Unified Interior Regions
Region 3: Great Lakes
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
For more information on the Great Lakes and work being done, check out the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative website here!
GLRIUSGS Science Centers in the Great Lakes Region
For more information on what each center is doing in the Great Lakes, please follow the links below!
Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Regions L2 Landing Page Tabs
Silver Lake Nutrient Study
Recently, elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations were found related to persistent algal blooms on Silver Lake in Oceana County, MI. Elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations, high phosphorus concentrations during summer months, as well as a decrease in water clarity indicated potential accelerated eutrophication processes during the last two years, and underscore a need to characterize water and...
Winnebago pool lakes: Hydrology, water quality, and response to simulated changes in phosphorus loading
The Winnebago Pool Lakes are shallow, productive drainage lakes that have accumulated nutrients from its mixed agricultural/forest watershed and from the Fox River. High phosphorus concentrations often result in severe blue-green algae blooms that can produce harmful toxins. The USGS is evaluating the water quality and phosphorus budget of each lake and modeling eutrophication responses.
Green Lake and its tributaries: Water quality and hydrology
Big Green Lake is the deepest natural lake in Wisconsin. Changes in agriculture and urban development have altered the nutrient loading from the watershed and affected the water quality of the lake. This project is quantifying the amount of phosphorus and sediment delivered to Green Lake, measuring its water quality, and providing information about how the lake responds to input changes.
Anvil Lake: Response of lake water quality to changes in nutrient loading, with special emphasis on the effects of changes in water level
Anvil Lake is a relatively shallow, high-quality lake whose water level has dropped dramatically in recent years, adversely affecting the recreational and aesthetic values of the lake. The USGS is developing detailed water and phosphorus budgets, determining groundwater contributions, modeling likely responses to changes in phosphorus loading, and assessing the effect of climate on water...
Delavan Lake: Hydrology, water quality, and biology
Eutrophication of Delavan Lake accelerated from the 1940s to 1980s, resulting in a hypereutrophic lake with severe blue-green algae blooms. Extensive rehabilitation efforts were implemented to improve water quality. The USGS measured nutrients, suspended sediment, water quality, and plankton populations to quantify the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts and guide future management...
Geneva Lake: Water quality, hydrology, and biology
To reduce the impact of increasing urban development and recreational use on Geneva Lake, efforts are being made to decrease point- and nonpoint-source pollution inputs. To document Geneva Lake's water quality, the USGS collected water-quality data and developed empirical eutrophication models to demonstrate that reductions in phosphorus loading were related to water-quality improvements.
Pioneer Farm bank erosion study
Riparian grazing allows cattle free access to streams, but may accelerate erosion by the removal or trampling of vegetation. This study measured stream bank erosion, channel morphology, and stream substrate through seven experimental intensive-rotational pastures. It also evaluated the use of photo-electronic erosion pins (PEEPs) for measuring bank erosion in this type of geomorphic setting....
Bayfield tributaries geomorphic assessment for restoration
Lake Superior tributaries in Bayfield County, Wis., have accelerated erosion and sedimentation influenced by changing land use, steep slopes, erodible soils, and flashy runoff. This project assessed the geomorpology of five tributaries, identified problem areas, and assessed rehabilitation alternatives and watershed management strategies specifically related to the rehabilitation of brook...
Acoustics
Upper Midwest Water Science Center uses acoustic meters for making streamflow measurements. Wading measurements are done using a modified top setting wading rod equipped with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV). Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) are used when measurement depths are too deep to wade. ADCP measurements can either be made with a tether or cableway or deployed on a...
Water quality of the lower Fox River tributaries and Duck Creek watersheds
The USGS is evaluating the effectiveness of non-point pollution control measures in five watersheds in the Lower Fox River and Duck Creek watersheds and comparing daily phosphorus and suspended solids loads for each watershed.
Impact of phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations on the biological integrity of Wisconsin streams
The USGS and Wisconsin DNR collected water-quality and biological data from 240 wadeable streams and 40 nonwadeable rivers throughout Wisconsin to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of enforcing nutrient criteria and standards for streams and rivers if they better reflected regionally defined, scientifically defensible thresholds to biotic response.
Groundwater Data Available Online
The USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center cooperates with local and state agencies to collect and maintain groundwater data across the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In Michigan, the USGS and local partners actively monitor 90 wells. Of the 90 wells, 22 are continuously monitored with...
Map of monitoring locations (with links to data) on Geneva Lake.
This web resource provides decision makers with the information needed to maintain the Upper Mississippi River System as a viable multiple-use large river ecosystem.
Angie Crain - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Angie Crain - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting. Angie gave a presentation on Super Gages/Mobile Super Gages: What's coming into Kentucky and what's leaving it - and new ways to answer that question.
Chris Kephart - OKI Water Microbiology Laboratory
Chris Kephart - OKI Water Microbiology Laboratory. Chris gave a presentation at the OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting titled "OKI Water Micorbiology Laboratory: Capabilities and current studies: Learn about the latest technology and science being employed by the OKI WSC. Chris also gave a hand-on demonstration titled "Learn about qPCR and more from the OKI WSC's microbiology lab
...
Dave Lampe - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Dave Lampe - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting. Dave gave a presentation on the Indiana Groundwater Network: Leveraging citizen science to monitor ctitical resources.
Gary Martin - USGS StreamStats Application
Gary Martin - USGS StreamStats Application. Gary gave a presontation and hands-on demonstartion on the USGS StreamStats application at the OKI 2019 Coopertor Meeting.
Jeremiah Lant - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Jeremiah Lant - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting. Jeremiah gave a presentation on AMDTreat: Science meets modern computing.
Dave Lampe - How to measure groundwater levels
Dave Lampe - How to measure groundwater levels. Dave gave a presentation titled "Indiana Groundwater Network: Leveraging citizen science to monitor critical resources and a hands-on demonstation on how to measure groundwater levels.
Jeremiah Lant - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Jeremiah Lant - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting. Jeremiah gave a presentation on AMDTreat: Science meets modern computing.
Dave Lampe - Indiana Groundwater Network
Dave Lampe - How to measure groundwater levels. Dave gave a presentation titled "Indiana Groundwater Network: Leveraging citizen science to monitor critical resources and a hands-on demonstation on how to measure groundwater levels.
Gary Martin - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Gary Martin - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting - Gary provided a hands-on demonstration on using the StreamStats application.
Tanja Williamson - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting
Tanja Williamson - OKI 2019 Cooperator Meeting. Tanja's presentation was titled "Sediment Source Tracking: Using advanced science to track sediment sources.
Jeremiah Lant - Science Meets Modern Computing
Jeremiah Lant - Science Meets Modern Computing. OKI 2019 Coopertor Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
For the first time, land and resource managers in the Great Lakes will be able to distinguish between the various sources of mercury in the environment, a toxic chemical of significant concern in the region. This is thanks to a new tool that “fingerprints” the mercury, developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A newly published, three-volume “Remote Sensing Handbook” is a comprehensive coverage of all remote sensing topics written by over 300 leading global experts.
With the release of new US Topo maps for Illinois and South Dakota, the USGS has completed the second, three-year cycle of revising and updating electronic US Topo quadrangles. This means that since late 2009, the USGS has published nearly every map in the conterminous U.S., twice.
Grass carp egg survival is compromised when they settle on streambeds and are potentially covered by sediments, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey. It has been long assumed that the eggs of Asian carps, including grass carp, must be carried in the water current in order to hatch successfully, but no previous scientific studies have proven that theory.
Silver carp, a species of invasive Asian carp, demonstrated a strong aversion to certain noises during a recent study on the potential use of sound for silver carp control.
The U.S. Geological Survey will celebrate the newest addition to its fleet of large research vessels during a traditional ceremony in Cheboygan, Michigan, on Monday. The entire Great Lakes fleet will also be dedicated during the ceremony.
Representatives from the offices of Senator Tammy Baldwin, Senator Ron Johnson and Congressman Mark Pocan will join leaders from the U.S. Geological Survey, federal and state partners and city officials for a special 40th anniversary event at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin, this Friday.
Computer simulations of earthquake shaking, replicating the quakes that occurred in 1811-1812 in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ), indicate that future large earthquakes there would produce major, prolonged ground shaking.
Three tiny fish larvae that were captured by U.S. Geological Survey scientists in May 2014 have just been confirmed to be pallid sturgeon. These new genetic identifications add to mounting evidence that critically endangered pallid sturgeon spawned successfully in the Lower Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota.
The drainage of small wetlands can decrease wildlife habitat and may contribute to flooding in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Interior Department’s Northeast Climate Science Center has released a report today synthesizing the latest information on the vulnerability of species and ecosystems to climate change in a 22-state region in the Northeast and Midwest U.S.
U.S. Geological Survey field crews are measuring flooding on rivers and streams across northern Indiana today.
Social Media
Locations
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Middleton, Wis., Office
Phone: 608-828-9901
Fax: 608-821-3817
Kentucky - Louisville Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: (502) 493-1900
Fax: (502) 493-1909
Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center
Kentucky - Williamsburg Field Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: (606) 549-2406
Fax: (606) 549-5400
Kentucky - Murray Field Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: (270) 759-2460
Fax: (270) 649-2461
Great Lakes Science Center
Phone: 734-994-3331
Fax: 734-994-8780
Illinois Water Science Center
Phone: 217-328-8747
Fax: 217-328-9770
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Phone: (608) 783-6451
Indiana - Indianapolis Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: (317) 290-3333
Fax: (317) 290-3313
Kentucky Water Science Center
Phone: (502) 493-1900
Fax: (502) 493-1909
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Lansing, Mich., Office
Phone: 517-887-8903
Fax: 517-887-8937
National Wildlife Health Center
Phone: 608-270-2400
Fax: 608-270-2415
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Mounds View, Minn., Office
Phone: 763-783-3100
Fax: 763-783-3103
Ohio - Columbus Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: 614-430-7700
Fax: 614-430-7777
Ohio - Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML)
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: 614-430-7700
Fax: 614-430-7777
Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL)
Phone: 517-887-8903
Fax: 517-887-8937
Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment
Phone: 715-384-9673
Fax: 715-384-9157
Mercury Research Laboratory
mercury@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-828-9901
Fax: 608-821-3817
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Grand Rapids, Minn., Field Office
Phone: 218-326-1297
Fax: 218-327-2557
Cheboygan Vessel Base
jbergan@usgs.gov
Phone: 231-627-4571
Fax: 231-627-8791
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Rhinelander, Wis., Field Office
Phone: 715-362-7476
Fax: 715-362-7479
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Rice Lake, Wis., Field Office
Phone: 715-234-4015
Fax: 715-234-4550
Wisconsin Water Science Center - Southwest Field Office (Middleton)
Phone: 608-827-6255
Fax: 608-827-0851
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Escanaba, Mich., Field Office
Phone: 906-786-0714
Fax: 906-786-5461
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Grayling, Mich., Field Office
Phone: 989-348-8291
Fax: 989-348-6866
Ohio - New Philadelphia Field Office
mgriffin@usgs.gov
Phone: 330-343-2343
Fax: 330-364-8095
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Lansing, Mich., Field Office
Phone: 517-887-8903
Fax: 517-887-8937
Southern Illinois Field Office - Mt. Vernon
Phone: 618-242-4495
Fax: 618-242-4578
Northern Illinois Field Office - DeKalb
Phone: 815-756-9207
Fax: 815-756-9214
Hammond Bay Biological Station
michaelhansen@usgs.gov
Phone: 989-734-4768
Fax: 989-734-4494
Lake Erie Biological Station
rkraus@usgs.gov
Phone: 419-625-1976
Fax: 419-625-7164
Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station
Phone: 219-926--8336
Fax: 219-929-5792
Lake Superior Biological Station
mvinson@usgs.gov
Phone: 715-682-6163
Fax: 715-682-6511
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Milwaukee, Wis., Project Office
Phone: 414-962-2582
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Green Bay, Wis., Project Office
Phone: 920-655-0273