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Streams
Linear bodies of water flowing on the Earth's surface. [USGS Feature Class Definitions <http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/feature_class.htm>]
Alexandria Digital Library Feature Type Thesaurus
Subtopics:
Rivers (47 items)
Springs (hydrographic) (2 items)
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Results 1 - 95 of 96 listed alphabetically [list by similarity]
PDF A dryland river transformed--the Little Colorado, 1936-2010 [More info]
We mapped substantial migration of the river channel between the City of Winslow and the Navajo Nation community of Leupp; in a human lifetime the river has moved more than a mile across its valley floor.
A promising tool for subsurface permafrost mapping-An application of airborne geophysics from the Yukon River Basin, Alaska [More info]
Airborne electromagnetic surveying is used to estimate the character of the permafrost by measuring and monitoring the electrical resistivity, which is affected by lithology, temperature, water, and ice.
PDF Acid Rain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia [More info]
Explains acidity and acid rain and how it affects aquatic organisms. Describes the effect of acid rain on this national park, identifying areas that are at greater or lesser risk from acid rain.
An Overview of Historical Channel Adjustment and Selected Hydraulic Values in the Lower Sabine and Lower Brazos River Basins, Texas and Louisiana [More info]
How has the channel shape and path changed in response to reservoirs and other human disturbances affecting the streamflow?
PDF Annual peak streamflow and ancillary data for small watersheds in central and western Texas [More info]
Estimates of annual peak-streamflow frequency are needed for flood-plain management, assessment of flood risk, and design of structures, such as roads, bridges, culverts, dams, and levees.
Aquatic features, bathymetry, and navigation structures in the upper Mississippi River [More info]
Geospatial hydrologic and reference data covering the upper Mississippi River, provided in formats appropriate to geographic information systems (GIS) and used in long-term resource monitoring of the area.
Atchafalaya & Mississippi River Deltas study: a tale of two deltas [More info]
Project of the Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science program that evaluates the transport and sedimentation of contaminates through the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River delta to the near-shore Gulf of Mexico. Includes aerial photographs.
PDF Calculating weighted estimates of peak streamflow statistics [More info]
A method of improving our estimates of statistics used to describe flood frequency, taking into account information obtained from the stream whose flood frequency is being investigated.
California Water-Quality Assessment [More info]
Results of activities in California conducted under the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA): maps, publications and data.
Canoeing North Dakota rivers [More info]
Links to streamflow, stage, pictures, maps, river descriptions, and general information for canoeing on North Dakota's rivers. Files are in PDF format.
PDF Characterization of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004-08 [More info]
Preliminary results of hydrologic and biological sampling confirm anecdotal reports that this stream shows unusually high algal growth due to elevated nutrients, probably from groundwater.
PDF Chloride control and monitoring program in the Wichita River Basin, Texas, 1996-2009 [More info]
Chloride concentrations in this river have historically been high due to natural saltwater springs and seeps from geologic formations. We monitor the water to help assess the progress of human efforts designed to mitigate this problematic salinity.
PDF Condition of streams in Independence, Missouri: What is being done to protect stream health and how citizens can help [More info]
Stream water quality is affected by amount of impermeable surface in the basin; construction; reservoirs; sanitary sewer systems; land use and population density; road salt; animal waste; lawn and agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Data visualization tools used in studies of the upper Mississippi River and nearby areas [More info]
Interactive maps and databases showing geospatial, biologic, and ecological aspects of the upper Mississippi River. Includes water quality, fish species, and vegetation distribution as well as geographic reference information.
PDF Demonstrating usefulness of real-time monitoring at streambank wells coupled with active streamgages - Pilot studies in Wyoming, Montana, and Mississippi [More info]
To better understand the exchange of groundwater and surface water, we coupled groundwater monitoring at the stream bank with nearby gages in the stream. Describes the procedure and results from several areas.
Duration and current conditions graphs for selected Pennsylvania sites [More info]
Plots of streamflow averages and ground water depths for selected hydrologic sites in Pennsylvania.
Elwha River dam removal -- Rebirth of a river [More info]
Overview of the USGS role in the largest dam removal project in U.S. history.
PDF Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Western Pilot Project - Conditions of North Dakota Perennial Streams for Water Chemistry and Mercury in Fish Tissue, 2000-2003 [More info]
Sixty-five sampling sites, selected by a statistical design to represent lengths of perennial streams in North Dakota, were chosen to be sampled for water chemistry and mercury in fish tissue to establish unbiased baseline data.
PDF Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Western Pilot Project - Information about selected fish and macroinvertebrates sampled from North Dakota perennial streams, 2000-2003 [More info]
Sixty-five sampling sites, selected by a statistical design to represent lengths of perennial streams in North Dakota, were chosen to be sampled for fish and aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) to establish unbiased baseline data.
PDF Evaluation of fecal contamination by human and ruminant sources in upper Fountain Creek, Colorado, 2007-2008, by using multiple lines of evidence: [More info]
Microbial source tracking analysis of water sampled supports the argument that birds are the primary source of fecal contamination during the warm season.
PDF February 2012 workshop jumpstarts the Mekong Fish Monitoring Network [More info]
An international workshop helps to begin collaboration on fish monitoring in southeast Asia.
PDF Flood inundation map library, Fort Kent, Maine [More info]
Severe flooding occurred in northern Maine from April 28 to May 1, 2008, and damage was extensive in the town. Aroostook County was declared a Federal disaster area. Our flood inundation maps were out of date, so we have updated them; this explains how.
Fluvial geomorphology studies in Kansas [More info]
Report of completed studies that have investigated the response of river and stream channels in Kansas to a variety of human-caused and natural disturbances.
Forecast Mekong [More info]
Data and reports about the overall environment in the Mekong river watershed. Includes downloadable remote-sensing data and interactive maps.
PDF Forecast Mekong [More info]
USGS works with the Department of State to share data and support local research efforts and elevate knowledge about this river and delta in maintaining food security and livelihoods in the region.
PDF Geochemistry of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer [More info]
Describes the geographic extent, quality, origin, and dynamic character of this aquifer located in south central Oklahoma.
Geomorphology and sediment transport -- river mechanics [More info]
Current river mechanics research on particle friction angles of fluvial gravels (data files compressed in BenHex, Winzip and Unix) and Grand Canyon Beach evolution (animation requiring Java 1.0) plus digital elevation files (*.hgx and *.zip files).
Georgia's Stream-Water-Quality Monitoring Network, 2006 [More info]
USGS stream-water-quality monitoring network for Georgia represents an aggregation of smaller networks and individual monitoring stations, with map and link to data.
PDF Historical changes in annual peak flows in Maine and implications for flood-frequency analyses [More info]
Annual peak flows have increased at most rivers in Maine during the last century. What effect does this have on computed peak flows, such as the 100-year flows, that are used for designing bridges and other structures?
Historical streamflows of Double Mountain Fork of Brazos River and water-surface elevations of Lake Alan Henry, Garza County, Texas, water years 1962-2010 [More info]
Shows graphs illustrating available data from two surface-water monitoring stations near this reservoir supplying water for the city of Lubbock.
PDF How does a U.S. Geological Survey streamgage work? [More info]
Explains how streamflow is measured, how it relates to water level, how stream discharge is measured, and how to find data on streamflow.
PDF Hydrologic conditions in Georgia, 2010 [More info]
Georgia has recently seen a lot of extreme weather events triggering widespread flooding. This summary of streamflow and discharge from selected locations shows graphically the conditions during 2010.
Identifying sources of fecal coliform bacteria in selected streams on Virginia's Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) priority list [More info]
Describes project to identify sources of fecal coliform bacteria by ribotyping to develop the use of Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) values for contaminated stream segments in Virginia.
Impounded river systems [More info]
Article from Status and Trends of the Nation's Biological Resources on the serious impacts to river systems due to damming and flow regulation, and rehabilitation, monitoring, and research on such rivers.
Indiana hydroacoustics [More info]
Use of hydroacoustics by the USGS in Indiana to make streamflow measurements using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and other hydroacoustic current meters.
Invasive crayfish in the Pacific Northwest [More info]
These organisms have negative effects on local ecosystems, but we don't yet know how extensively they have spread. Here is a key to help people identify them.
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (Upper Mississippi River area): sampling data [More info]
Downloadable data and other information about the sampling programs used in long-term monitoring of the upper Mississippi River area.
Lower Columbia River dissolved gas monitoring network [More info]
Links to real-time data for total dissolved gas, temperature, and barometric pressure in lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington and to project reports.
Maine river ice monitoring system [More info]
The USGS in Augusta, Maine monitors river and ice conditions in areas of ice accumulation on the Kennebec River near Augusta providing real-time river stage data and real-time pictures of ice conditions at this location.
Mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems [More info]
Fact sheet on mercury bioaccumulation and cycling in the environment. Also available in PDF format.
Mercury in stream ecosystems - publications [More info]
Publications dealing with the occurrence, methods of monitoring, and changes in the concentration of mercury within streams and nearby areas
Mercury in the environment [More info]
Fact sheet on mercury and the environment, including toxic effects, risk to people and wildlife, sources of mercury, environments where methylmercury is a problem, and mercury contamination.
Mississippi River flood: April 2001 [More info]
A large collection of photographs showing the historic flooding of the upper Mississippi River near LaCrosse, Wisconsin and points south during April of 2001. Includes video footage as well.
Missouri River InfoLink: a clearinghouse of Missouri River information [More info]
Portal for Missouri River Infolinks, a clearinghouse to multiple links giving Missouri information, photo gallery, river weather forecast, projects and features, maps, meetings, history, and science research.
Missouri River streamflow-gaging station, Bismarck, North Dakota [More info]
Description of the North Dakota stream-gaging program using a Missouri River streamflow-gaging station in Bismarck, North Dakota as an example explaining how and why the USGS collects stream data with photos and directions for visiting the station.
National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) [More info]
Homepage for description of the National Stream Quality Network (NASQAN), a long-term program monitoring the concentrations and flux of sediment and chemicals in the Nation's largest rivers (Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, and Yukon).
PDF National hydrography dataset--linear referencing [More info]
Explains how the NHD specifies point locations within streams by using a code to indicate the reach (including the hydrologic unit) and a measure, which indicates how far the point is from the downstream end of the reach.
National water conditions [More info]
Historical maps and animations of maps for monthly and annual streamflow conditions by water year showing generalized contour patterns of streamflow conditions. Maps are for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
New Jersey drought watch [More info]
Update on daily streamflow conditions and drought situation in New Jersey.
PDF Nitrate concentrations and potential sources in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer and its contributing zone, Central Texas [More info]
The area contributing recharge to this aquifer is undergoing rapid growth, generating more wastewater. We found that nitrate, a major component of wastewater and a nutrient that can degrade water quality, has increased in the creeks in this area.
Nutrients National Synthesis Project: nutrients in rivers, streams, and aquifers in the United States [More info]
This Nutrients National Synthesis Project site on the U.S. study of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, as contaminants in high concentrations links to an overview, study team, featured reports, publications, and national datasets.
PDF Organic Compounds in Clackamas River Water Used for Public Supply near Portland, Oregon, 2003-05 [More info]
In all, 56 compounds were detected in samples collected approximately monthly during 2003-05 at the intake for the Clackamas River Water plant. On the basis of this screening-level assessment, adverse effects to human health are assumed to be negligible.
Pesticide National Synthesis Project: national assessment of pesticides in streams, rivers, and ground water of the United States [More info]
An assessment of pesticides in national water resources, with links to national reports, national statistics, national data, pesticide use, analytical strategy, and standards for the U.S.
Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams [More info]
Describes and illustrates that a broad range of chemicals found in residential, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters commonly occur in mixtures at low concentrations downstream from areas of intense urbanization and animal production.
Photographs and videos from the Upper Midwest Ecological Science Center [More info]
Aerial photography for the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Mosaics of 2000 UMRS aerial photos, 1997 oblique photos collected between Minneapolis and the Gulf of Mexico, and 1994 UMRS color infrared aerial photos.
Presettlement and contemporary vegetation patterns along two navigation reaches of the Upper Mississippi River [More info]
Study to reconstruct presettlement vegetation patterns along two navigation reaches of the Upper Mississippi.
Real-time water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient and bacteria concentration in Kansas streams. [More info]
Report on the use of regression equations from measurements made by water quality monitors and analytical results of manually collected samples estimating nutrient, bacteria, and other constituent concentrations to study streams in Kansas.
PDF Relations among geology, physiography, land use, and stream habitat conditions in the Buffalo and Current River systems, Missouri and Arkansas [More info]
River corridor habitat dynamics, Lower Missouri River [More info]
Detailed description of The Lower Missouri River Corridor Habitat Dynamics Project studying river habitat in a heavily engineered river.
River inventory and monitoring [More info]
Links to science programs on upper Midwest river inventory and monitoring with links to databases on macroinvertebrates, fisheries, vegetation, water quality, bathymetry, floodplain forest, wildlife, sediment, contaminants and nutrients.
PDF Runoff conditions in Utah for water year 2011 [More info]
Describes snowpack and other factors that affected runoff in the state during this period in which the wettest 90-day period occurred.
PDF Science implementation of Forecast Mekong for food and environmental security [More info]
Research activities and data sources for this international effort to enhance U.S. engagement with countries of the lower Mekong River basin.
PDF Science to support the understanding of south Texas surface-water and groundwater resources in a changing landscape [More info]
Short descriptions of the research and monitoring activities we are carrying out to assist state, local, and Federal agencies dealing with water resource issues in the southern part of the state.
Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters [More info]
Sediment from rivers has both beneficial and detrimental effects on ecosystems and human activities around Puget Sound. We explain where the sediment comes from, how it is transported, and the nature of the data that we can use to understand it.
PDF Streamflow characteristics and benthic invertebrate assemblages in streams across the western United States [More info]
Change in streams accompanying land and water use may affect benthic invertebrate assemblage composition and structure through changes in density of invertebrates or taxa richness, the number of different species living in the stream.
PDF Streamflow of 2007--Water year summary [More info]
A broad survey of regional patterns in stream flow nationwide. Maps and graphs summarizing streamflow conditions for water-year 2007 (October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007) in the context of the 78-year period 1930-2007.
Streamflow of 2008--Water year summary [More info]
A broad survey of regional patterns in stream flow nationwide. Maps and graphs summarizing streamflow conditions for water-year 0810 (October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008) in the context of the 79-year period 1930-2008.
Streamflow of 2009--Water year summary [More info]
A broad survey of regional patterns in stream flow nationwide. Maps and graphs summarizing streamflow conditions for water-year 2009 (October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2000) in the context of the 80-year period 1930-2009.
Streamflow of 2010--Water year summary [More info]
A broad survey of regional patterns in stream flow nationwide. Maps and graphs summarizing streamflow conditions for water-year 2010 (October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010) in the context of the 81-year period 1930-2010.
PDF Streamflow of 2011 - Water Year Summary [More info]
A broad survey of regional patterns in stream flow nationwide. Maps and graphs summarizing streamflow conditions for water-year 2011 (October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011) in the context of the 82-year period 1930-2011.
PDF Summary of Bed-Sediment Measurements Along the Platte River, Nebraska, 1931-2009 [More info]
Studies of the size of bed sediment along the length of a river through time show how the river channel will be affected by development or management efforts.
Suspended-sediment database: daily values of suspended sediment and ancillary data [More info]
Enables searching by state, hydrologic region, basin, time period, and length of record to retrieve suspended sediment data for the United States.
PDF Taking the Pulse of a River System: Research on the Upper Mississippi River System [More info]
Short summaries of long-term research projects concerning the biological health of this section of the Mississippi river.
PDF The effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on early life stages of rainbow trout in the Colorado River [More info]
Complex interactions among hydrologic events initiated by people and the behaviors and characteristics of animal species (both native and introduced) lead to important scientific and management problems.
The rivers of Mississippi [More info]
Colored maps and geographic descriptions of major river basins in the state of Mississippi.
PDF Toxicity and bioavailability of metals in the Missouri River adjacent to a lead refinery [More info]
Report (PDF format) on an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of contaminated ground water from a metals refinery adjacent to the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska testing water and sediments for contaminants and toxicity.
Transport of water, carbon, and sediment through the Yukon River basin [More info]
Summarizes a water-quality study of one of the last great uncontrolled rivers in the world, which supplies runoff, sediment, and nutrients to the eastern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.
USGS Indiana District adopts White River [More info]
Volunteers from the USGS in Indiana, their families, and friends donate two Saturdays a year for a river-cleanup.
PDF Understanding pesticides in California's Delta [More info]
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the hub of California's water system and an important habitat for fish and wildlife. USGS research has provided resource managers and other stakeholders with a good understanding of how pesticides enter the Delta.
Upper Mississippi River basin: sediments, contaminants, and nutrients [More info]
Downloadable data and map images depicting sedimentation changes and contaminants in sediments in the upper Mississippi River.
Upper Mississippi River basin: water quality, water elevation, and discharge [More info]
Information on flood potential and water quality in the upper Mississipi River, including downloadable data and map images.
Upper Mississippi River land cover and land use data [More info]
Maps and GIS data depicting land use and land cover in areas near the upper Mississippi River. Historical data are available, dating from the 1890s, 1975, and more regularly from the late 1980s to 2000.
Upper Wallkill River study [More info]
Program to measure streamflow stage and discharge at four sites in the Upper Wallkill River Valley's Black Dirt Region and determine Total Suspended Solids (TSS) concentration data and estimate loads of TSS and sources of contaminants.
PDF Urban development results in stressors that degrade stream ecosystems [More info]
Explains which aspects of stream ecosystems are harmed by urban development and how, along with implications for those who manage urban ecosystems.
Visualization of flow alternatives, Lower Missouri River [More info]
This report presents a visual, statistical presentation of five modeled flow-management alternatives and two reference alternatives for four selected sites on the Lower Missouri to aid in decision making for flow management of the river.
Wastewater Indicators Shown to Degrade in Streams [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--the stability of contaminants that indicate human wastewater needs to be considered.
Water resources [More info]
Hydrologic and water-quality information with access to water data, publications, and maps, as well as to recent water projects and events.
Water resources of Michigan [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Michigan with links to detailed hydrologic studies and historic and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, weather, water management, droughts, floods, and water quality.
Water resources of Michigan - programs and projects [More info]
Brief descriptions of categories of USGS research programs and projects on water resources in Michigan with links to more detailed information on projects.
Water resources of Michigan - protection of drinking water sources [More info]
Links to descriptions, publications, and photos of research projects in Michigan related to drinking water including source assessment, ground water availability, water resources, and contaminants in water.
Water resources of Michigan - restoring natural flow regimes [More info]
Links to descriptions, maps, photos, and reports of projects related to studies of the effects of dams and flow regulation in watersheds altered by humans in the state of Michigan including Muskegon and Kalamazoo Rivers and the Seney refuge.
Water resources of Ohio [More info]
USGS water resources home page for Ohio with links to hydrologic studies and long-term and real-time data on streamflow, ground and surface water, weather, water use, and water quality, plus district and publications information.
Water resources of Virginia - Total Maximum Daily Load [More info]
Description of a project to develop watershed models that can be used to track sources of fecal coliform bacteria by assigning Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) to three stream segments in Virginia.
Water resources real-time data for the Nation [More info]
Access to national water resources real-time data typically recorded at 15-60 minute intervals, stored onsite, and then transmitted to USGS offices every 4 hours. Select for site information, ground water, surface water, and water quality.
WaterQualityWatch -Continuous Real-Time Water Quality of Surface Water in the United States [More info]
Maps and explanations of continuous real-time data collection methods and results, including water temperature, turbididty, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and stream discharge values.
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