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See our science through the images below.

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A blue creek running down a hillside into an orange river.
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange
A seep emanates from a hillslope in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed, blackening vegetation and staining the streambanks orange

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Two people walking up an orange creek bed.
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed
Researchers walking to a site to sample rusting in the Nakolikurok Creek Watershed

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

A narrow wooden box mounted on a pole, viewed from the bottom, showing four narrow sections for bats to roost
Bat box
Bat box
Bat box

A bat box, photographed as part of NABat fieldwork in 2024.

 

A bat box, photographed as part of NABat fieldwork in 2024.

 

A scientist wearing a USGS shirt reaches out a gloved hand towards a net where a bat is tangled
Removing a bat from a mist net
Removing a bat from a mist net
Removing a bat from a mist net

Andrea Schuhmann removes a bat from a mist net during NABat Fieldwork in 2024.

Orange stained rock along a creek.
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek
Orange staining in the braidplain of the Nakolikurok Creek

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Two people sampling water from an orange creek.
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska
Two scientists sample the orange water of a seep in the Kelly River Watershed, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Person walking through green grass next to an orange creek.
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep
A scientist walks uphill towards the source of an orange seep

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Two people walking across and orange seep.
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep
Two scientists investigating the source of an orange seep

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange stream with brown mountain in background.
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan
Orange staining and blackened vegetation where a seep emerges from a debris fan

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

a field of sagebrush and yellow flowers under a dark sky full of clouds
Field sampling in Montana
Field sampling in Montana
Field sampling in Montana

A landscape of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentada) and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.

A landscape of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentada) and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.

PFOS and sulfate reducing bacteria
PFOS in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria
PFOS in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria
PFOS in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria

PFOS removal occurred as sulfate-reducing bacteria increased in soil experiments with a dehalogenating culture. Graphic Credits: Denise Akob

rain falling from dark storm clouds over a field of sagebrush and grasses
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana

A storm rolls in during field work at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Crews were measuring plant cover and other site characteristics. Sagebrush and yellow sweet clover are visible.

A storm rolls in during field work at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Crews were measuring plant cover and other site characteristics. Sagebrush and yellow sweet clover are visible.

Deer and elk using mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick

In the same day, a female mule deer (left image), an elk (middle image), and finally a buck mule deer (right image) visited the same mineral lick in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The USGS is investigating how the aggregation of multiple individuals and species in mineral lick locations can influence wildlife disease transmission.  

In the same day, a female mule deer (left image), an elk (middle image), and finally a buck mule deer (right image) visited the same mineral lick in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The USGS is investigating how the aggregation of multiple individuals and species in mineral lick locations can influence wildlife disease transmission.  

Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade

Wind turbines in Wyoming with one blade painted black. These turbines are part of a study in collaboration with PacifiCorp to assess if the contrasting colors of turbine blades can reduce bird fatalities at wind turbines. 

Wind turbines in Wyoming with one blade painted black. These turbines are part of a study in collaboration with PacifiCorp to assess if the contrasting colors of turbine blades can reduce bird fatalities at wind turbines. 

Cyanobacteria bloom, Fox River, Wisconsin
Cyanobacteria bloom near the shoreline of North Bar Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Cyanobacteria bloom near the shoreline of North Bar Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
A clearing of nearly bare dirt surrounded by low, green vegetation. A person wearing a hat is crouched down touching a plant
ROAM field data collection
ROAM field data collection
ROAM field data collection

A five-person USGS crew collecting Rapid and Other Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) density data in southwest Idaho. One person is inspecting a plant in the foreground, while the rest of the team are identifying and counting individual plants during a radial density belt. 

A five-person USGS crew collecting Rapid and Other Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) density data in southwest Idaho. One person is inspecting a plant in the foreground, while the rest of the team are identifying and counting individual plants during a radial density belt. 

a white plastic pole and tape mark the location of a sampling plot. The ground is mostly bare dirt with a few small sagebrush
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot

A downward-facing photo taken on a Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) plot that is within a fuel break. The photo includes a lot of gravel and bare ground, with intermixed small grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

A downward-facing photo taken on a Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) plot that is within a fuel break. The photo includes a lot of gravel and bare ground, with intermixed small grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

A small fluffy light brown chick with dark speckles is held in hand.
Poplar Island Chick in Hand
Poplar Island Chick in Hand
Poplar Island Chick in Hand

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

Five scientists in hats and bright green safety vests stand on the sand near two pick-up trucks.
Poplar Island Scientists 2
Poplar Island Scientists 2
Poplar Island Scientists 2

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

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