Welcome to the Washington Water Science Center
Washington Water Science Center
The USGS Washington Water Science Center provides water resource information. You’ll find information about Washington’s rivers and streams, as well as groundwater, water quality, and cutting-edge water research. We welcome you to explore our data and scientific research.
Current Washington Water Conditions
Current Washington Water Conditions
Explore real-time Washington streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data with our new interactive map application.
View current water conditions
View current water conditions
Uncrewed Aviation Systems Program
Uncrewed Aviation Systems Program
Data collection provided by uncrewed aviation systems (UAS) enhances the Washington Water Science Center’s (WAWSC) ability to monitor dynamic environmental systems, respond to natural hazards, analyze the impacts of climate change, and assess landscape change.
News
Washington Waters Newsletter - Spring 2025
Washington Waters Newsletter - Spring 2025
New data products now available in StreamStats
New data products now available in StreamStats
U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region
U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region
Publications
Spatial stream network modeling of water temperature within the White River Basin, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Water temperature is a primary control on the occurrence and distribution of fish and other ectothermic aquatic species. In the Pacific Northwest, cold-water species such as Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) have specific temperature requirements during different life stages that must be met to ensure the viability of their populations. Rivers...
Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing of hydrologic processes—Diverse deployments and new applications by the U.S. Geological Survey
Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing instruments harness the temperature-dependent properties of glass to measure temperature continuously along optical fibers by using precise pulses of laser light. In the mid-2000s, this technology was refined for environmental monitoring purposes such as snowpack-air exchange, groundwater/surface-water exchange, and lake-water stratification...
Advancing the science of headwater streamflow for global water protection
The protection of headwater streams faces increasing challenges, exemplified by limited global recognition of headwater contributions to watershed resiliency and a recent US Supreme Court decision limiting federal safeguards. Despite accounting for ~77% of global river networks, the lack of adequate headwaters protections is caused, in part, by limited information on their extent and...
Science
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.
Characterizing water and sediment quality to support watershed management and fish hatchery operations near Clarks Creek, WA
The USGS is working with local water managers to characterize water and sediment quality in a fish hatchery. For the past few years, large numbers of salmon eggs raised in the hatchery have perished unexpectedly. Resource managers need information about the water, sediment and organic material found in the hatchery and surrounding watershed. The USGS is using novel techniques to learn what is in...
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...