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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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A map of 4 streamgages along the Colorado stretch of the Colorado River.  Hydrographs for each streamgage are also shown.
Upper Colorado River Basin streamflow, March-August 2023
Upper Colorado River Basin streamflow, March-August 2023
Upper Colorado River Basin streamflow, March-August 2023

March-August daily average streamflow for the last 30 years (1991-2022) (dark gray lines) compared to 2023, showing the periods where 2023 streamflow was above (blue) and below (orange) the historical average. Individual years of the relevant historical streamflow period are shown in light gray. 

March-August daily average streamflow for the last 30 years (1991-2022) (dark gray lines) compared to 2023, showing the periods where 2023 streamflow was above (blue) and below (orange) the historical average. Individual years of the relevant historical streamflow period are shown in light gray. 

Map of Willamette River Basin showing hillshade topography, major rivers, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams.
Integrated Water Science: Willamette River Basin, Oregon
Integrated Water Science: Willamette River Basin, Oregon
Integrated Water Science: Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Map of the Integrated Water Science study area for the Willamette River Basin, Oregon.

Map of the Integrated Water Science study area for the Willamette River Basin, Oregon.

photo of creek flowing through mixed grass and shrubland. Small hill and cloudy sky in background.
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg

Vegetation growth is assisting the Muddy Creek channel in becoming deeper and narrower (Carbon County, Wyoming).  Photo by Patrick Anderson (USGS)

Vegetation growth is assisting the Muddy Creek channel in becoming deeper and narrower (Carbon County, Wyoming).  Photo by Patrick Anderson (USGS)

A screenshot from a video of a rising glacial lake in Alaska. The lake is filled with large chunks of ice.
Rising glacial lake in Alaska
Rising glacial lake in Alaska
Rising glacial lake in Alaska

This is a screenshot taken from a timelapse video of a rising glacial lake from May through August 2023. The video was captured by a USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) camera. The water level in the lake gradually rises throughout the video and then the water level dramatically decreases towards the end of the video.

This is a screenshot taken from a timelapse video of a rising glacial lake from May through August 2023. The video was captured by a USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) camera. The water level in the lake gradually rises throughout the video and then the water level dramatically decreases towards the end of the video.

U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2023 thumbnail image
U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2023 Viz Thumbnail Image
U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2023 Viz Thumbnail Image
U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2023 Viz Thumbnail Image

U.S. River Conditions, April to June 2023 visualization thumbnail image. For more visualizations, check out https://labs.waterdata.usgs.gov/visualizations/vizlab-home/index.html#/

Staff profile photo of Mari Lee
Mari Lee Staff Profile Photo
Mari Lee Staff Profile Photo
Mari Lee Staff Profile Photo

A staff profile photo of Mari Lee. Mari is the Branch Chief of the Strategic Laboratory Science Branch in the Laboratory and Analytical Services Division of the Water Mission Area.

A staff profile photo of Mari Lee. Mari is the Branch Chief of the Strategic Laboratory Science Branch in the Laboratory and Analytical Services Division of the Water Mission Area.

A chart that is split into Water Supply and Water Demand. Water supply is broken up into components, and Water Demand is split up by Water Use and Aquatic Community Health.
IWAA Water Availability Components
IWAA Water Availability Components
IWAA Water Availability Components

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area will assess water availability based on these core components of water supply and demand. 

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area will assess water availability based on these core components of water supply and demand. 

People kayak in the background while text in the foreground reads, "share your photo of water recreation. #RecreateWithUSGS"
Participate in the National Photo Contest #RecreateWithUSGS
Participate in the National Photo Contest #RecreateWithUSGS
Participate in the National Photo Contest #RecreateWithUSGS

#RecreateWithUSGS is a national photo contest to raise awareness of the importance of USGS water data collected on public lands where people recreate in, on, and around water. Participate in this national photo contest and share your photo with us. Post on Instagram using #RecreateWithUSGS and tag @USGS_Water. The contest is open from June 12th - August 20th, 2023.

#RecreateWithUSGS is a national photo contest to raise awareness of the importance of USGS water data collected on public lands where people recreate in, on, and around water. Participate in this national photo contest and share your photo with us. Post on Instagram using #RecreateWithUSGS and tag @USGS_Water. The contest is open from June 12th - August 20th, 2023.

USGS Surveyor works by bank of Lake Anna
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia

Photo of: Blake Dudding, USGS; Photographer: Taylor Camper, USGS  

Lake Anna, Virginia  

 Regional water availability assessment basins, as of 2023. USGS is conducting regional water availability assessments in medium-sized watersheds throughout the US.  These assessments are designed to capture a range of conditions in major drivers of water availability. Some regional water availability assessments occur in Integrated Water Science Basins.
All Regional Study Basins
All Regional Study Basins
All Regional Study Basins

Regional water availability assessment basins, as of 2023. USGS is conducting regional water availability assessments in medium-sized watersheds throughout the US.  These assessments are designed to capture a range of conditions in major drivers of water availability.

Regional water availability assessment basins, as of 2023. USGS is conducting regional water availability assessments in medium-sized watersheds throughout the US.  These assessments are designed to capture a range of conditions in major drivers of water availability.

The USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments Program is coordinating the delivery of these three products.
IWAAs Product Interdependencies
IWAAs Product Interdependencies
IWAAs Product Interdependencies

The USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments Program is coordinating the delivery of these three products.  

The USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments Program is coordinating the delivery of these three products.  

A graphic of the primary components of Water Supply and Water Demand.
IWAA Water Availability Components
IWAA Water Availability Components
IWAA Water Availability Components

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area will assess water availability based on these core components of water supply and demand. 

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area will assess water availability based on these core components of water supply and demand. 

A staff profile photo of Jennifer Rapp.
Jennifer Rapp Staff Profile Photo
Jennifer Rapp Staff Profile Photo
Jennifer Rapp Staff Profile Photo

A staff profile photo of Jennifer Rapp. Jennifer leads the Decision Support Branch of the Integrated Information Dissemination Division of the Water Resources Mission Area. 

A staff profile photo of Jennifer Rapp. Jennifer leads the Decision Support Branch of the Integrated Information Dissemination Division of the Water Resources Mission Area. 

Illustration of basin with rivers and reservoirs with different types of water monitoring including sensors
Next Generation Water Observing System Conceptual Diagram
Next Generation Water Observing System Conceptual Diagram
Next Generation Water Observing System Conceptual Diagram

Conceptual illustration showing how USGS's Next Generation Water Observing System will enhance the spatial and temporal monitoring of water within reference basins and larger hydrologic regions in all U.S. states and territories.

Conceptual illustration showing how USGS's Next Generation Water Observing System will enhance the spatial and temporal monitoring of water within reference basins and larger hydrologic regions in all U.S. states and territories.

A split-panel map of Salt Lake City, Utah, highlighting the Great Salt Lake, shows 2006 Landsat imagery on the left side
Relationships: new tool - Split-panel map for inspecting timeseries images of Landsat and NLCD from 2001-2016 for Great Salt Lake
Relationships: new tool - Split-panel map for inspecting timeseries images of Landsat and NLCD from 2001-2016 for Great Salt Lake
Relationships: new tool - Split-panel map for inspecting timeseries images of Landsat and NLCD from 2001-2016 for Great Salt Lake

A split-panel map of Salt Lake City, Utah, highlighting the Great Salt Lake, shows 2006 Landsat imagery on the left side panel and 2006 NLCD, with colorized legend of land use classes, on the right. The animation displays a slider being used to switch between the two different datasets, revealing the land cover classes shown in Landsat imagery.

A split-panel map of Salt Lake City, Utah, highlighting the Great Salt Lake, shows 2006 Landsat imagery on the left side panel and 2006 NLCD, with colorized legend of land use classes, on the right. The animation displays a slider being used to switch between the two different datasets, revealing the land cover classes shown in Landsat imagery.

Three images of gages with white text on green background. Text reads: USGS Gages working for you
USGS Gages: Working for you Video Thumbnail
USGS Gages: Working for you Video Thumbnail
USGS Gages: Working for you Video Thumbnail

Thumbnail image for a short video on the importance of USGS gages. This image shows three unique photos of USGS gages.

Thumbnail image for a short video on the importance of USGS gages. This image shows three unique photos of USGS gages.

Lab Instrumentation paired with computers
OGRL Instrument Room
OGRL Instrument Room
OGRL Instrument Room

Image shows equipment for analysis of targeted and non-targeted organic contaminants at the OGRL located at the KS WSC. 

Image shows equipment for analysis of targeted and non-targeted organic contaminants at the OGRL located at the KS WSC. 

Stacked bar chart of 1990-2019 agriculture, domestic, and industry freshwater withdrawals in the U.S.
Uncertainties: data day - Annual freshwater withdrawals in the United States (1990-2019)
Uncertainties: data day - Annual freshwater withdrawals in the United States (1990-2019)
Uncertainties: data day - Annual freshwater withdrawals in the United States (1990-2019)

Stacked bar chart of 1990-2019 agriculture, domestic, and industry freshwater withdrawals in the U.S., estimated by the World Bank. In all years, industry withdraws the most freshwater, followed by agriculture and domestic. From 2006 to 2010, industrial water dropped 5,000 cubic kilometers, then remained low.

Stacked bar chart of 1990-2019 agriculture, domestic, and industry freshwater withdrawals in the U.S., estimated by the World Bank. In all years, industry withdraws the most freshwater, followed by agriculture and domestic. From 2006 to 2010, industrial water dropped 5,000 cubic kilometers, then remained low.

Animation of five satellite images of the Tanana River in Alaska. The imagery is colored in shades of blue to show the degree
Uncertainties: monochrome - Estimating streamflow from satellites
Uncertainties: monochrome - Estimating streamflow from satellites
Uncertainties: monochrome - Estimating streamflow from satellites

Animation of five satellite images of the Tanana River in Alaska. The imagery is colored in shades of blue to show the degree of confidence that water is present. Two scatter plots show positive pairwise relationships between satellite river elevation and satellite river width and satellite streamflow.

Animation of five satellite images of the Tanana River in Alaska. The imagery is colored in shades of blue to show the degree of confidence that water is present. Two scatter plots show positive pairwise relationships between satellite river elevation and satellite river width and satellite streamflow.

Six lollipop charts highlight deviations in maximum percent ice cover on the five Great Lakes
Uncertainties: trend - Maximum percent ice cover in the Great Lakes: Difference from 50-year mean (1973-2023)
Uncertainties: trend - Maximum percent ice cover in the Great Lakes: Difference from 50-year mean (1973-2023)
Uncertainties: trend - Maximum percent ice cover in the Great Lakes: Difference from 50-year mean (1973-2023)

Six lollipop charts highlight deviations in maximum percent ice cover on the five Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario) from 1973-2023. The difference in lake ice cover is shown for each lake and across the entire system compared to the 50-year mean (1973-2023).

Six lollipop charts highlight deviations in maximum percent ice cover on the five Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario) from 1973-2023. The difference in lake ice cover is shown for each lake and across the entire system compared to the 50-year mean (1973-2023).