Images

A wind farm in Aktau, Kazakhstan photographed during a visit from USGS scientist Todd Katzner.

A wind farm in Aktau, Kazakhstan photographed during USGS scientist Todd Katzner's visit in 2022. 

The former Mills reservoir restoration area on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park, WA. This photo taken from the Glines overlook shows the revegetation that has occurred at the former reservoir post-dam removal.

Cutthroat trout being held up by a male biologist with a watch and blue flannel shirt on. Below the fish is a stream with rocks, plants, and mud. 

An elk photographed by a trail camera positioned near the Elwha River, WA. Researchers are using trail cams to monitor wildlife recovery, use of, and interaction with areas restored after the removal of two dams on the river.

A close-up photo of a yellow, flowering matted buckwheat (Eriogonum caespitosum) with short, green, basal leaves. Project ROAM (Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring) protocols are tailored to detect uncommon species, such as native forbs.

A close-up photo of a yellow, flowering rayless shaggy fleabane (Erigeron aphanactis) with linear, green, basal leaves photographed in the Owyhee Mountains of Idaho. Project ROAM (Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring) protocols are tailored to detect uncommon species, such as native forbs. 

Field technicians Marcus Rehrman and Maddie Zickgraf surveying for Oregon spotted frogs in Deschutes County, OR. Field survey data helps researchers keep tabs on the status of this threatened species.

Researchers at the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory designed artificial flowers to attract pollinators. DNA left behind on the flowers can be collected and analyzed as a non-invasive way to survey for pollinator species diversity and abundance.

An black bear photographed by a trail camera positioned near the Elwha River, WA. Researchers are using trail cams to monitor wildlife recovery, use of, and interaction with areas restored after the removal of two dams on the river.

Western toads in amplexus. Amplexus is the mating stance of frogs and toads, in which the male clasps the female about the back.

Top-down view of an Oregon spotted frog, photographed during a field survey of frog egg masses in western Oregon. 

A valley garter snake on a rock, photographed in a forest in western Oregon. 

Oregon spotted frog in a pond in western Oregon, photographed during a survey of frog egg masses. Oregon spotted frogs are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. 

A western long-toed salamander resting on a leaf, photographed in western Oregon.

A northern rubber boa curled up on moss, photographed during field work in western Oregon.

A red-spotted garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus) photographed during field work in western Oregon. 

Power lines run along a dirt track through the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in southern Idaho. Power poles are often the tallest structures available for bird perching and nesting in flat landscapes without trees.

While surveying for Oregon spotted frog egg masses in Deschutes County, OR, field technicians caught an adult female using a dip net. This was the first individual observed during the Spring field season.

While surveying for Oregon spotted frog egg masses in Deschutes County, OR, field technicians caught an adult female using a dip net. This was the first individual observed for the Spring field season.

Malheur Lake, a saline lake in eastern Oregon, photographed from a USGS airboat. USGS has been monitoring water quality parameters including temperature, turbidity, and pH in the lake since 2017.