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Explore our planet and learn more about our work through photographs and imagery from scientists and support staff.

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Two USGS scientists stand in a stream, conducting a habitat survey. One measures stream witch, the other streamflow and depth
Habitat Survey – The Glade, Reston, VA
Habitat Survey – The Glade, Reston, VA
Habitat Survey – The Glade, Reston, VA

USGS scientists conduct a habitat survey at The Glade, an urban stream in Reston, Virginia.

USGS scientists conduct a habitat survey at The Glade, an urban stream in Reston, Virginia.

Inside the tunnel of a storm drain
Laser Flow in Storm Drain at Hampton Coliseum
Laser Flow in Storm Drain at Hampton Coliseum
Laser Flow in Storm Drain at Hampton Coliseum

The Region 1, April 2021 "Honorable Mention #1" Winner (by Chelsea Delsack)

Photo of a The Glade, a restored urban stream. Submerged hydrologic monitoring equipment is barely visible beneath the water.
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – The Glade, Reston, VA
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – The Glade, Reston, VA
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – The Glade, Reston, VA

The Glade is an urban stream in Reston, Virginia that is being monitored by USGS scientists.

The Glade is an urban stream in Reston, Virginia that is being monitored by USGS scientists.

Photograph of hydrologic monitoring equipment submerged in a stream.
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – Snakeden Branch, Reston, VA
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – Snakeden Branch, Reston, VA
In-stream Monitoring Equipment – Snakeden Branch, Reston, VA

In-stream hydrologic monitoring equipment is used to gather data at Snakeden Branch, an urban stream in Reston, Virginia.

In-stream hydrologic monitoring equipment is used to gather data at Snakeden Branch, an urban stream in Reston, Virginia.

Photo of the Roanoke River with a yellow turbidity barrier after the October 2020 coal spill
Coal Spill in the Roanoke River
Coal Spill in the Roanoke River
Coal Spill in the Roanoke River

On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.

On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.

Contents of a gage box, includes data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery
Inside of a gage box
Inside of a gage box
Inside of a gage box

Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation

Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation

A photo of a tiny larval net-spinning caddisfly perched in the finger of a USGS scientist.
Net-spinning Caddisfly
Net-spinning Caddisfly
Net-spinning Caddisfly

Photograph of macroinvertibrate sampling at a monitored urban stream in Reston, Virginia. This larval net-spinning caddisfly is an important measure of stream health.

Photograph of macroinvertibrate sampling at a monitored urban stream in Reston, Virginia. This larval net-spinning caddisfly is an important measure of stream health.

Hydrologic technician lowering equipment into a stream
Deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA

Hydrologic technician deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA. Visit Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation for more information about this monitoring site.

Two hydrologic technicians process a water sample in the back of a mobile water quality van.
Collecting water samples at a public water system in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Collecting water samples at a public water system in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Collecting water samples at a public water system in Kanawha County, West Virginia

Hydrologic technicians with the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center collect water samples at a public water system in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

Hydrologic technicians with the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center collect water samples at a public water system in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

USGS hydrologic technician holds a plastic tube over a metal pipe, preparing to collect a water sample.
Sampling at a Public Water System in Fayette County, West Virginia
Sampling at a Public Water System in Fayette County, West Virginia
Sampling at a Public Water System in Fayette County, West Virginia

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician prepares for sampling at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia.

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician prepares for sampling at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia.

A hydrologic technician records field parameters outside of a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia.
Recording field parameters at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia
Recording field parameters at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia
Recording field parameters at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician records field parameters at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the source waters of public water systems across West Vi

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician records field parameters at a public water system in Fayette County, West Virginia. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the source waters of public water systems across West Vi

A hydrologic technician on a boat, documenting water sampling information on an electronic tablet.
Preparing for sampling on the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Preparing for sampling on the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Preparing for sampling on the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, West Virginia

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician, Katherine Grindle, prepares for sampling on the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

A Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician, Katherine Grindle, prepares for sampling on the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Two hydrologic technicians collect a water sample outside of a public water system.
Sampling at a public water system in Wyoming County, West Virginia
Sampling at a public water system in Wyoming County, West Virginia
Sampling at a public water system in Wyoming County, West Virginia

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technicians collect water samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and inorganic analytes at a public water system that uses an underground coal mine as a source in Wyoming County, West Virginia. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distributi

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technicians collect water samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and inorganic analytes at a public water system that uses an underground coal mine as a source in Wyoming County, West Virginia. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distributi

A hydrologic technician prepares a water sample for testing, working within a protected lab space to prevent contamination.
Sampling for PFAS in a West Virginia Public Water System
Sampling for PFAS in a West Virginia Public Water System
Sampling for PFAS in a West Virginia Public Water System

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician Chelsea Delsak samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and inorganic analytes at a public water system in Greenbriar County, West Virginia.

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center hydrologic technician Chelsea Delsak samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and inorganic analytes at a public water system in Greenbriar County, West Virginia.

Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.
Borehole Geophysics
Borehole Geophysics
Borehole Geophysics

Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.

Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.

Tinker Creek, heavily flooded after a storm.
Tinker Creek Flooding
Tinker Creek Flooding
Tinker Creek Flooding

Tinker Creek, above Glade Creek in Roanoke, Virginia (USGS Monitoring location 0205551614), experienced severe flooding after a storm in June of 2020.

Tinker Creek, above Glade Creek in Roanoke, Virginia (USGS Monitoring location 0205551614), experienced severe flooding after a storm in June of 2020.

USGS technician on a bridge with instruments and laptop
Adding a rapid deployment gauge to track Dorian's surge in Virginia
Adding a rapid deployment gauge to track Dorian's surge in Virginia
Adding a rapid deployment gauge to track Dorian's surge in Virginia

Hydrographer Keith Lambert installing a rapid deployment gage at New Mill Creek at Chesapeake, VA in advance of Hurricane Dorian. Photo: Blake Dudding, USGS September 5, 2019

Hydrographer Keith Lambert installing a rapid deployment gage at New Mill Creek at Chesapeake, VA in advance of Hurricane Dorian. Photo: Blake Dudding, USGS September 5, 2019

A white van is parked on the grass next to a groundwater well.
A USGS van outfitted for water quality sampling at an Ohio groundwater well
A USGS van outfitted for water quality sampling at an Ohio groundwater well
A USGS van outfitted for water quality sampling at an Ohio groundwater well

A U.S. Geological System van, outfitted on the inside with supplies for extensive water quality sampling, parked next to a groundwater well in Ohio. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the source waters of public water systems across West Virginia.

A U.S. Geological System van, outfitted on the inside with supplies for extensive water quality sampling, parked next to a groundwater well in Ohio. This sampling was conducted as part of a larger effort to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the source waters of public water systems across West Virginia.

USGS researchers use traditional wading rods and velocity meters to measure flow whenever possible.
Measuring flow velocity in a Hampton Roads, Virginia urban stream
Measuring flow velocity in a Hampton Roads, Virginia urban stream
Measuring flow velocity in a Hampton Roads, Virginia urban stream

USGS researcher Chelsea Vande Pol uses a traditional wading rod and velocity meter to measure flow in an urban stream in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

USGS researcher Chelsea Vande Pol uses a traditional wading rod and velocity meter to measure flow in an urban stream in Hampton Roads, Virginia.