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HYDROLOGIC DATA
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA WSC
USGS IN YOUR STATE
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.
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Science for Stewardship of California’s Water Resources
The USGS California Water Science Center brings many capabilities and tools to the understanding, management and protection of California's water and other natural resources. The Center’s approximately 200 scientists and technicians are leaders in:
- Conducting long-term monitoring of streamflow and water quality.
- Developing new sampling, analytical, and interpretive methods to assess groundwater quality.
- Studying the geology of groundwater systems to help managers protect and optimize supplies.
- Devising new computer models that can play a key role in everything from managing surface- and groundwater supplies to assessing the impact of climate change on individual watersheds.
- Conducting multi-disciplinary ecosystem and watershed research, including large-scale studies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. Read more
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New USGS research
Cuyama Valley Water Resources
 The USGS is working with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency to develop a greater understanding of the groundwater processes in the Cuyama Valley, in eastern Santa Barbara County. The research will evaluate the potential hydrologic effects of future groundwater withdrawals on different parts of the valley. A new web site contains lots of information about the study and includes an interactive map, photos and a video report.
CAWSC News
California groundwater conference honors USGS report News release
More news
Videos and podcasts
Water Question of the Week
Is saline water used for anything?
Saline water has some uses. In 2000, the U.S. used about 62 billion gallons per day of saline water, which was about 15 percent of all water used. But saline water can only be used for certain purposes. The main use was for thermoelectric power-plant cooling. As for the other uses, about 8 percent of water used for industrial purposes was saline, and about 43 percent of all water used for mining purposes was saline. Also, saline water can be desalinated for use as drinking water by putting it through a process to remove the salt from the water. The process costs so much that it isn't used very much right now.
More water questions?
Have a question about USGS water science, or California water in general? Ask Tom Haltom, public information officer for the USGS California Water Science Center, at 916/ 278-3100 or tchaltom@usgs.gov.
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Streamflow Conditions in California
Photo of the Week
A sailboat passes through the raised Freeport Bridge on the Sacramento River. USGS Photo by Cathy Munday
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
