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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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Photographed portrait of Oscar Meinzer.
Oscar Edward Meinzer, First Chief, USGS Groundwater Resources. Circa 1916.
Oscar Edward Meinzer, First Chief, USGS Groundwater Resources. Circa 1916.
Oscar Edward Meinzer, First Chief, USGS Groundwater Resources. Circa 1916.

Oscar Edward Meinzer, First Chief, Groundwater Resources. He was an early or first scientist to recognize the elasticity of soils, and artesian wells, and its importance, to measuring water resources. circa 1916.

Oscar Edward Meinzer, First Chief, Groundwater Resources. He was an early or first scientist to recognize the elasticity of soils, and artesian wells, and its importance, to measuring water resources. circa 1916.

A hydrographer in a wooden cable car lowers a current meter into the stream below.
Streamgaging cableway, Embudo, New Mexico
Streamgaging cableway, Embudo, New Mexico
Streamgaging cableway, Embudo, New Mexico

Hydrographer taking a cableway streamflow measurement at the first USGS streamgage at Embudo, New Mexico, established in 1889.

Hydrographer taking a cableway streamflow measurement at the first USGS streamgage at Embudo, New Mexico, established in 1889.

USGS Embudo Personnel
USGS personnel at the Embudo Station, New Mexico
USGS personnel at the Embudo Station, New Mexico
USGS personnel at the Embudo Station, New Mexico

USGS prersonnel at the Embudo Station, New Mexico. Embudo was selected as the site of the first USGS streamgaging station in 1889 because of the need for systematic water resource assessments of western states as it not only offered a favorable climate and easy rail access, but qualified for congressional funding tapped specifically for the “arid West.”

USGS prersonnel at the Embudo Station, New Mexico. Embudo was selected as the site of the first USGS streamgaging station in 1889 because of the need for systematic water resource assessments of western states as it not only offered a favorable climate and easy rail access, but qualified for congressional funding tapped specifically for the “arid West.”

A hydrologic technician from the USGS Idaho Water Science Center measures streamflow in the St. Joe River at Red Ives Ranger Sta
A hydrologic technician measures streamflow in the St. Joe River at Red Ives Ranger Station in northern Idaho.
A hydrologic technician measures streamflow in the St. Joe River at Red Ives Ranger Station in northern Idaho.
A hydrologic technician measures streamflow in the St. Joe River at Red Ives Ranger Station in northern Idaho.

A hydrologic technician from the USGS Idaho Water Science Center measures streamflow in the St. Joe River at Red Ives Ranger Station in northern Idaho. The USGS is collecting data at hundreds of sites on rivers and streams in six western states to document the 2015 drought.

Image: USGS Scientist at Work
USGS Scientist at Work
USGS Scientist at Work
USGS Scientist at Work

Brent Knights and Jon Vallazza conduct a river productivity study aboard the E.D. Cope, Upper Mississippi River System.

Brent Knights and Jon Vallazza conduct a river productivity study aboard the E.D. Cope, Upper Mississippi River System.

Image: Geo-locating a Well
Geo-locating a Well
Geo-locating a Well
Geo-locating a Well

GPS unit on well head at a private drinking water well.

Image: Spiny Dogfish Catch
Spiny Dogfish Catch
Spiny Dogfish Catch
Spiny Dogfish Catch

USGS employee Lisa Gee holds a spiny dogfish that she caught while hook and line sampling.

USGS employee Lisa Gee holds a spiny dogfish that she caught while hook and line sampling.

Image: Potomac River
Potomac River
Potomac River
Potomac River

Stream flowing into the Potomac River in Whites Ferry, Virginia.

Stream flowing into the Potomac River in Whites Ferry, Virginia.

Image: What's in My Water?
What's in My Water?
What's in My Water?
What's in My Water?

This cyanobacteria has radiating filaments and basal heterocysts. Green is DNA stain.

This cyanobacteria has radiating filaments and basal heterocysts. Green is DNA stain.

Image: Ash Falls
Ash Falls
Ash Falls
Ash Falls

Ash Falls on the Niobrara River showcases the Niobrara's uniqueness. Photo was taken to capture falls' legacy.

Ash Falls on the Niobrara River showcases the Niobrara's uniqueness. Photo was taken to capture falls' legacy.

Image: USGS Oceanographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Oceanographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Oceanographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Oceanographer Named to IPCC Report

Asbury (Abby) H. Sallenger has been named one of the authors of a chapter in the next IPCC report, due to be published in 2014. Sallenger has been assigned to co-author Chapter 5 of the Fifth Assessment Report, entitled Coastal Systems and Low-Lying Areas.

Asbury (Abby) H. Sallenger has been named one of the authors of a chapter in the next IPCC report, due to be published in 2014. Sallenger has been assigned to co-author Chapter 5 of the Fifth Assessment Report, entitled Coastal Systems and Low-Lying Areas.

Image: USGS Geographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Geographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Geographer Named to IPCC Report
USGS Geographer Named to IPCC Report

Margaret Hiza Redsteer has been named one of the lead authors of a chapter in the next IPCC report, due to be published in 2014. Hiza Redsteer has been assigned as a lead author of Chapter 15 of the Fifth Assessment Report, entitled Adaption, Planning, and Implementation.

Margaret Hiza Redsteer has been named one of the lead authors of a chapter in the next IPCC report, due to be published in 2014. Hiza Redsteer has been assigned as a lead author of Chapter 15 of the Fifth Assessment Report, entitled Adaption, Planning, and Implementation.

Image: Beach of the Great Lakes
Beach of the Great Lakes
Beach of the Great Lakes
Beach of the Great Lakes

Great Lakes water availability studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey aim to help characterize how much water the Basin has now, how water availability is changing, and how much water it can expect to have in the future.

Great Lakes water availability studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey aim to help characterize how much water the Basin has now, how water availability is changing, and how much water it can expect to have in the future.

Image: Souris River
Souris River
Souris River
Souris River

Souris River above Minot, North Dakota.

Image: Diatoms
Diatoms
Diatoms
Diatoms

Diatoms are algae that reflect the biotic condition of streams, lakes and estuaries. Diatoms are important indicator organisms because they are sensitive to natural and human impacts, and monitoring their condition provides information about ecosystem health. A large, living Pleurosira laevis cell has many disc shaped chloroplasts.

Diatoms are algae that reflect the biotic condition of streams, lakes and estuaries. Diatoms are important indicator organisms because they are sensitive to natural and human impacts, and monitoring their condition provides information about ecosystem health. A large, living Pleurosira laevis cell has many disc shaped chloroplasts.

Image: Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish

Biologist holding a flathead catfish caught by trammel net in the Lower Missouri River.

Biologist holding a flathead catfish caught by trammel net in the Lower Missouri River.

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