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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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USGS Scientists Deploy to New Mexico Fire to Enhance Water Monitoring
USGS Scientists Deploy to New Mexico Fire to Enhance Water Monitoring
USGS Scientists Deploy to New Mexico Fire to Enhance Water Monitoring
USGS Scientists Deploy to New Mexico Fire to Enhance Water Monitoring

USGS Water and Fire Technicians team members, Jorge Gonzalez and Efren Alvarado, made repairs to the Buck Mountain precipitation gage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico on June 7, 2024. This station, along with similar gages, provides critical real-time rainfall data to the National Weather Service and local emergency managers.

USGS Water and Fire Technicians team members, Jorge Gonzalez and Efren Alvarado, made repairs to the Buck Mountain precipitation gage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico on June 7, 2024. This station, along with similar gages, provides critical real-time rainfall data to the National Weather Service and local emergency managers.

Decorative image of a river seen from above.
Relative elevation model (REM) of Beaver Creek, Liberty County, MT
Relative elevation model (REM) of Beaver Creek, Liberty County, MT
Relative elevation model (REM) of Beaver Creek, Liberty County, MT

This map shows the intricate fluvial landforms (e.g., meanders, relic stream channels, meander cutoffs) of Beaver Creek, Liberty County, MT. Relative elevation models show elevation of a landscape relative to the elevation of an adjacent river.

This map shows the intricate fluvial landforms (e.g., meanders, relic stream channels, meander cutoffs) of Beaver Creek, Liberty County, MT. Relative elevation models show elevation of a landscape relative to the elevation of an adjacent river.

Orange river on a brown landscape and snowy mountains in the background.
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in 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.

A member of the USGS Water and Fire Technicians Team repairs a streamgage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico.
Repairing a streamgage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico
Repairing a streamgage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico
Repairing a streamgage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico

A member of the USGS Water and Fire Technicians Team repairs a streamgage during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico. 

The USGS Water and Fire Technicians Team prepares to evaluate precipitation and streamflow gauges during the Blue 2 Fire.
The USGS Water and Fire Technicians Team prepares to evaluate precipitation and streamflow gauges during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico.
The USGS Water and Fire Technicians Team prepares to evaluate precipitation and streamflow gauges during the Blue 2 Fire near Alto, New Mexico.
Two scientists stand on dock next two river holding water samples.
Sampling the Mississippi River above Vicksburg at Mile 438
Sampling the Mississippi River above Vicksburg at Mile 438
Sampling the Mississippi River above Vicksburg at Mile 438

USGS scientists out on the Mississippi River above Vicksburg use a D-99 sampler to collect sediment and water-quality samples from the large inland river.

a hovercraft sits atop a mudflat with mountains in the background
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
Screenshot of the NYC Bedrock and Groundwater Mapper
4_15_IGpost_NYCbedrock_Drupal.png
4_15_IGpost_NYCbedrock_Drupal.png
4_15_IGpost_NYCbedrock_Drupal.png

Image shows a screenshot of the New York City Bedrock and Groundwater Mapper. 

Illustrated diagram of the process of water use.
Water Use Diagram
Water Use Diagram
Water Use Diagram

Diagram of the process of water use from source (surface water, groundwater, reuse water) through transmission, utility reservoir, water treatment, distribution, and withdrawal for industry, residential, and commercial.

Diagram of the process of water use from source (surface water, groundwater, reuse water) through transmission, utility reservoir, water treatment, distribution, and withdrawal for industry, residential, and commercial.

The final bracket for Gage Greatness 2024 announcing the winners
Gage Greatness 2024 Bracket Finale Tie
Gage Greatness 2024 Bracket Finale Tie
Gage Greatness 2024 Bracket Finale Tie

The final bracket for Gage Greatness 2024 announcing the winners:

The bracket for the Gage Greatness 2024 competition
Gage Greatness 2024 Finals bracket image
Gage Greatness 2024 Finals bracket image
Gage Greatness 2024 Finals bracket image

The bracket for the Finals! New Jersey's and Colorado's gages will compete to see whose gage is the greatest for Gage Greatest 2024.

Cross-section of a coastal landscape and the Federal Floodplain Risk Management Standards.
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram (with caption)
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram (with caption)
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram (with caption)

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical coastline showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical coastline showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

Cross-section of a river landscape and the Federal Floodplain Risk Management Standards.
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical river showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical river showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

Cross-section of a river landscape and the Federal Floodplain Risk Management Standards.
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram (with caption)
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram (with caption)
Hypothetical Riverine Floodplain Diagram (with caption)

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical river showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical river showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

Cross-section of a coastal landscape and the Federal Floodplain Risk Management Standards.
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram
Hypothetical Coastal Floodplain Diagram

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical coastline showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

A cross-sectional view of a hypothetical coastline showing one possible arrangement of the three Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain elevations (Climate-Informed Science Approach, the Freeboard Value Approach, and the 0.2% Annual-Chance Flood Approach) above the current Base Flood Elevation, i.e., the 1% annual-chance flood elevation.

USGS staff learn how to collect Mid-Section ADCP data from a bridge.
Mid-Section ADCP Class in Asheville, NC.
Mid-Section ADCP Class in Asheville, NC.
Mid-Section ADCP Class in Asheville, NC.

Photograph showing USGS staff learning how to collect Mid-Section ADCP data from a bridge in Asheville, North Carolina.

Photograph showing USGS staff learning how to collect Mid-Section ADCP data from a bridge in Asheville, North Carolina.

USGS scientists walk into the Rio Grande to collect water samples for a PFAS study near Valle de Oro, New Mexico.
USGS scientists walk into the Rio Grande to collect water samples for a PFAS study near Valle de Oro, New Mexico.
USGS scientists walk into the Rio Grande to collect water samples for a PFAS study near Valle de Oro, New Mexico.
Water quality sampler deployed on the Rio Grande to collect an integrated sample of PFAS in the water in Alameda, New Mexico.
Water quality sampler deployed on the Rio Grande in Alameda, New Mexico.
Water quality sampler deployed on the Rio Grande in Alameda, New Mexico.
Water quality sampler deployed on the Rio Grande in Alameda, New Mexico.

Water quality sampler deployed on the Rio Grande to collect an integrated sample of PFAS in the water in Alameda, New Mexico.

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