Welcome to the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
Your source for impartial water science and data in Montana and Wyoming
Your source for impartial water science and data in Montana and Wyoming
Current Water Conditions for Wyoming
Current Water Conditions for Montana
Wyoming and Montana Water Data
Quality data to inform research and decision-making
Quality data to inform research and decision-making
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
The U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center conducts research and monitoring on a wide variety of hydrological issues affecting streams, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater in Wyoming and Montana, across the Nation, and internationally. Use these pages to explore our hydrologic data, research, and publications.
Current Wyoming-Montana water conditions
Current Wyoming-Montana water conditions
Explore real-time streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions in Wyoming and Montana and access data through an interactive map.
Wyoming-Montana Drought Viewer
Wyoming-Montana Drought Viewer
This viewer helps analyze the effects of drought on streams and rivers by showing real-time USGS water data to help define water supply conditions in Wyoming and Montana, with additional weather-related data from other public sources.
Current water data for Montana and Wyoming
Current water data for Montana and Wyoming
News
New data products now available in StreamStats
New data products now available in StreamStats
USGS provides easy access to Colorado River science with new online portal
USGS provides easy access to Colorado River science with new online portal
Tailored sediment sampling can lead to more effective management
Tailored sediment sampling can lead to more effective management
Publications
Suspended-sediment and phosphorus response in a fire-affected central Montana headwater catchment Suspended-sediment and phosphorus response in a fire-affected central Montana headwater catchment
Purpose Eutrophication and nuisance filamentous algal blooms (i.e. Cladophora) are increasingly common occurrences throughout much of the western United States. Wildfire may be contributing to the frequency and magnitude of algal blooms through excess sediment and nutrient loading to streams and rivers. Our objective was to evaluate the effects the 2021 Woods Creek Fire had on sediment...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters associated with oil and gas development in the Denver Basin
Use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the petroleum industry could be a cause for concern due to the large volumes of produced water (PW) generated during oil and gas extraction, the reuse of these wastes in water-stressed regions, and adverse health outcomes related to PFAS exposures. However, PW PFAS characterization is nearly absent in the literature, and hydraulic...
Selenium and mercury tissue partitioning and trophodynamics in the Lake Koocanusa (USA–Canada) fish community Selenium and mercury tissue partitioning and trophodynamics in the Lake Koocanusa (USA–Canada) fish community
Mining-related contaminants such as selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) accumulate in aquatic organisms and transfer through aquatic food webs, where they can exert toxic effect undermining the ecological health of aquatic resources. Yet, how Se and Hg co-distribute within food webs and within individual organisms remains poorly understood. We compiled muscle and ovary Se and Hg concentration...
Science
Site Assessment and Monitoring of Constructed Wetlands in Montana
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) occasionally causes disturbance to wetlands during construction. To comply with Federal, State, and Tribal regulations, MDT creates replacement wetlands to compensate for wetland loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland replacement sites and monitor water conditions at established replacement sites...
Assessing the effects of mining on the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir
The Kootenai River Watershed is an international resource cooperatively managed by the U.S., Canada, and Tribal governments. In recent years, coal mining in the Canadian portion of the watershed has resulted in elevated concentrations of several constituents, including selenium, nitrate, and sulfate downstream (Storb et al., 2023). At increased levels, these mining byproducts can affect water...
Monitoring Changes in Groundwater Quality at Jackson Hole Airport
USGS studies revealed that aircraft deicing fluids from Jackson Hole Airport negatively affected the water quality of the Snake River aquifer in northwestern Wyoming (Wright, 2013). In response, the airport implemented improved deicing management and infrastructure. A recent USGS study determined that the airport’s changes likely contributed to improvements in aquifer groundwater quality (Wright...