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

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Swollen brown river water flowing through downed trees. Two technicians in safety gear pull ADCP across the channel
Mohawk River high-flow measurement
Mohawk River high-flow measurement
Mohawk River high-flow measurement

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 Technicians, Ben Thorpe, Kyle Flannery, and Itziar Zandueta Lopez, measured high-flows at Mohawk River Near Springfield, OR - USGS-14165000 concurrently usin

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.

water flows past trees, a downed speed limit sign, and over the road. Large rocks deposited on roadway.
Clackamas River floods Barton Park
Clackamas River floods Barton Park
Clackamas River floods Barton Park

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

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

brown water floods trees and is dangerously close to mobile homes along the river. Flooded trees line banks on a cloudy day.
Flood waters on the Clackamas River
Flood waters on the Clackamas River
Flood waters on the Clackamas River

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

birds eye view of a road sparsely lined with trees is surrounded by flood waters
Nearly flooded Buena Vista Road near Luckiamute River
Nearly flooded Buena Vista Road near Luckiamute River
Nearly flooded Buena Vista Road near Luckiamute River

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.

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.

Scientist stands at the water's edge of the flooded boat ramp.
Clackamas River high-flow survey
Clackamas River high-flow survey
Clackamas River high-flow survey

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.

brown Clackamas River flood waters reach upper boat ramp. Drowned trees line the full river in the distance.
Clackamas River high-flow survey
Clackamas River high-flow survey
Clackamas River high-flow survey

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

two men in hat and glasses stand by a large brown metal box that is taller than them. In a ditch by a roadway.
Installing 6PPD-Q monitoring sites
Installing 6PPD-Q monitoring sites
Installing 6PPD-Q monitoring sites

USGS Researchers stand by a heavy-duty enclosure that will house an autosampler and other equipment needed for monitoring 6PPD-Q.

USGS Researchers stand by a heavy-duty enclosure that will house an autosampler and other equipment needed for monitoring 6PPD-Q.

two people crouch near a pipe bender while feeding 1 inch metal pipe through
6PPD-Q monitoring site installation
6PPD-Q monitoring site installation
6PPD-Q monitoring site installation

USGS field crew bends a pipe during the installation of a 6 PPD-Q monitoring system. The pipe will reach down into the storm drain to enable sample collection.

USGS field crew bends a pipe during the installation of a 6 PPD-Q monitoring system. The pipe will reach down into the storm drain to enable sample collection.

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