South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Throughout the historically active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season,USGS hydrologists have been working quickly to collect vital flood and streamflow information in impacted areas.

This USGS storm tide sensor was installed August 1 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to measure the coastal impacts of Hurricane Isaias. Photo by Joshua Lee, USGS.

This rapid deployment gauge was installed August 1 in Swansboro, North Carolina on the White Oak River to monitor water levels in order track potential flooding caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. Photo by Bryce McClenney, USGS. 

Sean Egen, hydrologic technician, installs a storm tide sensor
at River Dunes Marina in Pamlico County, NC

Cristal Younker of the SAWSC drives a boat to site 02226160, Altamaha River at Everett City, Georgia, to collect samples for the National Water Quality Program (NWQP) trends sampling. The NWQP provides an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions

Anna McKee of the SAWSC, Norcross, GA, prepares DNA from water samples to test for bacteria that indicate sources of fecal contamination. Understanding the sources of contamination can help target mitigation and outreach efforts.

Kelsey Simmons and Kaamilya Najeeullah of the SAWSC prepare a sample from site 02336240 S.F Peachtree Creek Johnson Rd, near Atlanta, GA. The sample is part of routine water-quality monitoring for water-shed protection in Dekalb County, GA.

This flood event viewer map, dated Oct. 3, 2018, shows the extent and type of information collected by USGS hydrologists in North and South Carolina in the wake of historic flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence.

USGS hydrographer Daniel McCay uses a level to double-check a high water mark on a church door near Maxton, NC as his USGS colleague Mary Winsor observes on Sept. 25, 2018, in the wake of flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence.

USGS hydrologic technician Rob Forde flags a high water mark above the eaves at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 118 Manchester Road, Spring Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 21, 2018, in the wake of flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence.

USGS hydrographer Kyle Marchman measures a high water mark on the rear wall of a Kangaroo gas station on Highway 24 north of Fayetteville, NC on Sept. 18, 2018, after flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.