (NEC) application, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), Storm Water Sample Results, or Annual Reports. SMARTS has three types of user roles: Legally Responsible Persons (LRPs), Duly Authorized Representatives (DARs), and Data Entry Persons (DEPs). Each Facility is required to have an LRP account on SMARTS in order to apply for either NOI or NEC coverage under the IGP. That LRP has the option to link additional users to the account. For example, Frog Environmental can be linked to SMARTS as a Data Entry Person. As your DEP, Frog Environmental can assist with uploading and properly preparing documents that are required to be on SMARTS. Although we can help with the data entry, all documents are required to certified and submitted by either the LRP or the DAR that is linked to the facilityâ€™s SMARTS account. We also assist with the certification process by sending step by step instructions and answering any questions you may have regarding SMARTS.
Science topics	Wastewater discharge, Urban development, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB, Hydrocarbons / polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, Flame retardants, Endocrine disruptors, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Constituent of emerging concern CEC, Insecticides, Rodenticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Microplastics, Nitrogen / ammonia, Other discharge contaminants, Stormwater runoff / drainage, Fecal coliform / E. coli
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay
Lead	U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
Description	The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is SFEI's largest program. It provides the information that regulators and decision-makers need to manage the Bay effectively. The RMP is an innovative collaborative effort between SFEI, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the regulated discharger community.
Science topics	Stage, Solar irradiance, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Carbon, Chlorophyll A / B, Suspended sediment, Salinity, Water temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Copper, Selenium, Other discharge contaminants, Main channels, Conductivity, Habitat
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Mineral Resources Program
Lead	California Department of Conservation [DOC]
Description	Mineral Resources Program provides data about California's varied non-fuel mineral resources (such as metals and industrial minerals), naturally occurring mineral hazards (such as asbestos, radon, and mercury), and information about active and historic mining activities throughout the state. Program reports and maps are shared with governmental agencies, universities, repository libraries and are available for purchase from CGS. Older reports are available in paper;some newer reports are available in paper and digital formats compatible with commonly used Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The program is divided into two projects: the Mineral Resources Project and the Mineral Hazards Project;The "Mineral Hazards Project" provides maps, technical information and advice, and monitors activities about minerals-related environmental and public health issues such as naturally occurring heavy metals, asbestos, mercury and radon;The "Mineral Resources Project" provides objective geologic expertise and information about California's diverse non-fuel mineral resources. Non-fuel mineral resources fall into three categories: metals, industrial minerals and construction aggregate.
Science topics	Suspended sediment, Deposition, Erosion, Chemistry, Toxicity, Hg and methyl mercury, Forests, Non-forested vegetation, Delta islands, Pacific flyway, Environmental drivers, Energy and mines
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Impact of Temperature and Contaminants on Chinook salmon survival: A Multi‐Stressor Approach
Lead	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
Description	This project will examine how contaminant exposures at different temperatures impact a number of critical physiological functions and the associated genes that maintain salmon fitness. The project will determine the sensitivity of fall‐run Chinook salmon to a mixture of bifenthrin, a pyrethoid pesticide, and triclosan, an antibacterial added to personal care products, at optimal and high temperatures that Chinook salmon encounter during their outmigration through the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The hypothesis is that these stressors will impact salmon predator and disease susceptibility and will interact, such that the cumulative effect on salmon could not be predicted from multiple single exposures. To test the hypothesis, fall‐run Chinook salmon parr will be exposed to sublethal concentrations of bifenthrin, triclosan, and a mixture of bifenthrin and triclosan at different temperatures. The impacts of these exposures on salmon will be assessed with the following endpoints: (1) predator susceptibility through altered response latencies and escape velocities; (2) disease susceptibility in response to a disease challenge; and (3) differential gene expression by high‐throughput sequencing of the Chinook salmon transcriptome.
Science topics	Pesticides
Updated	September 28, 2023

Title	The Relative Contributions of Contaminants to Ecological Risk in the Upper San Francisco Estuary
Lead	Delta Stewardship Council - Delta Science Program
Description	This project developed methods to calculate risk of mixtures of pesticides for the Upper San Francisco Estuary (USFE). We used curve fitting to estimate the exposure-response curves for each individual chemical and then the mixture. For the mixtures, the models were normalized for specific ECx values. In that way, the curve fitting was optimized for effects that are comparable to most threshold values. A Bayesian network was built that incorporated five different pesticides and mercury. The input distributions of the contaminants were measured amounts from each of the six risk regions. We also explored three different methods of combining the results of the three pathways – additive, average, and expert judgement. The initial result was the BN model’s Predicted Fish Mortality (%). The Sensitivity analysis (mutual information) identified the most important components of the Bayesian network in determining the toxicity. The top two pathways were the Malathion/Diazinon Mortality pathway and the Mercury Mortality pathway. For the individual nodes Mercury, Bifenthrin and Season were key. Currently, we are completing the risk assessment network by adding Chinook salmon and Delta smelt population pathways to estimate risk to the six Risk Regions. A major accomplishment was the demonstration that curve fitting using additive models for mixtures can be used to estimate fish toxicity in this proof-of-concept model. Bifenthrin, the specific risk region, and season were the inputs that were most important to the calculation. Factors determining macroinvertebrate community structure were identified using multivariate tools. Water quality parameters were the most important in determining clusters of similar macrobenthic communities. Because contaminants were not statistically significant in determining these patterns, further analysis of macroinvertebrate community structure was postponed. At this time, the techniques applied in this program appear applicable to estimating risk due to the variety of chemicals and other stressors to the multiple endpoints under management in the USFE.
Science topics	None specified
Updated	January 24, 2024

Title	Source characterization and biogeochemical consequences of wastewater and agricultural C, N, and P inputs to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
Lead	University of California - Santa Cruz [UCSC]
Description	This project aimed to characterize the sources of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur compounds from wastewater treatment plant and agricultural discharge in the region. Stable isotope measurement provides elemental signatures that can be used to trace compounds to their sources. Use of this methodology requires that researchers first characterize the stable isotope composition of sources—or fingerprint the suspects. By determining the stable isotope composition of various compounds in wastewater and agricultural drainage sources, this project aimed to build a better understanding of how these compounds are affected by different wastewater treatment agricultural land use practices. In addition, the project has provided a base of knowledge to better understand how these compounds are transported and taken up in the delta environment.
Science topics	Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Wastewater discharge
Updated	February 26, 2024

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