Dakota Water Science Center

On April 6, USGS hydrographer Spencer Wheeling carries equipment out to measure high water on the Tongue River near Akra, North Dakota. 

The USGS Dakota Water Science Center began their spring flood response on March 9, 2020, when melting snow caused river levels to exceed flood stage at sixteen USGS streamgage locations in eastern South Dakota.  At the height of

USGS hydrographer Chris Broz gets on the cold ground to measure the high-water mark of the Pembina River at Neche, North Dakota. 
The USGS Dakota Water Science Center began their spring flood response on March 9, 2020, when melting snow caused river levels to exceed flood stage at sixteen USGS streamgage locations in eastern South Dakota.  At the height of operations

USGS hydrographer Spencer Wheeling gets equipment ready to collect a flood water-quality sample on the Wild Rice River near St. Benedict, North Dakota. Collecting water-quality samples helps communities assess the sources and fate of contaminants in aquatic systems, to protect and enhance water resources for human health, aquatic health and environmental quality.
The

USGS hydrographer Brent Hanson wades out in freezing waters to collect flood measurements on the Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, North Dakota. Hanson reads an outside staff, which is a vertical graduated ruler used to calibrate the continuous readings of water level provided by electronic sensors. Water level is important information for communities living adjacent to

A frozen USGS rapid deployment streamgage measures the height of the Maple River near Page, North Dakota. RDGs can be installed on short notice to provide additional information at locations that are normally not gauged.
The USGS Dakota Water Science Center began their spring flood response on March 9, 2020, when melting snow caused river levels to exceed flood stage

A USGS crew measures flooding on the Red River in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

An instrument called an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) takes streamflow measurements during flooding. The ADCP is attached to a buoy that is dragged in the water either alongside a boat or by hand. USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas points to the ADCP sensor on the Red River of the North during flooding in downtown Fargo, ND.

USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas prepares to measure record flows on the Red River of the North in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

A USGS crew measures streamflow during record flooding on the Red River of the North near Georgetown, ND, on April 6, 2019. The apparatus in the middle of the image is a USGS temporary streamgage installed to monitor flooding, and the orange instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler that measures streamflow.

A USGS crew prepares to measure streamflow during record flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, ND, on April 6, 2019. The instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler which measures streamflow as it's dragged across the water.

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. The truck is parked on a road that had been overtaken by the river.