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A new seamless, high-resolution digital elevation model of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, California

Open-File Report 2017-1067
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171067

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Abstract

Climate change, sea-level rise, and human development have contributed to the changing geomorphology of the San Francisco Bay - Delta (Bay-Delta) Estuary system. The need to predict scenarios of change led to the development of a new seamless, high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the Bay – Delta that can be used by modelers attempting to understand potential future changes to the estuary system. This report details the three phases of the creation of this DEM. The first phase took a bathymetric-only DEM created in 2005 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), refined it with additional data, and identified areas that would benefit from new surveys. The second phase began a USGS collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) that updated a 2012 DWR seamless bathymetric/topographic DEM of the Bay-Delta with input from the USGS and modifications to fit the specific needs of USGS modelers. The third phase took the work from phase 2 and expanded the coverage area in the north to include the Yolo Bypass up to the Fremont Weir, the Sacramento River up to Knights Landing, and the American River up to the Nimbus Dam, and added back in the elevations for interior islands. The constant evolution of the Bay-Delta will require continuous updates to the DEM of the Delta, and there still are areas with older data that would benefit from modern surveys. As a result, DWR plans to continue updating the DEM.

Suggested Citation

Fregoso, T.A., Wang, R-F. T., Ateljevich, E.S., and Jaffe, B.E., 2017, A new seamless, high-resolution digital elevation model of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1067, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171067.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract 
  • Introduction
  • Creation of the Seamless DEM
  • The New High-Resolution DEM of the San Francisco Bay-Delta
  • Improvements for the Future
  • Data
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title A new seamless, high-resolution digital elevation model of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, California
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2017-1067
DOI 10.3133/ofr20171067
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description Report: vi, 27 p.; Data Release
First page 1
Last page 27
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details