Images

Map of the Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico

Large map of the Colorado River Basin prepared for the USGS Colorado River Basin ASIST Initiative

Sarah Costanzo (USGS) collects soil stability data prior to installing RestoreNet version 2.0 treatments at Canyonlands Research Center near Moab, UT. Photo by Laura Shriver (USGS).

From left to right, Ember Bradbury (Colorado State University), Sarah Costanzo (USGS), Sonoma Brill (USGS), and Laura Shriver (USGS) celebrate installing a RestoreNet site at Canyonlands Research Center near Moab, UT.

Graphs showing trends in atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the Lower Colorado River Basin, 1896-2019

Pie chart showing copper production in leading copper producing U.S. states in 2020 by Eric Anderson of the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, August 2024

A lightening bolt strikes the plateau during a thunderstorm at Indian Creek, San Juan County, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS.

USGS Director, David Applegate visits Great Salt Lake with Rocky Mt Region Director, Peter Griffiths, UT WSC Director, David O'Leary, UT WSC scientists, and many cooperators.

Sagebrush Collaborative Restoration Landscapes capture over a third of the remaining intact Core Sagebrush Areas across the sagebrush biome.

Layer Sources

Sagebrush Collaborative Restoration Landscapes capture over a third of the remaining intact Core Sagebrush Areas across the sagebrush biome.

Map of areas predicted as having conditions favorable for fostering a hydrothermal system in the western United States.  Black dots are mapped hydrothermal systems.  From Mordensky et al., 2023 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375650523000160).

March-August daily average streamflow for the last 30 years (1991-2022) (dark gray lines) compared to 2023, showing the periods where 2023 streamflow was above (blue) and below (orange) the historical average. Individual years of the relevant historical streamflow period are shown in light gray. 

USGS boat approaches water-quality platform. Technicians prepare to pull anchor and remove for lake for winter.

USGS prepares to connect with water-quality platform to service instrumentation and prepare to remove from lake for winter.

Scientists prepare to remove water-quality platform from the lake for the winter. 

Photographer, Jake Seawolf, captured an aerial view of Bear Lake, USGS boat, and employees on a water-quality platform on a cold and blustery November day using a drone. Jake volunteered his time and talents with the USGS. He is a full-time professional photographer for the US Army.

Map showing principal aquifers (PAs) and wells that were sampled as part of a Nationwide assessment of the quality of groundwater used for public supply.  

A Piper Navajo fixed-wing aircraft with rear facing stinger magnetometer. Credit: New-Sense Geophysics Limited 

An AS350 helicopter with forward facing stinger magnetometer. Credit: New-Sense Geophysics Limited 

USGS conducts vegetation and soil drought and climatic research at long-term study sites in Canyonlands National Park, Utah in partnership with the National Park Service. This photo shows a site tour of a protected grassland that has been monitored by the USGS since 1996, with 2025 marking the 30th year of continuous data collection.

Drought Intensity Map compiled by the U.S. Drought Monitor for the area of NOAA's Colorado River Basin River Forecast Center, which includes part of the Great Basin drainage area in western Utah, for April 19, 2024.