Publications
Browse more than 160,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS. Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.
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Science Quality and Integrity
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Mission Area Publications
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Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks
Estimation of human water withdrawals is more important now than ever due to uncertain water supplies, population growth, and climate change. Fourteen percent of the total water withdrawal in the United States is used for public supply, typically including deliveries to domestic, commercial, and occasionally including industrial, irrigation, and thermoelectric water withdrawal. Stewards...
Authors
Ayman H. Alzraiee, Richard G. Niswonger, Carol L. Luukkonen, Joshua Larsen, Donald Martin, Deidre Mary Herbert, Cheryl A. Buchwald, Cheryl A. Dieter, Lisa D. Miller, Jana S. Stewart, Natalie Houston, Scott R. Paulinski, Kristen Valseth
Review of the life history and conservation of federally endangered plant species of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, U.S.A. Review of the life history and conservation of federally endangered plant species of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, U.S.A.
This review aims to summarize information critical to the conservation of the federally listed endangered species of South Texas, which occur along the border of Texas and Mexico. This paper describes the characteristics, habitat, population status, distribution, life history, threats, and restoration of endangered plant species of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, which includes...
Authors
Beth Middleton, Elizabeth A. Gonzalez, Emily J. Lain, Benito Trevino, Christopher A. Gabler, Jerald T. Garrett, Brenda Molano-Flores, Janice Coons, Laura M. de la Garza, Teresa P. Feria-Arroyo
Pesticide concentrations of surface water and suspended sediment in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex, California, 2019–2021 Pesticide concentrations of surface water and suspended sediment in Yolo By-Pass and Cache Slough Complex, California, 2019–2021
Managed flow pulses in the north Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are an adaptive management tool used in efforts to enhance food availability in delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) habitat as part of the North Delta Food Subsidies Action. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) monitors non-managed seasonal and local flow pulses and managed flow pulses from agricultural...
Authors
Matthew Uychutin, James L. Orlando, Michelle L. Hladik, Corey J. Sanders, Michael S. Gross, Matthew D. De Parsia, Elisabeth M. LaBarbera, Laura Twardochleb, Brittany E. Davis
Monitoring questing winter tick abundance on traditional moose hunting lands Monitoring questing winter tick abundance on traditional moose hunting lands
An important symbolic and subsistence animal for many Native American Tribes, the moose (Alces alces; mos in Algonquin, Penobscot language) has been under consistent threat in the northeastern United States because of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) parasitism over the past several decades, causing declines in moose populations throughout the region. This decline has raised concern...
Authors
Juliana Berube, Alexej P. K. Siren, Benjamin Simpson, Kelly B. Klingler, Tammy L. Wilson
Assessment of nutrient load estimation approaches for small urban streams in Durham, North Carolina Assessment of nutrient load estimation approaches for small urban streams in Durham, North Carolina
This cooperative study between the City of Durham Public Works Department, Stormwater Division and U.S. Geological Survey evaluated whether alternate monitoring strategies that incorporated samples collected across an increased range of streamflows would improve nutrient load estimates for Ellerbe and Sandy Creeks, two small, highly urbanized streams in the City of Durham, North Carolina...
Authors
Stephen L. Harden, Celeste A. Journey, Alexandra B. Etheridge
Characterization of the water resources of the Pamunkey River watershed in Virginia—A review of water science, management, and traditional ecological knowledge Characterization of the water resources of the Pamunkey River watershed in Virginia—A review of water science, management, and traditional ecological knowledge
In central Virginia, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Reservation are facing increasingly complex water resource issues related to quantity and quality. Documentation of surface-water, groundwater, water quality, land subsidence, sea-level rise, and river ecology issues in the Pamunkey River watershed and incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge into these research topics may...
Authors
Brendan M. Foster, Ronaldo Lopez, Edward R. Crawford, Warren Cook, Joyce Krigsvold, John Henry Langston, Terry Langston, Grover Miles, Kirk Moore, Greg C. Garman, Karen C. Rice, John D. Jastram
A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data
Machine learning (ML) models are increasingly popular in environmental and hydrologic modeling, but they typically contain uncertainties resulting from noisy data (erroneous or outlier data). This paper presents a novel probabilistic approach that combines ML and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation to (1) detect and underweight likely noisy data, (2) develop an approach capable of...
Authors
Ayman H. Alzraiee, Richard G. Niswonger
Perfluorooctane sulfonamide induced autotoxic effects on the zebrafish immune system Perfluorooctane sulfonamide induced autotoxic effects on the zebrafish immune system
Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) is an immediate perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) precursor (PreFOS). Previous studies have shown PFOSA to induce stronger toxic responses compared to other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). However, the specific nature of PFOSA-induced toxicity, whether autonomous or mediated by its metabolite PFOS, has not been fully elucidated. This study...
Authors
Honghong Chen, Yao Zou, Xingyuan Kang, Ge Yang, Xinghe Yang, Yingying Yao, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Xinde Cao, Wenhui Qiu, Elvis Zu Genbo, Chunmiao Zheng
Understanding key mineral supply chain dynamics using economics-informed material flow analysis and Bayesian optimization Understanding key mineral supply chain dynamics using economics-informed material flow analysis and Bayesian optimization
The low-carbon energy transition requires significant increases in production for many mineral commodities. Understanding demand, technological requirements, and prices associated with this production increase requires understanding the supply chain dynamics of many minerals simultaneously, and via a consistent framework. A generalized economics-informed material flow method, global...
Authors
John W. Ryter, Karan Bhuwalka, Michelena O’Rourke, Luca Montanelli, David Cohen-Tanugi, Richard Roth, Elsa Olivetti
Integrating ecological value and charismatic species habitats to prioritize habitats for conservation: A case study from Greater Yellowstone Integrating ecological value and charismatic species habitats to prioritize habitats for conservation: A case study from Greater Yellowstone
Expanding human pressure has reduced natural habitats globally and motivated strategies to conserve remaining natural habitats. Decisions about conservation on private lands, however, are typically made by local stakeholders who are motivated by the elements of nature they most highly value. Thus, national prioritization for conservation should be complemented by local analysis of...
Authors
A. J. Hansena, A. Easta, Z. Ashford, C. Crittendena, O. Jakabosky, D. Quinby, Shannon K. Brewer, Frank T. van Manen, Mark A. Haroldson, A. Middleton, N. Robinson, D. M. Theobald
Controls on stable methane isotope signatures in northern peatlands and potential shifts in signatures under permafrost thaw scenarios Controls on stable methane isotope signatures in northern peatlands and potential shifts in signatures under permafrost thaw scenarios
Northern peatlands are a globally significant source of methane (CH4), and emissions are projected to increase due to warming and permafrost loss. Understanding the microbial mechanisms behind patterns in CH4 production in these systems will be key to predicting annual emissions changes, with stable carbon isotopes (δ13C-CH4) being a powerful tool for characterizing these drivers. Given...
Authors
McKenzie A. Kuhn, Ruth K. Varner, Carmody K. McCalley, Clarice R. Perryman, Mika Aurela, Sophia A. Burke, Jeffrey Chanton, Patrick Crill, Jessica DelGreco, Jia Deng, Liam Heffernan, Christina Herrick, Suzanne B. Hodgkins, Cheristy P. Jones, Sari Juutinen, Evan S. Kane, Louis J. Lamit, Tuula Larmola, Erik Lilleskov, David Olefeldt, Michael W. Palace, Virginia I. Rich, Christopher Schulze, Joanne H. Shorter, Franklin Sullivan, Oliver Sonnentag, Merritt R. Turetsky, Mark Waldrop
Utica/Point Pleasant brine isotopic compositions (δ7Li, δ11B, δ138Ba) elucidate mechanisms of lithium enrichment in the Appalachian Basin Utica/Point Pleasant brine isotopic compositions (δ7Li, δ11B, δ138Ba) elucidate mechanisms of lithium enrichment in the Appalachian Basin
Global Li production will require a ~500 % increase to meet 2050 projected energy storage demands. One potential source is oil and gas wastewater (i.e., produced water or brine), which naturally has high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, that can also be enriched in Li (>100 mg/L). Understanding the sources and mechanisms responsible for high naturally-occurring Li...
Authors
Bonnie McDevitt, Travis L. Tasker, Rachel Coyte, Madalyn S. Blondes, Brian W. Stewart, Rosemary C Capo, J. Alexandra Hakala, Avner Vengosh, William D Burgos, Nathaniel R. Warner