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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

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

News

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USGS Office of International Programs team reconnaissance trip to Itaipu Binacional, Brazil and Paraguay

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Hydrologist Joel Groten speaks at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference

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Identifying the Sources of Mercury in Water, Sediment, and Fish Downstream of a Historical Mining Site

Publications

Mercury isotope values in shoreline spiders reveal transfer of aquatic mercury sources to terrestrial food webs

The transfer of aquatic contaminants, including mercury (Hg), to terrestrial food webs is an often-overlooked exposure pathway to terrestrial animals. While research has implemented the use of shoreline spiders to assess aquatic to terrestrial Hg transfer, it is unclear whether Hg sources, estimated from isotope ratios, can be successfully resolved to inform site assessments and remedy effectivene
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Sarah E. Janssen, Christopher James Kotalik, Collin Eagles-Smith, Gale B. Beaubien, Joel C. Hoffman, Greg Peterson, Marc A. Mills, David Walters

Contrasting mercury contamination scenarios and site susceptibilities confound fish mercury burdens in Suriname, South America

In Suriname, mercury (Hg) use has recently increased because of gold mining, which has put fish-reliant communities (e.g., Indigenous and Tribal) at risk of enhanced Hg exposure through the riverine fish these communities consume. To quantify how the magnitude of these risks change according to location and time, we measured total mercury (HgT) in fish at sites downstream and upstream of an artisa
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Arioené Vreedzaam, Paul Ouboter, Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo, Ryan F. Lepak, Samantha L. Rumschlag, Sarah E. Janssen, Gwen Landburg, Arti Shankar, Wilco Zijlmans, Maureen Y. Lichtveld, Jeffrey K. Wickliffe

Simultaneous stream assessment of antibiotics, bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistant genes in an agricultural region of the United States

Antimicrobial resistance is now recognized as a leading global threat to human health. Nevertheless, there currently is a limited understanding of the environment's role in the spread of AMR and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG). In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted the first statewide assessment of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs in surface water and bed sediment collected fr
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Carrie E Givens, Dana W. Kolpin, Laura E. Hubbard, Shannon M. Meppelink, David M. Cwiertny, Darrin A. Thompson, Rachael F. Lane, Michaelah C. Wilson

Science

Monitoring and Analysis of Water Resources with Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

The USGS has partnered with the Fond du Lac Band in monitoring and investigations since 2006 to collect, interpret and publish information needed to manage water levels and restore wetlands for wild rice production. Initial work included a streamgage and a report describing aquifer properties. New investigations include groundwater and surface-water modelling of the St Louis River Basin.
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Monitoring and Analysis of Water Resources with Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

The USGS has partnered with the Fond du Lac Band in monitoring and investigations since 2006 to collect, interpret and publish information needed to manage water levels and restore wetlands for wild rice production. Initial work included a streamgage and a report describing aquifer properties. New investigations include groundwater and surface-water modelling of the St Louis River Basin.
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Monitoring of Water Resources with the Upper Sioux Community

The USGS has partnered with the Upper Sioux Community (USC) to provide information needed to better manage their water resources, especially groundwater levels and quality. USGS staff trained USC staff in groundwater level measurement and recording. Data collected by the staff are quality assured by USGS and published.
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Monitoring of Water Resources with the Upper Sioux Community

The USGS has partnered with the Upper Sioux Community (USC) to provide information needed to better manage their water resources, especially groundwater levels and quality. USGS staff trained USC staff in groundwater level measurement and recording. Data collected by the staff are quality assured by USGS and published.
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Monitoring of Water Resources with Lower Sioux Indian Community

The USGS partners with the Lower Sioux Indian Community to provide information needed to better manage their water resources, especially groundwater levels and quality. Currently, water level in one groundwater well is monitored in real time.
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Monitoring of Water Resources with Lower Sioux Indian Community

The USGS partners with the Lower Sioux Indian Community to provide information needed to better manage their water resources, especially groundwater levels and quality. Currently, water level in one groundwater well is monitored in real time.
Learn More