• Lake Abert, Oregon
• Malheur Lake, Oregon
• Summer Lake, Oregon
• Summer Lake Wildlife Area – NE Gold Pond, Oregon
• Summer Lake Wildlife Area – Bullgate Impoundment, Oregon
• Bear River Refuge, Utah 

Time-series photos

• Lake Abert, groundwater channel
• Lake Abert, milepost 74 spring complex

Upcoming data releases

• Water chemistry (version 1), which will include discrete water quality data
• Topobathymetry data for terminal lakes of the Great Basin
• Additional American avocet location data
• Pharalope location data

In case you missed it

Synthesizing ecological and hydrological science gaps and research needs for waterbird conservation in Great Basin terminal lakes

Terminal lakes—such as the Great Salt Lake-- have no outlet to an external body of water and are unique environments important for waterbirds and other wildlife. These lakes are declining in the U.S. and around the world due to human water demands, drought, and climate change. USGS researchers reviewed the state of research for terminal lakes in the Great Basin, which supports millions of waterbirds annually, to prioritize ecological and hydrological information needs. Key research priorities identified include migratory connectivity, waterbird prey availability, and water availability. The researchers found that information on links between water availability, water quality, and food webs are also lacking.  This review will guide the USGS Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment in efforts to advance understanding of how the Great Basin terminal lakes function as an inter-related system and support conservation efforts.

The journal article, "Imperiled Great Basin terminal lakes: Synthesizing ecological and hydrological science gaps and research needs for waterbird conservation" was published in the February 2025 volume of the journal BioScience. 

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

2025 Field Work

The Team collected a second year of samples during the 2025 field season – March through September – for the Congressionally authorized project. They are currently processing those samples and analyzing the data. 

Here are some highlights from the field: 

• The Aquatic Food Resource Team collected five months of samples at Summer Lake, Lake Abert, Carson Lake, and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge; while our collaborators collected samples at Mono Lake and Great Salt Lake.
• The Water Quality Team collected 898 instantaneous sonde measurements across the Great Basin terminal lakes in partnership with our collaborators. They collected 243 water samples to support water-quality analyses. The team installed continuous monitors in Lake Abert, Summer Lake, Malheur Lake, Carson Drain - which leads to Carson Lake, and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. The team added wind and depth data collection at the continuous monitoring locations. 
• The Water Quantity Team, in collaboration with the Water Quality Team, collected over 500 instantaneous readings measuring inflows to Lake Abert. These data will be used to map Lake Abert hydrology. The Team also collected 37 water samples for isotopic analysis and analyzed 17 of those samples for radon, which is used to determine the age of the groundwater entering the lake. They also expanded the monthly discrete flow measurement network to include three new sites.
• The Bird Movement Team continued collection of American avocet telemetry data, logging over 260,000 locations from 50 individual birds. This year, individual birds were tracked from southern California to the Salton Sea and Colorado River Delta, south to coastal Mexico and the Gulf of California. One bird was tracked at the Texas Gulf Coast! The Team also incorporated several thousand additional location data points from over 10 species whose telemetry were collected by collaborators tracking birds that use the Great Basin terminal lakes.
• The Remote Sensing Team continued to collect reflectance and related data to calibrate shoreline feature detection from satellite imagery. This shoreline mapping product is known as dynamic surface water extent – or DSWE, pronounced dee-swee.