Science activities

Reset filters

Text search

Management theme

Science theme

Type

Delta region

Status

Science function

Management actions

Science topics

Science action area

Start year

End year

Lead implementing organization

Partner implementing organizations

Primary funding organizations

Funding programs

Funding Sources

Records

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	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	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	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	National Wetland Condition Assessment [NWCA]
Lead	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA]
Description	The National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) is a statistical survey that begins to address some of the gaps in our understanding of wetland health by providing information on the ecological condition of the nationâ€™s wetlands and stressors most commonly associated with poor condition. The NWCA is designed to answer basic questions about the extent to which our nationâ€™s wetlands support healthy ecological conditions and the prevalence of key stressors at the national and regional scale. It is intended to complement and build upon the achievements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Status and Trends Program, which characterizes changes in wetland acreage across the conterminous United States. Paired together, these two efforts provide government agencies, wetland scientists, and the public with comparable, scientifically-defensible information documenting the current status and, ultimately, trends in both wetland quantity (i.e., area) and quality (i.e., ecological condition).
Science topics	Fishing, Surface water / flow, Groundwater, Tides, Flood, Drought, Nitrogen / ammonia, Phosphorous, Chlorophyll A / B, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Phytoplankton, Other zooplankton, Suspended sediment, Chemistry, Toxicity, Salinity, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Hg and methyl mercury, Other discharge contaminants, Mudflats, Intertidal / transition zones, Above-highwater refugia, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Floating aquatic vegetation, Seasonally flooded, Open water, Managed ponds, Riparian wildlife, Forests, Pelagic fish, Benthos, Insects, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Conductivity, Saltwater / freshwater marshes, Habitat, Other species, Fish, Invertebrates, Fecal coliform / E. coli
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	Environmental Monitoring Program [EMP]: Discrete Water Quality Monitoring
Lead	California Department of Water Resource [DWR]
Description	There are 24 fixed discrete stations within the San Francisco Estuary that are monitored at high water slack tide. The stations are primarily accessed by the Research Vessel Sentinel, or vehicle transport. Discrete sampling is completed once a month due to the intensity of collecting a wide collection of physical parameters (e.g. water temperature) and grab samples for laboratory analysis (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorous). The data from the discrete sampling is helpful to document long-term changes within the estuary.
Science topics	Algae, Ammonia, Benthic, Benthos, Bivalve, Carbon, Chemistry, Chlorophyll A / B, Climate change, Conductivity, Corbicula/Potamocorbula, Crustaceans, Cyanobacteria, Delta islands, Detritus, Dissolved oxygen, Docks and ports, Drought, Environmental drivers, Estuaries, Food webs, Harmful algal blooms HAB, Invasive / non native species, Invertebrates, Jellyfish, Main channels, Mollusks, Nitrogen, Nitrogen / ammonia, Nutrients, Open water, Other species, Other zooplankton, pH, Phosphorous, Phytoplankton, Primary production, Salinity, Sediments, Sloughs, Surface water / flow, Suspended sediment, Temperature, Tidal wetlands, Tides, Turbidity, Water, Water conveyance / infrastructure, Water management, Water operations / exports, Water temperature, Zooplankton
Updated	August 28, 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	Regional Geologic Mapping Program [RGMP]
Lead	California Department of Conservation [DOC]
Description	The Geologic Mapping Program was established to prepare and maintain a baseline source of the most current information on the framework geology of California. CGS geologists map and compile geologic maps of the state and its offshore continental margin at various scales. These efforts are partly supported by the U.S. Geological Survey through the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program The Geologic Mapping Program works in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through STATEMAP and SCAMP. Geologic mapping priorities are established under the direction of the State Geologist and the California Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee. The RGMP has also produced Statewide Geologic Maps at various scales, and Regional Geologic Maps at 1:250,000 scale. Currently the 2010 State Geologic Map of California (Geologic Data Map No. 2) at 1:750,000 scale (1 inch = approximately 12 miles) is the most detailed statewide map. A simplified geologic map at 1:2,250,000 scale is also available. The more detailed Regional Geologic Maps at 1:250,000 scale are available for the entire state aâ€‹s part of the Geologic Atlas of California series or the Regional Geologic Map series. As mentioned above, more recent maps in the Regional Geologic Map series are being prepared at 1:100,000 scale. These are available from CGS Publications and our Preliminary Geologic Maps web pageâ€‹. Many CGS geologic maps can also be found through the CGS Information Warehouse.
Science topics	Land elevation, Subsidence, Sea level rise, Seismicity, Suspended sediment, Bedload, Deposition, Erosion, Chemistry, Forests, Non-forested vegetation, Delta islands, Pacific flyway
Updated	April 29, 2022

Title	Seismic Hazards Program
Lead	California Department of Conservation [DOC]
Description	The Seismic Hazards Program delineates areas prone to ground failure and other earthquake-related hazards including soil liquefaction (the failure of water-saturated soil), earthquake-induced landslides, surface fault rupture, and tsunami inundation. Cities and counties are required to use these maps in their land-use planning and building permit processes so that these hazards are identified and mitigated for development projects prior to the next major earthquake. Additionally, the program reviews and provides comments on geologic and seismic hazards that apply directly to the design and construction of essential and critical facilities around the state. These facilities include schools, hospitals, nuclear power plants, hazardous waste repositories, and others, typically under contract to other state agencies. The program compiles information about past earthquakes, the potential for earthquakes on major faults, and rates of deformation across California to estimate the potential for future earthquakes. The Seismic Hazards Program works closely with the U.S. Geological Survey to produce earthquake shaking maps that are used in development of building codes and in earthquake damage and loss estimates.
Science topics	Agriculture, Urban development, Land elevation, Subsidence, Sea level rise, Seismicity, Suspended sediment, Bedload, Deposition, Erosion, Chemistry, Forests, Non-forested vegetation, Delta islands, Pacific flyway
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

Science activities

11 records

Advanced

Organizations and funding programs

Records