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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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An oxbow in a river with green vegetation and foliage and blue skies.
Piscatiquis River at Medford, Maine
Piscatiquis River at Medford, Maine
Piscatiquis River at Medford, Maine

A photograph taken near USGS 01034000 Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine on June 6, 2022 when the river was experiencing below average flow conditions as a result of a continued drought.

A river with green foliage on both banks and blue skies.
Piscatiquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Piscatiquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Piscatiquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

A photograph of the Piscatquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine taken on June 6, 2022, when the river was experiencing below average flow conditions due to a continued drought. USGS Current Conditions for USGS 01031500 Piscataquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo.
Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo.
Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo.
Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo.

Map showing helicopter survey area and near Granby, Colo. Surveys will not occur directly above populated areas. Black circle indicates study area.

May streamflow conditions streamgages across the U.S. Each tile shows the percent of streamgages by flow levels.
May 2022 Streamflow
May 2022 Streamflow
May 2022 Streamflow

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.

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.

Salty stands off to the left holding a salt shaker. Text is on the right side.
Salty: Did you know? Evaporation
Salty: Did you know? Evaporation
Salty: Did you know? Evaporation

Hi, I'm Salty, Drippy's saline counterpart! Did you know that one way to produce table salt is to evaporate saline water in evaporation ponds, a technique used by people for thousands of years?

Hi, I'm Salty, Drippy's saline counterpart! Did you know that one way to produce table salt is to evaporate saline water in evaporation ponds, a technique used by people for thousands of years?

Researchers collecting surface-water samples on the Animas River, New Mexico, June 2022
Sampling surface water on the Animas River, New Mexico, 2022
Sampling surface water on the Animas River, New Mexico, 2022
Sampling surface water on the Animas River, New Mexico, 2022

USGS researchers collect surface water samples on the Animas River, New Mexico, June 2022

Image: Collection Of Sediment And Water Sampling Prior To The Possible Occurrence Of Oil Contamination From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Well At Egmont Key, Florida
Collection Of Sediment And Water Sampling Prior To The Possible Occurrence Of Oil Contamination From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Well At Egmont Key, Florida
Collection Of Sediment And Water Sampling Prior To The Possible Occurrence Of Oil Contamination From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Well At Egmont Key, Florida
Collection Of Sediment And Water Sampling Prior To The Possible Occurrence Of Oil Contamination From The Deepwater Horizon Oil Well At Egmont Key, Florida

Bruce Bernard (left) and Scott McBride (right) obtain water and sediment samples at Egmont Key which is about 1 mile west of the mouth of Tampa Bay in the Gulf of America. Samples were collected June 14, 2010 prior to the possible occurrence of oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon's oil well.

Photograph of sunset on Medina Lake near San Antonio, Texa,
Sunset over Medina Lake near San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2022
Sunset over Medina Lake near San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2022
Sunset over Medina Lake near San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2022

Still-shot from webcam of sunset over Medina Lake near San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2022. USGS Site: 08179500. Image from the Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (https://apps.usgs.gov/hivis/).

submit your photo to become national water recreation photo champion
#RecreateWithUSGS social media card
#RecreateWithUSGS social media card
#RecreateWithUSGS social media card

Participate in this national photo contest, #RecreateWithUSGS, for a chance to win the title of Water Recreation Photo Champion. More rules apply, see more details.

Participate in this national photo contest, #RecreateWithUSGS, for a chance to win the title of Water Recreation Photo Champion. More rules apply, see more details.

Four USGS scientists deploy a marked buoy platform.
Deploying a Buoy Platform in Southport Harbor, CT
Deploying a Buoy Platform in Southport Harbor, CT
Deploying a Buoy Platform in Southport Harbor, CT

USGS deployed this buoy platform with connected water quality equipment in Southport Harbor, CT in May 2022.

Vizlab Logo
Vizlab Logo
Vizlab Logo
Vizlab Logo

A thumbnail image of the Vizlab logo. It features the words and a drawing of a gage.

A thumbnail image of the Vizlab logo. It features the words and a drawing of a gage.

A cartogram map of the US with proportional area charts for each state showing the proportion of streamgages by flow level.
April 2022 Streamflow Conditions
April 2022 Streamflow Conditions
April 2022 Streamflow Conditions

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

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

Field Photo Friday image for 5.6.2022: USGS gage 10317500, on the North Fork, of the Humbolt River near Halleck, Nevada
Field Photo Friday image for 5.6.2022: USGS gage 10317500, on the North Fork, of the Humbolt River near Halleck, Nevada
Field Photo Friday image for 5.6.2022: USGS gage 10317500, on the North Fork, of the Humbolt River near Halleck, Nevada
Field Photo Friday image for 5.6.2022: USGS gage 10317500, on the North Fork, of the Humbolt River near Halleck, Nevada

Here is the beautiful USGS gage 10317500, on the North Fork, of the Humbolt River near Halleck, Nevada, a bit Northwest from The East Humboldt Range and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Water data back to 1913 are available online.  

 

When are U.S. rivers wet or dry? This circular area chart displays the total flow rate in million cubic feet per second
When are U.S. Rivers Wet or Dry?
When are U.S. Rivers Wet or Dry?
When are U.S. Rivers Wet or Dry?

When are U.S. rivers wet or dry? This circular area chart displays the total flow rate in million cubic feet per second throughout a year. Total flow is derived from 1,865 USGS NWIS gages with near complete data for 1951-2020.

When are U.S. rivers wet or dry? This circular area chart displays the total flow rate in million cubic feet per second throughout a year. Total flow is derived from 1,865 USGS NWIS gages with near complete data for 1951-2020.

The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front
The Rise and Fall of the Delaware Salt Front
The Rise and Fall of the Delaware Salt Front
The Rise and Fall of the Delaware Salt Front

The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.

The rise and fall of the Delaware River salt front. Over time, the location of the salt front moves in response to regional weather patterns, sea level rise, and human impacts. The precise location of the salt front in the Delaware River Basin is based on the location in the river where the average chloride concentration is 250 mg/L.

A graphic showing a mountain with a snowcap. Names of scientists are next to arrows that show where on the mountain they work to measure snowmelt.
ScientistS2F_Thumbnail.png
ScientistS2F_Thumbnail.png
ScientistS2F_Thumbnail.png

A graphic showing a mountain with a snowcap. Names of scientists are next to arrows that show where on the mountain they work to measure snowmelt.

A graphic showing a mountain with a snowcap. Names of scientists are next to arrows that show where on the mountain they work to measure snowmelt.

A time series of streamflow drought events occurring across 122 stream gages in the Upper Colorado River basin
40+ Years of Streamflow Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
40+ Years of Streamflow Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
40+ Years of Streamflow Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin

A time series of streamflow drought events occurring across 122 stream gages in the Upper Colorado River basin from 1980 to present. Periods of streamflow drought are indicated for each of 122 gages in a beeswarm-like chart, with time on the x-axis. During time periods where many gages experienced drought, the swarm bulges due to many co-occurring events.

A time series of streamflow drought events occurring across 122 stream gages in the Upper Colorado River basin from 1980 to present. Periods of streamflow drought are indicated for each of 122 gages in a beeswarm-like chart, with time on the x-axis. During time periods where many gages experienced drought, the swarm bulges due to many co-occurring events.

A map of CONUS using angled wheat field vectors to compare lake growing degree days between the past (1981-1990) and present
Changes in Temperature and Timing for Lake in the Contiguous U.S.
Changes in Temperature and Timing for Lake in the Contiguous U.S.
Changes in Temperature and Timing for Lake in the Contiguous U.S.

A map of CONUS using angled wheat field vectors to compare lake growing degree days between the past (1981-1990) and present (2011-2020). The vectors are mapped to the number of growing degree days earlier or later on the x-axis, and the difference in temperature on the y-axis, resulting in vector angles spanning 360 degrees.

A map of CONUS using angled wheat field vectors to compare lake growing degree days between the past (1981-1990) and present (2011-2020). The vectors are mapped to the number of growing degree days earlier or later on the x-axis, and the difference in temperature on the y-axis, resulting in vector angles spanning 360 degrees.

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