Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

If you are not able to access a product, contact salinelakesiwaas@usgs.gov

Filter Total Items: 81
Person pushes a raft with equipment out to equipment in thigh deep choppy water
Continuous monitoring in Lake Abert
Continuous monitoring in Lake Abert
Continuous monitoring in Lake Abert

A USGS scientist wades into Lake Abert to service continuous water quality monitoring equipment.

man in hip waders walks through marsh. Red and brown grasses.
Discrete monitoring in Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Discrete monitoring in Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Discrete monitoring in Summer Lake Wildlife Area

A USGS scientist walks in the marsh at Summer Lake Wildlife Area to collect discrete water quality monitoring measurements.

Person holds a rectangular device in both hands pointing it at the dry desert landscape.
Measuring reflectance of a playa
Measuring reflectance of a playa
Measuring reflectance of a playa

A scientist's POV as they collect reflectance measurements of the Summer Lake playa. The reflectance measurements are used to test how well mud is distinguished from shallow surface water in satellite imagery.

A scientist's POV as they collect reflectance measurements of the Summer Lake playa. The reflectance measurements are used to test how well mud is distinguished from shallow surface water in satellite imagery.

rocky, vegetated shoreline of a lake in an arid environment. The water is calm and reflects the low, brown hills
Looking south at the Great Salt Lake
Looking south at the Great Salt Lake
Looking south at the Great Salt Lake

A view from Antelope Island State Park in Utah shows the receding shoreline of the Great Salt Lake, highlighting extensive areas of exposed lakebed.

A view from Antelope Island State Park in Utah shows the receding shoreline of the Great Salt Lake, highlighting extensive areas of exposed lakebed.

bird held while scientist places small tag around its leg
American avocet gets GPS tag
American avocet gets GPS tag
American avocet gets GPS tag

An American avocet has an identification leg band attached to it. A soft sock is placed over the bird’s head to reduce stress and keep it calm during handling.

An American avocet has an identification leg band attached to it. A soft sock is placed over the bird’s head to reduce stress and keep it calm during handling.

 arid, open landscape with snowy mountains in the distance.
Summer Lake field work
Summer Lake field work
Summer Lake field work

A USGS scientist, wearing a personal floatation device, or PFD, and hearing protection, conducts field research at Summer Lake, Oregon from an airboat. Airboats help USGS navigate shallow, muddy lakes and other challenging environments during critical studies.

A USGS scientist, wearing a personal floatation device, or PFD, and hearing protection, conducts field research at Summer Lake, Oregon from an airboat. Airboats help USGS navigate shallow, muddy lakes and other challenging environments during critical studies.

light tan avocet with a long narrow black beak is held in two hands by scientist
American avocet captured for research
American avocet captured for research
American avocet captured for research

A USGS scientist holds an American avocet that will have a GPS tag attached to it. The location data collected from this bird is used to track its movement and habitat use.

A USGS scientist holds an American avocet that will have a GPS tag attached to it. The location data collected from this bird is used to track its movement and habitat use.

a shallow water body with rocky shores and tall grass in the background. Clear blue day. Blue instrument in water.
Water-quality measurements at Barnyard Spring
Water-quality measurements at Barnyard Spring
Water-quality measurements at Barnyard Spring

A multiparameter water-quality monitoring instrument is deployed in the clear, shallow waters of Barnyard Spring, which feeds into Harney Lake in Harney County, Oregon. This rugged device collects data on vital parameters such as pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, supporting ongoing research efforts.

A multiparameter water-quality monitoring instrument is deployed in the clear, shallow waters of Barnyard Spring, which feeds into Harney Lake in Harney County, Oregon. This rugged device collects data on vital parameters such as pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, supporting ongoing research efforts.

A group of seven researchers sits around a table in a wood-paneled room
USGS scientists collaborate to advance Saline Lake ecosystems science
USGS scientists collaborate to advance Saline Lake ecosystems science
USGS scientists collaborate to advance Saline Lake ecosystems science

Saline Lake researchers and field technicians gathered at Summer Lake to collaborate during a week-long workshop to integrate data and share expertise on Great Basin terminal lake ecosystems. 

researchers attaching sensors to a tall gray pole in Lake Abert. Theres a solar powered wind sensor on the top
Researchers setting up water quality sensors
Researchers setting up water quality sensors
Researchers setting up water quality sensors

USGS scientists installing one of three wind and water quality instruments in Lake Abert. These instruments will record measurements throughout the year, allowing scientist to track changes to the water quality and wind speed and direction over time.

USGS scientists installing one of three wind and water quality instruments in Lake Abert. These instruments will record measurements throughout the year, allowing scientist to track changes to the water quality and wind speed and direction over time.

researchers wading in the lake with boats full of gear in tow behind them
Researchers deploying sondes at Summer Lake
Researchers deploying sondes at Summer Lake
Researchers deploying sondes at Summer Lake

Researchers deploying sonde and wind sensors in Summer Lake. These sensors will gather continuous water quality data on pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance. 

Researchers deploying sonde and wind sensors in Summer Lake. These sensors will gather continuous water quality data on pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance. 

The shrimp resembles a small horseshoe crab with a large shelled bag and flagella edxtending from the backside
Tadpole shrimp in Summer Lake
Tadpole shrimp in Summer Lake
Tadpole shrimp in Summer Lake

Tadpole shrimp are also known as living fossils. This is because they have been around since the Devonian period, 350 million years ago! 

Tadpole shrimp are also known as living fossils. This is because they have been around since the Devonian period, 350 million years ago! 

Graphic showing inflows and outflows of terminal lakes. Arrows show movement between areas
Hydrologic inputs and outflow for water budgets
Hydrologic inputs and outflow for water budgets
Hydrologic inputs and outflow for water budgets

Diagram of hydrologic inputs and outflows (fluxes) for water budgets of terminal lakes and their watershed spatial extent. Understanding this process helps us to understand the ability of systems to support birds and ecosystems. 

Diagram of hydrologic inputs and outflows (fluxes) for water budgets of terminal lakes and their watershed spatial extent. Understanding this process helps us to understand the ability of systems to support birds and ecosystems. 

cinnamon teal distribution map with yellow showing flights paths of the birds
GPS-marked Cinnamon Teal Distribution
GPS-marked Cinnamon Teal Distribution
GPS-marked Cinnamon Teal Distribution

Distribution of GPS- marked Cinnamon teals. Marking data is from 2017-2024 with over 59,000 locations used. 

A water boatman viewed under a microscope
Water Boatmen Head
Water Boatmen Head
Water Boatmen Head

A water boatmen, scientific name Corixidae, is an aquatic insect that lives in both freshwater and saline ecosystems. They're commonly found as a source of prey for migratory birds across the Saline Lakes. 

A water boatmen, scientific name Corixidae, is an aquatic insect that lives in both freshwater and saline ecosystems. They're commonly found as a source of prey for migratory birds across the Saline Lakes. 

Water Boatmen dorsal side viewed through a microscope
Water Boatmen Back
Water Boatmen Back
Water Boatmen Back

A Water Boatmen or Corixidae viewed through a microscope. They have a thin bubble of air trapped against their body, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time.

A Water Boatmen or Corixidae viewed through a microscope. They have a thin bubble of air trapped against their body, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time.

researchers on a hovercraft in the middle of Lake Abert, the lake is blue with brown foothills in the distant background
Researchers on a hovercraft at Lake Abert
Researchers on a hovercraft at Lake Abert
Researchers on a hovercraft at Lake Abert

Hovercrafts allow researchers to get to hard to enter places that may be difficult to get to by a normal boat. 

researcher standing in front of aquatic vegetation in lake abert
Researcher taking water quality measurement
Researcher taking water quality measurement
Researcher taking water quality measurement

Researchers at Lake Abert use pressure transducers in piezometers and in staff gauges to be able to gain pressure data. Along with temperature probes they use this data to determine exchange between surface and groundwater. 

Researchers at Lake Abert use pressure transducers in piezometers and in staff gauges to be able to gain pressure data. Along with temperature probes they use this data to determine exchange between surface and groundwater. 

Sunset over Lake Abert, there's vegetation in the foreground and some foothills on the other side
Sunset over Lake Abert
Sunset over Lake Abert
Sunset over Lake Abert

Sunset over Lake Abert in Oregon. It is the sixth largest lake in Oregon. It is so salty that fish cannot live in it, but it does support many shorebirds. 

Sunset over Lake Abert in Oregon. It is the sixth largest lake in Oregon. It is so salty that fish cannot live in it, but it does support many shorebirds. 

Was this page helpful?