Water-resources data for the 1996 water year for California consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams, stage and contents in lakes and reservoirs, and water levels and water quality in wells. Volume 3 contains discharge records for 168 gaging stations, stage and contents for 43 lakes and reservoirs, precipitation data for 2 stations, and water quality for 30 stations. Also included is 1 crest-stage partial-record station. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in California.