Images

The USGS monitors water quality at the Skagit River Above Klesilkwa River Near Hope, BC - USGS-12170350. 

The USGS monitors water quality at the Skagit River Above Klesilkwa River Near Hope, BC - USGS-12170350. 

A shovel rests against a massive deposit of coarse sediment on the delta to Conconully Reservoir in Okanogan County, Washington. The sediment was deposited following the 2021 Muckamuck fire and a debris flow in July 2022. USGS scientists are studying the sediment and water quality in rivers and reservoirs impacted by the large fire. 

A shovel leans against the bank of the Conconully Reservoir in Okanogan County, Washington. Layers of legacy sediment are visible in the bank exposure.

The USGS monitors streamflow in the South Fork Nooksack River. Access real-time water data at: SF Nooksack River at Saxon Bridge, WA - USGS Water Data for the Nation.

A headwater stream tumbles through a moss and fern filled ravine in the Pacific Norwest.

A sediment sample collection bag and jar sit on soils burned in the 2021 Muckamuck wildfire. Scientists are studying the sediment and water quality in rivers and reservoirs impacted by the large fire. The high temperatures of severe wildfires are capable of releasing and redepositing metals on the soil surface.

USGS Hydrologic Technician Chaska Boucher operates a remotely controlled Q-boat on Conconully Reservoir in Okanogan County, Washington. A portion of the watershed burned in the 2021 Muckamuck wildfire and a debris flow occurred in 2022.

The Calawah River near Forks, WA at Highway 101. The view in the image is facing north and the flow direction is toward the foreground. High flows inundate the base of trees alongside the river. The water is turbid and transporting rafts of large wood.

High flow on the Elwha River in 2021 at USGS streamgage 12045500. Flooding carried sediment and large wood as well as high volumes of water.

Hydrologic Technician Andy Cripps measures the flow of floodwaters inundating a roadway. The floodwaters occurred in 2021 from a side channel of the Cowlitz River at USGS streamgage 14231000.

Scientists conduct a float survey of the Quillayute River. They measure water temperatures at different depths and locations within the channel along the river's length. 

A stream channel in the Colville National Forest has no surface water flow in the late summer. Scientists visited to record streamflow conditions with the FLOwPER mobile field form.

This reach of the South Fork Tolt River runs through a lush forest over a boulder bed.

Access water data: South Fork Tolt River Near Carnation, WA. 

Torrent salamanders are endemic to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

USGS Hydrologic Technicians from the Washington Water Science Center operate a Q-Boat equipped with an ADCP to measure the bathymetry along the White River, Washington.

Skagit River in the North Cascades, Washington. Stumps left by logging are visible among the wetland vegetation. The USGS monitors water quality near this site.

USGS scientist collects data in the lower Yakima River. A device used for streamflow measurement is pulled behind their kayak, allowing for data collection in a river full of aquatic plants.

Gagehouses protect USGS water monitoring equipment from the elements.

Lost Creek, tributary to Little White Salmon, Washington, showing a FLOwPER streamflow status of "dry." The FLOwPER (FLOW PERmanence) field form provides standardized data collection to map the presence of flow in streams and upload the input data to an ArcGIS database.

Hydrologic Technician Gary Heard measures streamflow in the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, Washington. A USGS streamgage provides real-time flow data at this location and technicians make regular field measurements to ensure data quality.