Sedimentation in the Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta was formed by deposition of sediment transported through the Central Valley of California. We understand the basic movement of sand and fine sediment into the Delta, but we do not have data to specify the availability, quantity, and efficient use of sediment. This activity supports the CALFED effort to assess, monitor and restore aquatic habitats throughout the Delta. Our primary objective is to describe the transport of sediment needed for habitat restoration.

You can find professional papers, current research topics, animations, and much more at this web site.

Linkage of Bioaccumulation and Biological Effects to Changes in Pollutant Loads in South San Francisco Bay

This poster answers the questions:

What are the long-term (1977-1997) trends of metals in the sediments and clams near the outfall of the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant (PARWQP)?
Can point-source inputs be distinguished from non-point-source contributions?
Does metal exposure affect the reproductive capability in South Bay clams?

USGS Booth

FOR Rivers Festival
February 19-20, 2000

Rex Sanders and Laura Torresan set up a USGS booth for the third year in a row at the annual Rivers Festival at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Take a little tour of the booth!

Spectacular Satellite Imagery of the San Francisco Bay Area

Portfolio of images of landscape, seascape and faults of the San Francisco Bay area

"Cooperative Research & Development between Pacific Gas & Electric Company and the USGS to promote informed decisions about reducing Earthquake Risks in the San Francisco Bay Area."

These images drape Landsat TM satellite imagery over Digital Elevation Models to show the bay as it has never been seen before. Earthquake fault lines are displayed in red.

All the images can be downloaded quickly for printing from your home computer on US Letter paper. Full size 6ft images can be downloaded or ordered from this site, or you can take a file to any good copy service bureau that offers a poster printing service.

Historical Bathymetric Change in Suisun Bay: 1867-1990

These web pages detail the change in sedimentation in Suisun Bay from 1867 to 1990 by using Geographic Information Systems for analyses. These changes are based on historical hydrographic surveys made by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS) and the National Ocean Survey (NOS). The Suisun Bay survey timeline shows the occurence of these hydrographic surveys in relation to activites such as hydraulic mining and flood control projects in central California.