Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Our USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices. If you need additional assistance, please contact Center Director John Walker at jfwalker@usgs.gov.
Current conditions in MI, MN, and WI
Explore real-time streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data with our interactive map application.
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Learn more about the Upper Midwest Water Science Center from John Walker, our Center Director.
Read moreNews
USGS Scientists Presenting at the 30th Annual Idaho Water Quality Workshop
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality hosts its 30th Annual Idaho Water Quality Workshop, February 11-13, at Boise State University.
Human Bacteria, Viruses from Sewage Found in Some Milwaukee Streams
Two types of human-associated bacteria and three types of human viruses were detected in Milwaukee streams within the Menomonee River watershed, according to a recent study led by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Design of Private Wells Can Lead to Safer Drinking Water in Minnesota
Minnesota well drillers and landowners will now have new tools to help predict arsenic concentrations in drinking water when building domestic water wells, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Publications
Septic systems and rainfall influence human fecal markers and indicator organisms occurrence in private wells in southeastern Pennsylvania
In the United States approximately 48 million people are served by private wells. Unlike public water systems, private well water quality is not monitored and there are few studies on the extent and sources of contamination of private wells. We extensively investigated five private wells to understand the variability in microbial contamination,...
Murphy, Heather; McGinnis, Shannon; Blunt, Ryan; Stokdyk, Joel P.; Wu, Jingwei; Cagle, Alexander; Denno, Donna; Spencer, Susan K.; Firnstahl, Aaron; Borchardt, Mark A.
Potential groundwater recharge rates for two subsurface-drained agricultural fields, southeastern Minnesota, 2016–18
Subsurface drainage is used to efficiently drain saturated soils to support productive agriculture in poorly drained terrains. Although subsurface drainage alters the water balance for agricultural fields, its effect on groundwater resources and groundwater recharge is poorly understood. In Minnesota, subsurface drainage has begun to increase in...
Smith, Erik A.; Berg, Andrew M.
Evaluation of legacy and emerging organic chemicals using passive sampling devices on the North Branch Au Sable River near Lovells, Michigan, June 2018
The North Branch Au Sable River, located in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan near Lovells, Michigan, has historically been known for its brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and its status as a blue ribbon trout stream; however, within the past few decades, there has been a decline in fish population. The objectives of this study were to...
Brennan, Angela K.; Alvarez, David A.