Unified Interior Regions
Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
Our Science Centers
The NAA Region has 15 Science Centers spanning 14 NE States and Washington, DC. The Centers conduct interdisciplinary biologic, geologic, hydrologic, and energy monitoring and research addressing natural resource issues facing our nation.
Learn MoreMarch Photo Contest
Check out the winning photographs in the March 2021 Photo Contest! Categories include People, USGS at Work, Where We Work, and Honorable Mention
See PhotosRegions L2 Landing Page Tabs
Harmful Algal Blooms in Pennsylvania
The U.S. Geological Survey is collaborating with State and local partners to develop models that provide real-time estimates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) (for pathogens) and (or) microcystin (for freshwater cyanotoxins) levels at Great Lakes beaches and drinking-water intakes.
Geologic Energy Storage
The United States (U.S.) domestic energy supply increasingly relies on natural gas and renewable sources; however, their efficient use is limited by supply and demand constraints. For example, a) in summer, natural gas production may outpace home heating fuel demand and b) in daytime, wind and solar electricity production may outpace industrial power requirements. Storing rather than dumping...
Type of Wetlands Affect How Much Nitrogen is Removed from the Bay’s Tidal Rivers
Issue: Wetlands are important for removing nitrogen from rivers entering the Chesapeake Bay. More information is needed on how much nitrogen wetlands can remove.
Using Video Imagery to Study Head of the Meadow Beach
Two video cameras are mounted on a bluff near Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, North Truro, MA. One camera looks alongshore toward the north-northeast, and the second looks directly offshore (northeast). The cameras are part of a U.S. Geological Survey research project to study the beach and nearshore environment shared by beachgoers, shorebirds, seals, and sharks. The...
New England Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for New England is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the...
Connecticut Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for Connecticut is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the...
Maine Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for Maine is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the stress on...
Massachusetts Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for Massachusetts is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the...
New Hampshire Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for New Hampshire is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the...
Rhode Island Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for Rhode Island is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the...
Vermont Water Use
Background: The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled the Nation's water-use data at the county, State, and national levels every 5 years since 1950. The most recent estimated water-use compilation was completed in 2015. A summary for Vermont is presented on this web page.
The Issue: Comprehensive water-use data analysis is needed to quantify the stress...
Herring River Water Quality
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center installed, operated, and maintained surface water-quality sites at the Chequessett Neck Road dike on the Herring River from November 2015 through September 2018.
Vertical chemical profiles collected across haloclines in the water column of the Ox Bel Ha cave network within the coastal aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula in January 2015 and January 20
Natural cave passages penetrating a coastal aquifer in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) were accessed to test the hypothesis that chemoclines associated with salinity gradients (haloclines) within the flooded cave networks of the karst subterranean estuary are sites of methane oxidation. Two field trips were carried out to the fully-submerged cave system located 6.6 km inland from the coastline...
High-resolution geophysical data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2018-043-FA
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century...
Grain size, microfossil, and strontium data for the Kure Beach and Elizabethtown cores, North Carolina
Grain size, calcareous nannofossil, and strontium data for the Cenomanian to Santonian sediments of the Kure Beach and Elizabethtown cores in North Carolina
Seismic Reflection, EdgeTech SB-424 Chirp shot points collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS field activity 2018-043-FA, (CSV text and Esri point shapefile, GCS WGS 84)
In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC), in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “st
Sediment sample locations and analysis collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2018-043-FA (Microsoft Excel file).
In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC), in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “st
Multibeam backscatter data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2018-043-FA using a dual-head Reson T20-P multibeam echosounder (8-bit GeoTIFF, UTM Zone 16N, NAD 83, 2-m resolution)
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in
Multibeam bathymetric data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2018-043-FA using a dual-head Reson T20-P multibeam echosounder (32-bit GeoTIFF, UTM Zone 16N, NAD 83, NAVD 88 Vertical Datum,
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in
Seismic Reflection, Boomer profile images collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior,during USGS field activity 2018-043-FA, (PNG Images)
In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC), in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “st
Seismic Reflection, Boomer shot points collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, during USGS field activity 2018-043-FA, (CSV text and Esri point shapefile, GCS WGS 84)
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in
Seismic Reflection, EdgeTech SB-424 Chirp profile images collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, during USGS field activity 2018-043-FA, (PNG Images)
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in
Seismic Reflection, EdgeTech SB-424 Chirp tracklines collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS field activity 2018-043-FA, (Esri polyline shapefile, GCS WGS 84)
In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in
Vertical chemical profiles collected across haloclines in the water column of the Ox Bel Ha cave network within the coastal aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula in January 2015 and January 2016
Natural cave passages penetrating a coastal aquifer in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) were accessed to test the hypothesis that chemoclines associated with salinity gradients (haloclines) within the flooded cave networks of the karst subterranean estuary are sites of methane oxidation. Two field trips were carried out to the fully-submerged cave system located 6.6 km inland from the coast
An interactive data visualization framework for exploring geospatial environmental datasets and model predictions
With the rise of large-scale environmental models comes new challenges for how we best utilize this information in research, management and decision making. Interactive data visualizations can make large and complex datasets easier to access and explore, which can lead to knowledge discovery, hypothesis formation and improved understanding. Here,...
Walker, Jeffrey D; Letcher, Benjamin; Rodgers, Kirk D.; Muhlfeld, Clint C.; D'Angelo, Vincent S.Modeling population dynamics with count data
In this chapter, we describe models of open populations that are subject to change over time due to additions and subtractions. Additions may be in the form of recruitment and immigration, and subtractions may be in the form of mortality, emigration, or both. Conceptually, these models are described by the Birth-Immigration-Death-Emigration (BIDE...
Kery, Marc; Royle, AndyModeling false positives
Many of the models we are concerned with included explicit descriptions of false negative errors. However, false positive errors can also be commin in practice, especially in citizen science applications where observer skill is highly variable. In addition, new methods which determine detection based on statistical classification or machine...
Kery, Marc; Royle, AndyModeling population dynamics with multinomial count data
No abstract available.
Royle, Andy; Kery, MarcPrinciples and mechanisms of wildlife population persistence in the face of disease
Emerging infectious diseases can result in species declines and hamper recovery efforts for at-risk populations. Generalizing considerations for reducing the risk of pathogen introduction and mitigating the effects of disease remains challenging and inhibits our ability to provide guidance for species recovery planning. Given the growing rates of...
Russell, Robin E.; Direnzo, Graziella Vittoria; Szymanski, J.; Alger, Katrina Elizabeth; Campbell Grant, Evan H.Dynamics of marsh-derived sediments in lagoon-type estuaries
Salt marshes are valuable ecosystems that must trap sediments and accrete in order to counteract the deleterious effect of sea‐level rise. Previous studies have shown that the capacity of marshes to build up vertically depends on both autogenous and exogenous processes including eco‐geomorphic feedbacks and sediment supply from in‐land and coastal...
Donatelli, Carmine; Kalra, Tarandeep S.; Fagherazzi, Sergio; Zhang, Xoaohe; Leonardi, NicolettaQCam: sUAS-based doppler radar for measuring river discharge
The U.S. Geological Survey is actively investigating remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge (discharge) from satellite-, high altitude-, small, unmanned aircraft systems- (sUAS or drone), and permanent (fixed) deployments. This initiative is important in ungaged basins and river reaches that lack the infrastructure to deploy...
Fulton, John W.; Anderson, Isaac E.; Chiu, C.-L.; Sommer, Wolfram; Adams, Josip; Moramarco, Tommaso; Bjerklie, David M.; Fulford, Janice M.; Sloan, Jeff L.; Best, Heather; Conaway, Jeffrey S.; Kang, Michelle J.; Kohn, Michael S.; Nicotra, Matthew J.; Pulli, Jeremy J.The role of pre-magmatic rifting in shaping a volcanic continental margin: An example from the Eastern North American Margin
Both magmatic and tectonic processes contribute to the formation of volcanic continental margins. Such margins are thought to undergo extension across a narrow zone of lithospheric thinning (~100 km). New observations based on existing and reprocessed data from the Eastern North American Margin contradict this hypothesis. With ~64,000 km...
Lang, G.; ten Brink, Uri S.; Hutchinson, Deborah; Mountain, G.S.; Schattner, U.A latent process model approach to improve the utility of indicator species
The state of an ecosystem is governed by dynamic biotic and abiotic processes, which can only be partially observed. Costs associated with measuring each component limit the feasibility of comprehensive assessments of target ecosystems. Instead, indicator species are recommended as a surrogate index. While this is an attractive concept, indicator...
Fleming, Jillian Elizabeth; Sutherland, Chris; Sterrett, Sean C; Campbell Grant, Evan H.Development of a suite of functional immune assays and initial assessment of their utility in wild smallmouth bass health assessments
Methods were developed for measuring immune function in Micropterus dolomieu (smallmouth bass). The ultimate objective is to monitor and evaluate changes over time in immune status and disease resistance in conjunction with other characteristics of fish health and environmental stressors. To test these methods for utility in ecotoxicological...
Smith, Cheyenne R.; Ottinger, Christopher A.; Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.Spatiotemporal pattern of interactions between an apex predator and sympatric species
Increases in apex predator abundance can influence the behavior of sympatric species, particularly when the available habitat and/or resources are limited. We assessed the temporal and spatiotemporal interactions between Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) and six focal sympatric species in South Florida, where Florida panther abundance has...
Guitart, Marta P; Onorato, David P; Hines, James E.; Oli, Madan K.Estimating flood magnitude and frequency on streams and rivers in Connecticut, based on data through water year 2015
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, updated flood-frequency estimates with 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-year recurrence intervals, respectively) for 141 streamgages in Connecticut and 11...
Ahearn, Elizabeth A.; Hodgkins, Glenn A.Discharge Measurement on Millers River Near South Royalston, MA
A USGS Hydrologic Technician is briefly shown calibrating the compass on a remote controlled Qboat. The Qboat is then sent across the Millers River near South Royalston, Massachusetts to collect discharge data. This video shows the Qboat making several passes across the river.
Buzzards Bay Entrance to the Cape Cod Canal
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the entrance to the Buzzards Bay entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.
Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of the Elizabeth Islands in the center of the image. Buzzards Bay is to the left (north) of the Elizabeth Islands, and Vineyard Sound is to the right (south). View is from the Southeast looking to the
...Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows Salem and Marblehead in the middle of the image and Rocky Neck in the upper middle.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the three-dimensional perspective view of Nantucket Island, MA looking from the Southeast to the Northwest.
HABS platform pull on Skaneateles Lake
Photo Contest Winner | Jan. 2020 | Where We Work
John Wernly and Andrew Kowalczk after HABS platform pull on Skaneateles Lake
Large microscope used for counting microplastics found in water sample
Large microscope used for counting microplastics found in water samples
Drone Pilots on a mission at Nelson Island Creek, Rowley, MA
In collaboration with the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the AIM group conducted UAS aerial surveys looking at vegetation classification/index surrounding a MBL gas flux tower located in Nelson Island Creek, Rowley, Massachusetts.
Merrimack River, Plum Island, and Parker River Wildlife Refuge
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the mouth of the Merrimack River, Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
Provincetown, MA
This image was created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows Provincetown, MA and the northern section of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Elizabeth Islands, Vineyard Sound, and Martha’s Vineyard.
This image created using the Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf, shows the Elizabeth Islands, Vineyard Sound, and Martha’s Vineyard.

This year, the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center is proud to announce it's first annual Big Science Blowout. Team members will have the opportunity to share abstacts they have presented at various conferences over the past year.
When: 23 May 2019, 9:00AM - 3:00PM EST
Where: Doug Rankin Memorial Map Compilation Room and Presentation Center (Room 3C129)
Monitoring Effort Supports State’s Initiative to Combat Potentially Toxic Blooms

Extreme flooding on Lake Ontario can result in millions of dollars in damages to shoreline properties. Currently, USGS Lake Ontario gages report elevations around 247.8 ft above International Great Lakes Datum of 1985; a foot below record flood elevations observed in 2017. During 2017, wind-driven waves pounded the shoreline, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses.

The USGS Kentucky office hosted their third annual cooperator meeting on April 18, 2019 and the Indiana office hosted their second cooperator meeting on April 23, 2019. OKI Staff gave presentations and technolgy demonstrations for an audience of local, state, and federal cooperators and USGS staff.
The USGS Ohio office will host their first cooperator meeting in 2020.
USGS International study promotes groundwater sustainability using innovative science and technology transfer

Maximum likelihood logistic regression (MLLR) is used to estimate drought probabilities for selected Northeast rivers and streams. Winter streamflows are used to estimate the chance of hydrologic drought during summer months. This application allows the display and query of these drought streamflow probabilities for Northeastern streams.

Since the ban of DDT, bald eagle populations have rebounded to near-historic levels and aircraft strikes have increased since 1998. Wildlife-aircraft strikes are expensive and the large body size of the bald eagle increases the likelihood of aircraft damage and human injury when a collision occurs.

Delivering Information to Fishery Managers in the Great Lakes Basin.

Science highlights included in this issue are Mobile SuperGage Float Trip, “River stage” does not necessarily
mean “River depth”, Interagency Workshop to Develop Predictive Models for Recreational and Drinking-Water Treatment Plant Sites, Introducing The Next Generation of USGS Water Data for the Nation, and Streamgage Changes to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Monitoring Network.
This week marks a significant milestone in the conservation and recovery of the endangered whooping crane. On March 11 and 13, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center transferred its last two cranes of the approximately 75 that were in its flock to other institutions, closing out more than 50 years of the center’s whooping crane research and captive breeding success.
Following an assessment of geologic carbon storage potential in sedimentary rocks, the USGS has published a comprehensive review of potential carbon storage in igneous and metamorphic rocks through a process known as carbon mineralization.

State of Lake Ontario Fisheries