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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. 

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News

The Oregon Water Science Center receives Portland State University’s 2026 Public Impact Partner Award

The Oregon Water Science Center receives Portland State University’s 2026 Public Impact Partner Award

Message from the Director - Oregon Water Science Center, Summer 2026

Message from the Director - Oregon Water Science Center, Summer 2026

Updates to the Upper Klamath and Harney Basin interactive data mappers

Updates to the Upper Klamath and Harney Basin interactive data mappers

Publications

Assessing the state of hydrologic science in the Upper Klamath Basin—A comprehensive review of data, tools, and models Assessing the state of hydrologic science in the Upper Klamath Basin—A comprehensive review of data, tools, and models

Water demand in the Upper Klamath Basin (UKB) from various stakeholders and ecological needs often outstrips available supply, leading to persistent management challenges. This study reviews the state of hydrologic science within the UKB as of 2025—specifically, the tools, data, and models available for assessing five key components of the water system: (1) surface water; (2)...
Authors
Adam J. Stonewall, Tessa M. Harden, Justin K. Reale, Cortney R. Cameron

Lost in translation: Reconciling different streamflow permanence data products Lost in translation: Reconciling different streamflow permanence data products

The objective of this study is to provide a framework to reconcile streamflow permanence products that provide information on whether a stream is perennial or nonperennial. Accurate classification of streams as perennial or nonperennial is important for a variety of land and water resource management decisions. However, resource managers are challenged with how to reconcile different...
Authors
Kristin Jaeger, Susan Wherry, Malia H. Scott, Audrey Marie Martinez, Roy Sando, Evan A. Thaler

Post-wildfire water quality and aquatic ecosystem response in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: science and monitoring gaps Post-wildfire water quality and aquatic ecosystem response in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: science and monitoring gaps

An increase in the occurrence of large, high severity wildfires in the western Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA, has created an urgent need for science to better inform forest management and policy decisions to maintain source water quality in the region. The western PNW faces similar challenges to other regions with shifting wildfire regimes and large population centers reliant on surface...
Authors
Sara Wall, Jana E. Compton, Ashley A. Coble, Beth M. Haley, Jiajia Lin, Allison Myers-Pigg, Justin K. Reale, Katie Wampler, Allison Swartz, Kevan Moffett, Kevin D. Bladon, Kurt Carpenter, Heejun Chang, Junjie Chen, David Donahue, Chris S. Eckley, Amanda K. Hohner, Peter M. Kiffney, Lorrayne Miralha, Peter Regier, Joshua Seeds, Mark River

Science

Understanding Groundwater in Oregon

Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are working together to estimate groundwater recharge across the state.
Understanding Groundwater in Oregon

Understanding Groundwater in Oregon

Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are working together to estimate groundwater recharge across the state.
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The Klamath Falls Field Office

The Oregon Water Science Center’s Klamath Falls Field Office provides surface-water and water-quality data to support the basin’s most pressing water-resource and ecosystem needs.
The Klamath Falls Field Office

The Klamath Falls Field Office

The Oregon Water Science Center’s Klamath Falls Field Office provides surface-water and water-quality data to support the basin’s most pressing water-resource and ecosystem needs.
Learn More

Water-quality monitoring during reservoir drawdowns

The USGS is monitoring water-quality above, within, and below Middle Fork Willamette and the South Santiam River dams using field-based and remote-sensing approaches to understand how reservoir drawdowns influence downstream water-quality conditions.
Water-quality monitoring during reservoir drawdowns

Water-quality monitoring during reservoir drawdowns

The USGS is monitoring water-quality above, within, and below Middle Fork Willamette and the South Santiam River dams using field-based and remote-sensing approaches to understand how reservoir drawdowns influence downstream water-quality conditions.
Learn More
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