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The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
Browse preprint publications authored by USGS scientists.
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Effects of groundwater withdrawals for water bottling and municipal use, Wards Brook Valley, Maine and New Hampshire Effects of groundwater withdrawals for water bottling and municipal use, Wards Brook Valley, Maine and New Hampshire
Hydrologic models for the Wards Brook valley near Fryeburg, Maine were developed for historical (2016 – 2021) and hypothetical future conditions (2046 – 2065 and 2080 – 2099) to understand the effects of groundwater withdrawals for bottled water and municipal use on hydrologic conditions (stream base flows and groundwater levels). Analyses showed that the simulated base flows in Wards...
Authors
John R Mullaney, Janet R. Barclay, Jennifer S. Stanton, Carl S Carlson, Madeleine Holland
Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use Monitoring recreation on federally managed lands and waters—Aspects of visitor use
Federally managed public lands and waters receive about 1 billion recreational visits each year. Data on these visitors can aid in guiding policy decisions, managing resources effectively, and communicating the economic contributions of lands and waters. This report explores the methods used by agencies to collect data on aspects of recreational visitor use to Federal lands and waters...
Authors
Emily J. Wilkins, Dieta Hanson, Whitney Boone, Spencer A. Wood, Christian S.L. Crowley, Rudy Schuster
Computation of regional groundwater budgets for the Virginia Coastal Plain aquifer system Computation of regional groundwater budgets for the Virginia Coastal Plain aquifer system
Computation of detailed groundwater flow budgets for subdivisions of Virginia’s Coastal Plain aquifer system has enabled quantification and more thorough understanding of groundwater flow within this important water resource. A zone budget analysis conducted on previously published groundwater models of the Virginia Coastal Plain and Virginia Eastern Shore shows that groundwater...
Authors
Jason P. Pope, Alison D. Gordon, Ryan S. Frederiks
A snapshot of Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia and Y. jaegeriana) stand structure in the eastern Mojave Desert of California A snapshot of Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia and Y. jaegeriana) stand structure in the eastern Mojave Desert of California
The long-term viability of the iconic Joshua tree of the Mojave Desert is being evaluated. In 2022, we measured the abundance and heights of Joshua tree stems on 62 1000 m2 plots in the eastern Mojave Desert of California. The 2022 plots were represented by 33 plots in a population of western Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) and 29 plots in a population of eastern Joshua trees (Y...
Authors
Kathryn A. Thomas
Regional characterization of coal resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast Regional characterization of coal resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast
There is increasing interest in extracting critical minerals (CM), including rare earth elements (REE), from coals in the United States to address the overreliance on imported REE. The U.S. Gulf Coast and the Williston basins are the two major lignite-bearing basins within the country. Recent REE and CM studies of the lignite in these basins have indicated that the coals may be a viable...
Authors
Peter D. Warwick, Robert C. Reedy, Bridget R. Scanlon
Designs for cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom monitoring in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California Designs for cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom monitoring in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) are a growing concern in freshwater environments. These blooms can lead to degraded water quality, ecosystem disruptions, and public health threats due to the production of potent cyanotoxins. The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (California, USA; the Delta) has experienced CHABs since 1999, including CHABs that produce cyanotoxins at...
Authors
Keith Bouma-Gregson, Lisa Lucas, Andrea Cecile Jaegge, Dulcinea Marie Avouris, Emily T. Richardson, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Tamara E. C. Kraus
Present and future coastal flooding hazard for Long Island, NY and Long Island Sound (NY/CT), USA Present and future coastal flooding hazard for Long Island, NY and Long Island Sound (NY/CT), USA
Coastal flooding and the associated damages due to storms are increasing with sea level rise around the world, with regional variability in the severity of impacts., Researchers and resource managers need to better understand and predict the future shifts in coastal flooding due to these processes to plan for resilient and sustainable communities. Here we present an analysis of long-term
Authors
Salme Ellen Cook, Liv M. Herdman
Simulation of the impacts of spring fiversions on streamflow in the Strawberry Creek watershed, San Bernardino County, California, using an integrated hydrological model Simulation of the impacts of spring fiversions on streamflow in the Strawberry Creek watershed, San Bernardino County, California, using an integrated hydrological model
The Strawberry Creek watershed, situated in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California, features a group of natural springs known as Arrowhead Springs that have been augmented with diversions in the form of sub-horizontal borings and tunnels. Understanding the impact of these structures on streamflow through groundwater capture is crucial for managing surface-water resources in...
Authors
Derek W. Ryter, Joseph A. Hevesi, Linda R. Woolfenden
Sentinel-2 based estimates of rangeland fractional cover and canopy gap class for the western United States Sentinel-2 based estimates of rangeland fractional cover and canopy gap class for the western United States
Rangelands are extensive ecosystems, providing important ecosystem services while undergoing continuous change. As a result, improved monitoring technologies can help better characterize vegetation change. Satellite remote sensing has proven effective in this regard, tracking vegetation dynamics at broad and fine scales. We leveraged the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution of...
Authors
Brady W. Allred, Sarah E. McCord, Timothy J. Assal, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Chad S. Boyd, Alexander C. Brooks, Samantha M. Cady, Michael C. Duniway, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Shane A. Green, Georgia R. Harrison, Eric R. Jensen, Emily J. Kachergis, Anna C. Knight, Chloe M. Mattilio, Brian A. Mealor, David E. Naugle, Dylan O’Leary, Peter J. Olsoy, Erika S. Peirce, Jason R. Reinhardt, Robert K. Shriver, Joseph T. Smith, Jason D. Tack, Ashley M. Tanner, Evan P. Tanner, Dirac Twidwell, Nicholas P. Webb, Scott L. Morford
Understanding abundances and behaviors of shorebirds in coastal Louisiana Understanding abundances and behaviors of shorebirds in coastal Louisiana
Barrier islands provide resources and ecological services that are integral to economic and environmental interests, such as protection of coastal infrastructure and provision of wildlife habitat. Over time, barrier islands may become eroded and experience land loss, which can require management actions to restore island integrity. Barrier island restoration can create or modify habitats...
Authors
Theodore J. Zenzal, Amanda Nicole Anderson, Nicholas Enwright, Hana R. Thurman, Wyatt C. Cheney, Delaina LeBlanc, Robert C. Dobbs, Brock Geary, Hardin Waddle
A systematic literature review of forecasting and predictive models of harmful algal blooms in flowing waters A systematic literature review of forecasting and predictive models of harmful algal blooms in flowing waters
Occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in rivers challenge the belief that rivers are not susceptible to HABs because of their short residence times and fluctuating hydrology. Here we present a systematic literature review of predictive and forecasting models for HABs in flowing waters, including rivers, flowing in-stream reservoirs (e.g., run-of-river reservoirs and lock-and-dam...
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Rebecca Michelle Gorney, Lisa Lucas, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Jennifer L. Graham
Beyond the mangroves: A global synthesis of tidal forested wetland types, drivers and future information opportunities Beyond the mangroves: A global synthesis of tidal forested wetland types, drivers and future information opportunities
There is increasing awareness of the global diversity of tidal forested wetlands (TFWs) and their significance in the provision of ecosystem services. These ecosystems, including mangrove forests, tidal freshwater forested wetlands, supratidal forests and transitional forests together span multiple climatic zones, geomorphic settings, and inundation and salinity regimes. We utilise case...
Authors
J. J. Kelleway, Gregory E. Noe, Ken Krauss, L.S. Brophy, W. H. Conner, J. A. Duberstein, D. A. Friess, K. Gedan, E. White, M. F. Adame, J. B. Adams, R. C. Carvalho, A. Freddie, I. N. Ikenna, E. R. Ocasio, C. J. Owers, S. Sasmito, A. Swales, P. Stewart-Sinclair, R. D. Ward, I. Zabarte-Maeztu