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Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology (ASIST) Initiative

Fostering Innovative Interdisciplinary Science for Characterizing and Adapting to Long-term Drought

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Analyses of Metals Content of Sediment Cores from Lake Powell

Information about Sediment Analyses Downstream of the Gold King Mine Spill of 2015

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Great Salt Lake Data and Reports by the USGS

Learn about Water Quantity and Quality and Aquatic Ecology of this National Treasure

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Colorado River Basin Studies in Utah

Learn about Surface Water, Groundwater Quantities and Quality and Artificial Recharge of Groundwater in the Colorado River Basin in Utah

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Streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

USGS Analyses of the Effects of Potential Future Climate Conditions on Streamflows in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

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Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Study: Upper Colorado River Basin

The USGS NGWOS Program Provides Innovative, High-fidelity, Real-time Data and Insightful Analyses about Water Quantity, Quality, and Use in Selected Watersheds across the U.S.

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Rocky Mountain Region

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin includes the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. USGS Science Centers conduct interdisciplinary research and monitoring related to natural resources, ecology, climate, and natural hazards. Data, analyses, and tools developed by USGS staff help stakeholders to make sustainable management decisions.

USGS Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin (Rocky Mountain)

Region 7--Upper Colorado Basin (map)

Map Showing USGS/DOI Unified Region 7 and adjoining Regions

Key USGS Region 7 Contacts

Additional Information about USGS Region 7

News

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Research Ecologist Jill Baron coauthors study finding no effect of road proximity on nitrogen deposition in a complex, mountainous terrain

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FORT scientists develop density-habitat relationships and density distribution maps to guide management of 11 songbird species in the Intermountain West

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FORT geneticist Scott Cornman uses data mining to gain new insights into a mysterious virus infecting honey bees

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Publications

On the relationship between aquatic CO2 concentration and ecosystem fluxes in some of the world’s key wetland types

To understand patterns in CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) over time in wetlands’ surface water and porewater, we examined the relationship between PCO2 and land–atmosphere flux of CO2 at the ecosystem scale at 22 Northern Hemisphere wetland sites synthesized through an open call. Sites spanned 6 major wetland types (tidal, alpine, fen, bog, marsh, and prairie pothole/karst), 7 Köppen climates, and 16
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Jessica L. Richardson, Ankur R. Desai, Jonathon Thom, Kim Lindgren, Hjalmar Laudon, Matthias Peichl, Mats B. Nilsson, Audrey Campeau, Jarvi Jarveoja, Peter Hawman, Deepak R. Mishra, Dontrece Smith, Brenda D'Acunha, Sara H. Knox, Darian Ng, Mark S. Johnson, Joshua M. Blackstock, Sparkle L. Malone, Steve F. Oberbauer, Matteo Detto, Kimberly Wickland, Inke Forbrich, Nathaniel B Weston, Jacqueline K.Y. Hung, Colin W. Edgar, Eugenie S. Euskirchen, Syndonia Bret-Harte, Jason Dobkowski, George Kling, Evan S. Kane, Pascal Badiou, Matthew Bogard, Gil Bohrer, Thomas O'Halloran, Jonny Ritson, Ariane Arias-Otriz, Dennis Baldocchi, Patty Oikawa, Julie Shahan, Maiyah Matsumura
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Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

An interoperability strategy for the next generation of SEEA accounting

The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) is a set of international environmental-economic standards, adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 2012 (SEEA Central Framework) and 2021 (SEEA Ecosystem Accounting); the latter in particular requires the integration of large and diverse data streams. These include geospatial and other data sources, which have proven challenging for some
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Ferdinando Villa, Stefano Balbi, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Alessio Bulckaen
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Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Proximity to roads does not modify inorganic nitrogen deposition in a topographically complex, high traffic, subalpine forest

Vehicles are an important source for N deposition that may negatively impact roadside ecosystems. While elevated roadside N deposition has been found in many locations, it is not yet known if vehicle emissions cause measurable increases of N deposition in complex, mountainous terrain adjacent to roads. To address this, this study investigated the effect of vehicle N emissions on throughfall (throu
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Katherine S. Rocci, M. Francesca Catrufo, Jill Baron
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
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Science

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Image: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Yellowstone River Compact Commission

The Yellowstone River Compact was ratified in 1950 and became effective in 1951. The Yellowstone River Compact Commission (YRCC) is a three member commission charged with apportioning the waters of the Yellowstone River and its tributaries.
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Water Resources Mission Area
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Yellowstone River Compact Commission

The Yellowstone River Compact was ratified in 1950 and became effective in 1951. The Yellowstone River Compact Commission (YRCC) is a three member commission charged with apportioning the waters of the Yellowstone River and its tributaries.
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A mule deer buck stands in grey, icy shrubs, grey rocks in the background

Modeling chronic wasting disease prevalence through time to investigate mechanisms of spread in deer and elk in Wyoming

Diseases are challenging to manage in wild ungulate populations, particularly when there are many ways the disease can spread. Wildlife management agencies often need to take action to control disease spread, but it is unclear which actions are most effective in constraining disease because the importance of different spread mechanisms is not fully understood. This project will aid state wildlife...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Modeling chronic wasting disease prevalence through time to investigate mechanisms of spread in deer and elk in Wyoming

Diseases are challenging to manage in wild ungulate populations, particularly when there are many ways the disease can spread. Wildlife management agencies often need to take action to control disease spread, but it is unclear which actions are most effective in constraining disease because the importance of different spread mechanisms is not fully understood. This project will aid state wildlife...
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photo of dirt road cutting through sagebrush habitat, blue partly cloudy skies above

Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
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Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
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