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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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Image of man with water sample near a mobile lab in a open forest
Groundwater quality measurements at a mobile lab
Groundwater quality measurements at a mobile lab
Groundwater quality measurements at a mobile lab

Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Hydrologic Technician Dwight Sparks purges a monitoring well in Austin Texas to ensure stable field parameters before collecting a groundwater sample.

Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Hydrologic Technician Dwight Sparks purges a monitoring well in Austin Texas to ensure stable field parameters before collecting a groundwater sample.

USGS van and mobile groundwater sampling site
Mobile groundwater quality lab and USGS van
Mobile groundwater quality lab and USGS van
Mobile groundwater quality lab and USGS van

Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Hydrologic Technician Sam Matschek processes a groundwater sample at a monitoring well in Austin Texas. This groundwater sampling effort was to quantify geogenic contaminations in groundwater aquifers.

Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Hydrologic Technician Sam Matschek processes a groundwater sample at a monitoring well in Austin Texas. This groundwater sampling effort was to quantify geogenic contaminations in groundwater aquifers.

Image of man in hiviz gear taking measurements
Groundwater quality measurements in MN
Groundwater quality measurements in MN
Groundwater quality measurements in MN

USGS scientist takes measurements of groundwater quality from a monitoring well near Zimmerman, Minnesota.

Screenshot of the Water Data for the Nation homepage highlighting 6 core ways to interact with USGS water data
Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) homepage
Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) homepage
Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) homepage

Screenshot of the Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) homepage. WDFN is the home for USGS's modernization of public delivery of water data. USGS water data can be accessed in many ways:

Screenshot of the Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) homepage. WDFN is the home for USGS's modernization of public delivery of water data. USGS water data can be accessed in many ways:

A hydrographer providing a written description of a flagged high-water mark using a white board.
Hydrographer provides a written description of a flagged high-water mark
Hydrographer provides a written description of a flagged high-water mark
Map of U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025
U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025
U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025
U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025

U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025 thumbnail image. The river conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). A purple outer ring around a gage indicates it is flooding

U.S. River Conditions, October to December 2025 thumbnail image. The river conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). A purple outer ring around a gage indicates it is flooding

USGS Selenium Research Laboratory scientist collecting samples on the Kootenai River.
USGS Selenium Research Laboratory Scientist on the Kootenai River
USGS Selenium Research Laboratory Scientist on the Kootenai River
USGS Selenium Research Laboratory Scientist on the Kootenai River

A USGS scientist from Selenium Research Laboratory collecting samples on the Kootenai River during field work in 2025.

USGS scientists processing water samples from the Kootenai River.
USGS Scientists Processing Samples on the Kootenai River
USGS Scientists Processing Samples on the Kootenai River
USGS Scientists Processing Samples on the Kootenai River

USGS scientists processing samples taken from the Kootenai River during field work in 2025.

Image of Drippy pointing at crossword-styles saying Crossword - Water - Science
USGS Water-themed crossword illustration
USGS Water-themed crossword illustration
USGS Water-themed crossword illustration

Image used for Instagram links for the USGS Water-themed Crossword Puzzles and solutions

Images that represent downloading integrated water data
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities

Images representing three of the services available to users of the National Water Availability Assessments (NWAA) Data Companion. Services include subset and download tool, data file directory, and web services. 

Map of U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025
U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025
U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025
U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025

U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025 thumbnail image. The river conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). A purple outer ring around a gage indicates it is flooding.

U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2025 thumbnail image. The river conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). A purple outer ring around a gage indicates it is flooding.

Screenshot of a USGS groundwater monitoring site in North Carolina displaying a depth-to-water-level hydrograph
Water Data for the Nation groundwater monitoring location page
Water Data for the Nation groundwater monitoring location page
Water Data for the Nation groundwater monitoring location page

Screenshot of the Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) groundwater monitoring location page for USGS 354133082042203 MC-109 Near Pleasant Gardens, NC Bedrock.

Screenshot showing a variety of data collection locations, including a streamgage hydrograph, during Hurricane Ian
Flood Event Viewer: Hurricane Ian data collection near Fort Myers, Florida
Flood Event Viewer: Hurricane Ian data collection near Fort Myers, Florida
Flood Event Viewer: Hurricane Ian data collection near Fort Myers, Florida

During major storms or other short-term events, the USGS collects streamflow and additional data (including storm tide, wave height, high-water marks, and additional sensor deployments) to aid in documenting flood events.

During major storms or other short-term events, the USGS collects streamflow and additional data (including storm tide, wave height, high-water marks, and additional sensor deployments) to aid in documenting flood events.

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin, Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin —referred to as an Integrated Water Science (IWS) basins—are intensively monitored study basins representing a wide range of environmental, hydrologic, and landscape settings and human stressors of water resources to improve our understanding of water availability across the Nation.

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin —referred to as an Integrated Water Science (IWS) basins—are intensively monitored study basins representing a wide range of environmental, hydrologic, and landscape settings and human stressors of water resources to improve our understanding of water availability across the Nation.

White and brown carboard boxes stacked on top of each other.
Physical data ready for archive
Physical data ready for archive
Physical data ready for archive

Alaska Science Center Data Management staff organize, scan, and digitally archive physical data. Once published as part of a data release, the physical data are organized and placed into banker boxes, labeled with pertinent information, such as the data release DOI, and moved to a secure location.

Alaska Science Center Data Management staff organize, scan, and digitally archive physical data. Once published as part of a data release, the physical data are organized and placed into banker boxes, labeled with pertinent information, such as the data release DOI, and moved to a secure location.

pale orange river flowing into a clear blue river.
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Noatak National Preserve, 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.

Brown vegetation and a small stream.
Acidic waters kill and blacken vegetation as they plunge downhill towards the Nakolikurok Creek
Acidic waters kill and blacken vegetation as they plunge downhill towards the Nakolikurok Creek
Acidic waters kill and blacken vegetation as they plunge downhill towards 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.

Pale orange river entering clear blue river.
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Alaska's Noatak National Preserve
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Alaska's Noatak National Preserve
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River in Alaska's Noatak National Preserve

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.

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