Images

The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River. It drains over 108,000 square miles in mainly Idaho and portions of Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The climate of much of the Snake River watershed is arid or semi-arid and spring snowmelt contributes substantially to the river’s flow.

Scientists optimized existing methods to collect and identify microorganisms including Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic microorganism, in 4,800 soil samples across the United States, and developed a

Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory — Lafayette, Louisiana. Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm motility parameters

Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory — Lansing, Michigan. A microbiologist preparing a water sample

Dr. Bethany K. Kunz sets up a mobile-mounted dust meter, which measures concentrations of particulate matter across a range of particle sizes. She and her team use the meter to determine the effectiveness of dust control treatments on roads and estimate human exposure to dust in the inhalable size range.

Four USGS scientists sampling pore water from a canoe in un-named lake approximately 340 meters downgradient of the Bemidji, Minnesota crude oil spill site.

Inside a debris cage, which is used to prevent pipe blockages, at one of 21 stormwater outfalls that was sampled prior to discharge to streams or stormwater ponds.

A stormwater pond that receives runoff from a residential landscape. U.S. Geological Survey scientists analyzed samples of stormwater runoff collected during 2016 and 2017 at 21 sites for 438 organic chemicals and 62 inorganic elements.

Willow Spring in Hack Canyon in Arizona north of the Grand Canyon. A sign next to the spring says Water Not Suitable for Drinking. The spring has elevated levels of uranium and selenium. The elevated uranium level is most likely not associated with breccia-pipe uranium mining in the area.

Iowa River at Iowa City

Scientist preparing for granular activated carbon experiments

A photograph of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) custom automated pathogen sampler (top) and schematic illustrating the remote-unattended-automated pathogen sampler (bottom). Sample collection proceeds over the course of a runoff-event or low-flow period for up to a maximum of 5 days before a site visit by personnel is needed to collect the samples.

New Orleans, La., July 29, 2008 -- Buras has become famous as the location where, on August 29, 2005, at 6:10 AM CDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina, made its strongest landfall. The town's freshing painted water tower stands as a symbol of recovery for the state and the community. Jacinta Quesada/FEMA

Cumulative impacts of oil and gas production on watersheds in North Dakota between January 2008 and June 2015. Watershed volumes were calculated by combining reported values of oil, brine, and unidentified liquid waste accidentally released during drilling operations.

Raised black external tumors on adult brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) collected from Lake Memphremagog (Vermont and Canadian Border) were identified as malignant melanoma in a 2014–17 study.

Burning coal to provide energy contributes mercury to the atmosphere

A team of scientists studied changes in nitrapyrin — a nitrification inhibitor applied with fertilizers as a bactericide to kill natural soil bacteria for the purpose of increasing crop yields — occurrence associated with land use changes from March to June 2016.

Bladder cancer rates have been elevated in northern New England for at least 5 decades in males and females, which suggests environmental causal factors.

A map of Ohio showing the locations of recreational areas sampled in the 201314 study. Modified from figure 1, Francy and others, 2016.

Diatom mat used during a feeding experiment to study the dietary uptake of uranium by mayflies

tadpoles