Publications
This list of Water Resources Mission Area publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. A searchable database of all USGS publications can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 19035
A reproducible manuscript workflow with a Quarto template A reproducible manuscript workflow with a Quarto template
Scientists and resource managers increasingly use Markdown-based tools to create reproducible reports and manuscripts. These workflows allow people to use standardized methods that are more reproducible, efficient, and transparent than other standard office tools. We present a Quarto template and demonstrate how this template may be used for a journal, the Journal of Fish and Wildlife...
Authors
Richard A. Erickson, Althea A. Archer, Michael N. Fienen
A spatial machine learning model developed from noisy data requires multiscale performance evaluation: Predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin, USA A spatial machine learning model developed from noisy data requires multiscale performance evaluation: Predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin, USA
Spatial machine learning models can be developed from observations with substantial unexplainable variability, sometimes called ‘noise’. Traditional point-scale metrics (e.g., R2) alone can be misleading when evaluating these models. We present a multi-scale performance evaluation (MPE) using two additional scales (distributional and geostatistical). We apply the MPE framework to...
Authors
Phillip J. Goodling, Kenneth Belitz, Paul E. Stackelberg, Brandon J. Fleming
Thermo-hydrologic processes governing supra-permafrost talik dynamics in discontinuous permafrost near Umiujaq (Québec, Canada) Thermo-hydrologic processes governing supra-permafrost talik dynamics in discontinuous permafrost near Umiujaq (Québec, Canada)
Widespread supra-permafrost talik formation is currently recognized as a critical mechanism that could accelerate permafrost thaw in the Arctic (e.g., Connon et al. 2018; Farquharson et al. 2022). However, the trajectory of permafrost dynamics following talik formation may prove difficult to predict. Physically-based cryohydrogeologic models provide a powerful tool for understanding...
Authors
Philippe Fortier, Nathan Young, Michelle A. Walvoord, Jean-Michel Lemieux, Aaron Mohammed
A history of cryohydrogeology modeling and recent advancements through the integration of solute transport A history of cryohydrogeology modeling and recent advancements through the integration of solute transport
Groundwater flow systems and permafrost are interrelated because permafrost thaw enhances permeability, while groundwater flow can advect heat and accelerate permafrost thaw (McKenzie et al. 2021). Given amplified climate change in cold regions, there is renewed interest in ‘cryohydrogeology’, the study of groundwater in cold regions. Many data-driven studies have shown that permafrost...
Authors
Barret L. Kurylyk, Julia Guimond, Aaron Mohammed, Victor F. Bense, Jeffrey M. McKenzie, Michelle A. Walvoord, Rob Jamieson, R. Bailey Strong
Indications of preferential groundwater seepage feeding northern peatland pools Indications of preferential groundwater seepage feeding northern peatland pools
Groundwater seepage from underlying permeable glacial sedimentary structures, such as eskers, has been hypothesized to directly feed pools in northern peat bogs. These hypotheses directly contradict classical peat bog models for ombrogenous systems, wherein meteoric water is the sole water input to these systems. Variations in the underlying mineral sediment in contact with the peat...
Authors
Henry Moore, Xavier Comas, Martin A. Briggs, Andrew S. Reeve, Lee Slater
Evaluation of extinction risk for stream fishes within an urban riverscape using population viability analysis Evaluation of extinction risk for stream fishes within an urban riverscape using population viability analysis
1. The Santa Ana River in the Los Angeles region of California demonstrates common habitat degradation symptoms that are characteristic of the urban stream syndrome. These impacts have altered the Santa Ana River community structure, with few species as impacted as the native Santa Ana sucker (sucker; Pantosteus santaanae). 2. Consequently, a recovery plan developed for sucker identified...
Authors
Brock Huntsman, Kai Palenscar, Kerwin Russell, Brett Mills, Chris Jones, William Ota, Kurt E. Anderson, Heather Dyer, Fitsum Abadi, Marissa L. Wulff
Bioconcentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and precursors in fathead minnow tissues environmentally exposed to aqueous film-forming foam-contaminated waters Bioconcentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and precursors in fathead minnow tissues environmentally exposed to aqueous film-forming foam-contaminated waters
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with toxicity in wildlife and negative health effects in humans. Decades of fire training activity at Joint Base Cape Cod (MA, USA) incorporated the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which resulted in long-term PFAS contamination of sediments, groundwater, and hydrologically connected surface waters. To...
Authors
Nicholas I. Hill, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Larry B. Barber, Denis R. LeBlanc, Alan M. Vajda, Heidi M. Pickard, Rainer Lohmann
River channel response to the removal of the Pilchuck River Diversion Dam, Washington State River channel response to the removal of the Pilchuck River Diversion Dam, Washington State
In August 2020, the 3-m tall Pilchuck River Diversion Dam was removed from the Pilchuck River, allowing free fish passage to the upper third of the watershed for the first time in over a century. The narrow, 300-m long impoundment behind the dam was estimated to hold 4,000–7,500 m3 of sand and gravel, representing less than one year's typical bedload flux. Repeat cross section surveys...
Authors
Scott W. Anderson, Brett Shattuck, Neil Shea, Catherine M. Seguin, Joe J. Miles, Derek Marks, Natasha Coumou
Climate driven trends in historical extreme low streamflows on four continents Climate driven trends in historical extreme low streamflows on four continents
Understanding temporal trends in low streamflows is important for water management and ecosystems. This work focuses on trends in the occurrence rate of extreme low-flow events (5- to 100-year return periods) for pooled groups of stations. We use data from 1,184 minimally altered catchments in Europe, North and South America, and Australia to discern historical climate-driven trends in...
Authors
Glenn A. Hodgkins, Benjamin Renard, Paul H. Whitfield, Gregor Laaha, Kerstin Stahl, Jamie Hannaford, Donald H. Burn, Seth Westra, Anne K. Fleig, Walsczon Terllizzie Araujo Lopes, Conor Murphy, Luis Mediero, Martin Hanel
Solute export patterns across the contiguous USA Solute export patterns across the contiguous USA
Understanding controls on solute export to streams is challenging because heterogeneous catchments can respond uniquely to drivers of environmental change. To understand general solute export patterns, we used a large-scale inductive approach to evaluate concentration–discharge (C–Q) metrics across catchments spanning a broad range of catchment attributes and hydroclimatic drivers. We...
Authors
Dustin W. Kincaid, Kristen L. Underwood, Scott Douglas Hamshaw, L. Li, Erin C. Seybold, Bryn Stewart, Donna M. Rizzo, Ijaz Ul Haq, Julia N. Perdrial
Diel temperature signals track seasonal shifts in localized groundwater contributions to headwater streamflow generation at network scale Diel temperature signals track seasonal shifts in localized groundwater contributions to headwater streamflow generation at network scale
Groundwater contributions to streamflow sustain aquatic ecosystem resilience; streams without significant groundwater inputs often have well-coupled air and water temperatures that degrade cold-water habitat during warm low flow periods. Widespread uncertainty in stream-groundwater connectivity across space and time has created disparate predictions of energy and nutrient fluxes across...
Authors
David M. Rey, Danielle K. Hare, Jennifer H. Fair, Martin A. Briggs
Accuracy assessment of three-dimensional point cloud data collected with a scanning total station on Shinnecock Nation Tribal lands in Suffolk County, New York Accuracy assessment of three-dimensional point cloud data collected with a scanning total station on Shinnecock Nation Tribal lands in Suffolk County, New York
A combined point cloud of about 85.6 million points was collected during 27 scans of a section of the western shoreline along the Shinnecock Peninsula of Suffolk County, New York, to document baseline geospatial conditions during July and October 2022 using a scanning total station. The three-dimensional accuracy of the combined point cloud is assessed to identify potential systematic...
Authors
Michael L. Noll, William D. Capurso, Anthony Chu