Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

COVID-19 Statement

USGS Oregon Water Science Center is open and operational

Learn More

Real Data. Real Fast.

Realtime conditions for lakes and rivers near you

Learn more

Environmental Health

Part of USGS's story in Oregon

Learn More

New Problems? New Solutions.

Free quality data to inform better decisions

Learn More

Oregon Water Science Center

Welcome to the USGS in Oregon. Our mission is to explore the natural world around us and provide reliable scientific information to help Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public make well-informed decisions. Our research is widely used to manage Oregon's water resources for the benefit and safety of people and the environment. 

Read More

Current Stream Conditions

muddy Willamette River

See what is happening in streams near you. View real-time stream data for streams around Oregon.

View Data

Weekly Science Seminar

mount hood

Our lunchtime seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm and are open to the public.

View Schedule

New or Relevant

See what the USGS is doing locally.

View Studies

News

link

Joint Study of Harney Basin will Guide Future Groundwater Planning and Management

link

USGS Selects Willamette River Basin as Fourth Integrated Water Science Basin

link

Updated Interactive Map Showing Groundwater Levels in the Upper Klamath Basin Aids Water, Land Managers

View All

Publications

Development of continuous bathymetry and two-dimensional hydraulic models for the Willamette River, Oregon

The Willamette River is home to at least 69 species of fish, 33 of which are native, including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). These fish need suitable hydraulic conditions, such as water depth and velocity, to fulfill various stages of their life. Hydraulic conditions are driven by interactions between channel morphology and streamflow, which through
By
Water Resources, Oregon Water Science Center

Groundwater resources of the Harney Basin, southeastern Oregon

Groundwater development has increased substantially in southeastern Oregon’s Harney Basin since 2010, mainly for the purpose of large-scale irrigation. Concurrently, some areas of the basin experienced groundwater-level declines of more than 100 feet, and some shallow wells have gone dry. The Oregon Water Resources Department has limited new groundwater development in the basin until an improved u

By
Water Resources, Oregon Water Science Center

Hydrologic budget of the Harney Basin groundwater system, southeastern Oregon

Groundwater-level declines and limited quantitative knowledge of the groundwater-flow system in the Harney Basin prompted a cooperative study between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Oregon Water Resources Department to evaluate the groundwater-flow system and budget. This report provides a hydrologic budget of the Harney Basin groundwater system that includes separate groundwater budgets for up

By
Water Resources, Oregon Water Science Center
View All

Science

link
kayaking scientists

Willamette FIP Effectiveness Monitoring Framework

The goal of this project is to develop an effectiveness monitoring framework that can be used to inform monitoring and data collection for the Willamette River Focused Investment Partnership (WFIP) Effectiveness Monitoring Program. The USGS is developing this monitoring framework in collaboration with the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD), Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF...
By
Oregon Water Science Center
link

Willamette FIP Effectiveness Monitoring Framework

The goal of this project is to develop an effectiveness monitoring framework that can be used to inform monitoring and data collection for the Willamette River Focused Investment Partnership (WFIP) Effectiveness Monitoring Program. The USGS is developing this monitoring framework in collaboration with the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD), Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF...
Learn More
link
Upper Klamath Lake

Movements and Behavior of Radio-Tagged Adult Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Response to Water Quality in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Severe water quality problems in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, have led to critical fishery concerns for the region, including the listing of Lost River and shortnose suckers as endangered in 1988. In April 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a Biological Opinion in which several reasonable and prudent alternatives to allow for the continued operation of the Klamath Project...
By
Oregon Water Science Center
link

Movements and Behavior of Radio-Tagged Adult Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Response to Water Quality in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Severe water quality problems in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, have led to critical fishery concerns for the region, including the listing of Lost River and shortnose suckers as endangered in 1988. In April 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a Biological Opinion in which several reasonable and prudent alternatives to allow for the continued operation of the Klamath Project...
Learn More
link
oregon water science center

USGS Oregon Water Science Center Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter, 2022 has concluded)

The role of USGS Water Science Centers in western water resource challenges
By
Oregon Water Science Center
link

USGS Oregon Water Science Center Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter, 2022 has concluded)

The role of USGS Water Science Centers in western water resource challenges
Learn More
View All