The USGS Red River of the North at Fargo streamgage in Fargo, N.D., takes automatic water level measurements every 15 minutes.

As residents of the Red River basin in North Dakota are faced with yet another major spring flood, water scientists and hydrologic technicians from the USGS are working in Fargo and throughout the river basin to collect important information on the volume of water that is flowing in the river. USGS field crews are taking streamflow and water level measurements on the Red River and its tributaries to document the current flood. The National Weather Service (NWS) uses the data collected by USGS hydrologists to inform its flood forecasts.

The Red River in downtown Fargo, N.D., began cresting, or reaching its peak water level, early Wednesday, May 1, at around 33.32 feet. As of late Wednesday morning, water level at the USGS Red River of the North at Fargo streamgage was 33 feet, which is three feet higher than the NWS major flood level designation. In Fargo, the river is expected to remain above the NWS major flood stage of 30 feet until Sunday. USGS hydrologists are monitoring the Fargo gage on a daily basis.

Previous major flood crests recorded by the USGS streamgage in downtown Fargo include: 38.81 feet, April 2011; 40.84 feet, March 2009; and 39.72 feet, April 1997.

The USGS has installed 12 rapid deployment streamgages at locations within the Red River of the North basin to collect water data where permanent streamgages have been damaged by the flood or do not exist. USGS crews will continue to follow the Red River flood north after the Fargo crest, with more staff moving to Grand Forks, Devils Lake, and Cavalier, N.D. Data for all of the USGS streamgages in the Red River of the North basin are available online.

USGS hydrologists return from measuring streamflow on the Red River in Fargo, N.D. The USGS Red River of the North at Fargo streamgage can be seen on the right in the image.

Flood First Responders

As soon as water starts to rise, specially trained USGS scientists and hydrologic technicians measure water levels, streamflows, and high water marks using state-of-the-art instrumentation. All of this information is crucial for NWS flood forecasts, for decisions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to operate spillways and levees, and for planning by Federal, state, and local emergency managers, first responders, and many other groups.

The widely distributed knowledge of stream conditions — knowledge based on direct, reliable, and timely data — is the means by which a modest investment in streamgages, combined with good science, can save money, help protect property, and even help save lives.

Measuring Streamflow

USGS field crews in North Dakota take streamflow measurements by boat each day during flooding using acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP). For the Red River measurements, the ADCP is attached to a large orange buoy, and dragged along the boat perpendicular to the water current to measure streamflow in cubic feet per second.  The ADCP also can be pulled across the stream from a bridge, when the flow is confined to the channel beneath the bridge.

On Tuesday afternoon, April 30, USGS crews measured a streamflow of 16,100 cubic feet per second near the USGS streamgage in downtown Fargo. USGS crews have made over 120 measurements of streamflow in the Red River basin in the last seven days in support of the USGS mission and to inform the flood forecast.

USGS Streamgages

The USGS operates a network of about 8,000 streamgages nationwide to help prepare for and respond to floods, and to enable the accuracy and confidence of NWS forecasting models.  Flood forecast and response, however, is only one of the many uses of streamgage information.

USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas shows media how the acoustic Doppler current profiler (on the right) measures streamflow on the Red River in Fargo.

A streamgage is a structure located beside a river or on a bridge that contains a device to measure and record the water level in that river. Generally, these measurements occur automatically every 15 minutes. For most streamgages, the data are sent via satellite back to a USGS office once every hour, and more frequently in times of flooding. There, critical information about gage height, or water level, and the flow of the river (measured in cubic feet per second) is made available to users in near real-time.

This USGS streamgaging network is in partnership with more than 850 Federal, state, tribal, and local agencies.

Due to recent budget cuts as a result of sequestration, the USGS will be obliged to discontinue operation of a substantial number of streamgages nationwide. Additional streamgages may be affected if partners reduce their funding to support USGS streamgages. It is possible that the funding mechanisms from Federal partners will also be affected, directly or indirectly, by sequestration reductions.

The USGS first sought to absorb budget cuts through curtailment of travel, training, hiring, and other expenditures not deemed mission-critical. Even though the operation of most streamgage equipment is highly automated, the data produced need field verification, which requires trained technicians to visit the streamgages on a regular basis. During flood events, the need for frequent visits becomes even more critical as the data is used by first responders to support the protection of life, property, and the environment.

Where Can You Find USGS Flood Information?

The USGS is constantly refining, innovating, and updating its ability to deliver river information to emergency managers, first responders, other Federal agencies, and you and your family before, during, and after a flood.

If you want to see areas where river levels are higher than normal right now, you can go to the USGS WaterWatch site and view a map of the thousands of real-time streamgages that constantly monitor the Nation’s rivers and streams. For example, you can access a map of the flood and high streamflow locations in North Dakota through the WaterWatch site.

To put that number in context, the USGS and the NWS are working together to create visual products, called flood inundation map libraries, that show you estimates of where the water will be and what roads, yards, and buildings will be affected when a river or stream reaches a certain stage.

You can also receive automatic notifications from streamgages near you sent directly to you as an email or text message when water levels exceed certain thresholds. Sign up for this USGS WaterAlert service by selecting a state, checking the “Surface Water” box, and clicking on your streamgage of choice.

Links:

USGS North Dakota Water Science Center: http://nd.water.usgs.gov/

When Floods Hit, the USGS is There: http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/when-floods-hit-the-usgs-is-there/?from=title

Main USGS Flood Site: http://water.usgs.gov/floods

Real-time USGS Water Data: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt

USGS Red River of the North at Fargo Streamgage: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nd/nwis/uv?site_no=05054000&format=gif&period=31

Flood Inundation Interactive Mapper: http://wim.usgs.gov/FIMI/FloodInundationMapper.html

Additional information about Flood Inundation Mapping: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/

WaterAlert: http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/

Isaac’s floodwaters and impacts were measured using a variety of tools before, during and after the storm, including terrestrial and airborne lidar, acoustic Doppler and aerial photography

Mapping in 3-D: Terrestrial lidar and acoustic Doppler

USGS scientists mapped the Tangipahoa Dam using terrestrial lidar (video at right), or T-lidar and acoustic Doppler technology to capture multiple scans of different areas near the dam, showing the above and underwater topography. The dam was damaged during heavy rainfall in Hurricane Isaac and caused thousands of people downstream to be evacuated late last week.

These scans captured a clear view of two landslides on the dam’s downstream side. The larger of the two landslides occurred mostly underwater. While T-lidar provides a clear view of above ground features, scientists used acoustic Doppler techniques to conduct underwater measurements.

A 3-D terrestrial LiDAR scan of the Percy Quin Mississippi State Park Dam in McComb, Mississippi, taken Monday, September 3, 2012. The U.S. Geological Survey is using this new technology in select areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to map impacts by Hurricane Isaac.

The first T-lidar scans took place Saturday, with more completed on Monday to assess whether additional movement of the landslides had occurred.  Monday’s scan showed little movement. This information and other data has been provided to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they continue to address the dam’s structural risk and public safety.

T-lidar allows scientists to quickly generate 3-D maps of buildings, dams, levees and other structures, and can show areas of storm damage as well.  In a four-to-five minute scan, the instrument collects millions of topographic data points in a full 360-degree view to quickly produce highly accurate topographic information and can map areas up to two-thirds of a mile away.

Acoustic Doppler instruments are frequently used to measure stream or lake geometry and water velocity. An acoustic signal is bounced off the river or lake bottom and the amount of time required for the signal to return to the sensor provides a measurement of the distance to the bottom. In the Tangipahoa Lake application an acoustic Doppler instrument was used to map the underwater portion of the landslide area, and to determine the force of the water on the dam structure.

Isaac is the first storm in which USGS has used its terrestrial lidar capabilities to map urban flooding.

The view from above: aerial flight surveys and lidar showing coastal change

After the worst of the storm passed, USGS scientists began conducting aerial photography and elevation surveys of post-storm beach conditions along the Gulf Coast to document the impacts of hurricane surge, waves, and currents on beaches. Information obtained from these surveys allows scientists to measure changes to coastal environments.

Oblique aerial photography was collected this week from Isle Dernieres in Louisiana to Dauphin Island in Alabama.  Scientists compared these images with pre- storm images of the same location to illustrate the coastal changes and damage from Hurricane Isaac. Photo pairs of several locations are available online.

Photos from Dauphin Island indicated beach erosion and island overwash, furthering the erosion the island has seen during repeated storm events — Ivan, Katrina, Gustav and Isaac — that have led to the island’s increased vulnerability to future storms. This photo shows the effects that repeat hurricane waves and surge have had on Dauphin Island from 2004 -2008.

Some areas of the Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana experienced such extreme erosion from Isaac that only underwater shoals, or submerged shallow areas, remain. This erosion resulted in the disappearance of an oil-protection berm constructed following the BP oil spill.  Due to cumulative damage from previous storms like Hurricane Katrina, it remains in question whether this beach system will ever be able to fully recover from storm impacts.

Scientists are also conducting an airborne lidar survey of beach elevations to gather additional information in the most heavily impacted areas and to measure the amount of erosion.

Lidar, light detection and ranging, is an aircraft-based, remote-sensing technique that uses laser pulses to collect highly detailed ground elevation data. The photography and lidar data, as well as the coastal change analyses of these data, should be useful in mitigation and restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast shoreline. Data acquired will also be used to improve predictive models of future coastal impacts from severe storms and to identify areas vulnerable to extreme coastal change.

Flyover Shows Storm Damage and Marsh Dieback:

Another set of USGS aerial flight surveys flown this week used similar techniques to document vegetation and habitat change, and other ecological impacts and along coast and barrier islands post Isaac.

These flights examined areas from Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, to Ship Island, Mississippi., and preliminary assessments suggest that Hurricane Isaac damaged coastal wetlands in a manner that is substantial, but not unprecedented. Damage to coastal wetland areas was evident throughout much of southeast Louisiana. The intensity of hurricane effects was most abundant in areas of upper Breton Sound, an area just to the south of the community of Braithwaite, which experienced devastating flooding.

The most prevalent effects of Hurricane Isaac observed were expansive wrack fields. Wrack is accumulated organic debris and trash that are transported and deposited by a hurricane’s surge. Wrack deposits from Hurricane Isaac were observed throughout southeast Louisiana, burying existing marsh areas and obstructing infrastructure, such as canals and railroads.

Large areas of marsh dieback, termed “brown marsh” or “sudden marsh dieback,” were observed in the Terrebonne and Barataria basins in Louisiana. Previous reports of sudden marsh dieback in the spring and summer of 2012, before Hurricane Isaac, indicate that the dieback in this area has been increasing over time and may be the result of a combination of other stressors. Evidence of vegetation stress, such as widespread discoloration, was also observed in areas that were directly impacted further to the east by hurricane storm surge. The browning and destruction in the marshes east of the Mississippi River in coastal Louisiana appear to be recent, indicating a more direct link to salinity and flooding stress associated with the Hurricane Isaac’s storm surge. The USGS will further investigate the recent history of sudden marsh dieback events in coastal Louisiana. Subsequent aerial surveys will be conducted to quantify the extent of brown marsh and to potentially separate the phenomenon of sudden dieback and the storm surge impacts.

Louisiana currently experiences more wetland loss then all other states in the U.S. combined. Coastal Louisiana has lost a wetland area the size of Delaware, equaling 1,883 square miles, over the past 78 years, according to a 2011 USGS National Wetlands Research Center study. For more information about NWRC’s hurricane research, visit http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/index.html. To view images collected during post-Hurricane Isaac reconnaissance flights, click on the Hurricane Isaac link. To learn more about marsh dieback or brown marsh, visit http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/about/capabilities/brwnmrsh.htm.

Seeing the Surge: Collecting Sensors and Gathering High Water Marks

USGS field crews responded to the storm deploying 170 storm surge sensors and rapid deployment gauges along the Gulf coast between Mobile Bay in Alabama and Venice, Louisiana. Now those sensors are being collected and the data are being analyzed.

Surge elevations ranged from more than five feet in eastern Mississippi to nearly 11 feet west of Bay St. Louis.  Along the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, surge elevation ranged from six feet to over seven and a half feet near Madisonville, Louisiana.  The LaPlace area southwest of Lake Pontchartrain experienced over five feet of surge elevation, but the worst hit was the Plaquemines Parish area, where flooding continues to impede access to USGS sensors.  All data (provisional and subject to change upon review) are available via interactive mapper.

In addition to in measuring storm-tide, more than 75 independent high-water marks have been recorded to provide additional points between the sensors to document the extent and magnitude of storm surge from Isaac. Rains from Hurricane Isaac cause record flows on Mississippi streams. Inland flooding was recorded in Mississippi on the Wolf River, Black Creek and Wiggins. Three stations in southeastern Louisiana had the second highest peak stage of record ever recorded at these sites.  Bogue Chitto River near Bush, La. peaked at 19.82 feet on September 2^nd; Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton, La. also peaked on September 2^nd with a high-water mark of 22.13 feet; Tangipahoa River at Robert, La. peaked on September 1 with high water mark of 24.02 feet.

Over the next few days, USGS will send crews into the field to assess flooding, gather high water marks, and begin to collect and analyze data from storm surge sensors deployed prior to Hurricane Isaac’s landfall. USGS will also conduct aerial surveys along the Gulf’s coastline to photograph coastal change from the storm’s waves and currents.

USGS Flood Monitoring Network:

USGS boat launched during 2011 flood waters in Louisiana.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. through an extensive streamgaging network. More than 7500 streamgages throughout the U.S. provide real-time information of river and stream flow which is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk, and for many recreational activities.

Rising Floodwaters from Isaac:

Several southern states have experienced significant flooding as a result of rains from Hurricane Isaac.

Multiple USGS field crews from several states are recording high-water marks, collecting discharge measurements and obtaining water quality data in coastal and inland Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. This information is important because it is used by the National Weather Service to issue flood warnings, and the data is also used by emergency responders and planners to mitigate current and future flood hazards. These crews are being augmented by USGS staff from the Georgia Water Science Center. As the storm continues to move, crews from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas remain ready to address flooding along the storm’s track.

USGS field crews have also begun retrieving the 170 storm surge sensors and 17 temporary real-time gages that were deployed in response to Hurricane Isaac in locations where the storm has passed. Data from these sensors networks will be uploaded to the USGS Hurricane Storm Tide Sensor Map.  The sensors provide critical data for more accurate modeling and prediction capabilities and allows for improved structure designs and response for public safety.

Three dimensional (3D) topographic and bathymetric model of Yellowleaf Creek, AL.

New 3-D Mapping Technology to Measure Isaac’s Flooding

A new technology is being used by the USGS to map flooding in certain urban areas caused by the hurricane. Called terrestrial lidar, or T-lidar, this new capability is being deployed by scientists from the USGS to collect highly-detailed information in select population areas where the storm had the greatest impact in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The USGS has not previously used T-lidar for flood work.

Drought Persists in other parts of the U.S.

Although Isaac has brought significant precipitation in its wake, much of the country continues to be plagued by severe drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor has provided the latest drought impacts for the states listed below. Real-time updates on the Nation’s drought conditions are available on the USGS drought homepage:

Dry, cracked streambed as a result of drought.

All of Wyoming is experiencing moderate drought, with 37 percent of the state comprising parts of the Cheyenne, North Platte, and Green River basins in extreme drought conditions.  More than 74 percent of Arkansas continues to be in extreme or exceptional drought conditions.  Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri all have 100 percent of the state in severe drought. Indiana is experiencing 97 percent of the state in severe drought. Moderate to below normal drought conditions cover the vast majority of the state of Georgia. Only the upper Tennessee basins and the Suwannee, Alapaha, and Ochlockonee River basins are in the normal range. In Kansas there are 56 USGS streamgages measuring zero water flow and in Oklahoma there are 22 gages currently measuring zero flow.

Access current flood and drought conditions across the country by visiting the USGS WaterWatch website.

Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert.

USGS has installed more than 120 storm surge sensors in advance of Hurricane Isaac’s landfall. Click the image above to see the locations of each USGS sensor.

Note: This was originally posted on 8/28/2012. View the most updated information on this event.

USGS has posted all information regarding our efforts to respond to Hurricane Isaac on this page and in the links at the bottom.

USGS scientists, engineers, and technicians are working along the Gulf Coast in response to Hurricane Isaac, deploying storm-surge sensors and maintaining real-time streamgages in anticipation of Isaac’s arrival. The USGS, in concert with our partners, is providing scientific assessments of the challenges wrought by Isaac.

Storm-Surge and Real-Time Sensors

The USGS has deployed more than 120 storm-surge sensors along the northern Gulf of Mexico in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Of those sensors, 12 are reporting data in real-time, while the other sensors will be collected post-landfall.

The instruments will be removed as soon as possible, following the departure of the storm.

These sensors are typically about 1 1/2 inches wide and a foot long, and will be strapped to piers, docks or other structures in the water expected to withstand the storm to collect data on storm surge, and in some cases, transmit water levels in real time.  They are typically installed on the coast or just inland of the coast about 50 miles west and 100 miles east of the projected landfall area.  Learn more about our storm surge sensors and what to do if you see one.

Coastal Change Impacts

Elevated water levels and waves during tropical storms can lead to dramatic coastal change through erosion of beaches and dunes. USGS has developed a storm-impact scale that predicts the likelihood of coastal change by comparing modeled elevations of storm-induced water levels to known elevations of coastal topography in order to define three coastal change regimes. USGS has completed an assessment of potential coastal-change impacts from Tropical Storm Isaac.

On August 1, USGS scientist Robert Holmes will give a lecture about the anatomy of floods in relation to the 2011 Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee landfalls.

Flooding costs the United States more than $7 billion per year and claims over 90 lives annually. During the Spring and Summer of 2011, flooding associated with snowmelt and rain devastated the Central U.S. while Hurricane Irene followed by Tropical Storm Lee caused severe and unrelenting flooding in the East and Northeastern U.S. Join us on August 1 to learn more about the anatomy of flooding: What are the different causes of these extreme events, and how is USGS science helping prepare residents for future foods.
FREE and Open to the Public
Follow this event LIVE! @USGSLive

Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2011, 7:00-8:00 PM
Location: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192
Phone:  703-648-4748
Visit our website!
About the Lecture Series
The USGS Science in Action public lecture series in Reston, VA is a monthly event. These evening events are free to the public and intended for a general audience to familiarize them with science issues that are meaningful to our daily lives.
The USGS speakers are selected for their ability and enthusiasm to share their expertise with an audience that may be unfamiliar with the topic.
The USGS lecture series provides the public an opportunity to interact with scientists and ask questions about recent developments in biology, geography, geology, water resources, climate change, energy and more. Ultimately, the goal is to create a better understanding of the importance and value of USGS Science in Action.
Contact: Melanie Gade

USGS Scientist Paul Hsieh, 2011 Federal Employee of the Year

The USGS scientist Dr. Paul Hsieh was named Federal Employee of the Year, highlighting the value of our science to the Nation. Hsieh was recognized by the Partnership for Public Servicefor his timely scientific analysis that convinced Federal leaders responding to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill that the cap placed over the Macondo well was working, allowing for a safe shutdown.

DOI Assistant Secretary Anne Castle Christens the USGS R/V Kaho. The Kaho is one of two sister ships that will begin research work in the Great Lakes.

USGS scientists worked on several regional and national issues. We contributed to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, including new treatment tools to help control Asian carp, an invasive species, and launch of new research vessels being deployed to understand the deep-water ecosystems and fishes of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. USGS water quality monitoring and analysis, and water availability monitoring is taking place in waterways across the Nation at seven pilot locations that are part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership: the Anacostia, Patapsco, Harlem, Bronx, and Los Angeles watersheds; the South Platte River, and the Lake Pontchartrain area. In the Grand Canyon, USGS science on uranium resources, hydrology, and the past impacts of mining informed the decision to withdraw Federal lands around the Grand Canyon from new mining claims. USGS science also played a significant role in Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessmentsettlements including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Tyrone Mine area in New Mexico.

Wind turbines at certain sites in North America each cause dozens of bat fatalities per year.

On the new energy frontier the USGS continues to lead the way in the Department of the Interior with the release of “Wind Energy in the United States and Materials Required for the Land Based Wind Turbine Industry from 2010 Through 2030.” The data suggest that, with the exception of rare earth elements, there should not be a shortage of the principal materials required for electricity generation from wind energy. In the area of wind and wildlife, our scientists are using near-infrared videography to monitor and research bat activity at wind turbines, as a side effect of the expansion of wind energy is increased bird and bat mortality at turbines. We also continue to focus on conventional sources of energy development, evidenced in our summary report of the science needs for conventional energy development for the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. In the area of unconventional gas, the USGS worked with the Department of Energy and provided information for their report on the needed reforms for unconventional gas production, and the USGS is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and DOE on a strategy to fill those research gaps.

A submarine berg emerges from the advancing terminus of Yahtse Glacier. Iceberg calving is a key process in the global sea level budget.

In the area of climate change, the USGS completed the establishment of the eight climate science centers across the country with universities and consortia in Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Arizona. We also completed a study measuring the amount of stored carbon in the ecosystems of the Great Plains. This study was the first regional report that applied a comprehensive methodology designed by the USGS in 2010.

Scientists hike up the Little Colorado River to assist in installing remote PIT tag readers to more efficiently keep track of native, endangered fish populations.

Water continues to be a contentious issue in various parts of the country. In 2011, the USGS launched a geographic focus study on the Colorado River basin, part of the WaterSMART availability and land use assessment, a three-year study that will provide an inventory of water supply and demand. The effort includes assessing water needed to support ecosystems and will report significant competition over water resources and the factors causing the competition. Water information can also be sent to your email inbox or your phone, thanks to WaterAlert. This tool allows users to be notified daily of water levels at any of our 7,600 real-time streamgages across the country. Addressing the Nation’s water resource challenges is a priority for the USGS, and in 2011 we formed an innovative partnership to do just that with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This partnership will provide a one-stop portal to integrated water information for stakeholders with forecasts showing where water for drinking, industry, and ecosystems will be available.

Josh Latimore stands in front of Burney Falls. Latimore started at the USGS as a summer intern and now serves as a USGS hydrologic technician while pursuing his bachelor of science.

The USGS engaged in a wide array of youth activities nationwide in 2011. From the collaboration with GeoFORCE at the University of Texas-Austin, to the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s EDMAP training component, to the Rocky Mountain Science and Sustainability Summer Academy (RMSSN). GeoFORCE engages minority high school students in the earth sciences, the EDMAP encourages high school graduates of this program to continue to work with the USGS throughout their college careers, and RMSSN provides training in field observation, data entry, and scientific communication to diverse students.

This map shows the various reported levels of shaking around Oklahoma City after the November 5 M5.6 earthquake

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut drill, held in April of 2011, is just one example of the USGS’s role in preparing for and responding to natural hazards. Another example is the National Earthquake Information Center’s provision of real-time data to on the magnitude and potential damage of the August earthquake in Virginia, and the November earthquake and aftershocks in Oklahoma. To better monitor aftershocks, mobile seismic monitors were deployed, bringing the total of earthquake sensors in the Advanced National Seismic System to over 2,200. Flooding was also a concern last year, with more than 30 states affected. To educate Congress about the 2011 floods, we conducted a congressional briefing titled “2011 — The Year of the Flood?” For more than 100 years the USGS has played a critical role in reducing flood losses by operating a nationwide streamgage network that monitors the water level and flow of the Nation’s rivers and streams. This information was critical to the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to simultaneously open the Mississippi River floodgates for the first time.

The 2006 image (left) show the river in a more normal state, while the 2011 image (right) shows the massive flooding. The dark blue tones represent water or flooded areas, the light green is cleared fields, and light tones are clouds.

During the heavy flooding that occurred on the Mississippi River, Missouri River, and other major waterways, the USGS’s Landsat satellites produced images of the affected areas to provide an overview of the situation. Landsat has often helped provide a big-picture perspective on natural hazards both domestic and foreign and ranging from tornados to tsunamis to wildfires. Landsat is a joint effort of both USGS and NASA. In addition to imagery of natural hazard events, Landsat provides valuable data for land use research and advances the Department of the Interior’s important role in land remote sensing under the President’s National Space Policy. Landsat images provide complete global coverage, they are available for free, and they span nearly 40 years of continuous earth observation. No other satellite imagery has that combination of attributes. To date, over 6 million scenes have been downloaded; over 2.6 million were downloaded in 2011.

These highlights are but a few of the USGS’s significant accomplishments and activities in 2011. Keep up with what we do in 2012 by visiting www.usgs.gov and following us on Twitter @usgs or on Facebook.

Gagehouse at 06225500 Wind River near Crowheart WY right before it washed away.

As the climate changes, the conditions behind the unprecedented erosion of the 2009-2010 winter could become more common. Erosion assessments are helping coastal decison makers prepare for the potential damage of future storms. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hansen, USGS.)

• As a 5.8-magnitude earthquake near Mineral, Virginia, sent a jolt through 22 eastern States in August, many were surprised and frightened.

• As roads, homes, and farmlands were swamped by flooding from melting snowpack and spring rains, and as more property, roads, and even century-old covered bridges were washed away by flooding brought on by hurricanes this summer, many were caught off guard by the record-breaking water levels.

• As severe drought conditions in Texas caused die-offs of fish and wildlife and helped fuel widespread wildfires that forced residents to quickly gather family and escape to shelters, many were not prepared for the damages to their natural resources and homes.

• As climate change alters the ranges of species (such as moose and beaver), the reliability of vegetation (such as salmonberries), and the predictability of weather in the Arctic, residents have become concerned about their safety, their sources of food, and their livelihoods.

Unexpected hazardous events and changes to the world around us can be devastating.

But USGS science can help remove the element of surprise.

• Thanks to building codes based on USGS science, the damage to structures during the earthquake was greatly reduced.
• Thanks to streamflow data and flood statistics that support the National Weather Service’s flood warning systems, communities had real-time flooding information as well as time to prepare before the floods hit.
• Thanks to wildfire mapping to guide emergency response decisions, residents had time to evacuate areas threatened by fires.
• Thanks to climate change modeling and impact studies, decision makers are developing a better understanding of how a changing climate is impacting our societies and natural resources.

Answering the Questions Posed by Our Ever-Changing Earth

October 9 – 15, 2011, is Earth Science Week, themed “Our Ever-Changing Earth,” and October 12 is International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

These awareness events provide an opportunity for everyone to learn how science is helping to answer questions that arise in the face of our vulnerabilities to both natural hazards and changes to the earth.

Is your area prone to earthquakes?  

Even though East Coast earthquakes may seem rare to the current generation, they are not a new or an unknown occurrence.

Church steeples still lean in Charleston, South Carolina, after an intense earthquake shook the city in 1886. And seismic studies have shown that earthquakes in eastern States are felt over much broader areas and can cause damage many miles from their epicenter.

You can learn about the earthquake hazards in your area by accessing seismic hazard maps and data from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

How can we anticipate and prepare for likely flooding?

USGS scientists monitor real-time streamflow and water quality for thousands of streams across the Nation. With the USGS WaterAlert service, you can receive data electronically from streamgage stations when certain thresholds are exceeded.

The information collected by these gages not only allows individuals and communities to have real-time warnings of flooding, but by providing a long-term record, this information also helps communities to plan for likely future flooding.

As the climate and the landscape changes, the historical record is not always a good indicator of what will happen in the future.

To help prepare for potential flooding, USGS scientists can combine an understanding of how water behaves on the landscape with detailed topographic maps of specific areas to provide cities with flood inundation maps that show which areas would likely flood given specific water levels.

What is causing the ocean and soils to become more acidic?

Increased acidity of the ocean and soils has been linked to damaged ocean food webs and to poor crop sustainability. A recent study on acidification found that it is human activities, such as the mining and burning of coal, the mining and smelting of metal ores, and the use of nitrogen fertilizer, that are making our air, water, and soils more acidic.

To help policymakers address the problem, researchers also created world maps that are helping to alert policymakers about possible future trends and areas to watch for developing hotspots.

How is climate change affecting people in the Arctic?

To help understand socioeconomic issues of climate change, the USGS interviewed those with traditional and personal environmental knowledge: Yup’ik hunters and elders in two Alaskan villages.

The villagers described the changes they have seen and expressed concerns ranging from safety, such as unpredictable weather patterns and dangerous ice conditions, to changes in plants and animals as well as decreased availability of firewood.

Are our coastal homes at risk to future storms?

The El Niño conditions of the winter of 2009 – 2010 eroded beaches at some sites in California and the Pacific Northwest. But how bad was the damage and what can residents expect in the future?

USGS erosion studies on the West Coast  revealed that the conditions produced by El Niño, with above average wave energy and ocean water levels, contributed to unprecedented beach erosion in some areas. As the climate changes, El Niño conditions are likely to be more frequent, and these assessments are helping coastal experts to better predict how future climatic patterns will affect the Pacific Coast. With this information, land managers and decision makers can mitigate for possible damage to western coastlines

Our Ever-Changing Earth

Earth is ever changing, but through earth and natural science studies, the USGS is helping the Nation to understand our vulnerabilities, to anticipate the impacts, and to mitigate the risks.

Learn more about Earth Science Week events in your area.

Missouri River Spring Flood

After a Flood of Record on the Mississippi, Flooding Veers North and West

 

After weeks of responding to the historic flooding along the Mississippi River, U.S. Geological Survey scientists have shifted some focus to the West. Many communities in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Iowa are dealing with record floodwaters and bracing for more flooding in the upcoming weeks.

This latest round of flooding is due to extreme spring precipitation, which could be compounded by snowmelt in the mountains in the near future. Though the Missouri River flows into the Mississippi River, flooding on the Missouri River is not expected to significantly affect current flooding on the Mississippi River.

USGS measurements are the cornerstone of National Weather Service predictions and forecasts. When flooding happens, USGS field crews are among the first to respond. During and after storms and floods, USGS field crews measure the streamflow and height of rivers. Crews repair and install streamgages to ensure the accurate and reliable data continues to make it to USGS partners like the National Weather Service and Army Corps of Engineers, as well as the public, emergency managers and communities.

You can keep yourself updated about water levels for the rivers and streams near you by signing up for USGS WaterAlert, where you can receive instant customized updates about water conditions at any of the thousands of sites nationwide where the USGS collects real-time water information. When you sign up for WaterAlert, you can customize the alert so that you receive notification when water exceeds any preset threshold or goes above the flood stage at your selected streamgage. You can find detailed information about flood predictions and warnings in your area on the National Weather Service website.

Links:

• WaterWatch
• South Dakota Flood Watch Page
• WaterAlert
• National Weather Service

News Releases:

• Montana
• South Dakota

Related Posts:

• USGS Crews Remain On Scene in the Lower Mississippi River Basin