Unified Interior Regions
Arizona
The Southwest Region includes California, Nevada, and Arizona. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight and support, facilitates internal and external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science directions.
States L2 Landing Page Tabs
Occurrence, fate, transport, and ecological effects of aerially applied herbicides in the effort to control invasive buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare syn. Cenchrus ciliaris) in Saguaro National Park
The Sonoran Desert lands that the Saguaro National Park (SAGU) has been tasked to protect are facing an unprecedented threat from buffelgrass (Cenhrus ciliaris), an invasive perennial grass that was added to Arizona’s noxious weed list in 2005. The buffelgrass invasion has been so pervasive that the U.S. Department of Interior issued a declaration in 2010 which highlighted a need for...
C Aquifer Monitoring Program
The Navajo Nation, the City of Flagstaff (COF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintain a cooperative monitoring program with other local and State agencies for groundwater in the C aquifer (Coconino aquifer) in the Little Colorado River Basin. The goal of this program is to determine baseline groundwater conditions in the C aquifer and other water-bearing zones before significant...
Black Mesa Monitoring Program
The U.S. Geological Survey water-monitoring program in the Black Mesa area began in 1971 and provides information about the long-term effects of groundwater withdrawals from the N aquifer for industrial and municipal uses. The monitoring program includes measuring potential recovery in the N aquifer as a result of the reduction in industrial pumpage by Peabody Western Coal Company.
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Maricopa County Urban Stormwater Quality
Since 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC), the city of Phoenix, and the city of Glendale, has been collecting, analyzing, and interpreting urban stormwater information from selected basins throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area. Water-resource managers and policy makers have used this information to determine...
Air Force Plant 44
Industrial activity at Air Force Plant 44 (AFP 44), a manufacturing facility located on property owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by a major defense contractor, resulted in extensive contamination of groundwater with the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) and other organic compounds. The sole-source regional aquifer underlying AFP 44 provides potable water for municipal,...
Arizona Water Use
The Arizona Water Use program collects and estimates annual water withdrawals for the categories of irrigation, municipal, mining, thermoelectric-power, and drainage uses. The data for these categories are compiled for the Arizona Department of Water Resources groundwater basins outside of Active Management Areas.
USGS Data at Risk: Expanding Legacy Data Inventory and Preservation Strategies
As one of the largest and oldest science organizations in the world, USGS has produced more than a century of earth science data, much of which is currently unavailable to the greater scientific community due to inaccessible or obsolescent media, formats, and technology. Tapping this vast wealth of “dark data” requires 1) a complete inventory of legacy data and 2) methods and tools to...
Ecological Drought in Riparian Ecosystems
Drought is killing riparian trees along many rivers in the western United States. The cause can be increasing temperature or decreasing precipitation, flow or water-table elevation. At multiple locations we are relating water availability to physiological measurements of tree survival and water stress, such as ring width, carbon stable isotope ratio and branch hydraulic conductivity. These...
RAMPS: Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest
The Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) seeks to assist U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and other land management agencies in developing successful techniques for improving land condition in dryland ecosystems of the southwestern United States. Invasion by non-native species, wildfire, drought, and other disturbances are growing...
Erosion and Invasive Saltcedar
Formation of arroyos in the late 1800s greatly increased erosion across the southwestern United States. Since the 1930s, however, this erosion has decreased, partly because of bank stabilization by introduced saltcedar. With Isleta Pueblo Indian Nation, the Aquatic Systems Branch developed a new sediment dating method using saltcedar tree rings. We applied the method in a landmark study of...
Riparian Ecology
Riparian ecologists in the AS Branch study interactions among flow, channel change, and vegetation along rivers across the western United States and worldwide. Our work focuses on issues relevant to the management of water and public lands, including dam operation, climate change, invasive species, and ecological restoration. Investigations take place on a range of scales. For example,...
Science to Inform Riparian Ecosystem Restoration and Management
Throughout the world, riparian habitats have been dramatically modified from their natural condition. Dams, non-native species and climate change are often principal drivers of these changes, via their alteration of water and sediment regimes that determine key resources for riparian plants.
A method for estimating ground-water return flow to the lower Colorado River in the Yuma area, Arizona and California; executive summary
Loeltz, Omar J.; Leake, S.A.
Geohydrology and effects of water use in the Black Mesa area, Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations, Arizona
The N aquifer is the main source of water in the 5,400-square-mile Black Mesa area in the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations in northeastern Arizona. The N aquifer consists of the Navajo Sandstone and parts of the underlying Kayenta Formation and Wingate Sandstone of Jurassic and Triassic age. Maximum saturated thickness of the aquifer is about 1...
Eychaner, James H.
Annual summary of ground-water conditions in Arizona, Spring 1981 to Spring 1982
The withdrawal of ground water was about 5.4 million acre-feet in Arizona in 1981, which is about 800,000 acre-feet more than the amount withdrawn in 1980. Most of the increase in 1981 was in the amount of ground water used for irrigation in the Basin and Range lowlands province. Through 1981, slightly more than 189 million acre-feet of ground...
Shallow subsurface temperatures and some estimates of heat flow from the Colorado Plateau of northeastern Arizona
Temperature data to depths of a few hundred meters were obtained from 29 wells in northeastern Arizona; 12 in the region surrounding the San Francisco Volcanic Field, 8 in the Black Mesa area, and 9 in the south-central Colorado Plateau which includes the White Mountains. Although there was evidence for local hydrologic disturbances in many...
Sass, J.H.; Stone, Claudia; Bills, D.J.
Annual summary of ground-water conditions in Arizona, spring 1979 to spring 1980
Withdrawal of ground water, about 4.0 million acre-feet in Arizona in 1979, is about 200,000 acre-feet less than the amount withdrawn in 1978. The withdrawals in 1978 and 1979 are the smallest since the mid-1950 's except in 1966. Nearly all the decrease was in the amount of ground water used for irrigation in the Basin and Range lowlands province...
Geohydrology and effects of water use in the Black Mesa area, Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations, Arizona
The main source of water in the 5,400-square-mile Black Mesa area is the N aquifer, which consists of the Navajo Sandstone and underlying Kayenta Formation and Wingate Sandstone. Water is under confined conditions in the central 3,300 square miles. Transmissivity is less than 1,000 feet squared per day. Storage coefficient is less than 0.0004 in...
Eychaner, James H.
Maps Showing Ground-Water Conditions in the San Francisco Peaks Area, Coconino County, Arizona - 1979
INTRODUCTION The San Francisco Peaks area includes about 2,300 mi2, of which about 500 mi2 is in the Navajo Indian Reservation, in north-central Arizona. Ground-water development has been slight except for the public-supply wells for Flagstaff and domestic wells in Fort Valley, Pitman Valley, and the area west of Elden Mountain. The public...
Appel, Cynthia L.; Bills, Donald J.
Annual summary of ground-water conditions in Arizona, spring 1978 to spring 1979
In 1978 the withdrawal of ground water was about 4.2 million acre-feet in Arizona, and slightly more than 3.4 million acre-feet of ground water was used for the irrigation of crops. The amount of ground water withdrawn in 1978 decreased more than 1.2 million acre-feet from the amount withdrawn in 1977 and is the smallest amount withdrawn since the...
Map showing ground-water conditions in the Canyon Diablo area, Coconino and Navajo Counties, Arizona - 1979
The Canyon Diablo area includes about 1,400 square miles in northeastern Arizona. The main source of ground water is the Coconino aquifer, which includes the Kaibab Limestone, the Cononino Sandstone, and the upper member of the Supai Formation. In places the alluvium and volcanic rocks yield water to wells and springs. Information on the map...
Appel, Cynthia L.; Bills, Donald J.
Annual summary of ground-water conditions in Arizona, spring 1977 to spring 1978
The withdrawal of ground water was about 5.5 million acre-feet in Arizona in 1977. About 4.7 million acre-feet of ground water was used for the irrigation of crops in 1977. The Salt River Valley and the lower Santa Cruz basin are the largest agricultural areas in the State. For 1973-77, ground-water withdrawal in the two areas was about 8.1 and 5....
Progress report on Black Mesa monitoring program; 1977
Monitoring of coal mine operations on Black Mesa, Ariz., was started in 1971 to determine the effects of strip mining on water resources in the area. Monitoring on and near the mesa includes measurements of ground-water levels and quality and quantity, sediment concentration, and chemical quality of surface water. The surface-water monitoring...
Analog simulation of the ground-water system, Yuma, Arizona
Patten, E.P.
Earth.Science.Art Project
This collaborative project pairs artists from California's Central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area with scientists from the Santa Cruz-based U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Marine and Coastal Science Center. The artist create work inspired by scientific research.
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – American Black Bear
This American black bear and cub duo was seen simply investigating a tortoise burrow, and although it is surprising to see a black bear so low in elevation, it isn't impossible. The study site, Mesa, sits at the intersection of multiple ecosystems (Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, montane, and coastal sage scrub). Therefore, the bears could have come down from the montane
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Coyotes
Coyotes were the second most frequently observed mammalian predator on the trail cameras. Coyotes are considered one of the primary predators of desert tortoises. In this instance, a coyote is passing by a burrow when it suddenly has a change in attention as it is passing by. It then approaches the burrow and sniffs all around the burrow entrance (including the apron and
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment at a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
Climate change combined with overlapping high-intensity land uses are likely to create conditions detrimental to the recreation economy, wildlife habitat, water availability and other resources in hyper-arid landscapes, or drylands, in the future
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Truck sprays herbicide in Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
Bureau of Land Management truck sprays herbicide in southwestern Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
An examination of long-term data for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management finds that land treatments in the southwestern United States are increasingly large, expensive and related to fire and invasive species control.
Streamflow Gaging Station and Measurement on San Pedro River, AZ
USGS employee, Hanna Coy, talks about stream gauging.
WERC Mountain Bluebird Eating Mistletoe Berry
A mountain bluebird eats a giant mistletoe berry in an ash tree in Sedona, Arizona (Oak Creek). These bluebirds, and many other types of birds, rely on mistletoe berries for sustenance. As a result, they also help distribute the mistletoe seeds.
Sandbar growth Grand Canyon following controlled flood
Picture showing the increased size of the sandbar after the November 2012 controlled flood from the Glen Canyon Dam. This location is 65 miles downstream from Lees Ferry and the view is looking downstream. These and additional photographs depicting the results of the recent controlled floods can be viewed online.
Sandbar in Grand Canyon
Picture showing the size of the sandbar before the November 2012 controlled flood from the Glen Canyon Dam. This location is 65 miles downstream from Lees Ferry and the view is looking downstream. These and additional photographs depicting the results of the recent controlled floods can be viewed online.
USGS Fun
Working at the USGS can be fun. These student employees were given wonderful opportunities and made lasting friendships while working at the USGS.
Continuous Slope Area Method: Sycamore Creek, AZ
A video depicting the installation & operation of Continuous Slope Area gage and radar sensor, installed after the Sunflower Wild Fire on Sycamore Creek to measure streamflow from the Sunflower burned area. The streamflow data is used to provide flood warning to communities affected by runoff from the burned areas and for collecting streamflow data from areas that have
2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire
USGS installed six early-flood-warning units—rain and stream gages—in the burned areas resulting from New Mexico's 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire. The gages transmit data via satellite to provide warnings to communities that may be affected by flooding.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is celebrating the success of three distinguished researchers who are recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This award is the highest recognition granted by the United States government to scientists and engineers in the early stages of their research careers.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- A new book on the methods and applications of repeat photography that showcases its international usage in monitoring landscape change on five continents has been released.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The U.S. Geological Survey has named Kate Kitchell the director of its Southwest Biological Science Center. Kitchell, who served as the acting center director for the previous 16 months, assumed the role permanently November 6, 2010.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Climate change and growing human demands for water are leaving an indelible mark on rivers and streams, shortening food chains and eliminating some top predators like large-bodied fish, according to a new study led by Arizona State University and co-authored by a U.S. Geological Survey scientist.
Flagstaff, Ariz. — As part of the Department of the Interior’s evaluation of whether to segregate nearly 1 million acres of federal lands near the Grand Canyon from new uranium claims, the United States Geological Survey today released a report on uranium resources and uranium mining impacts in the area.
Flagstaff, Ariz. —Resources along the Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park generally benefited from a high-flow experiment conducted in March 2008 from Glen Canyon Dam, near Page, Ariz., according to research findings released today by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Greater sage-grouse populations have declined substantially in many areas in the West, though populations in some locations remain relatively stable, according to a comprehensive publication written by federal, state, and non-governmental organizations. The population assessment is one of numerous sage-grouse topics covered in the 24 chapters released today.
Intersex in smallmouth and largemouth basses is widespread in numerous river basins throughout the United States is the major finding of the most comprehensive and large-scale evaluation of the condition, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research published online in Aquatic Toxicology.
A report on long-term glacier measurements released today by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar shows that glaciers are dramatically changing in mass, length and thickness as a result of climate change.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists and cartographers played an important but relatively unknown role during the Apollo 11 moon landing 40 years ago this week. USGS astrogeologists trained the Apollo astronauts in the science and strategy of field geology.
Critical science support for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched today from Cape Canaveral, Florida, will help pave the way for further human and robotic exploration of the Moon. U.S. Geological Survey scientists are providing unique knowledge and skills as members of the science teams operating instruments on LRO.
The U.S. Geological Survey will conduct scientific overflights at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, during Memorial Day weekend to document the status of natural and cultural resources along the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Aerial photographs will be taken using two fixed-wing aircraft flying at an elevation about 7,000 feet above ground level.
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Locations
Astrogeology Science Center
Phone: 928-556-7000
Fax: 928-556-7014
Western Geographic Science Center - Tucson Project Office
Western Geographic Science Center - Flagstaff Project Office
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Southwest Biological Science Center - Flagstaff, AZ, Headquarters
Phone: 928-556-7094
Fax: 928-556-7092
Arizona Water Science Center, Tucson Office
Phone: (520) 670-6671
Fax: (520) 670-5592
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO)
yvowebteam@usgs.gov
Phone: 360-993-8906
Southwest Biological Science Center - Tucson, AZ, Research Station
Phone: (520) 670-6671
Fax: (520) 670-5592
Arizona Water Science Center, Flagstaff Office
Phone: (928) 556-7136
Fax: (928) 556-7112
Arizona Water Science Center, Tempe Office
Phone: (480) 736-1093
Fax: (480) 736-1356
Arizona Water Science Center, Yuma Office
Phone: (928) 782-6024
Fax: (928) 782-0268