Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Welcome to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center (OKI WSC) webpage! We work closely with our local, state, federal, and tribal partners to provide unbiased and timely water resource information on streamflow, water quality, water-use, and groundwater data to resource managers and the public. Our Center includes the key water resources of the Ohio River, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan.

News

Three historic USGS streamgages recognized by new World Meteorological Organization designation

Three historic USGS streamgages recognized by new World Meteorological Organization designation

Spring 2023 Newsletter

Spring 2023 Newsletter

Winter 2022 Newsletter

Winter 2022 Newsletter

Publications

Analysis of water use associated with hydraulic fracturing and determination of baseline water quality in watersheds within the shale play of eastern Ohio, 2021–23

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, performed a two-part study to (1) assess water use and temporal trends and changes in streamflow, and to (2) characterize 2021–23 baseline water quality, as they relate to oil and gas extraction activities in selected eastern Ohio watersheds. Between calendar years 2010 and 2019, hydraulic fracturing water wi
Authors
S. Alex Covert, G.F. Koltun

The U.S. Geological Survey Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

The U.S. Geological Survey Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory is a part of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center. The mission of the laboratory is to provide microbiological data of public health significance from surface waters, groundwaters, and sediments for a variety of study objectives. The laboratory conducts internal projects, works with external cooperators, and assists U.S. Geolo
Authors
Braden M. Lanier, Amie M.G. Brady, Jessica R. Cicale, Christopher M. Kephart, Lauren D. Lynch, Maxim W. Schroeder, Erin A. Stelzer

Chlorophyll a in lakes and streams of the United States (2005–2022)

The concentration of chlorophyll a in phytoplankton and periphyton represents the amount of algal biomass. We compiled an 18-year record (2005–2022) of pigment data from water bodies across the United States (US) to support efforts to develop process-based, machine learning, and remote sensing models for prediction of harmful algal blooms (HABs). To our knowledge, this dataset of nearly 84,000 sit
Authors
Sarah Spaulding, Lindsay R.C. Platt, Jennifer C. Murphy, S. Alex Covert, Judson Harvey

Science

Groundwater Age Estimates, Groundwater Quality, and Hydrogeologic Characteristics of Chase Street Flowing Well and Similar Confined Wells, Little Calumet River Basin, Indiana

In cooperation with The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission (LCRBDC) is developing a park around a local cultural landmark, known locally as the Chase Street flowing well, in Gary, Indiana, a community in the Urban Waters Federal Partnership--Northwest Indiana Area. Groundwater from the...
link

Groundwater Age Estimates, Groundwater Quality, and Hydrogeologic Characteristics of Chase Street Flowing Well and Similar Confined Wells, Little Calumet River Basin, Indiana

In cooperation with The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission (LCRBDC) is developing a park around a local cultural landmark, known locally as the Chase Street flowing well, in Gary, Indiana, a community in the Urban Waters Federal Partnership--Northwest Indiana Area. Groundwater from the...
Learn More

Assessing stormwater reduction through green infrastructure: RecoveryPark (Detroit, Mich.)

The effectiveness of green infrastructure (including urban land conversion and bioswales) at reducing stormwater runoff is being assessed at RecoveryPark, a redeveloped urban farm in Detroit, Michigan. This study will monitor pre- and post-construction storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (ET) to evaluate stormwater-volume reduction in response to...
link

Assessing stormwater reduction through green infrastructure: RecoveryPark (Detroit, Mich.)

The effectiveness of green infrastructure (including urban land conversion and bioswales) at reducing stormwater runoff is being assessed at RecoveryPark, a redeveloped urban farm in Detroit, Michigan. This study will monitor pre- and post-construction storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (ET) to evaluate stormwater-volume reduction in response to...
Learn More

Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)

The effectiveness of green infrastructure (rain gardens and decreased impervious surface) at reducing stormwater runoff and capturing dissolved chloride is being assessed at a redevelopment project at Gary City Hall (Gary, Indiana). This study will evaluate pre- and post-construction hydrologic conditions using data collected by monitoring storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and...
link

Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)

The effectiveness of green infrastructure (rain gardens and decreased impervious surface) at reducing stormwater runoff and capturing dissolved chloride is being assessed at a redevelopment project at Gary City Hall (Gary, Indiana). This study will evaluate pre- and post-construction hydrologic conditions using data collected by monitoring storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and...
Learn More