Wild turkeys run along a path in Massachusetts. Photo by Meredith Hartwell, USGS.
Images
Below are images associated with SBSC's science and staff. Images appear according to the year they were taken. To search, type a keyword or select a year from the dropdown menu. Or, click through the pages using the arrows at the bottom of the page.

Wild turkeys run along a path in Massachusetts. Photo by Meredith Hartwell, USGS.

A series of flash flood warnings from the Grand Canyon River Alert System (GCRAS) for the Colorado River Basin
linkA series of flash flood warnings sent by text on June 3, 2025, from the Grand Canyon River Alerts System (GCRAS) for the Colorado River Basin.
A series of flash flood warnings from the Grand Canyon River Alert System (GCRAS) for the Colorado River Basin
linkA series of flash flood warnings sent by text on June 3, 2025, from the Grand Canyon River Alerts System (GCRAS) for the Colorado River Basin.
Benjamin Miller is a fish biologist with the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center’s Grand Canyon and Monitoring and Research Center in Flagstaff, AZ.
Benjamin Miller is a fish biologist with the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center’s Grand Canyon and Monitoring and Research Center in Flagstaff, AZ.
USGS and university scientists observe a herd of cattle while taking a break from collecting vegetation cover data from an experiment examining the impacts of drought and grazing on grassland productivity on the Colorado Plateau, Utah.
USGS and university scientists observe a herd of cattle while taking a break from collecting vegetation cover data from an experiment examining the impacts of drought and grazing on grassland productivity on the Colorado Plateau, Utah.
USGS scientists collect vegetation forage data from a grazing and drought experiment, Colorado Plateau
linkUSGS scientists collect vegetation forage data from a grazing and drought drylands experiment on the Colorado Plateau, Utah.
USGS scientists collect vegetation forage data from a grazing and drought experiment, Colorado Plateau
linkUSGS scientists collect vegetation forage data from a grazing and drought drylands experiment on the Colorado Plateau, Utah.
USGS researchers conducting vegetation and soil research as part of grasslands and drought research in rangelands, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
USGS researchers conducting vegetation and soil research as part of grasslands and drought research in rangelands, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Shrubs and biocrust soils with a view of rock formations in the landscape of Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Shrubs and biocrust soils with a view of rock formations in the landscape of Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
USGS researchers take measurements during vegetation drought monitoring at a long-term study site in Canyonlands National Park
linkUSGS researchers take measurements during vegetation drought monitoring at a long-term study site in Canyonlands National Park in May 2025.
USGS researchers take measurements during vegetation drought monitoring at a long-term study site in Canyonlands National Park
linkUSGS researchers take measurements during vegetation drought monitoring at a long-term study site in Canyonlands National Park in May 2025.

A federally listed Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) fondly named "Juice" sleeps in beautiful purple Phacelia flowers at a study site in Coachella Valley, CA. Photo by Sarah Birchard, USGS, Southwest Biological Science Center.
A federally listed Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) fondly named "Juice" sleeps in beautiful purple Phacelia flowers at a study site in Coachella Valley, CA. Photo by Sarah Birchard, USGS, Southwest Biological Science Center.
A USGS scientist collects plant data at a long-term study site to understand drought impacts on Colorado Plateau grasslands
linkA USGS scientist collects plant data at a long-term grassland study site underneath a drought shelter that excludes ~30% of incoming precipitation as part of a study to understand drought impacts on Colorado Plateau rangelands. Photo taken April 2025. The shelter was installed in 2010.
A USGS scientist collects plant data at a long-term study site to understand drought impacts on Colorado Plateau grasslands
linkA USGS scientist collects plant data at a long-term grassland study site underneath a drought shelter that excludes ~30% of incoming precipitation as part of a study to understand drought impacts on Colorado Plateau rangelands. Photo taken April 2025. The shelter was installed in 2010.

A bright sunset reflects orange light on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, at Basalt Camp. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
A bright sunset reflects orange light on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, at Basalt Camp. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.

Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
An evening primrose flower, Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri, near the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
linkOenothera elata ssp. hookeri, a type of evening primrose, is a native plant in AZ. This photo was taken in Grand Canyon near the Colorado River during routine vegetation monitoring by the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center.
An evening primrose flower, Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri, near the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
linkOenothera elata ssp. hookeri, a type of evening primrose, is a native plant in AZ. This photo was taken in Grand Canyon near the Colorado River during routine vegetation monitoring by the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center.

Flowering Abronia elliptica (Fragrant white sand verbena) in Grand Canyon near the Colorado River. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Flowering Abronia elliptica (Fragrant white sand verbena) in Grand Canyon near the Colorado River. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) ecologist and botanist Laura Shriver (center) and colleagues at the Society for Range Management Conference. Laura gave a talk titled, "RestoreNet: a field trial network to improve restoration outcomes across environmental gradients".
USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) ecologist and botanist Laura Shriver (center) and colleagues at the Society for Range Management Conference. Laura gave a talk titled, "RestoreNet: a field trial network to improve restoration outcomes across environmental gradients".
RestoreNet is a networked ecological restoration experiment spanning drylands of the American Southwest. It is engaging diverse partners to develop methods for successful revegetation projects that mitigate the effects of drought, invasion by non-native species, and land use practices.
RestoreNet is a networked ecological restoration experiment spanning drylands of the American Southwest. It is engaging diverse partners to develop methods for successful revegetation projects that mitigate the effects of drought, invasion by non-native species, and land use practices.

Illustration of 3 native fish in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon: humpback chub, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker
linkIllustration of 3 native fish in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon: humpback chub (Gila cypha, upper left), flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis, middle), and bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus, lower right). Illustration by Lindsay Hansen, USGS.
Illustration of 3 native fish in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon: humpback chub, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker
linkIllustration of 3 native fish in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon: humpback chub (Gila cypha, upper left), flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis, middle), and bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus, lower right). Illustration by Lindsay Hansen, USGS.

The Little Colorado River (left) and Colorado River (right), near the Little Colorado River confluence
linkThe Little Colorado River (on left) and Colorado River (on right), near the Little Colorado River confluence, looking upstream.
The Little Colorado River (left) and Colorado River (right), near the Little Colorado River confluence
linkThe Little Colorado River (on left) and Colorado River (on right), near the Little Colorado River confluence, looking upstream.
Scenic view of the red rock mesas surrounding Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.
Scenic view of the red rock mesas surrounding Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.
Cattle inside a grazing enclosure at Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.
Cattle inside a grazing enclosure at Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.

Accomplishments in Native Seed Development.
Accomplishments in Native Seed Development.