4.2.4. Targeted Science Studies

Scaling back of the MWQI discrete water quality monitoring network during the CALFED years was accompanied by a greater program emphasis on targeted science studies related to a broad range of Delta drinking water issues. These studies tended to focus on specific aspects of source waters, contaminant loading, measurement methods and instrumentation, and climate and hydrology. They were conducted to: (i) investigate the origins, fate, transport, and, in some cases, loads of current and emerging contaminants of concern; (ii) investigate seasonal patterns and trends of constituents and examine circulation patterns of contaminants; (iii) refine modeling assumptions; and (iv) assess the impacts of increasing urbanization on levels of water quality constituents of concern. Key studies conducted by the MWQI program, some in collaboration with outside agencies and/or consultants, are listed chronologically in Table A2 (see Appendix A). For example, Jung and Weisser [107] studied flooded peat soil environments, as there were various proposed projects (e.g., the Delta Wetlands project) that were considering using flooded islands for water storage.
