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Rocky Mountain Region

USGS Region 7 Staff support and advise USGS Science Centers that provide numerous stakeholders with vital information about spatial distribution and temporal trends in critical minerals, energy resources, geology, water resources, native plants and wildlife, and hazards posed by earthquakes and landslides in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and beyond.

News

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 2

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 2

New Nationwide Tool Helps Answer: Do We Have Enough Water?

New Nationwide Tool Helps Answer: Do We Have Enough Water?

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 1

Publications

Coal beneath Federal lands in the United States—Mines, reserves, and resources Coal beneath Federal lands in the United States—Mines, reserves, and resources

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) compiled a list of coal mines and tabulated the coal reserves and available coal resources beneath Federal lands in the conterminous United States. Coal resources beneath Federal lands in Alaska are also discussed in this report. In 2024, the 34 coal mines on Federal lands produced more than 261 million short tons of coal. Surface mining is used at 23 of...
Authors
Brian N. Shaffer, Michelle N. Johnston, Scott A. Kinney

Predicting reach-scale macroinvertebrate community changes due to declining flows in an aridland river Predicting reach-scale macroinvertebrate community changes due to declining flows in an aridland river

Understanding the connection between streamflow and macroinvertebrate community structure is critical for managing river ecosystems under scenarios of change caused by human activities and drought. Streamflow influences physical habitat characteristics, including depth, water velocity, and substrate composition, which structure macroinvertebrate communities. Although strong empirical...
Authors
Justin C. Hockett, Christopher Holmquist-Johnson, Joel G. Murray, Eric W. Kortenhoeven, David M. Merritt, David A. Lytle

Beaver dam analogs as nature-based solutions to mitigate snowpack loss in northern New Mexico Beaver dam analogs as nature-based solutions to mitigate snowpack loss in northern New Mexico

Reductions in snow have left many streams in northern New Mexico dry or with very low flows during the summer. Base flow, defined as the contribution of groundwater to streamflow, can sustain streamflow during the summer and during drought conditions. Beaver dam analogs can be used to “slow the flow,” or increase the infiltration of rain-based runoff to replenish shallow groundwater...
Authors
David Moeser, Benjamin Linhoff, Justin Nichols, Jake Kurzweil

Science

2026 Venezuela Sequence Earthquake-Triggered Landslide Hazards

On Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, a pair of earthquakes of Magnitude 7.2 and Magnitude 7.5 occurred in northern Venezuela, west of Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ground Failure product estimated that landslides triggered by this earthquake would likely be significant in number and/or spatial extent. This landslide event page serves to communicate timely science information to our partners...
2026 Venezuela Sequence Earthquake-Triggered Landslide Hazards

2026 Venezuela Sequence Earthquake-Triggered Landslide Hazards

On Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, a pair of earthquakes of Magnitude 7.2 and Magnitude 7.5 occurred in northern Venezuela, west of Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ground Failure product estimated that landslides triggered by this earthquake would likely be significant in number and/or spatial extent. This landslide event page serves to communicate timely science information to our partners...
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Modernized Breeding Bird Survey Portal

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Portal is a modern information system that enables volunteer observers and regional coordinators to manage survey routes, enter field data, and coordinate route assignments online. The portal replaces legacy paper-based and outdated digital workflows with a streamlined interface built for the BBS community. Observers can view their assigned routes...
Modernized Breeding Bird Survey Portal

Modernized Breeding Bird Survey Portal

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Portal is a modern information system that enables volunteer observers and regional coordinators to manage survey routes, enter field data, and coordinate route assignments online. The portal replaces legacy paper-based and outdated digital workflows with a streamlined interface built for the BBS community. Observers can view their assigned routes...
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Water Quality

The USGS, in partnership with multiple other groups, is learning about water-quality conditions across time and space in terminal lakes across the Great Basin. This effort is part of the Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
Water Quality

Water Quality

The USGS, in partnership with multiple other groups, is learning about water-quality conditions across time and space in terminal lakes across the Great Basin. This effort is part of the Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
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