Major River Basin Assessments
Columbia River Basin
USGS researchers are using new tools to mitigate impacts of future drought in the northwest
Missouri River Basin
Did you know USGS scientists can use tree rings to reconstruct hydrology from the past several centuries?
In major river basins across the country, USGS scientists are working in collaboration with our partners to determine how to manage power generation, floods, and aquatic wildlife and habitats during periods of drought and low flow.
Identifying Resilient Headwater Streams to Mitigate Impacts of Future Drought in the Northwest
In 2014-2015, higher than average winter temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and the resulting impact on precipitation, caused reservoir levels drop and rivers and streams to have low to no flow. Some headwaters streams had no-flow conditions for the first time in recorded history. To mitigate the effects of future droughts, land and resource managers need information on which headwater streams will be most resilient to drought.
For this study, a Headwaters Intermittency Prediction (HIP) tool will be developed to provide managers with a prediction map of the expected permanence of water flows in streams, citizen scientists will be utilized to help gather streamflow data, and streamflow predictions will be used to assess the vulnerability of at-risk aquatic species.
Multi-century perspectives on current and future streamflow in the Missouri River Basin
The Missouri River Basin (MRB) is the only major river headwaters in the western U.S. for which hydrologic reconstructions from tree rings have not been generated in any systematic way. This knowledge gap is critical given that the region is facing an array of water resource issues that are challenged by hydrologic variability – experiencing both severe floods and droughts in the recent past. Providing a longer context for understanding past variability of flow and the climatic controls on it, particularly at decadal and longer time scales, is critical for anticipating and managing future water supplies. Historical discharge records are too short for such assessments; hence, the value of tree-ring based hydrologic reconstructions that span the past several centuries to millennium.
Drivers of Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
USGS scientists are investigating Colorado River basin droughts, and the climatic factors that influence those droughts. The project uses paleoclimatic data to extend instrumental climate and flow records, along with climate change projections to assess the range of possible conditions that may be expected to occur and to determine how warming temperatures may influence river flow and water supply in the future.
In major river basins across the country, USGS scientists are working in collaboration with our partners to determine how to manage power generation, floods, and aquatic wildlife and habitats during periods of drought and low flow.
Identifying Resilient Headwater Streams to Mitigate Impacts of Future Drought in the Northwest
In 2014-2015, higher than average winter temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and the resulting impact on precipitation, caused reservoir levels drop and rivers and streams to have low to no flow. Some headwaters streams had no-flow conditions for the first time in recorded history. To mitigate the effects of future droughts, land and resource managers need information on which headwater streams will be most resilient to drought.
For this study, a Headwaters Intermittency Prediction (HIP) tool will be developed to provide managers with a prediction map of the expected permanence of water flows in streams, citizen scientists will be utilized to help gather streamflow data, and streamflow predictions will be used to assess the vulnerability of at-risk aquatic species.
Multi-century perspectives on current and future streamflow in the Missouri River Basin
The Missouri River Basin (MRB) is the only major river headwaters in the western U.S. for which hydrologic reconstructions from tree rings have not been generated in any systematic way. This knowledge gap is critical given that the region is facing an array of water resource issues that are challenged by hydrologic variability – experiencing both severe floods and droughts in the recent past. Providing a longer context for understanding past variability of flow and the climatic controls on it, particularly at decadal and longer time scales, is critical for anticipating and managing future water supplies. Historical discharge records are too short for such assessments; hence, the value of tree-ring based hydrologic reconstructions that span the past several centuries to millennium.
Drivers of Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
USGS scientists are investigating Colorado River basin droughts, and the climatic factors that influence those droughts. The project uses paleoclimatic data to extend instrumental climate and flow records, along with climate change projections to assess the range of possible conditions that may be expected to occur and to determine how warming temperatures may influence river flow and water supply in the future.