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Check out photos of some of the awesome work USGS scientists and field technicians have done over the years.

Filter Total Items: 329
Dark tan water is up to sign at flooded park
Flooded Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site along the Luckiamute River
Flooded Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site along the Luckiamute River
Flooded Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site along the Luckiamute River

Field technicians braved the flooded park to collect critical streamflow measurements nearby. The Luckiamute River Near Suver, OR (# 14190500) is operated in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers and is a USGS Federal Priority Streamgage.

Field technicians braved the flooded park to collect critical streamflow measurements nearby. The Luckiamute River Near Suver, OR (# 14190500) is operated in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers and is a USGS Federal Priority Streamgage.

men in safety gear stand in rushing water fixing a pipe to the river bank
Hood River at Tucker Bridge: high flow repairs
Hood River at Tucker Bridge: high flow repairs
Hood River at Tucker Bridge: high flow repairs

Hydrologic technicians installing temporary orifice line in the stream to restore stage readings during a rising flood. 

Hydrologic technicians installing temporary orifice line in the stream to restore stage readings during a rising flood. 

rushing river runs by snow dusted banks
Hood River at Tucker Bridge, near Hood River Oregon
Hood River at Tucker Bridge, near Hood River Oregon
A man suspended above the river operates an aluminum crane used to lower measurement equipment into the water
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow

A skilled hydrologic technician measures high flows from a cable car over the Nehalem River near Foss, OR.

A man suspended above murky rushing river waters measures flow from an aluminum cable car
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow
Nahelem River near Foss, Oregon - High flow

A highly skilled hydrologic technician measures high flows from a cable way over the Nehalem River near Foss, OR.

A highly skilled hydrologic technician measures high flows from a cable way over the Nehalem River near Foss, OR.

Square concrete structure built alongside the riverbank has solar power & antennas on top and wooden walkway leading to door
Nehalem River near Foss, gage house
Nehalem River near Foss, gage house
Nehalem River near Foss, gage house

The concrete gage house on the Nehalem River near Foss, OR. This site (# 14301000) is a USGS Federal Priority streamgage. 

technician measures
Breitenbush River Blw Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR - High Flows
Breitenbush River Blw Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR - High Flows
Breitenbush River Blw Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR - High Flows

A hydrologic technician measures the Breitenbush River below Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR, (# 14178610).

an orange trimaran boat on a tether
Deschutes River near Culver, Oregon - High flow
Deschutes River near Culver, Oregon - High flow
Deschutes River near Culver, Oregon - High flow

This high flow measurement on the Deschutes River near Culver, OR was the highest measurement since 2017. This site (# 14076500) is operated in cooperation with Portland General Electric.

This high flow measurement on the Deschutes River near Culver, OR was the highest measurement since 2017. This site (# 14076500) is operated in cooperation with Portland General Electric.

Cloudy rainy day. Pine trees top brown steep muddy banks of empty reservoir with stream running through muddy channel
Green Peter Reservoir drawdown 2025
Green Peter Reservoir drawdown 2025
Green Peter Reservoir drawdown 2025

Green Peter Reservoir drawn down to a free-flowing stream channel winding through muddy sediment.

Green Peter Reservoir drawn down to a free-flowing stream channel winding through muddy sediment.

A technician climbs a steal dolphin to access gage equipment from a boat
Columbia River at Vancouver
Columbia River at Vancouver
Columbia River at Vancouver

A highly skilled hydrologic technician maintains monitoring equipment in the Columbia River at Vancouver, WA. They are climbing a structure called a "dolphin". In maritime terms, a dolphin is a cluster of pilings driven into the riverbed, often used for mooring or as a base for a light or sign. This dolphin also secures USGS equipment critical for flow monitoring.

A highly skilled hydrologic technician maintains monitoring equipment in the Columbia River at Vancouver, WA. They are climbing a structure called a "dolphin". In maritime terms, a dolphin is a cluster of pilings driven into the riverbed, often used for mooring or as a base for a light or sign. This dolphin also secures USGS equipment critical for flow monitoring.

man paddles orange kayak towing an orange boat with flow measurement equipment
South Umpqua River at Melrose, Oregon - flow measurement
South Umpqua River at Melrose, Oregon - flow measurement
South Umpqua River at Melrose, Oregon - flow measurement

A highly skilled hydrologic technician takes a flow measurement by kayaking an Acoustic Doppler Current Profilier (ADCP) across the channel. The ADCP uses sound waves to measure water speed and depth, to calculate flow volumes.

A highly skilled hydrologic technician takes a flow measurement by kayaking an Acoustic Doppler Current Profilier (ADCP) across the channel. The ADCP uses sound waves to measure water speed and depth, to calculate flow volumes.

students gather over grey picnic table to look at equipment while note taking in yellow field notebooks
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: MET Station demonstration
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: MET Station demonstration
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: MET Station demonstration

This year’s USGS participation in the University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp was another success, thanks to strong support from our Eugene Field Office. In this photo, students take notes during a demonstration of meteorological (MET) station equipment led by a USGS hydrologic technician.

This year’s USGS participation in the University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp was another success, thanks to strong support from our Eugene Field Office. In this photo, students take notes during a demonstration of meteorological (MET) station equipment led by a USGS hydrologic technician.

groups of students in a well-lit room huddle around various stations of equipment demonstrations
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: Equipment demonstration
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: Equipment demonstration
USGS at University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp: Equipment demonstration

This year’s USGS participation in the University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp was another success, thanks to strong support from our Eugene Field Office. In this photo, students get a chance to examine commonly used fieldwork equipment.

This year’s USGS participation in the University of Oregon Hydrology Field Camp was another success, thanks to strong support from our Eugene Field Office. In this photo, students get a chance to examine commonly used fieldwork equipment.

male uses a tool to open gear box on a floating platform in green lake water on a cloudy day. Burned trees in background
Blue River Lake water-quality profiler
Blue River Lake water-quality profiler
Blue River Lake water-quality profiler

Hydrologic technician during field work maintaining the Blue River Lake water-quality profiler. 

Hydrologic technician during field work maintaining the Blue River Lake water-quality profiler. 

two males stand in safety gear and hats stand on a bright yellow floating platform in blue lake water on a sunny day
Detroit Lake water-quality profiler
Detroit Lake water-quality profiler
Detroit Lake water-quality profiler

Hydrologic technicians during field work maintaining the Detroit Lake water-quality profiler. 

Hydrologic technicians during field work maintaining the Detroit Lake water-quality profiler. 

two people are high up on a bridge pier ledge while another crew assists from a boat parked close to the bridge pier.
Willamette at Portland streamgage maintenance
Willamette at Portland streamgage maintenance
Willamette at Portland streamgage maintenance

Hydrologic technicians survey the Willamette River at Portland’s streamflow gage datum. Every streamgage measures water levels (gage height) relative to a datum, a fixed elevation chosen to ensure consistent, long-term measurements.

Hydrologic technicians survey the Willamette River at Portland’s streamflow gage datum. Every streamgage measures water levels (gage height) relative to a datum, a fixed elevation chosen to ensure consistent, long-term measurements.

brightly lit colorful boats float below the bridge with its cables lit a pale yellowish green on a full moon night
Willamette River Data Comes to Life Through Bridge Lighting 
Willamette River Data Comes to Life Through Bridge Lighting 
Willamette River Data Comes to Life Through Bridge Lighting 

The Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the people, has a lighting system with 178 lights illuminating 40 bridge cables that span the bridge. The colorful lighting is synced with U.S.

The Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the people, has a lighting system with 178 lights illuminating 40 bridge cables that span the bridge. The colorful lighting is synced with U.S.

Man standing in an inflatable catamaran boat laden with equipment on the river bank
Klamath River sonar survey
Klamath River sonar survey
Klamath River sonar survey

USGS hydrologist Patrick Haluska prepares to collect side-scan sonar data as part of the Klamath Integrated Water Availability Assessments program's dam removal studies.

USGS hydrologist Patrick Haluska prepares to collect side-scan sonar data as part of the Klamath Integrated Water Availability Assessments program's dam removal studies.

See caption
Klamath Basin
Klamath Basin
Klamath Basin

Klamath River Basin straddles northern California and southern Oregon. The Klamath River empties into the Pacific Ocean just below the Oregon/California border.

Klamath River Basin straddles northern California and southern Oregon. The Klamath River empties into the Pacific Ocean just below the Oregon/California border.

see caption
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram

Water availability in the Klamath Basin is shaped by three interconnected factors, like overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. First, upper basin controls—such as groundwater, snowpack, and runoff—determine how much water is available. Second, biological opinions set flow requirements to protect endangered fish and habitats, including flushing and geomorphic flows.

Water availability in the Klamath Basin is shaped by three interconnected factors, like overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. First, upper basin controls—such as groundwater, snowpack, and runoff—determine how much water is available. Second, biological opinions set flow requirements to protect endangered fish and habitats, including flushing and geomorphic flows.

two fish swim in bright green river water shaded by a wooden structure
Fish sighting
Fish sighting
Fish sighting

Wildlife sightings are the best job perks! Fish swim around in the Willamette River beneath the Morrison Bridge dolphin.

Wildlife sightings are the best job perks! Fish swim around in the Willamette River beneath the Morrison Bridge dolphin.

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