Images

In 1996 the USGS Water Resources Division (now called Water Mission Area) received Vice President Gore's Hammer Award. It was presented by Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Patricia Beneke, at the Carnegie Center in Oregon City, Oregon, with Dennis Lynch, District Chief, Oregon, accepting on behalf of the Division.

USGS Hydrologic Technicians captured this aerial image above Marys River during the December 2025 flood event. 

Oregon Water Science Center Eugene Field Office Hydrologic Technicians, Ben Thorpe, Kyle Flannery, and Itziar Zandueta Lopez, measured high-flows at Mohawk River Near Springfield, OR - USGS-14165000 concurrently usin

Hydrologic technicians Adam and Vanessa make a flow measurement using an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP). The ADCP is tethered to a rope and is pulled across the channel so it can collect channel depth and flow velocity measurements. The technicians did a great job getting a measurement close to the peak flow at this site on December 19, 2025.

USGS scientist, wearing a personal protection device, or PFD, surveys water levels and debris line on the Clackamas River, Milo McIver park boat ramp. These measurements are used to validate a 2D hydraulic model of the Clackamas River.

USGS scientist, wearing a personal protection device, or PFD, surveys water levels and debris line on the Clackamas River, Milo McIver park boat ramp. These measurements are used to validate a 2D hydraulic model of the Clackamas 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.

In December 2025 USGS field crews captured photos of Clackamas River flooding at Barton Park while surveying the scale of the flood.

High-flows on the Clackamas River seen from the Carver Bridge, in Carver Oregon.

USGS Hydrologic Technicians captured this aerial image with a drone during field. The USGS Oregon Water Science Center operates a streamflow gaging station nearby on the Luckiamute River.

Oregon Water Science Center Eugene Field Office Hydrologic Technicians, Ben Thorpe, Kyle Flannery, and Itziar Zandueta Lopez, measured high-flows at Mohawk River Near Springfield, OR - USGS-14165000 concurrently usin

Oregon Water Science Center Eugene Field Office Hydrologic Technician Itziar Zandueta Lopez, measuring high-flows at Mohawk River Near Springfield, OR - USGS-14165000 concurrently using an Acoustic Doppler Current Pr

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

Rising waters near the USGS streamflow gage along Hood River.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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