Images

Biologists with IGBST and the National Park Service fit a grizzly bear with a radio collar.  Once a bear is radio collared, biologists can track its movements with telemetry.

North-oriented view of the Rio Grande at New Mexico State Road 359 near Mesilla, N. Mex., February 11, 2016 (photograph by Nicholas R. Glaser, U.S. Geological Survey).

SIR 2016–5011

North-oriented view of the Rio Grande from New Mexico State Road 359 near Mesilla, N. Mex., February 11, 2016 (photograph by Nicholas R. Glaser, U.S. Geological Survey).

SIR 2016–5011

When looking for a place to set up a capture location, biologists look for existing bear sign such as scratches on trees and bear scat.  Sometimes traps are set in areas that have no obvious bear sign to determine if indeed bears are present.

Upstream view of the Rio Grande from a location about 1 mile southwest of the Montaño Bridge. Photograph was taken January 24, 2016, by Nathan Myers.

Upstream view of the Rio Grande from a location about 1 mile southwest of the Montaño Bridge. Photograph was taken January 24, 2016, by Nathan Myers.

SIR 2016–5021

Snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountain Range as seen from the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. This is one area in the Southwest where biocrust plays an important role. 

Filtering water for eDNA sample collection in Yellowstone National Park between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes.

A USGS grizzly bear researcher snapped this picture of a mother grizzly bear and her cub in Yellowstone National Park. Recent research shows that fffspring of grizzly bear mothers with a history of human-bear conflicts are more likely to be involved in human-bear conflicts than offspring of mothers without a history of human-bear conflicts. 

The Southern High Plains of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. USGS conducted a uranium assessment in this region in 2015.

A grizzly bear has cached an elk carcass in Grand Teton National Park. Scientists used DNA from hair samples collected from barbed wire to estimate whether the availability of carcasses associated with an elk hunting season resulted in temporary immigration of grizzly bears. 

Receding Great Salt Lake as seen from causeway

Collecting sample in tall grass at Kane Springs, San Juan County, Utah, Fall 2015.

South Salt Wash, Emery County, Utah.

Collecting sediment traps on Lake Powell.

Using a portable flume to measure streamflow on a small stream

Preparing to measure water level at Groundwater Streamgage

A gage to measure lake water levels stands dry in the lake bed of the Great Salt Lake. For the first time since it was opened in 1984, water has stopped flowing through the Great Salt Lake causeway breach, an area that allows water to travel between the southern and northern parts of the lake.

For the first time since it was opened in 1984, water has stopped flowing through the Great Salt Lake causeway breach, an area that allows water to travel between the southern and northern parts of the lake.

Measuring streamflow of the Green River near LaBarge