Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Water Cycle Center Active

By New England Water Science Center October 31, 2023

The Water Cycle Center is a cooperation between U.S. Geological Survey and academic partners in the Northeast that studies complete water cycles and watersheds, from mountaintops to shorelines, concentrating on freshwater ecosystems. This research advances the understanding of processes that determine water availability and is needed to best address future water resource challenges.

The center’s work focuses on how freshwater ecosystems with diverse industries, water use, and geological surroundings influence local watersheds. Research projects consider all facets of the water cycle and address certain scientific needs associated with flooding, snowmelt, drought, groundwater recharge, water management, and harmful algal blooms.

The USGS mission to deliver timely, actionable science is enhanced by cooperating with academic partners. This Center uses authorized USGS funding authorities to support priority research focused on water resource issues.

 

Current Funded Projects
PROJECT TITLE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR WATER RESOURCE UNIVERSITY
Identifying Climate Drivers of Water-Cycle Changes in the U.S. Northeast and Their Impact on Evapotranspiration, Groundwater Recharge Patterns, and Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity David F. Boutt; dboutt@umass.edu University of Massachusetts
Synthesis of Information on Effects of Climate Change on the Water Cycle in the Northeastern Region of the United States Sean M.C. Smith; sean.m.smith@maine.edu University of Maine
Revolutionizing Understanding of Hydrologic Processes: Harnessing Computer Vision for Advanced Flood Forecasting in Urban Environments. Elizabeth Carter, ekcarter@syr.edu Syracuse University
Effects of Changing Winter Conditions on Snowmelt Runoff and Infiltration in the Northeastern U.S. Aaron Mohammed; aamohamm@syr.edu Syracuse University
Optimizing Multi‐Use Water Management Decisions Under Global Change Using Integrated Hydrologic Models Brian Rahm; bgr4@cornell.edu Cornell University
Disentangling the complex response of rivers and floodplains to a shifting hydrologic regime for improved prediction of inundation and erosion hazards Rebecca M. Diehl; Rebecca.diehl@uvm.edu University of Vermont
Dynamics of Algal Populations and Alteration by Extreme Hydrologic Regimes  Ana M. Morales-Williams; ana.morales@uvm.edu University of Vermont
Using sensors to monitor temporal dynamics and drivers of winter nutrient and chloride loading in Vermont watersheds of different land-uses. Andrew Schroth; aschroth@uvm.edu University of Vermont

 

Jeremiah Pomerleau looks at high water marks from the Flood at Saco River near Conway, NH
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Hydrologic technician looks at high water marks from the Flood at Saco River near Conway, NH station number 01064500. One of the highest flows ever recorded since 1903. The gage has historically just passed 100 years of total record.

 

A woman in snowshoes weighing a long yellow pole in a snowy field.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A USGS physical scientist weighs a fiberglass tube containing a snow core on a hanging spring scale. This measurement is being taken in Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont.

 

Green River near Colrain, Massachusetts
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A downstream view of the Green River near Colrain, Massachusetts close to the USGS streamgage (01170100). The low-flow was about 7.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a 41.4-square-mile drainage area.

 

The Water Cycle Center is a cooperation between U.S. Geological Survey and academic partners in the Northeast that studies complete water cycles and watersheds, from mountaintops to shorelines, concentrating on freshwater ecosystems. This research advances the understanding of processes that determine water availability and is needed to best address future water resource challenges.

The center’s work focuses on how freshwater ecosystems with diverse industries, water use, and geological surroundings influence local watersheds. Research projects consider all facets of the water cycle and address certain scientific needs associated with flooding, snowmelt, drought, groundwater recharge, water management, and harmful algal blooms.

The USGS mission to deliver timely, actionable science is enhanced by cooperating with academic partners. This Center uses authorized USGS funding authorities to support priority research focused on water resource issues.

 

Current Funded Projects
PROJECT TITLE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR WATER RESOURCE UNIVERSITY
Identifying Climate Drivers of Water-Cycle Changes in the U.S. Northeast and Their Impact on Evapotranspiration, Groundwater Recharge Patterns, and Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity David F. Boutt; dboutt@umass.edu University of Massachusetts
Synthesis of Information on Effects of Climate Change on the Water Cycle in the Northeastern Region of the United States Sean M.C. Smith; sean.m.smith@maine.edu University of Maine
Revolutionizing Understanding of Hydrologic Processes: Harnessing Computer Vision for Advanced Flood Forecasting in Urban Environments. Elizabeth Carter, ekcarter@syr.edu Syracuse University
Effects of Changing Winter Conditions on Snowmelt Runoff and Infiltration in the Northeastern U.S. Aaron Mohammed; aamohamm@syr.edu Syracuse University
Optimizing Multi‐Use Water Management Decisions Under Global Change Using Integrated Hydrologic Models Brian Rahm; bgr4@cornell.edu Cornell University
Disentangling the complex response of rivers and floodplains to a shifting hydrologic regime for improved prediction of inundation and erosion hazards Rebecca M. Diehl; Rebecca.diehl@uvm.edu University of Vermont
Dynamics of Algal Populations and Alteration by Extreme Hydrologic Regimes  Ana M. Morales-Williams; ana.morales@uvm.edu University of Vermont
Using sensors to monitor temporal dynamics and drivers of winter nutrient and chloride loading in Vermont watersheds of different land-uses. Andrew Schroth; aschroth@uvm.edu University of Vermont

 

Jeremiah Pomerleau looks at high water marks from the Flood at Saco River near Conway, NH
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Hydrologic technician looks at high water marks from the Flood at Saco River near Conway, NH station number 01064500. One of the highest flows ever recorded since 1903. The gage has historically just passed 100 years of total record.

 

A woman in snowshoes weighing a long yellow pole in a snowy field.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A USGS physical scientist weighs a fiberglass tube containing a snow core on a hanging spring scale. This measurement is being taken in Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont.

 

Green River near Colrain, Massachusetts
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A downstream view of the Green River near Colrain, Massachusetts close to the USGS streamgage (01170100). The low-flow was about 7.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a 41.4-square-mile drainage area.