The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
Images
Settings
Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.
The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY
Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY
USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs.
USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs.
This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.
This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.
At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.
Qu'est-ce que le cycle de l'eau?
Qu'est-ce que le cycle de l'eau?
This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.
This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.
Chemicals can take a long time to appear in groundwater
Chemicals can take a long time to appear in groundwater
USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms.
USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms.
Details of Crystal Geyser can be found at https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/crystal-geyser/ Photo shows tufa deposits at the geyser deposited by disolved calcium carbonate.
Details of Crystal Geyser can be found at https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/crystal-geyser/ Photo shows tufa deposits at the geyser deposited by disolved calcium carbonate.
SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.
SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.
Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.
Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. https://www.usgs.gov/nationalparks Photo by Annie Scott, USGS
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. https://www.usgs.gov/nationalparks Photo by Annie Scott, USGS
BsalSwabbing - The rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) is a native western species susceptible to the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), in laboratory studies.
BsalSwabbing - The rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) is a native western species susceptible to the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), in laboratory studies.
On August 7, HVO geologists measured temperatures and documented the rock layers exposed as sections of Highway 132 buried by lava during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption are "ripped" (shown here) to reopen the road. USGS photo by C. Parcheta, 08-07-2019.
On August 7, HVO geologists measured temperatures and documented the rock layers exposed as sections of Highway 132 buried by lava during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption are "ripped" (shown here) to reopen the road. USGS photo by C. Parcheta, 08-07-2019.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, while assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory colleagues this summer, mounted a radio antenna on an upgraded seismic station at Great Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutian Islands.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, while assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory colleagues this summer, mounted a radio antenna on an upgraded seismic station at Great Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutian Islands.
Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935
Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.