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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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A scenic river view on a fall day. Clear water lined with trees that have bright orange and yellow leaves. Cloudy day
South Santiam at Upper Soda (14184300)
South Santiam at Upper Soda (14184300)
South Santiam at Upper Soda (14184300)

South Santiam at Upper Soda (14184300). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level and water temperature at this location.

South Santiam at Upper Soda (14184300). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level and water temperature at this location.

Field gear laid out on yellow grass and dirt covered ground
Field gear
Field gear
Field gear

To inspect the streamgage at the Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs Oregon (14103000),  hydrologic technicians need to hike in carrying about 60 pounds of gear! 

To inspect the streamgage at the Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs Oregon (14103000),  hydrologic technicians need to hike in carrying about 60 pounds of gear! 

leafless trees line the banks of a scenic river with green-clear water on a cloudy day
North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River above Parker Creek near Oakridge (14147200) 
North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River above Parker Creek near Oakridge (14147200) 
North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River above Parker Creek near Oakridge (14147200) 

North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River above Parker Creek near Oakridge (14147200). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Man lowers a measuring tape into the lake's blue-green water. Island with trees reflect in the water. Mt. Hood in background.
Bull Run Lake
Bull Run Lake
Bull Run Lake

A USGS hydrologic technician measures the height of the water to verify the lake sensors are reading correctly. 

A USGS hydrologic technician measures the height of the water to verify the lake sensors are reading correctly. 

Green river water cascades over a shallow dam running through the river middle
Tualatin River at Oswego Dam
Tualatin River at Oswego Dam
Tualatin River at Oswego Dam

Downstream view of the Tualatin River at the Oswego dam water-quality monitoring station during a routine site inspection. 

Downstream view of the Tualatin River at the Oswego dam water-quality monitoring station during a routine site inspection. 

scenic river view. Tall pine trees line a river with large cobbles visible through clear water. Wildfire smoke taints the sky
Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865)
Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865)
Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865)

Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Quartzville Creek below Galena Creek near Cascadia (14185865). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

View of a scenic river with cobbles visible below the clear water. Tree lined bank and a partly cloudy sky
Molalla River above Pine Creek near Wilhoit (14198500)
Molalla River above Pine Creek near Wilhoit (14198500)
Molalla River above Pine Creek near Wilhoit (14198500)

Molalla River above Pine Creek near Wilhoit (14198500). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Molalla River above Pine Creek near Wilhoit (14198500). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Dark green water dense with streaks of bright green speckles of cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria Willamette River
Cyanobacteria Willamette River
Cyanobacteria Willamette River

 Streaks of cyanobacteria near the surface of the Willamette River inside the Ross Island Lagoon. 

 Streaks of cyanobacteria near the surface of the Willamette River inside the Ross Island Lagoon. 

a grey-scale image of Oregon with moving graphic that shows weekly online users of monitoring data
Oregon stream gage web traffic 2024
Oregon stream gage web traffic 2024
Oregon stream gage web traffic 2024

Weekly web visits to USGS Oregon stream monitoring stations from September 25, 2023 to July 15, 2024. A bar graph on the bottom flashes an orange bar for each week. The height of each bar represents the amount of internet users that visited the page that week.

Weekly web visits to USGS Oregon stream monitoring stations from September 25, 2023 to July 15, 2024. A bar graph on the bottom flashes an orange bar for each week. The height of each bar represents the amount of internet users that visited the page that week.

View from the center of the river near water level, looking downstream. Sunshine and trees line the river in the distance.
S.F. McKenzie River
S.F. McKenzie River
S.F. McKenzie River

Photo taken after measuring the streamflow volume on the South Fork McKenzie River, above Cougar Reservoir. 

Photo taken after measuring the streamflow volume on the South Fork McKenzie River, above Cougar Reservoir. 

Tree-lined river channel. The sun glints off of the nearly clear, blue-green water
Horse Creek, Oregon
Horse Creek, Oregon
Horse Creek, Oregon

Horse Creek is a tributary of the McKenzie River, situated near the unincorporated community of McKenzie Bridge in Lane County, Oregon, USA.

Horse Creek is a tributary of the McKenzie River, situated near the unincorporated community of McKenzie Bridge in Lane County, Oregon, USA.

Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside
View of nose of Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside

Profile view of a Bell Jet Helicopter with a thermal infrared and true-color sensor co-mounted to the underside of the nose. These sensors are used in airborne thermal infrared surveys for remotely sensing land/water surface temperature.

Clear river water falls over a ledge of boulders. Rocky, yellow banks with burnt trees from a recent wildfire
Fall Creek above Tiller Creek near Lowell (14150250) 
Fall Creek above Tiller Creek near Lowell (14150250) 
Fall Creek above Tiller Creek near Lowell (14150250) 

Fall Creek above Tiller Creek near Lowell (14150250). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Fall Creek above Tiller Creek near Lowell (14150250). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Scenic river view. Brown silt and cobbles visible through clear water. Pine trees line the banks. Blue sky with thin clouds.
Clackamas River at Big Bottom (14208000)
Clackamas River at Big Bottom (14208000)
Clackamas River at Big Bottom (14208000)

Clackamas River at Big Bottom (14208000). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level, water temperature, and air temperature at this location.

Clackamas River at Big Bottom (14208000). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level, water temperature, and air temperature at this location.

Scenic river view. Water is clear and shallow exposing rocky river bottom. Tree lined bank and wildfire smoke in the air
Middle Santiam River near Santiam Junction (14185600)
Middle Santiam River near Santiam Junction (14185600)
Middle Santiam River near Santiam Junction (14185600)

Middle Santiam River near Santiam Junction (14185600). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

Middle Santiam River near Santiam Junction (14185600). The U.S. Geological Survey monitors monitors water level, water temperature and air temperature at this location.

shallow blue river winds through dense marsh vegetation
The Klamath Marsh
The Klamath Marsh
The Klamath Marsh

Looking southwest from Silver Lake Rd. towards Wocus Bay in the Klamath Marsh. The upper reaches of the Williamson River winds through the marshland. 

Looking southwest from Silver Lake Rd. towards Wocus Bay in the Klamath Marsh. The upper reaches of the Williamson River winds through the marshland. 

Williamson river with aquatic plants along banks and floating. Field of green vegetation and blue sky in the distance.
Williamson River in the Klamath Marsh
Williamson River in the Klamath Marsh
Williamson River in the Klamath Marsh

Looking northwest from Military Crossing Rd with the  Williamson River in the foreground.

Looking down a narrow blue strip of river going through dense marsh vegetation. Blue sky day.
Klamath Marsh, Oregon
Klamath Marsh, Oregon
Klamath Marsh, Oregon

Looking southwest from Military Crossing Road with Mt. Scott in the background. The Williamson River makes its way through dense marsh vegetation. 

Looking southwest from Military Crossing Road with Mt. Scott in the background. The Williamson River makes its way through dense marsh vegetation. 

majestic bird stands in the center of shallow cascading white and green river water
Blue Heron on the Tualatin River
Blue Heron on the Tualatin River
Blue Heron on the Tualatin River

A USGS field technician enjoyed a sighting of a Blue Heron while inspecting water-quality gage equipment on the Tualatin River at the Oswego Dam site (14207200).

A USGS field technician enjoyed a sighting of a Blue Heron while inspecting water-quality gage equipment on the Tualatin River at the Oswego Dam site (14207200).

Two men in black wet suits with oxygen tanks smile and wave at the camera from a boat docked under a bridge.
USGS dive team
USGS dive team
USGS dive team

Sometimes equipment can only be accessed by diving to it!

Sometimes equipment can only be accessed by diving to it!

Inside a bridge dolphin looking down into green water depths
Willamette River water-quality inspection
Willamette River water-quality inspection
Willamette River water-quality inspection

View from a metal platform looking down into the Willamette River. Technicians use a freshly calibrated "reference monitor" to verify site monitor readings. Here, a reference monitor hangs from the platform into the water.

View from a metal platform looking down into the Willamette River. Technicians use a freshly calibrated "reference monitor" to verify site monitor readings. Here, a reference monitor hangs from the platform into the water.

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