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The Role of Snowpack, Rainfall, and Reservoirs in Buffering California Against Drought Effects

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 1st, 2016

Summary

California’s vast reservoir system, fed by annual snow and rainfall, plays an important part in providing water to the State’s human and wildlife population. There ar

California’s vast reservoir system, fed by annual snow and rainfall, plays an important part in providing water to the State’s human and wildlife population. There are almost 1,300 reservoirs throughout the State, but only approximately 200 of them are considered storage reservoirs, and many of the larger ones are critical components of the Federal Central Valley Project and California State Water Project. Storage reservoirs, such as the ones shown in figure 1, capture winter precipitation for use in California’s dry summer months. In addition to engineered reservoir storage, California also depends on water “stored” in the statewide snowpack, which slowly melts during the course of the summer, to augment the State’s water supply.

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USGS Science at Work in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | ?

Summary

The San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta form one of the largest estuaries in the United States. The “Bay-Delta” system provides water to more than 25 m

The San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta form one of the largest estuaries in the United States. The “Bay-Delta” system provides water to more than 25 million California residents and vast farmlands, as well as key habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife. To help ensure the health of this crucial estuary, the U.S. Geological Survey, in close cooperation with partner agencies and organizations, is providing science essential to addressing societal issues associated with water quantity and quality, sediment transportation, environmental contamination, animal health and status, habitat restoration, hazards, ground subsidence, and climate change.

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Water Allocation, Use, and Regulation in California

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 30th, 2014

Summary

In California, water use and supplies are controlled and managed under an intricate system of common law principles, constitutional provisions, State and federal statutes

In California, water use and supplies are controlled and managed under an intricate system of common law principles, constitutional provisions, State and federal statutes, court decisions, and contracts or agreements. All of these components constitute the institutional framework for the protection of public interests and their balance with private claims in California’s water allocation and management.

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Water and the Environment

American Geological Institute (AGI) | July 11th, 2002

Summary

When we turn the faucet on we expect clean water to come out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our expectations are so high that we have built large dams and associat

When we turn the faucet on we expect clean water to come out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our expectations are so high that we have built large dams and associated reservoirs, pumped large quantities of groundwater from aquifers, and constructed intricate water distribution systems to transport water from areas where it is located to where we prefer to live. We monitor the quality of our water and spend billion of dollars to treat it. In the United States, we have come to rely on good quality water and plenty of it; after all, water is essential to life. As a society, we depend upon water for many uses including irrigation, power generation, recreation, and transportation. But what happens when there is a drought, or even times when the supply of water is less than what we have become accustomed to? Or maybe there is too much water and it floods our home, farm, or city. What if the quality of our water is degraded and we can no longer use it for a desired purpose, or what if a dam is built across our favorite river or stream, changing its characteristics? How do natural or human-induced changes to water affect our lives as well as the plants and animals that also depend upon it for existence? This publication provides information about water, its importance, where it comes from, water-related environmental concerns, water protection, polices and regulations, and our future needs for water ... So pour a glass of water and read on.

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