Pesticide Concentrations of Surface Water and Suspended Sediment in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex, California, 2019–2021

Data Report 1195
Water Availability and Use Science Program
Prepared in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources
By: , and 

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Abstract

Managed flow pulses in the north Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are an adaptive management tool used in efforts to enhance food availability in delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) habitat as part of the North Delta Food Subsidies Action. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) monitors non-managed seasonal and local flow pulses and managed flow pulses from agricultural drainage or main stem Sacramento River water redirected through Yolo By-Pass. Augmented flow pulses are hypothesized to improve net positive flow during summer and fall in Yolo By-Pass and enhance plankton availability in delta smelt habitat in Cache Slough complex. However, flow pulses may also result in unintended negative effects of increased pesticides that are transported through Yolo By-Pass. Here, we evaluate pesticides in surface water and suspended sediment correlated with flow pulses in Yolo By-Pass during the 2019–21 calendar years.

Surface-water and suspended-sediment samples were collected by DWR personnel. Water samples were analyzed at the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory in Sacramento, California, for a suite of as many as 178 current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Suspended sediments filtered from water samples were analyzed for a suite of as many as 173 current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates.

There were 52 different current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates detected in water samples collected throughout the study. Concentrations ranged from below method detection limits to 4,070 nanograms per liter. Five different compounds in water samples were detected with concentrations above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aquatic life benchmarks. In suspended-sediment samples collected throughout the study, eight different current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates were detected.

Total pesticide concentrations were highest at surface-water sites in the northern end of Yolo By-Pass and decreased farther downstream during the same sampling events. Total pesticide concentrations generally were higher for most surface-water sites immediately before or during the managed flow pulse in 2019 versus after the flow pulse. Finally, mean total pesticide concentrations for each surface-water site generally were higher during all of 2019 than 2021, regardless of sampling period.

Introduction

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (hereafter referred to as “the Delta”) is a critical habitat for local wildlife and key fish species. Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are listed as endangered Federally (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023) and by the State of California (California Natural Diversity Database, 2024). Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are listed as threatened Federally (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023) and by the State of California (California Natural Diversity Database, 2024). Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) are listed as threatened Federally (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023) and as endangered by the State of California (California Natural Diversity Database, 2024). Chinook salmon and delta smelt are native fish species that are important to the Delta food web, which has been dramatically affected by anthropogenic alterations, such as water diversions, channel modifications, and land-use changes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023; Brown and others, 20241). These alterations have resulted in habitat losses, sediment load changes, nutrient loading, and contaminant presence in the Delta (Brown and others, 2024). In addition, phytoplankton declines have contributed to the Federal and State listings of delta smelt (Sommer and others, 2001).

Cache Slough complex and Yolo By-Pass (fig. 1), which includes the agricultural lands that are seasonally wetted, are regions of particular interest for the conservation of listed species because they are richer in phytoplankton than most other parts of the Delta (Frantzich and others 2018, 2021). Cache Slough complex is in the northwest section of the Delta and consists of Cache Slough, Lindsey Slough (fig. 1), Liberty Island (not shown), Sacramento River Deep Water Ship Channel (fig. 1), and lower Yolo By-Pass (Orlando and others, 2020). Cache Slough complex provides key habitats for the production of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and juvenile fish (Sommer and others, 2001; Nobriga and others, 2005). Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex are important sources of phytoplankton biomass for the food web farther downstream in the Delta.

1. Surface-water sampling sites are located throughout Yolo By-Pass, Cache Slough
                     complex, and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California.
Figure 1.

Locations of surface-water sampling sites throughout Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California. Surface-water site information can be accessed from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023) using USGS site information provided in table 1.

Table 1.    

Surface-water sampling sites in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex (National Water Quality Monitoring Council, 2023; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

[DWR, California Department of Water Resources; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; CA, California]

DWR site code USGS site number USGS site name Latitude1 Longtitude1 Years sampled
RMB 11390890 Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing, CA 38.81240 −121.77413 2019, 2020, 2021
RD22 384035121383801 Tule Canal at Road 22 near Woodland, CA 38.67636 −121.64397 2019, 2020, 2021
LIS 382829121351801 Toe Drain near Babel Slough near Freeport, CA 38.47478 −121.58823 2019, 2020
STTD 382113121383501 Toe Drain near Widgeon Road near Courtland, CA 38.35347 −121.64279 2019, 2021
BL5 381627121395101 Prospect Slough at Prospect Island near Ryde, CA 38.27425 −121.66417 2019, 2020, 2021
SHR 383155121314101 Sacramento River at Sherwood Harbor near West Sacramento, CA 38.53207 −121.52803 2019, 2020, 2021
Table 1.    Surface-water sampling sites in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex (National Water Quality Monitoring Council, 2023; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).
1

All locations reference the North American Datum of 1983.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) began the North Delta Food Subsidies (NDFS) Action in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to generate managed summer and fall flow pulses in Yolo By-Pass that stimulate phytoplankton and zooplankton growth and transport in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex and provide a food subsidy to areas farther downstream in the Delta (Davis and others, 2019). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) participates in this ongoing project to provide data that describe how these flow pulses affect pesticide concentrations in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex.

In July 2016 and September 2018, project collaborators produced a managed flow pulse into Yolo By-Pass with the goal of stimulating phytoplankton growth and thus improving the Delta food web and habitat for delta smelt. In 2016, Sacramento River (fig. 1) water primarily was used for the managed flow pulse in Yolo By-Pass. This managed flow pulse was correlated with an increase in phytoplankton downstream in Cache Slough complex and in the Sacramento River at Rio Vista (Frantzich and others 2021; fig. 1). In 2018, agricultural tailwater primarily was used for the managed flow pulse. Phytoplankton did not increase after this managed flow pulse, but zooplankton increased in upper Yolo By-Pass (Davis and others, 2019). These varied results demonstrated the need for further research into the effects of different managed pulse-flow designs.

Herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides are present in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex throughout the year. The concentrations of these pesticide compounds vary depending on flows, application timing, and quantities applied (Smalling and others, 2005, 2007; Weston and others, 2014; Orlando and Drexler, 2017). Previous work by the USGS indicated that pesticide concentrations generally were greater in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex just before or during flow pulses generated using agricultural tailwater compared to flow pulses sourced from the Sacramento River or during ambient conditions (Orlando and others, 2020).

Purpose and Scope

The U.S. Geological Survey collaborated with the California Department of Water Resources to observe correlations among flow pulses and occurrences and concentrations of pesticides in Cache Slough complex and Yolo By-Pass. The purpose of this report is to describe the methods involved in collecting and analyzing surface-water samples in support of the NDFS study, in cooperation with the DWR. Samples were analyzed for a suite of as many as 178 current-use pesticides and their degradates from as many as 6 surface-water sites within and near Yolo By-Pass in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The purpose of this project is to observe and better understand the presence of pesticides in surface waters of Yolo By-Pass before, during, and after flow pulses. The presence of some current-use pesticides in the study area can inhibit the development and growth of phytoplankton (Peterson and others, 1994).

Study Area

Yolo By-Pass is used to manage water for flood control, riparian corridors, and agricultural land in areas surrounding the Delta. Wetlands associated with Yolo By-Pass are important habitats for many species. Yolo By-Pass is seasonally wetted from October to June by waters from the Sacramento River and Feather River overtopping the Fremont and Sacramento Weirs (Sommer and others, 2001; not shown). Other inlets to Yolo By-Pass include Cache Creek, Willow Slough (not shown), and South Fork Putah Creek (fig. 1). Water from these inputs supplies a channel along the eastern edge of Yolo By-Pass called “Tule Canal” (not shown) in the northern section of Yolo By-Pass and the Toe Drain (fig. 1) to the south. During the drier months, the wetted area of Yolo By-Pass is confined to the perennial Toe Drain, which flows south to Cache Slough complex (Frantzich and others, 2021). Agricultural tailwater enters Yolo By-Pass through the Colusa Basin Drainage Canal (a man-made structure built in the 1920s to drain runoff from private and public lands; fig. 1) and directly from agriculture in lands surrounding Yolo By-Pass (Orlando and others, 2020; fig. 1).

Water flows from north to south through Yolo By-Pass and terminates into Prospect Slough in the Cache Slough complex. Urban runoff or wastewater that sources into Yolo By-Pass include the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant (fig. 1), which releases water into Willow Slough Bypass (not shown), and the City of Woodland Water Pollution Control Facility (fig. 1) that discharges water into Tule Canal about 8 kilometers (km) east of the facility just upstream from surface-water sampling site RD22 (City of Woodland, 2022; fig. 1). During times of low flow, water is tidally pumped from the Sacramento River and the Delta into the lower parts of the Toe Drain and Cache Slough complex.

The most northern surface-water site sampled during the study, Colusa Basin Drain at Road 99E near Knights Landing, California (RMB; fig. 1), is on the Colusa Basin Drainage Canal approximately 4.8 km upstream from the Knights Landing Ridge Cut (not shown), which conveys water from Colusa Basin Drainage Canal to Yolo By-Pass (Gahan and others, 2016). Tule Canal at Road 22 near Woodland, California (RD22; fig. 1), is a surface-water site on Tule Canal at the Road 22 overpass. Toe Drain near Babel Slough near Freeport, California (LIS; fig. 1), is approximately 11.02 km downstream from the Interstate 80 overpass. Toe Drain near Widgeon Road near Courtland, California (STTD; fig. 1), is another 14.48 km downstream from LIS. The southernmost surface-water site is Prospect Slough at Prospect Island near Ryde, California (BL5; fig. 1), which is just outside Liberty Island, about 1.33 km downstream from the confluence of the Toe Drain and Prospect Slough. Sacramento River at Sherwood Harbor near West Sacramento, California (SHR; fig. 1), is a surface-water site outside Yolo By-Pass on the Sacramento River approximately 8.56 km downstream from the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers (fig. 1), and this surface-water site is sampled by the DWR to provide a comparison for samples collected in Yolo By-Pass. Overall, there were as many as six surface-water sampling sites sampled in an event during this study (table 1).

Yolo By-Pass Pesticide Use

Pesticides from urban and agricultural runoff are sourced from areas internal and external to Yolo By-Pass. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation requires all agricultural and professional pesticide applications to be reported (California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 2022). Pesticides applied for private home use are not reported. During summer and fall 2019, 8.58×105 kilograms (kg) of synthetic pesticides (excluding natural pesticides like sulfur, kaolin, or mineral oil) were applied to the Yolo By-Pass drainage basin, and 1.73×106 kg of synthetic pesticides were applied to areas of the Sacramento River drainage basin upstream from surface-water site SHR. During the summer and fall 2020, 7.91×105 kg and 1.69×106 kg of synthetic pesticides were applied to the Yolo By-Pass and Sacramento River drainage basins, respectively. Pesticide applications to rice crops account for the largest share of pesticide applications during summer and fall. In 2019, 47.7 percent of the pesticides applied to areas in the Yolo By-Pass drainage basin were applied to rice crops; 32.0 percent of pesticides were applied to rice crops in the Sacramento River drainage basin. For summer and fall 2020, the percentage of pesticide applied to rice crops dropped to 44.2 in the Yolo By-Pass drainage basin but increased to 36.4 percent in the Sacramento River drainage basin.

Hydrologic Conditions

In 2021, hydrologic conditions were exceptionally dry in Yolo By-Pass, with a daily mean discharge near zero. In drier years, like 2013, 2015, and 2020, local discharge and short periods of positive flow into Yolo By-Pass may have affected pesticide detections. Streamflow within Yolo By-Pass was measured at USGS site 11453000 (fig. 2; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023), which is on the Tule Canal along the eastern border of Yolo By-Pass and is collocated with DWR surface-water site RD22 (California Department of Water Resources, 2023). Figure 2 shows a spike in mean daily discharge in Yolo By-Pass caused by managed flow pulses of agricultural water between August 27, 2019, to September 20, 2019. Peak flow at site 11453000 reached 773 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) during this event on September 6, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. Due to persistent drought conditions in 2020 and 2021, there were no managed flow pulses. Moreover, fallowing of the agricultural land between the Colusa Basin Drainage Canal and the Sacramento River in summer 2021 resulted in no flow at surface-water site RMB before August 10, 2021.

2. Daily mean discharge at U.S. Geological Survey site 11453000 in cubic feet per
                        second.
Figure 2.

Daily mean discharge at U.S Geological Survey site 11453000 (Yolo By-Pass near Woodland, California; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023) for summer and fall 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Methods

Laboratory methods included liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Samples were collected by hand from either a bank or boat.

Sample Collection

Surface-water samples were collected by DWR personnel at six surface-water sites in 2019 and at five surface-water sites in 2020 and 2021 (table 1). There were six sampling events in 2019 and 2021, and events were designed so that two events each would take place before, during, and after pulse-flow events in Yolo By-Pass (managed flow pulse in 2019; unmanaged flow pulse in 2021). In 2020, only six samples during one sampling event were collected because wildfire smoke and Covid-19 pandemic restrictions on field work prevented DWR personnel from collecting more samples throughout the year.

Samples were collected from the stream bank using a pole sampler at surface-water sites RMB, RD22, and LIS (fig. 1). Samples were collected from the center of the channel by hand-dipping a bottle from a boat at surface-water sites STTD, BL5, and SHR. In 2019 and 2020, 2 liters (L) of water (two 1-L baked, amber glass bottles which were filled in succession) were collected at each surface-water site for analysis. In 2021, samples consisted of a single 1-L baked, amber glass bottle filled at each surface-water site. All water samples were stored on wet ice and transported to the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory in Sacramento, California, within 24 hours of collection. At each sampling event, standard water-quality parameters (water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and turbidity) were measured (table 2).

Table 2.    

Water-quality parameters measured in water samples collected at surface-water sites in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex, 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

[Additional site information is provided in table 1. Abbreviations: mm/dd/yyyy, month/day/year; hh:mm, hour:minute; °C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; FNU, formazin nephelometric unit]

Site Date
(mm/dd/yyyy)
Time
(hh:mm)
Water1
temperature
(°C)
Specific conductance2
(μS/cm)
Dissolved oxygen3
(mg/L)
pH4 Turbidity5
(FNU)
SHR 08/05/2019 09:14 21.2 112 8.7 7.8 8.0
RMB 08/06/2019 10:14 26.6 571 4.5 7.8 28
RD22 08/06/2019 13:00 25.7 702 6.2 8.1 48
LIS 08/06/2019 11:28 25.1 526 5.3 8.0 50
STTD 08/07/2019 12:39 24.1 194 7.9 8.6 21
BL5 08/07/2019 11:59 23.0 149 7.9 7.8 7.3
SHR 08/19/2019 10:00 20.6 114 8.7 7.5 9.3
RMB 08/20/2019 09:39 24.2 538 5.1 7.7 34
RD22 08/20/2019 12:50 25.5 765 6.4 8.0 42
LIS 08/20/2019 11:23 24.1 458 7.9 8.3 48
STTD 08/21/2019 12:20 23.9 192 8.1 8.6 22
BL5 08/21/2019 11:35 21.6 158 8.1 8.2 8.5
SHR 09/05/2019 09:45 19.9 122 8.9 7.4 10
RMB 09/03/2019 09:24 23.4 511 5.1 7.7 40
RD22 09/03/2019 12:04 23.6 518 4.2 7.7 32
LIS 09/03/2019 11:18 24.4 540 4.5 7.9 40
STTD 09/04/2019 12:02 24.9 547 5.7 7.8 27
BL5 09/04/2019 11:23 22.8 225 7.6 8.0 4.9
SHR 09/16/2019 09:40 18.5 122 9.2 7.4 6.3
RMB 09/17/2019 09:17 21.4 525 5.3 7.6 23
RD22 09/17/2019 12:59 23.6 518 4.2 7.7 32
LIS 09/17/2019 10:13 21.6 601 5.2 7.5 28
STTD 09/18/2019 10:57 21.8 606 6.0 7.8 28
BL5 09/18/2019 11:59 20.6 312 7.8 8.1 8.7
SHR 09/30/2019 09:23 16.6 114 9.2 7.3 9.5
RMB 10/01/2019 08:56 19.2 575 7.1 7.6 33
RD22 10/01/2019 12:29 18.9 626 6.9 7.6 25
LIS 10/01/2019 10:30 18.7 732 7.1 8.0 30
STTD 10/02/2019 11:13 17.8 338 8.7 8.5 16
BL5 10/02/2019 10:50 17.5 180 8.6 7.8 8.6
SHR 10/14/2019 09:57 14.6 106 9.7 7.5 5.8
RMB 10/15/2019 09:20 15.6 554 7.4 7.5 18
RD22 10/15/2019 12:54 17.0 843 6.8 7.7 45
LIS 10/15/2019 12:47 17.2 316 7.6 7.9 31
STTD 10/16/2019 12:03 16.9 226 9.0 8.5 16
BL5 10/16/2019 11:18 16.4 164 9.3 8.1 5.6
RMB 08/11/2020 07:34 25.4 537 4.5 7.5 24
RD22 08/11/2020 10:12 24.8 816 6.7 8.1 31
BL5 08/10/2020 10:22 23.1 69 7.8 7.8 6.6
SHR 08/10/2020 10:57 23.2 155 8.2 7.6 5.3
RMB 08/02/2021 8:13 24.5 1,490 2.9 8.4 240
RD22 08/02/2021 11:07 24.3 888 6.7 8.1 18
STTD 08/03/2021 10:55 22.6 251 7.6 8.4 10
BL5 08/03/2021 09:41 20.7 239 7.8 8.5 7.1
SHR 08/03/2021 08:50 23.6 138 8.1 7.8 5.6
RMB 08/16/2021 10:21 26.9 787 1.4 7.4 11
RD22 08/16/2021 07:37 23.2 888 4.9 7.7 17.1
RMB 08/30/2021 09:49 24.0 666 4.5 7.6 26
RD22 08/30/2021 07:10 22.2 762 5.2 7.6 13
STTD 08/31/2021 11:06 23.1 234 7.7 8.2 13
BL5 08/31/2021 10:16 22.1 219 8.0 8.4 5.3
SHR 08/31/2021 08:06 22.8 190 8.1 7.6 3.4
RMB 09/13/2021 10:05 24.9 663 4.2 7.6 24
RD22 09/13/2021 07:25 22.9 876 3.5 7.6 17
STTD 09/14/2021 11:34 23.8 257 7.1 8.1 15
BL5 09/14/2021 10:30 21.9 226 8.9 8.6 5.7
SHR 09/14/2021 07:51 23.3 188 7.9 7.7 3.5
RMB 09/27/2021 10:10 21.3 571 6.1 7.7 160
RD22 09/27/2021 07:22 19.3 1,000 3.1 7.5 16
STTD 09/28/2021 11:25 19.1 143 8.1 8.4 14
BL5 09/28/2021 10:20 19.8 212 8.6 8.3 12
SHR 09/28/2021 08:10 20.1 132 8.6 8.0 3.3
RMB 10/11/2021 09:46 16.2 650 8.2 8.0 38
RD22 10/11/2021 07:20 17.2 861 3.8 7.6 30
STTD 10/13/2021 11:07 14.8 225 9.4 8.2 12
BL5 10/13/2021 09:58 15.0 196 9.1 8.0 14
SHR 10/12/2021 08:24 15.3 134 9.5 8.0 8.4
Table 2.    Water-quality parameters measured in water samples collected at surface-water sites in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex, 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).
1

Parameter code 00010 in the National Water Information System (NWIS).

2

Parameter code 00095 in NWIS.

3

Parameter code 00300 in NWIS.

4

Parameter code 00400 in NWIS.

5

Parameter code 63680 in NWIS.

Pesticide Extraction and Analysis

Water samples were filtered and extracted at the Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory within 24 hours of sample collection. All water samples were filtered using pre-weighed, baked, 0.7-micrometer (μm) glass-fiber filters. Filter papers were dried at room temperature and then stored in the dark at −20 degrees Celsius (°C) until extraction.

The 2019 and 2020 water and suspended sediment samples were analyzed following the procedures described in Hladik and others (2008, 2009), Hladik and Calhoun (2012), and Hladik and McWayne (2012).

Surface-water samples collected in 2021 were analyzed for 178 compounds using methods described in Gross and others (2021). Suspended sediment samples were analyzed for 173 compounds using the same methods. The water extraction procedure was the same as the LC/MS/MS extraction procedure used for 2019 and 2020 samples; however, only 1 L of water was necessary for analysis by LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS. The procedure for extracting suspended-sediment samples also remained the same among all years. Many analytes that were previously analyzed by GC/MS were transitioned to LC/MS/MS; analytes that could not be analyzed by LC/MS/MS were analyzed by GC/MS/MS. Filtered water and suspended-sediment samples were spiked with 50 microliters (µL) of a recovery surrogate solution consisting of 1 nanogram per microliter (ng/µL) atrazine-13C3, fipronil-13C4,15N2, imidacloprid-d4, metolachlor-13C6, monuron, cis-permethrin-13C6, p,p′-DDE-13C12, tebuconazole-13C3, and trifluralin-d14. Filtered water and suspended-sediment fractions also were spiked with 20 µL of the same internal standard solution consisting of 2.5 ng/µL of acenaphthene-d10, bifenthrin-d5, clothianidin-d3, myclobutanil-d4, and oxyfluorfen-d5.

Analytical Methods

Water-sample extracts analyzed by LC/MS/MS in 2019 and 2020 were completed on an Agilent (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.) 1100 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system coupled to a 6430 tandem mass spectrometry (MS) system with a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column (2.1 by 150 by 3.5 millimeters [mm]). Full method details are reported in Hladik and Calhoun (2012). Surface-water-sample extracts and suspended sediments from 2019 and 2020 were analyzed by GC/MS, an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph with an Agilent 5975C Inert XL electron ionization (EI) mass-selective detector system using a DB-5MS analytical column (30 meters [m] by 0.25 mm by 0.25 μm) for separation with helium as the carrier gas. Full method details are reported in Hladik and others (2008, 2009).

After August 2021, all sample extracts were analyzed using LC/MS/MS followed by GC/MS/MS. LC/MS/MS analyses were completed using Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, Calif.) 1260 infinity bio-inert high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a 6430 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The column used for separation was an Agilent Technologies Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column (2.1 mm×150 mm, 3.5 µm) preceded by a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 guard cartridge (2.1 mm×12.5 mm, 5 µm). For electrospray ionization (ESI)(+) analysis, the mobile phase consisted of 0.1 percent formic acid in water and acetonitrile. For negative ESI analysis, the mobile phase consisted of 0.1 percent formic acid in water and methanol. The sample volume injected for analysis was 10 µL, and the rate of sample injection through the column was 0.6 milliliters per minute (mL/min). Data were collected in the multiple reaction monitoring mode.

A Trace 1310 gas chromatograph coupled to a TSQ 9000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts) was used to complete GC/MS/MS analyses. The column used for separation was a DB-5MS analytical column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.) with helium as the carrier gas at a 1.2 mL/min flow rate. Sample injection volume was 1 µL. A programmable temperature vaporizing inlet and an advanced electron ionization source was equipped to the instrument. The oven was brought to a temperature of 65 °C and held for 2 minutes. The temperature was then increased at a rate of 25 degrees Celsius per minute (°C/min) until 150 °C was reached and held for 1 minute. Another increase in temperature followed at a rate of 25 °C/min until 215 °C was reached and held for 2 minutes. Another increase in temperature was started at a rate of 5 °C/min until 280 °C was reached followed by a final increase at a rate of 10 °C/min until 300 °C was reached and held for 5 minutes. The mass transfer line and ion source were held at 250 °C and 320 °C, respectfully. Finally, data were collected in selected reaction monitoring mode. Full details regarding analyses using this method are reported in Gross and others (2021). Method detection limits for pesticide concentrations in water and sediment samples are in table 3.

Table 3.    

Method detection limits for pesticides dissolved in water and on suspended sediments measured by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory (Gross and others 2021; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023) 2019–21.

[Pesticide type: Ins, insecticide; Ins Deg, insecticide degradate; Herb, herbicide; Herb Deg, herbicide degradate; Fun, fungicide; Fun Deg, fungicide degradate; Ins GR, insect growth regulator; Syn, synergist; Plant GR, plant growth regulator; NS, nitrogen stabilizer; Def, defoliant. Abbreviations: NWIS, National Water Information System; CAS, Chemical Abstracts Service; MDL, method detection limit; ng/L, nanograms per liter; LC/MS/MS, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry; GC/MS, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry; GC/MS/MS, gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry; NA, not analyzed; DCPA, Dacthal; DCPMU, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea; DCPU, 3,4-dichlorophenylurea; EPTC, Eptam]

Pesticide name NWIS parameter code CAS number Chemical class Pesticide type 2019–20 Water and sediment MDL
(ng/L)
2019–20 Analytical method 2021 Water reporting limit
(ng/L)
2021 Water MDL
(ng/L)
2021 Sediment reporting limit
(ng/L)
2021 Sediment MDL
(ng/L)
2021 Analytical
method
Acetamiprid 68302 135410-20-7 Neonicotinoid Ins 3.3 LC/MS/MS 2.1 1.1 4.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Acetochlor 68520 34256-82-1 Chloroacetanilide Herb 1.5 GC/MS 3.1 1.6 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Acibenzolar-S-methyl 51849 135158-54-2 Benzothiadiazole Fun 3.0 GC/MS 10.7 5.3 11.1 5.6 GC/MS/MS
Allethrin 66586 584-79-2 Pyrethroid Ins 1.0 GC/MS 5.0 2.5 6.2 3.1 GC/MS/MS
Atrazine 65065 1912-24-9 Triazine Herb 2.3 GC/MS 1.7 0.9 2.7 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Atrazine, desethyl 68552 6190-65-4 Triazine Herb Deg NA NA 3.2 1.6 4.5 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Atrazine, desisopropyl 68550 1007-28-9 Triazine Herb Deg NA NA 3.7 1.8 5.6 2.8 LC/MS/MS
Azoxystrobin 66589 131860-33-8 Strobin Fun 3.1 GC/MS 1.6 0.8 4.3 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Benefin (benfluralin) 51643 1861-40-1 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 2.0 GC/MS 3.6 1.8 6.8 3.4 GC/MS/MS
Bentazon 68538 25057-89-0 Benzothiadiazine Herb NA NA 2.5 1.3 NA NA LC/MS/MS
Benzobicyclon 54350 156963-66-5 Carbobicyclic Herb NA NA 2.3 1.2 3.5 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Benzovindiflupyr 52652 1072957-71-1 Amide Fun 3.4 GC/MS 2.3 1.2 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Bifenthrin 65067 82657-04-3 Pyrethroid Ins 0.7 GC/MS 1.1 0.6 1.5 0.8 GC/MS/MS
Boscalid 67550 188425-85-6 Anilide Fun 2.8 GC/MS 2.0 1.0 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Boscalid Metabolite-M510F01 Acetyl 54349 661463-87-2 Anilide Fun Deg NA NA 1.6 0.8 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Broflanilide 54363 1207727-04-5 Benzamide Ins NA NA 3.9 1.9 4.2 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Bromoconazole 68315 116255-48-2 Azole Fun 3.2 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Butralin 68545 33629-47-9 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 2.6 GC/MS 2.5 1.2 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Captan 68322 133-06-2 Thiophthalimide Fun 10.2 GC/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Carbaryl 65069 63-25-2 N-Methyl carbamate Ins 6.5 GC/MS 1.7 0.8 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Carbendazim 68548 10605-21-7 Benzimidazole Fun 4.2 LC/MS/MS 2.5 1.2 4.9 2.5 LC/MS/MS
Carbofuran 65070 1563-66-2 N-Methyl carbamate Ins 3.1 GC/MS 1.3 0.6 3.1 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Carboxin 52765 5234-68-4 Anilide Fun 4.5 LC/MS/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Chlorantraniliprole 51856 500008-45-7 Anthranilic diamide Ins 4.0 LC/MS/MS 1.5 0.7 3.7 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Chlorfenapyr 53567 122453-73-0 Pyrrole Ins 3.3 GC/MS 5.0 2.5 5.0 2.5 GC/MS/MS
Chlorothalonil 65071 1897-45-6 Substituted benzene Fun 4.1 GC/MS 11.5 5.7 18.0 9.0 GC/MS/MS
Chlorpyrifos 65072 2921-88-2 Organophosphorus Ins 2.1 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.9 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Chlorpyrifos oxon 68216 5598-15-2 Organophosphorus Ins 5.0 GC/MS 2.0 1.0 3.9 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Clomazone 67562 81777-89-1 Oxazolidinone Herb 2.5 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Clothianidin 68221 210880-92-5 Neonicotinoid Ins 3.9 LC/MS/MS 2.0 1.0 5.7 2.8 LC/MS/MS
Clothianidin des methyl 52660 135018-15-4 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg NA NA 3.7 1.8 5.6 2.8 LC/MS/MS
Coumaphos 51836 56-72-4 Organophosphorus Ins 3.1 GC/MS 2.3 1.2 3.7 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Cyantraniliprole 51862 736994-63-1 Anthranilic diamide Ins 4.2 LC/MS/MS 2.2 1.1 3.9 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Cyazofamid 51853 120116-88-3 Azole Fun 4.1 LC/MS/MS 1.7 0.8 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Cyclaniliprole 54355 1031756-98-5 Anthranilic diamide Ins NA NA 2.7 1.4 2.9 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Cycloate 65073 1134-23-2 Thiocarbamate Herb 1.1 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Cyfluthrin 65074 68359-37-5 Pyrethroid Ins 1.0 GC/MS 1.7 0.8 2.1 1.0 GC/MS/MS
Cyhalofop-butyl 68360 122008-85-9 Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acid Herb 1.9 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 4.4 2.2 GC/MS/MS
Cyhalothrin (all isomers) 68354 68085-85-8 Pyrethroid Ins 0.5 GC/MS 1.2 0.6 1.9 1.0 GC/MS/MS
Cymoxanil 51861 57966-95-7 Urea Fun 3.9 LC/MS/MS 4.6 2.3 4.3 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Cypermethrin 65075 52315-07-8 Pyrethroid Ins 1.0 GC/MS 1.8 0.9 2.2 1.1 GC/MS/MS
Cyproconazole 66593 94361-06-5 Azole Fun 4.7 GC/MS 2.8 1.4 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Cyprodinil 67574 121552-61-2 Pyrimidine Fun 7.4 GC/MS 4.3 2.1 3.2 1.6 LC/MS/MS
DCPA 65076 1861-32-1 Alkyl phthalate Herb 2.0 GC/MS 2.3 1.2 2.5 1.2 GC/MS/MS
DCPMU 68231 3567-62-2 Urea Herb Deg 3.5 LC/MS/MS 3.0 1.5 2.6 1.3 LC/MS/MS
DCPU 68226 2327-02-8 Urea Herb Deg 3.4 LC/MS/MS 2.3 1.1 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Deltamethrin 65077 52918-63-5 Pyrethroid Ins 0.6 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 2.8 1.4 GC/MS/MS
Desthio-prothioconazole 51865 120983-64-4 Azole Fun Deg 3.0 LC/MS/MS 1.3 0.7 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Desulfinylfipronil 66607 205650-65-3 Pyrazole Ins Deg 1.6 GC/MS 2.0 1.0 2.1 1.0 LC/MS/MS
Desulfinylfipronil amide 68570 1115248-09-3 Pyrazole Ins Deg 3.2 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 2.4 1.2 LC/MS/MS
Diazinon 65078 333-41-5 Organophosphorus Ins 0.9 GC/MS 2.3 1.1 3.3 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Diazoxon 68236 962-58-3 Organophosphorus Ins Deg 5.0 GC/MS 1.5 0.7 4.1 2.1 LC/MS/MS
3,4-Dichloroaniline 66584 95-76-1 Amine Herb Deg 3.2 LC/MS/MS 2.4 1.2 2.5 1.2 LC/MS/MS
3,5-Dichloroaniline 67536 626-43-7 Amine Herb Deg 7.6 GC/MS 5.6 2.8 5.9 3.0 LC/MS/MS
Dichlorvos 68572 62-73-7 Organophosphorus Ins 5.1 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 1.8 0.9 LC/MS/MS
Difenoconazole 67582 119446-68-3 Azole Fun 10.5 GC/MS 2.7 1.3 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Dimethomorph 68373 110488-70-5 Morpholine Fun 6.0 GC/MS 1.4 0.7 5.5 2.8 LC/MS/MS
Dinotefuran 68379 165252-70-0 Neonicotinoid Ins 4.5 LC/MS/MS 3.6 1.8 7.3 3.6 LC/MS/MS
Dithiopyr 51837 97886-45-8 Pyridinecarboxylic acid Herb 1.6 GC/MS 2.3 1.1 2.5 1.3 GC/MS/MS
Diuron 66598 330-54-1 Urea Herb 3.2 LC/MS/MS 1.4 0.7 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
EPTC 65080 759-94-4 Thiocarbamate Herb 1.5 GC/MS 5.0 2.5 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Esfenvalerate 65081 66230-04-4 Pyrethroid Ins 0.5 GC/MS 1.5 0.7 2.4 1.2 GC/MS/MS
Ethaboxam 51855 162650-77-3 Aromatic amide Fun 3.8 LC/MS/MS 3.0 1.5 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Ethalfluralin 65082 55283-68-6 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 3.0 GC/MS 5.4 2.7 6.2 3.1 GC/MS/MS
Etofenprox 67604 80844-07-1 Pyrethroid ether Ins 2.2 GC/MS 2.3 1.2 3.4 1.7 GC/MS/MS
Etoxazole 68598 153233-91-1 Diphenyl oxazoline Ins 4.2 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.7 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Famoxadone 67609 131807-57-3 Oxazolidinedione Fun 2.5 GC/MS 13.9 6.9 18.0 9.0 LC/MS/MS
Fenamidone 51848 161326-34-7 Imidazole Fun 5.1 GC/MS 1.9 1.0 1.9 1.0 LC/MS/MS
Fenbuconazole 67618 114369-43-6 Azole Fun 5.2 GC/MS 1.8 0.9 2.9 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Fenhexamid 67622 126833-17-8 Anilide Fun 7.6 GC/MS 20.5 10.3 20.8 10.4 LC/MS/MS
Fenpropathrin 65083 39515-41-8 Pyrethroid Ins 0.6 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 3.3 1.7 GC/MS/MS
Fenpyroximate 51838 134098-61-6 Pyrazole Ins 5.2 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 4.3 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Fipronil 66604 120068-37-3 Pyrazole Ins 2.9 GC/MS 1.8 0.9 2.4 1.2 LC/MS/MS
Fipronil sulfide 66610 120067-83-6 Pyrazole Ins Deg 1.8 GC/MS 1.5 0.8 1.9 1.0 LC/MS/MS
Fipronil sulfone 66613 120068-36-2 Pyrazole Ins Deg 3.5 GC/MS 1.7 0.9 2.4 1.2 LC/MS/MS
Flonicamid 51858 158062-67-0 Pyridinecarboxamide Ins 3.4 LC/MS/MS 2.4 1.2 5.0 2.5 LC/MS/MS
Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 54356 1390661-72-9 Aminopyridine Herb NA NA 3.1 1.5 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Fluazinam 67636 79622-59-6 2,6-Dinitroaniline Fun 4.4 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Flubendiamide 68606 272451-65-7 Organofluorine Ins 6.2 GC/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Fludioxonil 67640 131341-86-1 Benzodioxole Fun 7.3 GC/MS 2.1 1.0 2.7 1.3 LC/MS/MS
Flufenacet 51840 142459-58-3 Anilide Herb 4.7 GC/MS 3.7 1.8 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Fluindapyr 54362 1383809-87-7 Pyrazole Fun NA NA 2.7 1.4 3.2 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Flumetralin 51841 62924-70-3 2,6-Dinitroaniline Plant GR 5.8 GC/MS 3.4 1.7 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Fluopicolide 51852 239110-15-7 Pyridine benzamide Fun 3.9 GC/MS 1.6 0.8 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Fluopyram 52761 658066-35-4 Amide Fun 3.8 GC/MS 1.5 0.8 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Fluoxastrobin 67645 193740-76-0 Strobin Fun 9.5 GC/MS 2.8 1.4 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Flupyradifurone 52764 951659-40-8 Butenolide Ins 3.0 LC/MS/MS 1.4 0.7 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Fluridone 51864 59756-60-4 Phenylpyridine Herb 3.7 LC/MS/MS 2.9 1.5 4.2 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Flutolanil 51842 66332-96-5 Anilide Fun 4.4 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 3.7 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Flutriafol 67653 76674-21-0 Azole Fun 4.2 GC/MS 2.7 1.4 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Fluxapyroxad 51851 907204-31-3 Pyrazole, anilide Fun 4.8 GC/MS 1.4 0.7 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Halauxifen-methyl ester 54361 943831-98-9 Methyl ester Herb NA NA 1.4 0.7 2.2 1.1 LC/MS/MS
Hexazinone 65085 51235-04-2 Triazinone Herb 8.4 GC/MS 1.2 0.6 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Imazalil 67662 35554-44-0 Azole Fun 10.5 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 NA NA LC/MS/MS
Imidacloprid 68426 138261-41-3 Neonicotinoid Ins 3.8 LC/MS/MS 2.0 1.0 2.1 1.0 LC/MS/MS
Imidacloprid desnitro 51857 127202-53-3 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg NA NA 7.4 3.7 10.8 5.4 LC/MS/MS
Imidacloprid olefin 52872 115086-54-9 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg NA NA 6.6 3.3 11.0 5.5 LC/MS/MS
Imidacloprid urea 51859 120868-66-8 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg 4.0 LC/MS/MS 2.8 1.4 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
5-hydroxy imidacloprid 54344 380912-09-4 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg NA NA 4.1 2.0 4.4 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Indaziflam 53960 950782-86-2 Alkylazine Herb 2.1 GC/MS 1.7 0.8 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Indoxacarb 68627 173584-44-6 Oxadiazine Ins 4.9 GC/MS 3.2 1.6 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Ipconazole 52762 125225-28-7 Triazole Fun 7.8 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 4.1 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Iprodione 66617 36734-19-7 Dicarboximide Fun 4.4 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Isofetamid 53569 875915-78-9 Amide Fun 2.0 GC/MS 3.3 1.7 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Kresoxim-methyl 67670 143390-89-0 Strobin Fun 4.0 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 3.1 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Malaoxon 68240 1634-78-2 Organophosphorus Ins Deg 5.0 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Malathion 65087 121-75-5 Organophosphorus Ins 3.7 GC/MS 1.4 0.7 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Mandestrobin 54358 173662-97-0 Strobin Fun NA NA 3.2 1.6 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Mandipropamid 51854 374726-62-2 Amide Fun 3.3 LC/MS/MS 2.6 1.3 4.6 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Metalaxyl 68437 57837-19-1 Xylylalanine Fun 5.1 GC/MS 1.1 0.6 4.4 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Metalaxyl alanine 54345 85933-49-9 Xylylalanine Fun Deg NA NA 2.5 1.3 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Metconazole 66620 125116-23-6 Azole Fun 5.2 GC/MS 2.1 1.0 4.1 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Methoprene 66623 40596-69-8 Juvenile hormone mimic Ins GR 6.4 GC/MS 11.6 5.8 13.5 6.8 GC/MS/MS
Methoxyfenozide 68647 161050-58-4 Diacylhydrazine Ins 2.7 LC/MS/MS 1.9 1.0 3.1 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Methyl parathion 65089 298-00-0 Organophosphorus Ins 3.4 GC/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Metolachlor 65090 51218-45-2 Chloroacetanilide Herb 1.5 GC/MS 3.1 1.5 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Myclobutanil 66632 88671-89-0 Azole Fun 6.0 GC/MS 1.1 0.6 4.2 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Naled (Dibrom) 68654 300-76-5 Organophosphorus Ins NA NA 21.1 10.6 23.7 11.8 LC/MS/MS
Napropamide 65092 15299-99-7 Amide Herb 8.2 GC/MS 2.0 1.0 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Nitrapyrin 52763 1929-82-4 Chloropyridine NS NA NA 2.1 1.1 3.3 1.6 GC/MS/MS
Novaluron 68655 116714-46-6 Benzoylurea Herb 2.9 GC/MS 4.5 2.2 4.4 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Oryzalin 68663 19044-88-3 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 5.0 LC/MS/MS 4.2 2.1 3.2 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Oxadiazon 51843 19666-30-9 Unclassified Herb 2.1 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.9 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Oxathiapiprolin 52766 1003318-67-9 Pyrazole Fun 3.2 LC/MS/MS 2.7 1.4 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Oxyfluorfen 65093 42874-03-3 Diphenyl ether Herb 3.1 GC/MS 2.7 1.4 2.5 1.3 LC/MS/MS
p,p'-DDD 65094 72-54-8 Organochlorine Ins Deg 4.1 GC/MS 2.7 1.4 2.3 1.1 GC/MS/MS
p,p'-DDE 65095 72-55-9 Organochlorine Ins Deg 3.6 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 2.5 1.2 GC/MS/MS
p,p'-DDT 65096 50-29-3 Organochlorine Ins 4.0 GC/MS 2.7 1.4 3.6 1.8 GC/MS/MS
Paclobutrazol 51846 76738-62-0 Azole Plant GR 6.2 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 4.5 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Pendimethalin 65098 40487-42-1 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 2.3 GC/MS 3.0 1.5 3.9 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Penoxsulam 51863 219714-96-2 Triazolopyrimidine Herb 3.5 LC/MS/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Pentachloroanisole 66637 1825-21-4 Organochlorine Ins Deg 4.7 GC/MS 2.3 1.2 4.7 2.3 GC/MS/MS
Pentachloronitrobenzene 66639 82-68-8 Substituted benzene Fun 3.1 GC/MS 2.9 1.4 6.0 3.0 GC/MS/MS
Penthiopyrad 52769 183675-82-3 Pyrazole Fun 3.2 LC/MS/MS 2.2 1.1 3.9 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Permethrin 65099 52645-53-1 Pyrethroid Ins 0.6 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 1.5 0.7 GC/MS/MS
Phenothrin 65100 26002-80-2 Pyrethroid Ins 1.0 GC/MS 4.2 2.1 2.6 1.3 GC/MS/MS
Phosmet 65101 732-11-6 Organophosphorus Ins 4.4 GC/MS 1.4 0.7 3.3 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Picarbutrazox 54357 500207-04-5 Pyridine Fun NA NA 2.7 1.3 3.2 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Picoxystrobin 51850 117428-22-5 Strobin Fun 4.2 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 4.1 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Piperonyl butoxide 65102 51-03-6 Unclassified Syn 2.3 GC/MS 2.1 1.0 4.3 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Prodiamine 51844 29091-21-2 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 5.2 GC/MS 4.4 2.2 4.1 2.1 LC/MS/MS
Prometon 67702 1610-18-0 Triazine Herb 2.5 GC/MS 2.9 1.5 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Prometryn 65103 7287-19-6 Triazine Herb 1.8 GC/MS 1.4 0.7 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Propanil 66641 709-98-8 Anilide Herb 10.1 GC/MS 2.5 1.2 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Propargite 68677 2312-35-8 Unclassified Ins 6.1 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Propiconazole 66643 60207-90-1 Azole Fun 5.0 GC/MS 1.5 0.7 2.6 1.3 LC/MS/MS
Propyzamide 67706 23950-58-5 Amide Herb 5.0 GC/MS 2.1 1.0 3.7 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Pydiflumetofen 54359 1228284-64-7 Pyrazole Fun NA NA 2.1 1.0 4.1 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Pyraclostrobin 66646 175013-18-0 Strobin Fun 2.9 GC/MS 2.9 1.5 3.6 1.8 LC/MS/MS
Pyridaben 68682 96489-71-3 Pyridazinone Ins 5.4 GC/MS 2.7 1.4 2.6 1.3 LC/MS/MS
Pyrimethanil 67717 53112-28-0 Pyrimidine Fun 4.1 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 2.2 1.1 LC/MS/MS
Pyriproxyfen 68683 95737-68-1 Hormone mimic Ins 5.2 GC/MS 2.3 1.1 3.3 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Quinoxyfen 51847 124495-18-7 Quinoline Fun 3.3 GC/MS 2.3 1.1 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Resmethrin 65104 10453-86-8 Pyrethroid Ins 1.0 GC/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Sedaxane 52648 874967-67-6 Anilide, pyrazole Fun 5.2 GC/MS 1.8 0.9 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Simazine 65105 122-34-9 Triazine Herb 5.0 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 2.7 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Sulfoxaflor 52767 946578-00-3 Sulfoximine Ins 4.4 LC/MS/MS 2.4 1.2 4.8 2.4 LC/MS/MS
tau-Fluvalinate 65106 102851-06-9 Pyrethroid Ins 0.7 GC/MS 1.9 0.9 2.1 1.1 GC/MS/MS
Tebuconazole 66649 107534-96-3 Azole Fun 3.7 GC/MS 1.3 0.6 4.6 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Tebuconazole tert-butylhydroxy 54348 212267-64-6 Azole Fun Deg NA NA 1.3 0.7 NA NA LC/MS/MS
Tebufenozide 68692 112410-23-8 Molting hormone agonist Ins 3.0 LC/MS/MS 2.4 1.2 3.0 1.5 LC/MS/MS
Tebupirimfos 68693 96182-53-5 Organophosphorus Ins 1.9 GC/MS 2.5 1.3 4.6 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Tebupirimfos oxon 68694 1035330-36-9 Organophosphorus Ins Deg 2.8 GC/MS 1.5 0.8 2.8 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Tefluthrin 67731 79538-32-2 Pyrethroid Ins 0.6 GC/MS 1.3 0.7 2.4 1.2 GC/MS/MS
Tetraconazole 66654 112281-77-3 Azole Fun 5.6 GC/MS 1.2 0.6 4.6 2.3 LC/MS/MS
Tetramethrin 66657 7696-12-0 Pyrethroid Ins 0.5 GC/MS 2.2 1.1 2.7 1.4 LC/MS/MS
Thiabendazole 67161 148-79-8 Benzimidazole Fun 3.6 LC/MS/MS 3.4 1.7 4.5 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Thiacloprid 68485 111988-49-9 Neonicotinoid Ins 3.2 LC/MS/MS 2.5 1.2 4.3 2.2 LC/MS/MS
Thiamethoxam 68245 153719-23-4 Neonicotinoid Ins 3.4 LC/MS/MS 1.1 0.6 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Thiamethoxam degradate (NOA-355190) 53568 902493-06-5 Neonicotinoid Ins Deg 3.5 LC/MS/MS 2.9 1.4 5.2 2.6 LC/MS/MS
Thiamethoxam degradate (NOA-407475) 53576 Not Available Neonicotinoid Ins Deg 3.4 LC/MS/MS 5.4 2.7 NA NA LC/MS/MS
Thiobencarb 65107 28249-77-6 Thiocarbamate Herb 1.9 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Tolfenpyrad 51866 129558-76-5 Pyrazole Ins 2.9 LC/MS/MS 3.3 1.6 3.5 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Triadimefon 67741 43121-43-3 Azole Fun 8.9 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 3.4 1.7 LC/MS/MS
Triadimenol 67746 55219-65-3 Azole Fun 8.0 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 2.2 1.1 LC/MS/MS
Triallate 68710 2303-17-5 Thiocarbamate Herb 2.4 GC/MS 9.4 4.7 9.6 4.8 LC/MS/MS
Tribufos 68711 78-48-8 Organophosphorus Def 3.1 GC/MS 2.8 1.4 2.2 1.1 LC/MS/MS
Tricyclazole 52768 41814-78-2 Azole Fun 4.1 LC/MS/MS NA NA NA NA NA
Trifloxystrobin 66660 141517-21-7 Strobin Fun 4.7 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 4.0 2.0 LC/MS/MS
Triflumizole 67753 68694-11-1 Azole Fun 6.1 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 3.1 1.6 LC/MS/MS
Trifluralin 65108 1582-09-8 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herb 2.1 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 4.3 2.2 GC/MS/MS
Triticonazole 67758 131983-72-7 Azole Fun 6.9 GC/MS 2.6 1.3 3.7 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Valifenalate 54360 283159-90-0 Acylamino acid Fun NA NA 2.0 1.0 4.8 2.4 LC/MS/MS
Zoxamide 67768 156052-68-5 Amide Fun 3.5 GC/MS 2.4 1.2 3.8 1.9 LC/MS/MS
Table 3.    Method detection limits for pesticides dissolved in water and on suspended sediments measured by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory (Gross and others 2021; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023) 2019–21.

Results for water samples were validated using a variety of quality-control samples, including field replicates, trip blanks, laboratory spikes, and laboratory-spike replicates. During the study, five pesticide field-replicate samples were analyzed to test the reproducibility of results based on field-sampling methods. Results from the environmental and field-replicate pairs satisfied the project quality assurance requirement of less than 25-percent relative percent difference (RPD) between environmental samples and their field-replicate pairs. All pesticides detected in replicate samples also were detected in corresponding environmental samples. Suspended sediments also were analyzed in the 4 field replicate samples, and there were 12 detections of pesticides in the sample pairs. Results satisfied the project quality assurance requirement of less than 25-percent RPD between environmental samples and their field-replicate pairs, and all pesticides detected in replicate samples also were detected in corresponding environmental samples.

Four pesticide trip blanks consisting of laboratory water taken into the field and exposed to the atmosphere during sample collection at one surface-water site were processed to verify the cleanliness of pesticide sample collection and processing protocols. Filters from the three pesticide field blanks also were saved and analyzed as suspended-sediment field blanks. Pesticides were not detected in any pesticide field blanks.

Five pesticide matrix-spike samples and five corresponding pesticide matrix-spike replicate samples were collected to assess pesticide recovery, degradation, sorption, and potential interferences caused by the sampling matrix. Filters from the three pesticide matrix spike samples and their corresponding matrix spike replicate samples also were saved and analyzed. All matrix-spike samples met the project quality-assurance objectives of 70–130 percent recovery of pesticide matrix-spike compounds and less than 25-percent RPD between matrix spike and matrix-spike replicate pairs.

Pesticide Presence in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex

During the 3 years of this study, a total of 52 different pesticides or pesticide degradates were detected in water samples: 17 herbicides, 15 fungicides, 19 insecticides, and 1 synergist. Azoxystrobin, 3,4-Dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), and methoxyfenozide were detected in all water samples, and the most frequently detected pesticides are shown in table 4. The number of compounds detected in each water sample ranged from 4 to 25. The insecticides bifenthrin, fipronil, dichlorvos, imidacloprid, and naled were detected with concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aquatic life benchmarks throughout this 3-year study (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2022). Of these five compounds, dichlorvos was detected the most often, appearing in five water samples and having the highest concentration of these compounds (89.3 nanograms per liter [ng/L]). Three water samples from surface-water site RMB contained dichlorvos at a concentration above its acute invertebrate toxicity benchmark of 33.4 ng/L. Dichlorvos was only detected in the 2021 sample year. Bifenthrin concentrations above EPA aquatic life benchmarks were detected in one water sample in 2019 and in three suspended sediment samples during the 3-year study, once in 2019 and twice in 2021. Measured bifenthrin concentrations in water were above the chronic freshwater vertebrate (4 ng/L) and acute invertebrate (0.2 ng/L) toxicity benchmarks. Concentrations of bifenthrin in suspended sediment also were above acute and chronic toxicity benchmarks for invertebrates. Fipronil was detected in four water samples (three collected in 2019 and one collected in 2020) above its chronic invertebrate toxicity benchmark (11 ng/L) during the 3-year study. All samples exceeding benchmark levels were collected at surface-water site RD22 (table 1; fig. 1). Fipronil was not detected in any suspended-sediment samples. Imidacloprid was detected above its chronic invertebrate toxicity benchmark of 10 ng/L in two water samples collected from surface-water site RD22 during 2021. Naled was only included as an analyte for 2021 and was detected in two water samples collected from RMB. The concentration of naled in one of these water samples exceeded the chronic invertebrate toxicity benchmark of 10 ng/L, and the concentration of naled in the other water sample also exceeded the acute toxicity benchmark of 57.5 ng/L (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

Table 4.    

Detection frequencies and maximum concentrations of dissolved pesticides and pesticide degradates detected in water samples collected from Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

[U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System parameter codes for each pesticide and pesticide degradate are provided in table 3. Pesticide type: Herb, Herbicide; Fun, Fungicide; Ins, Insecticide; Syn, Synergist. Abbreviations: %, percent; ng/L, nanograms per liter; NA, not analyzed; —, concentration below reporting limit; DCPMU, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea; DCPU, 3,4-dichlorophenylurea]

Pesticide Pesticide type 2019 Detection frequency
(%)
2019 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
2020 Detection frequency
(%)
2020 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
2021 Detection frequency
(%)
2021 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
3,4-Dichloroaniline Herb 100 586 100 437 100 216
Azoxystrobin Fun 100 2,350 100 3,610 100 1,360
Bentazon Herb NA NA NA NA 63 132
Bifenthrin Ins 3 12.3 0 0
Boscalid Fun 83 44.9 100 22.4 28 6.7
Carbendazim Fun 33 92.4 40 33.2 22 87.7
Chlorantraniliprole Ins 86 79.5 80 16.9 84 9.7
Chlorothalonil Fun 11 6.5 0 0
Clomazone Herb 39 75.2 100 18.8 13 4.3
DCPMU Herb 50 5.0 0 13 4.9
DCPU Herb 44 6.7 40 6.7 13 2.9
Diazinon Ins 33 102 20 1.5 0
Diazinon oxon Ins 8 24.0 0 0
Dichlorvos Ins 0 0 16 89.3
Dithiopyr Herb 3 4.0 0 6 3.4
Diuron Herb 39 16.2 80 12.8 31 8.4
Etofenprox Ins 0 0 3 11.0
Fipronil Ins 17 19.9 40 11.2 19 4.0
Fipronil desulfinyl Ins 25 20.6 20 8.4 19 9.4
Fipronil desulfinyl amide Ins 8 20.6 0 0
Fipronil sulfide Ins 11 10.8 0 13 1.2
Fipronil sulfone Ins 14 12.2 0 19 2.0
Fluopyram Fun 92 40.3 100 36.1 22 4.8
Flupyradifurone Ins 3 3.8 20 20.1 19 8.5
Fluridone Herb 44 37.6 40 435 50 872
Fluxapyroxad Fun 89 38.0 100 19.3 22 3.3
Hexazinone Herb 100 40.5 100 25.9 59 6.6
Imidacloprid Ins 3 2.0 0 0 19 13.1
Imidacloprid urea Ins 0 0 19 13.5
Indaziflam Herb 25 37.4 0 0
Iprodione Fun 14 34.1 0 0
Malathion Ins 0 0 3 3.5
Metalaxyl Fun 0 0 6 2.2
Methoxyfenozide Ins 100 645 100 207 100 665
Metolachlor Herb 100 72.3 100 13.6 38 5.0
Myclobutanil Fun 0 0 6 5.6
Naled (Dibrom) Ins NA NA NA NA 6 77.9
Napropamide Herb 3 6.9 0 0
Pentachloroanisole (PCA) Ins 0 0 3 2.3
Penoxsulam Herb 50 19.1 40 9.5 NA NA
Piperonyl butoxide Syn 6 87.6 0 19 325
Propanil Herb 0 0 22 17.4
Propiconazole Fun 97 951 100 744 94 270
Propyzamide Herb 3 4.6 0 0
Pydiflumetofen Fun NA NA NA NA 3 1.4
Pyrimethanil Fun 0 0 16 3.1
Simazine Herb 14 61.8 0 6 2.2
Tebuconazole Fun 19 38.4 40 19.9 38 9.8
Tetraconazole Fun 6 3.6 0 0
Thiabendazole Fun 3 5.3 20 13.9 19 20.9
Thiamethoxam degradate (NOA-407475) Ins 0 0 63 36.1
Thiobencarb Herb 78 132 100 45.9 25 18.5
Table 4.    Detection frequencies and maximum concentrations of dissolved pesticides and pesticide degradates detected in water samples collected from Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

A total of eight different pesticides (three herbicides, two fungicides, two insecticides, and one synergist) were detected in the suspended-sediment samples collected during the 3-year study (table 5). Concentrations ranged from below reporting levels to 33.2 ng/L. Azoxystrobin was the most frequently detected pesticide in suspended sediment; however, there were few pesticide detections in sediment overall. Of the 23 pesticide detections in sediment during the study, 15 were in samples collected from surface-water site RMB, and RMB generally had higher suspended-sediment concentrations compared to other surface-water sites (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023). Concentrations of pesticides in suspended sediments are provided in ng/L to facilitate the approximation of a whole-water pesticide concentration by summing the dissolved and suspended-sediment concentrations of pesticides.

Table 5.    

Detection frequencies and maximum concentration of pesticides detected in suspended sediment collected from Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

[U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System parameter codes for each pesticide and pesticide degradate are provided in table 3. Pesticide type: Fun, Fungicide; Ins, Insecticide; Herb, Herbicide; Syn, Synergist. Abbreviations: %, percent; ng/L, nanograms per liter; —, concentration below reporting limit; NA, not analyzed]

Pesticide Pesticide type 2019 Detection frequency
(%)
2019 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
2020 Detection frequency
(%)
2020 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
2021 Detection frequency
(%)
2021 Maximum concentration
(ng/L)
Azoxystrobin Fun 8 3.8 40 23.4 19 14.0
Bifenthrin Ins 3 2.5 0 6 1.2
Dithiopyr Herb 3 1.1 0 0
Fluridone Herb NA NA NA NA 3 3.8
Methoxyfenozide Ins NA NA NA NA 6 2.9
Pendimethalin Herb 3 3.3 0 0
Piperonyl butoxide Syn 0 0 3 3.7
Propiconazole Fun 3 33.2 20 3.5 3 1.4
Table 5.    Detection frequencies and maximum concentration of pesticides detected in suspended sediment collected from Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

Generally, pesticide concentrations were higher at more northern surface-water sites within Yolo By-Pass and decreased toward the southern surface-water sites. Temporally, pesticide concentrations were generally higher before and during managed flow pulses in 2019. Overall, pesticide concentrations were higher in 2019 compared to 2021. Total pesticide concentrations decreased through time in 2019 but remained relatively stable in 2021. Surface-water sites RMB and RD22, the most northern surface-water sites, also had the most detections that surpassed the EPA aquatic life benchmarks for acute and chronic toxicity to either freshwater vertebrate or invertebrates (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2022). Average total pesticide concentrations in water samples were lower in 2021 when there was no flow pulse than in 2019 when there was a managed flow pulse (fig. 3). Decreased pesticide applications and decreased agricultural drainage due to drought conditions and farmland fallowing in 2021 may have contributed to lower mean pesticide concentrations in 2021 (California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 2023). Finally, total pesticide concentrations in 2019 decreased after the managed flow pulse (fig. 4). Total concentrations by surface-water site are compared to daily mean discharge from USGS site 11453000 for 2021 (fig. 5).

3. Average pesticide concentrations by surface-water site in nanograms per liter versus
                     surface-water site by location in stream.
Figure 3.

Average total pesticide concentrations by surface-water site (surface-water site names and locations defined in table 1 and fig. 1, respectively) for 2019 and 2021 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

4. Total pesticide concentrations versus daily mean discharge by month.
Figure 4.

Total pesticide concentration by surface-water site versus daily mean discharge at U.S. Geological Survey site 11453000 for 2019 (surface-water site names and locations defined in table 1 and fig. 1, respectively; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

5. Total pesticide concentration by surface-water site versus daily mean discharge.
Figure 5.

Total pesticide concentration by surface-water site versus daily mean discharge at U.S. Geological Survey site 11453000 for 2021 (surface-water site names and locations defined in table 1 and fig. 1, respectively; U.S. Geological Survey, 2023).

Summary

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta provides habitat for several threatened or endangered fish species; Cache Slough complex and Yolo By-Pass are key to the production of phytoplankton as a food source for those species. Current-use pesticides have been known to inhibit phytoplankton and zooplankton growth and have been detected in surface water and suspended sediment throughout the study area. All samples collected during this study contained mixtures of multiple pesticides. Of the 73 water samples analyzed, 16 (22 percent) contained at least 1 pesticide with a concentration above an aquatic life benchmark established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, 53 different current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates were detected with concentrations ranging from below the method detection limits to 4,070 nanograms per liter. Of these detections, five were in concentrations above the EPA aquatic life benchmarks.

Total pesticide concentrations were higher at surface-water sites in the northern end of Yolo By-Pass and decreased at surface-water sites farther downstream. Total pesticide concentrations were higher at most surface-water sites before or during the managed flow pulse in 2019 compared to after the flow pulse. Finally, total mean pesticide concentrations for each surface-water site generally were higher during the flow pulse year of 2019 than during 2021 when there was no flow pulse. Conditions in 2021 were critically dry, with daily mean discharge in Yolo By-Pass near zero. Historically, drier years like 2013, 2015, and 2020 still demonstrated local discharge and a short period of net positive flow in Yolo By-Pass that may have affected pesticide detections. Additional evaluations of managed flow-pulse effects on pesticides and non-managed pulses in the By-Pass are warranted. Monitoring of the presence of current-use pesticides in conjunction with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) managed flow pulses in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough complex is planned to continue for several more years. The continued collection of these data will provide the DWR and other agencies insight on the effects of managed flow pulses.

References Cited

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Conversion Factors

International System of Units to U.S. customary units

Multiply By To obtain
millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)
micrometer (μm) 3.937e−5 inch (in.)
meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft)
meter (m) 1.094 yard (yd)
liter (L) 33.81402 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)
liter (L) 2.113 pint (pt)
liter (L) 1.057 quart (qt)
liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)
liter (L) 61.02 cubic inch (in3)
microliter (µL) 3.381e−5 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)
kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F = (1.8 × °C) + 32.

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Supplemental Information

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (µS/cm at 25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in either milligrams per liter (mg/L) or nanograms per liter (ng/L). One milligram per liter is equivalent to 1 part per million (ppm); 1 nanogram per liter is equivalent to 1 part per trillion (ppt). Concentrations of pesticide compounds in suspended sediments filtered from 1-liter water samples are provided in ng/L to facilitate the approximation of a whole-water concentration by summing the dissolved and suspended-sediment concentrations of pesticide compounds. Constituents of recovery surrogates are in concentrations of 1 nanogram per microliter; 1 nanogram per microliter is equivalent to 1 part per million (ppm). Samples are pumped from the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) pump into the high-performance liquid chromatography column at a rate of 0.6 milliliters per minute (mL/min). The temperature in the oven of the Trace 1310 gas chromatograph is increased at a rate of 25 degrees Celsius per minute (°C/min) until a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius is achieved.

Abbreviations

DWR

California Department of Water Resources

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

GC/MS

gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

GC/MS/MS

gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

LC/MS/MS

liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

NDFS

North Delta Food Subsidies

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

For more information concerning the research in this report, contact the

Director, California Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

6000 J Street, Placer Hall

Sacramento, California 95819

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center

Publishing support provided by the Science Publishing Network,

Sacramento Publishing Service Center

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Suggested Citation

Uychutin, M., Orlando, J.L., Hladik, M.L., Sanders, C.J., Gross, M.S., De Parsia, M.D., LaBarbera, E.M., Twardochleb, L., and Davis, B.E., 2024, Pesticide concentrations of surface water and suspended sediment in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex, California, 2019–2021: U.S. Geological Survey Data Report 1195, 24 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1195.

ISSN: 2771-9448 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Pesticide concentrations of surface water and suspended sediment in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex, California, 2019–2021
Series title Data Report
Series number 1195
DOI 10.3133/dr1195
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description v, 24 p.
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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