Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern

Tree Swallows

Early detection, risk assessment, and integrated control technologies

Asian Carp

Great Lakes Water Quality

HABs

Deep Water Fisheries Research

Large Vessels

This is just some of the great work being done in Region 3

Great Lakes

Midcontinent Region

Welcome to Region 3! Our Region includes the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. We conduct science to inform resource managers on issues such as aquatic invasive species, water quality and availability, wildlife disease, and restoration of fish/wildlife and their habitats.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

For more information on the Great Lakes and work being done, check out the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative website here! 

GLRI

USGS Science Centers in the Great Lakes Region

For more information on what each center is doing in the Great Lakes, please follow the links below! 

News

link

USGS Office of International Programs team reconnaissance trip to Itaipu Binacional, Brazil and Paraguay

link

Hydrologist Joel Groten speaks at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference

link

President Proposes Nearly $1.8 Billion for USGS Science in FY 2024

View All

Publications

Microbial source tracking and land use associations for antibiotic resistance genes in private wells influenced by human and livestock fecal sources

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem that requires an integrated approach among human, agricultural, and environmental sectors. However, few studies address all three components simultaneously. We investigated the occurrence of five antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the class 1 integron gene (intI1) in private wells drawing water from a vulnerable aquifer influenced by
Authors
Tucker R. Burch, Joel P. Stokdyk, Aaron Firnstahl, Burney Kieke Jr, Rachel Cook, Sarah Opelt, Sue Spencer, Lisa Durso, Mark A. Borchardt
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment

USGS National Water Quality Monitoring Network

What is the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Monitoring Network?Understanding the water quality of U.S. streams and rivers requires consistent data collection and analysis over decades. The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water Quality Network (NWQN) was established to facilitate national-scale understanding of surface-water quality conditions through the collection of compar
Authors
Melissa L. Riskin, Casey J. Lee
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Geochemical data for Illinois Basin coal samples, 2015–2018

Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and their collaborators conducted a study of the geochemical properties of coals currently produced for electric power generation in the Illinois Basin in Illinois and Indiana. The study follows from recommendations by an expert panel for the USGS to investigate the distribution and controls of trace constituents such as mercury (Hg) in Illinois Bas
Authors
Allan Kolker, Clint Scott, Liliana Lefticariu, Maria Mastalerz, Agnieszka Drobniak, Annie Scott
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
View All

Science

link
Two cylindrical coolers and water quality monitoring equipment next to greenery planted in a sidewalk urban environment.

Rapid Assessment of Green Infrastructure to Inform Future Implementation in the Great Lakes

Green infrastructure (GI) practices across the Great Lakes are being assessed to better understand how soils, vegetation, land use, maintenance practices and other design parameters influence their ability to infiltrate stormwater runoff. Statistical evaluation of aggregated site assessments will provide useful information on which factors hold high importance when designing and locating future GI...
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
link

Rapid Assessment of Green Infrastructure to Inform Future Implementation in the Great Lakes

Green infrastructure (GI) practices across the Great Lakes are being assessed to better understand how soils, vegetation, land use, maintenance practices and other design parameters influence their ability to infiltrate stormwater runoff. Statistical evaluation of aggregated site assessments will provide useful information on which factors hold high importance when designing and locating future GI...
Learn More
link
Three people measure streamflow while standing in the middle of an Iowa stream, leafy foliage surrounds stream.

Assessing the health risk from waterborne pathogens for public users recreating on future Iowa Water Trails recreation sites near Des Moines

Scientists at LIDE are collaborating with Polk County Conservation in central Iowa to estimate the health risk posed to recreators in the Des Moines River and tributaries. Samples collected over two years are tested for viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens, and health risk is estimated using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Health risk will also be compared to microbial source...
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment
link

Assessing the health risk from waterborne pathogens for public users recreating on future Iowa Water Trails recreation sites near Des Moines

Scientists at LIDE are collaborating with Polk County Conservation in central Iowa to estimate the health risk posed to recreators in the Des Moines River and tributaries. Samples collected over two years are tested for viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens, and health risk is estimated using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Health risk will also be compared to microbial source...
Learn More
link
Three scientists collecting residential water well samples on sunny snowy day

Well Water Advisory Forecasts for northeast Wisconsin

The fractured bedrock of northeast Wisconsin is vulnerable to groundwater contamination because water and contaminants can move quickly. LIDE is launching a study to predict contamination of private wells in northeast WI using Runoff Risk Advisory Forecasts (RRAF). RRAF is an online tool that forecasts conditions conducive to surface runoff, and the long-term vision is to leverage its forecasts to...
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment
link

Well Water Advisory Forecasts for northeast Wisconsin

The fractured bedrock of northeast Wisconsin is vulnerable to groundwater contamination because water and contaminants can move quickly. LIDE is launching a study to predict contamination of private wells in northeast WI using Runoff Risk Advisory Forecasts (RRAF). RRAF is an online tool that forecasts conditions conducive to surface runoff, and the long-term vision is to leverage its forecasts to...
Learn More
View All