Reports
Science Quality and Integrity
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
Browse more than 82,000 reports authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.
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Knowledge gaps and opportunities for understanding water-quality processes affecting water availability for beneficial uses Knowledge gaps and opportunities for understanding water-quality processes affecting water availability for beneficial uses
This report describes scientific gaps that limit our ability to predict water-quality effects on water availability for beneficial uses across the United States. Water-quality constituents considered in the report include salinity, geogenic constituents, contaminants of emerging concern, and nitrogen. For each constituent, there is a selection of scientific gaps, approaches, and outcomes...
Knowledge gaps and opportunities in water-quality drivers of aquatic ecosystem health Knowledge gaps and opportunities in water-quality drivers of aquatic ecosystem health
This report identifies key scientific gaps that limit our ability to predict water quality effects on health of aquatic ecosystems and proposes approaches to address those gaps. Topics considered include (1) coupled nutrient-carbon cycle processes and related ecological-flow-regime drivers of ecosystem health, (2) anthropogenic and geogenic toxin bioexposure, (3) fine sediment drivers of...
Extent and duration of cold-water areas associated with side channels and tributaries of the lower Yakima River, Washington, September 2018–20 Extent and duration of cold-water areas associated with side channels and tributaries of the lower Yakima River, Washington, September 2018–20
Previous work on the lower Yakima River, Washington (downstream from Union Gap), has identified several cold-water areas that could be thermal refuges for migrating salmonids. These cold-water areas are characterized by small tributaries that are typically cooler than the main-stem river during summer months (June–August). Twenty-seven temperature sensors were deployed along the lower 90...
Authors
Richard W. Sheibley, Marcella Appel, Rachel Little, James R. Foreman
Prefabricated Zero Ascend Omnispecies (ZAO) modular fish passage modules using advanced manufacturing techniques Prefabricated Zero Ascend Omnispecies (ZAO) modular fish passage modules using advanced manufacturing techniques
The Zero Ascend Omnispecies (ZAO) fish passage attraction module “ZAO Attractor” is a novel system designed to facilitate upstream passage for a broad spectrum of fish species, with a particular focus on American shad and river herring (alewife and/or blueback herring). Combining the use of prefabricated, modular components with advanced manufacturing, the ZAO aims to provide a cost...
Authors
Katherine Leighton, Janine Bryan, Kevin Mulligan, Kevin G. Stewart, Paul Jacobson, David Duquette, Ravi Challa
Streamflow, base flow, and precipitation trends and simulated effects of Rush Springs aquifer groundwater withdrawals on base flows upgradient from Fort Cobb Reservoir, western Oklahoma Streamflow, base flow, and precipitation trends and simulated effects of Rush Springs aquifer groundwater withdrawals on base flows upgradient from Fort Cobb Reservoir, western Oklahoma
To better understand the relation between groundwater use in the Rush Springs aquifer and inflows to the Fort Cobb Reservoir, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, used a previously published numerical groundwater-flow model and historical streamflow records to evaluate four scenarios to investigate how changing groundwater withdrawals could affect...
Authors
A.R. Trevisan, L.G. Labriola, J.H. Ellis
FY 2023 herring disease program annual report FY 2023 herring disease program annual report
No abstract available.
Authors
Paul Hershberger, David James Páez
Surface elevation trends in North Carolina's coastal wetlands Surface elevation trends in North Carolina's coastal wetlands
Coastal wetlands exist in the narrow fringe between uplands and open water and consequently, are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise (SLR). Predictive models suggest that in the coming decades sea level rise will lead to substantial losses of coastal wetland habitat in North Carolina. Empirical measurements of wetland response to SLR are vital for understanding which...
Authors
Robbie Fearn, Cat Bowler, Rick Savage, Pat Donovoan-Bradenburg, Aaron Houran, Reide Corbett, Stu Hamilton, Carolyn Currin, Jenny Davis, Michael Greene, Anna Hilting, Brandon Puckett, Quentin Walker, Justin Ridge, Cayla Cothron, Sarah Spiegler, Marcelo Ardón, Mike Burchell, Nisse Goldberg, Aaron McCall, Eric Soderholm, Christine Voss, Lorie Sutter, Michelle Moorman, Justine Annaliese Neville, Ches Vervaeke
Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley
In support of the goals of the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Land Management, we performed surveys to determine the status, distribution, demographics, and possible genetic linkages of Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations within the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) area during a multi-decadal...
Authors
Michele R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Kristy L. Cummings
Water resources inventory of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, southeastern Arizona Water resources inventory of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, southeastern Arizona
The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area was established by the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1999 (Public Law 106–538) and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Located in southeastern Arizona, the conservation area contains more than 45,000 acres of rolling grassland, wetlands, and woodlands surrounded by isolated mountain ranges that are part...
Authors
Jon P. Mason
Simulation of groundwater and surface-water interaction and lake resiliency at Crystal Lake, City of Crystal Lake, Illinois Simulation of groundwater and surface-water interaction and lake resiliency at Crystal Lake, City of Crystal Lake, Illinois
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Crystal Lake, Illinois, started a study to increase understanding of groundwater and surface-water interaction between the glacial aquifer and the city’s namesake lake, Crystal Lake, and the effect of higher and lower precipitation conditions on groundwater and lake levels. The results from this study could be used by the city...
Authors
Amy M. Gahala, Emilia L. Bristow, Jennifer B. Sharpe, Benjamin G Metcalf, Lisa A. Matson
Status of water-level altitudes and long-term and short-term water-level changes in the Chicot and Evangeline (undifferentiated) and Jasper aquifers, greater Houston area, Texas, 2023 Status of water-level altitudes and long-term and short-term water-level changes in the Chicot and Evangeline (undifferentiated) and Jasper aquifers, greater Houston area, Texas, 2023
Since the early 1900s, groundwater withdrawn from the primary aquifers that compose the Gulf Coast aquifer system—the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers—has been an important source of water in the greater Houston area, Texas. This report, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence...
Authors
Jason K. Ramage
Trends in colony sizes for five colonial waterbird species in the Atlantic Flyway Trends in colony sizes for five colonial waterbird species in the Atlantic Flyway
Robust estimates of colonial waterbird (CWB) breeding population trends are deficient owing to a lack of range wide, standardized survey efforts. Evaluating conservation priorities and effectiveness of management requires reliable trend estimates across multiple spatial scales. One potential data source for CWB trend estimation is the Colonial Waterbird Database, created in 2003 by U.S...
Authors
Zachary G. Loman, Cynthia S. Loftin, Caleb S. Spiegel, Ruth Boettcher