Images

Willamette Falls during the February 1996 flood. The falls, usually about 12 meters high in a horseshoe shape, were reduced to a small riffle.

This photo shows the Willamette River at its peak flood stage in February 1996, a major event for the Pacific Northwest. The river reached the very bottom of the Steel Bridge's lower deck, leading to the bridge being closed to all traffic as a safety precaution for nearly 48 hours.

A 1996 flood photo depicts the swollen Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon, during the region's most destructive flood since 1964. The left side shows a wall of sandbags, wood, and jersey barriers, successfully protecting the downtown area. Iconic city bridges span the background.

Old school USGS technician operates a truck mounted crane during field work in the 1970's.

Before computers and smart phones USGS needed to employ artists for field work plans and other diagrams. Some scientists and technicians were artists themselves. This beautifully hand drawn site sketch shows the layout of the Columbia River at The Dalles monitoring station and the original acoustic streamflow measurement system, a first of its kind.

USGS field crews load up their boat with equipment on the docks of the Columbia River

Two USGS staff boat during field work on the Columbia River near The Dalles Dam.

Built-in 1937 with funds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 100 feet tall steel tower had a main cable that stretched 1,727 feet across the Columbia. Streamflow measurements started as soon as it was daylight to avoid the highest winds.