Images

From left to right, Amit Millo, Sandy Brosnahan, and Jennifer Cramer of the USGS Woods Hole Aerial Imaging and Mapping (AIM) group stand with their drone during sUAS data collection at the Darby Creek Superfund site in Darby Creek, PA.

A high-water mark flagged at Sligo Creek Near Takoma Park, MD (USGS-01650800) on July 21, 2025, following flooding on July 19, 2025.

Hydrologic technician Eric Boyd surveys Georges Creek near Westernport Maryland as part of a survey for high water marks following severe flooding in the area in May 2025.

Purple flowers in front of the Maryland-Delaware-Washington, D.C. Water Science Center Baltimore building.

A great blue heron seen perching over a pond near the USGS Maryland Catonsville office.

Hydrologic technician Jeremy Malen collects a water-quality sample from the Anacostia River at Kenilworth at Washington, DC (01651760).

Hydrologic technician Tyler Bowser poses for a photo with an autonomous miniature boat used to collect data on the Anacostia River.

Rustin Pare, Technician, uses a chainsaw to acquire ice measurements with Jacob Mavrogeorge on the Monocacy River in Fredrick, Maryland.

Winter 2025 Photo Contest Winner: Neel Hodgkinson, USGS at Work category

Hydrologic technician Augustine Barquin takes streamflow measurements below the ice at Cattail Creek near Glenwood, MD (01591400).

Photo credit: Brett McFarland

Physical scientist Zach Clifton studies sediment samples in a dark room.

Photo credit: Neel Hodgkinson

An image of the streamgage at Meetinghouse Branch at Camp Springs, Maryland (01653620).

Physical Scientist Tristan Mohs walks through a forest buffer area.

Fencing and riparian forest-buffer planting are essential tools for managers and provide numerous benefits to streams.

Extent of each study watershed exhibiting characteristics of no incision (blue), moderate incision (orange), and severe incision (red) for the 2002 and 2018 time periods. Boxes A–D on stream networks correspond to photo examples shown below. Photo A taken November 2016, photos B and C taken October 2016, and photo D taken April 2022.

Hydrologic technician Michael Brownley of the MD-DE-DC Dover field office uses a cableway to collect a water-quality sample from the Choptank River on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Greensboro following weekend rain.

Spring 2024 Photo Contest: David Fisher, Honorable Mention category

Hydrologic technicians Kelly McVicker and Shane Mizelle prepare to collect water samples from the Conowingo Dam.

Hydrologic technician Kelly McVicker examines water-quality readings along the Conowingo Dam as Shane Mizelle lowers the sensor into the waters below.

Spring 2024 Photo Contest Winner: David Fisher, People category

Following recent rainfall, hydrologic technician Fisseha Mengistu collected a storm sample from the Susquehanna River at Conowingo, MD (01578310).

Following rains brought on by Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023), Fisseha Mengistu collects a water-quality sample from Governor's Bridge over the Patuxent River near Bowie.

Nothing beats processing groundwater samples next to a cornfield! Kelly McVicker (pictured) and Nicole King of our water quality team were on the Eastern Shore of Maryland collecting groundwater samples for selected analyses including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” 

Smile! USGS scientists Marina Metes (left) and Natalie Hall (right) installed a new time lapse trail camera at Little Seneca Creek to expand the Flow Photo Explorer network.

Images collected by the USGS, our partners, and citizen scientists go to developing an AI model that can predict streamflow from images.

USGS physical scientist Zach Clifton assesses a streambank riparian zone in Orson, Pennsylvania.

Photo credit: Neel Hodgkinson/USGS Contractor.