Images

A group of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) covers an oyamel fir tree (Abies religiosa) at an overwintering site in the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Mexico.

This animated GIF shows a group of monarch butterflies flying among the oyamel fir tree forest at an overwintering site in the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, Mexico. Extracted from this original USGS video by Steve Hilburger, USGS.

Honey bees play a major role in pollinating the world’s plants, including those we eat regularly. However, land-use changes that decrease flower abundance can affect bee health and pollination services.

Honey bees play a major role in pollinating the world’s plants, including those we eat regularly. However, land-use changes that decrease flower abundance can affect bee health and pollination services.

Honey bees play a major role in pollinating the world’s plants, including those we eat regularly. However, land-use changes that decrease flower abundance can affect bee health and pollination services.

Flock of unidentified birds in water with Mangroves at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

North-oriented view of the Rio Grande from New Mexico State Road 359 near Mesilla, N. Mex., February 11, 2016 (photograph by Nicholas R. Glaser, U.S. Geological Survey).

SIR 2016–5011

North-oriented view of the Rio Grande at New Mexico State Road 359 near Mesilla, N. Mex., February 11, 2016 (photograph by Nicholas R. Glaser, U.S. Geological Survey).

SIR 2016–5011

Hawksbill sea turtle swimming over elkhorn coral, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Upstream view of the Rio Grande from a location about 1 mile southwest of the Montaño Bridge. Photograph was taken January 24, 2016, by Nathan Myers.

SIR 2016–5021

USGS scientists Dan Kroes and Charlie Demas took local Congressional staffers into the Atchafalaya Basin to show them the effects of the flooding on the Basin.

In late 2015/early 2016 unusually large rainfall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley led to significant flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. USGS crews responded to the flooding by collecting streamflow and water quality information and providing it to emergency responders.

One of the more unfortunate ecosystem side-effects of the floodwaters as they move through the Atchafalaya Basin is they help spread some uninvited guests.

This is the invasive aquatic plant known as giant salvinia (salvinia molesta). It may not look big here, but trust us, it can carpet a lake or bayou.

In late 2015/early 2016 unusually large rainfall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley led to significant flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. USGS crews responded to the flooding by collecting streamflow and water quality information and providing it to emergency responders.

In late 2015/early 2016 unusually large rainfall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley led to significant flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. USGS crews responded to the flooding by collecting streamflow and water quality information and providing it to emergency responders.

USGS Scientists Dan Kroes and Charlie Demas set out into the Atchafalaya Basin to inspect flooding conditions in the Basin.

In late 2015/early 2016 unusually large rainfall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley led to significant flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. USGS crews responded to the flooding by collecting streamflow and water quality information and providing it to emergency responders.

USGS sets out to measure streamflow on the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, sailing past the USS Kidd, a World War II destroyer.

USGS scientist Dan Kroes checks a subsidence instrument. Normally, this area is either barely under water or completely dry. The instrument is housed at around 7 or 8 feet, and there was just 16 inches between the sensor and water.

A panorama of a flooded stand of cypress trees in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Watch your hands! Here you can see one of the many denizens of the swamp that mistake our sensor and gauge houses for prime real estate. As Dan Kroes, the scientist monitoring subsidence, said, "At least it wasn't wasps this time..."