Welcome to the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
Your source for impartial water science and data in Montana and Wyoming
Your source for impartial water science and data in Montana and Wyoming
Current Water Conditions for Wyoming
Current Water Conditions for Montana
Wyoming and Montana Water Data
Quality data to inform research and decision-making
Quality data to inform research and decision-making
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
The U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center conducts research and monitoring on a wide variety of hydrological issues affecting streams, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater in Wyoming and Montana, across the Nation, and internationally. Use these pages to explore our hydrologic data, research, and publications.
Current Wyoming-Montana water conditions
Current Wyoming-Montana water conditions
Explore real-time streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions in Wyoming and Montana and access data through an interactive map.
Wyoming-Montana Drought Viewer
Wyoming-Montana Drought Viewer
This viewer helps analyze the effects of drought on streams and rivers by showing real-time USGS water data to help define water supply conditions in Wyoming and Montana, with additional weather-related data from other public sources.
Current water data for Montana and Wyoming
Current water data for Montana and Wyoming
News
New data products now available in StreamStats
New data products now available in StreamStats
USGS provides easy access to Colorado River science with new online portal
USGS provides easy access to Colorado River science with new online portal
Tailored sediment sampling can lead to more effective management
Tailored sediment sampling can lead to more effective management
Publications
Emerging investigator series: Post-wildfire sediment geochemical characterization reveals manganese reactivity and a potential link to water quality impairment in the Gallinas Creek watershed, New Mexico Emerging investigator series: Post-wildfire sediment geochemical characterization reveals manganese reactivity and a potential link to water quality impairment in the Gallinas Creek watershed, New Mexico
Water quality post-wildfire is often impaired by increased turbidity and elevated concentrations of elements such as manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe). Precipitation events exacerbate these issues, due in part to increased erosion and transport of sediment from hillslopes to surface water. Both Mn and Fe are major redox-active elements in sediments that drive a variety of biogeochemical...
Diverging fish biodiversity trends in cold and warm rivers and streams Diverging fish biodiversity trends in cold and warm rivers and streams
Worldwide, freshwater systems contain more than 18,000 fish species1,2,3, which are critical to the functioning of these ecosystems4 and are vital cultural and economic resources to humans5,6,7; despite this value, fish biodiversity is at risk globally8,9. In the USA, leading threats to fish communities in rivers and streams include climate change and invasive fish introductions and game...
Science
Site Assessment and Monitoring of Constructed Wetlands in Montana
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) occasionally causes disturbance to wetlands during construction. To comply with Federal, State, and Tribal regulations, MDT creates replacement wetlands to compensate for wetland loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland replacement sites and monitor water conditions at established replacement sites...
Assessing the effects of mining on the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir
The Kootenai River Watershed is an international resource cooperatively managed by the U.S., Canada, and Tribal governments. In recent years, coal mining in the Canadian portion of the watershed has resulted in elevated concentrations of several constituents, including selenium, nitrate, and sulfate downstream (Storb et al., 2023). At increased levels, these mining byproducts can affect water...
Monitoring Changes in Groundwater Quality at Jackson Hole Airport
USGS studies revealed that aircraft deicing fluids from Jackson Hole Airport negatively affected the water quality of the Snake River aquifer in northwestern Wyoming (Wright, 2013). In response, the airport implemented improved deicing management and infrastructure. A recent USGS study determined that the airport’s changes likely contributed to improvements in aquifer groundwater quality (Wright...