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Aquatic Ecosystems and Habitats

We study aquatic ecosystems and habitats throughout the Pacific Northwest. This research focuses on how changes in land cover and water use affect surface and groundwater properties including temperature, nutrients, and sediment. We approach questions from a broad perspective, combining expertise across disciplines.

Filter Total Items: 52

Assessment of groundwater-surface water exchange to support Scatter Creek, Washington baseflow

Scatter Creek, a tributary to the Chehalis River, WA, experiences summer conditions that threaten native fish populations. Each year, parts of Scatter Creek go dry. Dry stretches of stream disconnect the habitat, so that fish can’t move upstream and downstream. Some of the water flowing through streams may seep into the ground and enter aquifers, meaning that the water is lost from the stream. The...
Assessment of groundwater-surface water exchange to support Scatter Creek, Washington baseflow

Assessment of groundwater-surface water exchange to support Scatter Creek, Washington baseflow

Scatter Creek, a tributary to the Chehalis River, WA, experiences summer conditions that threaten native fish populations. Each year, parts of Scatter Creek go dry. Dry stretches of stream disconnect the habitat, so that fish can’t move upstream and downstream. Some of the water flowing through streams may seep into the ground and enter aquifers, meaning that the water is lost from the stream. The...
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Hydrodynamics and sedimentation in bull trout spawning habitats affected by reservoir management in the Cedar River Municipal Watershed, WA

Reservoir operations have the potential to impact bull trout spawning habitat in the Cedar River. The USGS seeks to understand potential impacts by performing bathymetric, hydrometric, and sediment surveys.
Hydrodynamics and sedimentation in bull trout spawning habitats affected by reservoir management in the Cedar River Municipal Watershed, WA

Hydrodynamics and sedimentation in bull trout spawning habitats affected by reservoir management in the Cedar River Municipal Watershed, WA

Reservoir operations have the potential to impact bull trout spawning habitat in the Cedar River. The USGS seeks to understand potential impacts by performing bathymetric, hydrometric, and sediment surveys.
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Tolt River Temperature Modeling

The Issue: The Tolt River and its tributaries, including the South Fork Tolt River, have recently experienced high water temperatures above water-quality standards. Water managers can regulate flows to influence the temperature regime of the South Fork Tolt River downstream of the dam. More information is needed to determine how far downstream water temperature strategies are effective. How USGS...
Tolt River Temperature Modeling

Tolt River Temperature Modeling

The Issue: The Tolt River and its tributaries, including the South Fork Tolt River, have recently experienced high water temperatures above water-quality standards. Water managers can regulate flows to influence the temperature regime of the South Fork Tolt River downstream of the dam. More information is needed to determine how far downstream water temperature strategies are effective. How USGS...
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Mapping ecohydrological headwater refugia

The Issue: Forests in the Pacific Northwest have changed substantially over the past hundred years because of logging, changing forest management methods, and climate change. These forests contain a dense network of small headwater streams that supply cold, clean water and support 52 amphibian species. These amphibians live both in the cold streams and in the cool, moist areas nearby. Natural...
Mapping ecohydrological headwater refugia

Mapping ecohydrological headwater refugia

The Issue: Forests in the Pacific Northwest have changed substantially over the past hundred years because of logging, changing forest management methods, and climate change. These forests contain a dense network of small headwater streams that supply cold, clean water and support 52 amphibian species. These amphibians live both in the cold streams and in the cool, moist areas nearby. Natural...
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Water temperature modeling in Mount Rainier National Park

The Issue: Changes in the water temperature and flow regimes of rivers throughout the western United States have contributed to shifts in the ranges of aquatic species that they support. Cold-water species such as fish are sensitive to changes in water temperature, which regulates their physiological functions and behavior. How USGS will help: A spatial stream network (SSN) model was developed...
Water temperature modeling in Mount Rainier National Park

Water temperature modeling in Mount Rainier National Park

The Issue: Changes in the water temperature and flow regimes of rivers throughout the western United States have contributed to shifts in the ranges of aquatic species that they support. Cold-water species such as fish are sensitive to changes in water temperature, which regulates their physiological functions and behavior. How USGS will help: A spatial stream network (SSN) model was developed...
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Green-Duwamish Watershed 6PPD-q small stream monitoring

Pacific salmon and trout, especially coho, are threatened by a toxic contaminant resulting from tire additives that end up in untreated road runoff. This contaminant, 6PPD-q, has been associated with high rates of coho pre-spawn mortality in streams, including in the Green-Duwamish watershed. Many coho spawning streams in the watershed are predicted to be at high risk for “urban runoff mortality...
Green-Duwamish Watershed 6PPD-q small stream monitoring

Green-Duwamish Watershed 6PPD-q small stream monitoring

Pacific salmon and trout, especially coho, are threatened by a toxic contaminant resulting from tire additives that end up in untreated road runoff. This contaminant, 6PPD-q, has been associated with high rates of coho pre-spawn mortality in streams, including in the Green-Duwamish watershed. Many coho spawning streams in the watershed are predicted to be at high risk for “urban runoff mortality...
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Hoh geomorphology

The Issue: Glaciers in the Hoh River watershed are expected to largely disappear by 2050, while flooding is expected to become more intense. Understanding if or how this will impact sediment transport and channel change in the watershed is relevant for salmon habitat, restoration efforts, and flood hazard management. However, there is relatively little information about historical channel...
Hoh geomorphology

Hoh geomorphology

The Issue: Glaciers in the Hoh River watershed are expected to largely disappear by 2050, while flooding is expected to become more intense. Understanding if or how this will impact sediment transport and channel change in the watershed is relevant for salmon habitat, restoration efforts, and flood hazard management. However, there is relatively little information about historical channel...
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Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM)

The issue: Stormwater runoff often carries pollutants that degrade water quality in receiving waters. A regional-scale monitoring program is necessary to objectively measure and track progress in reducing stormwater impacts on environmental health. How USGS will help: Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are monitoring water quality and watershed health for urban and urbanizing areas...
Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM)

Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM)

The issue: Stormwater runoff often carries pollutants that degrade water quality in receiving waters. A regional-scale monitoring program is necessary to objectively measure and track progress in reducing stormwater impacts on environmental health. How USGS will help: Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are monitoring water quality and watershed health for urban and urbanizing areas...
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Baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish from the Stillaguamish River, Washington

The Issue: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of oil-derived compounds widely distributed in fresh and marine waters. They pose a significant toxicity risk to fish. It can be challenging to pinpoint the source of PAHs found in wild fish populations. PAHs are widespread and come from many sources, so it is hard to determine whether fish exposure is event-related or consistent with...
Baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish from the Stillaguamish River, Washington

Baseline assessment of PAH concentrations in fish from the Stillaguamish River, Washington

The Issue: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of oil-derived compounds widely distributed in fresh and marine waters. They pose a significant toxicity risk to fish. It can be challenging to pinpoint the source of PAHs found in wild fish populations. PAHs are widespread and come from many sources, so it is hard to determine whether fish exposure is event-related or consistent with...
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Trend and source identification of mercury contamination in Mid-Columbia Basin Pacific lamprey larvae

The Issue: Mercury contamination and toxicity threaten Pacific lamprey recovery in the Columbia River basin. Methylmercury concentrations in larval Pacific lamprey from tributaries in the mid-Columbia were measured to be as high as 4.0 µg/g wet weight. At these concentration levels, injury is predicted to occur in more than 50% of larval and adult fish and more than 90% of early-life stage fish...
Trend and source identification of mercury contamination in Mid-Columbia Basin Pacific lamprey larvae

Trend and source identification of mercury contamination in Mid-Columbia Basin Pacific lamprey larvae

The Issue: Mercury contamination and toxicity threaten Pacific lamprey recovery in the Columbia River basin. Methylmercury concentrations in larval Pacific lamprey from tributaries in the mid-Columbia were measured to be as high as 4.0 µg/g wet weight. At these concentration levels, injury is predicted to occur in more than 50% of larval and adult fish and more than 90% of early-life stage fish...
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Water Availability for Tribal Treaty Rights in Western Washington

The Issue: Native American treaty rights depend on the availability of adequate and high-quality streamflow across the Western Washington, which can be degraded by water and land use, reservoir operations, and climate change among other factors. Streamflow during critical low-flow periods depend on groundwater discharge from aquifers, which also is vulnerable to human activities in the Western...
Water Availability for Tribal Treaty Rights in Western Washington

Water Availability for Tribal Treaty Rights in Western Washington

The Issue: Native American treaty rights depend on the availability of adequate and high-quality streamflow across the Western Washington, which can be degraded by water and land use, reservoir operations, and climate change among other factors. Streamflow during critical low-flow periods depend on groundwater discharge from aquifers, which also is vulnerable to human activities in the Western...
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Post-wildfire sedimentation and release of metals to Conconully Reservoir, Washington

Wildfires can negatively impact reservoirs and water supply. In 2021, a wildfire in Okanagan County, Washington, engulfed a large area around Conconully Reservoir. USGS scientists are assessing sediment and water quality in the reservoir and surrounding streams.
Post-wildfire sedimentation and release of metals to Conconully Reservoir, Washington

Post-wildfire sedimentation and release of metals to Conconully Reservoir, Washington

Wildfires can negatively impact reservoirs and water supply. In 2021, a wildfire in Okanagan County, Washington, engulfed a large area around Conconully Reservoir. USGS scientists are assessing sediment and water quality in the reservoir and surrounding streams.
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