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Check out photos of some of the awesome work USGS scientists and field technicians have done over the years.

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Water-quality pipes below Fall Creek Dam, Oregon
Water-quality pipes below Fall Creek Dam, Oregon
Water-quality pipes below Fall Creek Dam, Oregon

Two black stacked PVC pipes along Fall Creek house water-quality sensors. The bottom pipe has the sensors deployed at the site and the top is used to deploy reference sensors during site calibration and cleaning visits. 

Two black stacked PVC pipes along Fall Creek house water-quality sensors. The bottom pipe has the sensors deployed at the site and the top is used to deploy reference sensors during site calibration and cleaning visits. 

dark brown, turbulent water flows underneath the sediment sampler setup
Sediment sampling
Sediment sampling
Sediment sampling

The white torpedo shaped white sediment sampler is suspended from a cable attached to a bank operated cableway. 

The white torpedo shaped white sediment sampler is suspended from a cable attached to a bank operated cableway. 

View of Klamath Lake. Hills in the distance shrouded with low clouds and fog. Sun sits low in the sky on a late September day
Klamath Lake
Klamath Lake
Klamath Lake

View of Klamath Lake as seen by a USGS Hydrologic Technician in the field. Photo provided by Justin Willhite.

View of Klamath Lake as seen by a USGS Hydrologic Technician in the field. Photo provided by Justin Willhite.

Blue skies and blue waters with some islands of vegetation visible in the lake
Agency Lake, Oregon
Agency Lake, Oregon
Agency Lake, Oregon

Agency Lake is the northern arm of Upper Klamath Lake connected by a narrow channel. This photo was taken near the USGS Lake level monitoring station, Agency Lake near Klamath Agency, OR - 11504300.

Agency Lake is the northern arm of Upper Klamath Lake connected by a narrow channel. This photo was taken near the USGS Lake level monitoring station, Agency Lake near Klamath Agency, OR - 11504300.

see caption
Sediment sampling at the Little North Santiam River
Sediment sampling at the Little North Santiam River
Sediment sampling at the Little North Santiam River

A 4-wheel crane with a reel connected to the white torpedo shaped sediment sampler. Scientist use this, and similar setups, to collect sediment samples from across a river channel.

A 4-wheel crane with a reel connected to the white torpedo shaped sediment sampler. Scientist use this, and similar setups, to collect sediment samples from across a river channel.

Tan stalked diatom and green Ulothrix algae cling to a boulder along the north Santiam River.
Stalked diatoms and filaments of green algae
Stalked diatoms and filaments of green algae
Stalked diatoms and filaments of green algae

Tan colored stalked diatoms (Cymbella janischii) and filaments of green algae (Ulothrix) cling to a boulder along the North Santiam.

Tan colored stalked diatoms (Cymbella janischii) and filaments of green algae (Ulothrix) cling to a boulder along the North Santiam.

Underwater shot of bright green cyanobacteria patches covering rounded river cobbles.
Cyanobacteria in the Santiam River
Cyanobacteria in the Santiam River
Cyanobacteria in the Santiam River

Underwater shot of cyanobacteria (green mats) clinging to rocks in the North Santiam River.

Underwater shot of cyanobacteria (green mats) clinging to rocks in the North Santiam River.

A black drone that looks like a mini helicopter is equipped with a hyperspectral imagery sensor waits for flight
DJI M600 drone equipped with a Nano hyperspectral sensor
DJI M600 drone equipped with a Nano hyperspectral sensor
DJI M600 drone equipped with a Nano hyperspectral sensor

A DJI M600 drone equipped with a Nano hyperspectral sensor is prepared for flight. North Santiam River, Fishermen's Bend campground.

A DJI M600 drone equipped with a Nano hyperspectral sensor is prepared for flight. North Santiam River, Fishermen's Bend campground.

Upstream view of the North Santiam river. River channel is lined with trees, shrubs and rocks. Clear blue sky.
North Santiam River
North Santiam River
North Santiam River

Photo taken during hyperspectral imaging field work on the North Santiam River, August 2021.

Photo taken during hyperspectral imaging field work on the North Santiam River, August 2021.

Underwater photo of bright green, long hairy looking green algae clinging to rounded cobbles in the Clackamas River
Filamentous Green Algae
Filamentous Green Algae
Filamentous Green Algae

Hairy looking Filamentous green algae clings to cobbles in the Clackamas River.

Hairy looking Filamentous green algae clings to cobbles in the Clackamas River.

Scientist holds up survey equipment that got covered in stringy, bright green algae that was suspended in the river
Filamentous Algae coats field equipmet
Filamentous Algae coats field equipmet
Filamentous Algae coats field equipmet

USGS scientist stands next to algae covered survey equipment. The algae made its way downriver after a "sloughing event". 

USGS scientist stands next to algae covered survey equipment. The algae made its way downriver after a "sloughing event". 

Partly cloudy day. Grasses and mud line the earthen channel. Billowy clouds reflect on the water surface.
Klamath Straits Drain
Klamath Straits Drain
Klamath Straits Drain

Klamath Straits Drain east of Highway 97 and F-FF pumps looking east on June 9th, 2021.

Klamath Straits Drain east of Highway 97 and F-FF pumps looking east on June 9th, 2021.

A fenced off square section of water designated for field study. Water within the square is darker colored than main lake.
Malheur Lake field work
Malheur Lake field work
Malheur Lake field work

A mesocosm in the shallow, turbid Malheur Lake. A water-quality monitor was attached to the life ring and recorded turbidity and water temperature every 30 minutes.

A mesocosm in the shallow, turbid Malheur Lake. A water-quality monitor was attached to the life ring and recorded turbidity and water temperature every 30 minutes.

Grey sky day along the recently burned Breitenbush River. Burnt trees surround the concrete gage house. See caption for more.
Repairs at the Breitenbush River streamflow gage
Repairs at the Breitenbush River streamflow gage
Repairs at the Breitenbush River streamflow gage

When equipment goes down sometimes you must climb up. This highly skilled technician makes repairs to the rooftop solar panel. This streamflow gage was surrounded by the forest fires in 2020.

When equipment goes down sometimes you must climb up. This highly skilled technician makes repairs to the rooftop solar panel. This streamflow gage was surrounded by the forest fires in 2020.

Blue River cableway and stream gage
Cableway and stream gage on Blue River, OR
Cableway and stream gage on Blue River, OR
Cableway and stream gage on Blue River, OR

Cableway (foreground) and stream gage (background) on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon (Site number 14162200)

Cableway (foreground) and stream gage (background) on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon (Site number 14162200)

North Santiam River cableway
Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon
Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon
Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon

Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon (Site number 14181500)

Cableway on North Santiam River at Niagara, Oregon (Site number 14181500)

Blue River stream gage
Stream gage on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon
Stream gage on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon
Stream gage on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon

Stream gage on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon, (Site number 14162200)

Stream gage on Blue River at Blue River, Oregon, (Site number 14162200)

McKenzie River stream gage
Stream gage on McKenzie River near Vida, Oregon
Stream gage on McKenzie River near Vida, Oregon
Stream gage on McKenzie River near Vida, Oregon

Stream gage on McKenzie River near Vida, Oregon (Site number 14162500) 

Stream gage on McKenzie River near Vida, Oregon (Site number 14162500) 

South Fork McKenzie River stream gage
Stream gage on South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, Oregon
Stream gage on South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, Oregon
Stream gage on South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, Oregon

Stream gage on South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, Oregon (Site number 14159500)

Stream gage on South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, Oregon (Site number 14159500)

Crater Lake a deep blue surrounded by the rocky caldera sides. Part of Wizard Island on the left of photo.
Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake on a bright clear day in August 2020. Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth. 

Crater Lake on a bright clear day in August 2020. Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth.