Images

A tile map of the US showing streamgages by flow levels through the month of September. For each state, an area chart shows the proportion of streamgages in wet, normal, or dry conditions. Streamflow conditions are quantified using percentiles comparing the past month’s slow levels to the historic daily record for each streamgage.  

USGS scientist measures the groundwater level at a Climate Response Network monitoring well in Worcester County, Massachusetts (USGS station 422058072085101).

Lukas Medo, a USGS hydrologic technician, installs a water-level sensor in Levy County, Florida, September 26, ahead of Hurricane Ian's landfall. Photo by Patrick Marasco, USGS. 

Looking east on Bullgate Pond at sunrise with lone tule white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons elgasi) in upper right, Summer Lake Wildlife Area, near Summer Lake, Oregon.

USGS monitors groundwater levels at sites around the Nation. The location and frequency of water-level measurements depends on the objectives of the project or program for which the data are being collected.

Watch our video on the USGS YouTube channel for how to use Next Generation WaterAlert to receive alerts for recent water conditions via text or email. 

A photo of Scott Hamshaw. Scott is a Machine Learning Specialist in the Water Resources Mission Area of the U.S. Geological Survey.

A cartogram map of the US with proportional area charts for each state showing the proportion of streamgages by flow levels, categorized using percentile bins. Streamflow level percentiles are calculated using the historic daily record for each gage, and binned to reflect whether flow conditions are wetter or drier than the historical record.

Photograph of trees along the coast at Acadia National Park.  Promotion for Recreate With USGS campaign.

Steps to enter our photo contest 

1. Take a photo while you’re out recreating on, in, or near water 

This August 2022 photo is of a new group (or “nest”) of groundwater wells that are part of a USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) project in the

On August 24th at 1 pm ET/ 10 am PT we hosted a public webinar to guide users through the 3 steps necessary to transition from Legacy to Next Generation WaterAlert. Catch the recording on the USGS YouTube channel.

USGS Gallinas Creek near Montezuma, NM (08380500) streamgaging and water-quality monitoring station in August 2022 (watershed burned by Calf Canyon/Hermit Peak Fires April-August 2022) (photo showing Johanna Blake, USGS; photo by Jeannie Barlow, USGS)

The thumbnail image for a video on NextGen Water Data for the Nation products.

This map shows the locations of the four existing extensometers (red) in the USGS' Virginia Extensometer Network with the location of a fifth future extensometer (green). The basemap is of the Virginia Coastal Plain and shows the severity of groundwater depletion, with darker blue indicating greater groundwater depletion. 

A cartogram map of the US with proportional area charts for each state showing the proportion of streamgages by flow levels, categorized using percentile bins. Streamflow level percentiles are calculated using the historic daily record for each gage, and binned to reflect whether flow conditions are wetter or drier than the historical record.

U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2022 

These brine flies are an important fuel source for migratory birds, giving them energy for long flights. 

These scientists are working on The Great Salt Lake to determine the amount of water and qualities of it. This will help them in developing better management techniques that will work to support the migratory birds that frequent the area. 

A cartogram map of the US with proportional area charts for each state showing the proportion of streamgages by flow levels, categorized using percentile bins. Streamflow level percentiles are calculated using the historic daily record for each gage, and binned to reflect whether flow conditions are wetter or drier than the historical record.

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows snapshots of water-level statistics in the network during June 2022.

USGS hydrologists and hydrologic technicians test a new method for collecting water from the Millstone River in Blackwells Mills, New Jersey. The new method helps measure microplastics concentrations using representative cross-section sampling. In the background, USGS staff maneuver a stainless-steel pump and tubing at pre-determined points along the river.