Reports

Detailed and accurate historical data are crucial to characterizing landscape change, whether it is caused by natural phenomena or of anthropogenic origin. Aerial imagery has been periodically collected by government and nongovernment agencies, for a broad range of purposes, since the early 20th century. The acquisition of aerial images involves using standardized equipment with large...

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, has used MODFLOW 6 to develop a groundwater-flow model to simulate groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Mobile Bay, Alabama, area. The model results indicated that, on average, groundwater discharge near the coastline is equal to 2.5 percent of the surface water that flows into the...

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of decadal changes in the quality of groundwater used for public drinking-water supply at 444 monitoring sites across California during 2004–23. We assessed decadal step trends in groundwater quality for 145 water-quality constituents and geochemical indicators statewide and across geographic and land-use based network groups. We evaluated...

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.4 billion barrels of shale oil and 65.4 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in the Berkine, Illizi, Hamra, Murzuq, and Erdis Kufra Basins of northern Africa.

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 114.1 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in the Berkine, Illizi, and Hamra Basins of northern Africa.  

Introduction Geochronology helps us understand Earth’s history by determining when important events, like volcanic eruptions, the rise of mountains, the formation of mineral resources, and changes in the landscape, happened. Geochronological data directly support geologic mapping and can inform decisions about geologic hazard mitigation, natural resource management, and infrastructure...

Introduction Geologic mapping in the southern Lake Champlain valley of New York and Vermont (fig. 1) has required evaluation of stratigraphic nomenclature used since the early 1900s. The paleogeography of the Cambrian and Ordovician adjacent to the Adirondack Highlands, the high-relief mountains of Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks of northern New York, has impacted the...

This is the third volume in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) series of reports on stratigraphy entitled “Stratigraphic Notes,” which consists of short papers that highlight stratigraphic studies, changes in stratigraphic nomenclature, and explanations of stratigraphic names and concepts used on published geologic maps. “Stratigraphic Notes” is a long-term (multiyear), multivolume...

This report documents the process and outcomes of a workshop convened by the U.S. Geological Survey in December 2024 to identify cascading postfire hazards and other effects stemming from the 2021 Dixie Fire in northern California and to explore potential intervention strategies. The Postfire Hazards and Consequences Workshop brought together stakeholders with expertise across...

Product Information “Critter Tales: Adventures in Restoration Activity Book” is an interactive educational resource designed for children ages 5–9, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment. Through the journey of Lulu the loon and a cast of animal friends, young readers explore the...

The Strawberry Creek watershed, 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 effects of these structures on streamflow through groundwater capture is crucial for managing surface-water resources in this...

Introduction In Wisconsin, high-quality elevation data can be utilized for improving agriculture and precision farming, natural resources conservation, and water supply planning, as well as management of flood risk, infrastructure, construction, water quality, forest resources, and many other business uses. Such data can be beneficial for the State’s responses to large rain events...