A National Park Service researcher holds a brook trout in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Scientists have found low levels of mercury found in fish from National Parks in Western States.
Images
![Scientist holding a brook trout with gloved hands](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/mt_rainier_3rd_4th_deployment-295_l.jpg?itok=Kj4tKdtB)
A National Park Service researcher holds a brook trout in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Scientists have found low levels of mercury found in fish from National Parks in Western States.
View looking west from Fishermans Cove, across Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The small sticks in the lake are a small-scale sampling grid.
View looking west from Fishermans Cove, across Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The small sticks in the lake are a small-scale sampling grid.
USGS scientist collects water samples and measures stream-water field parameters at North Sylamore Creek, Arkansas, on January 7, 2014. About 60 sample bottles are filled and shipped to USGS and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency laboratories across the Nation for chemical and biological analysis.
USGS scientist collects water samples and measures stream-water field parameters at North Sylamore Creek, Arkansas, on January 7, 2014. About 60 sample bottles are filled and shipped to USGS and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency laboratories across the Nation for chemical and biological analysis.
![A former uranium mill tailings site near Rifle, Colorado](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/bargar_pnas_rifle_co_site_1_l.jpg?itok=Mjs1qffD)
A former uranium mill tailings site near Rifle, Colorado, is next to the Colorado River.
A former uranium mill tailings site near Rifle, Colorado, is next to the Colorado River.
![USGS scientist records information at a sampling site on a stream in Pennsylvania](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/dbp_skalak_at_wwtp_outfall_l.jpg?itok=So8ZviOh)
USGS scientist records information at a sampling site on a stream in Pennsylvania. The stream was sampled immediately downstream of the point of discharge of treated wastewater.
USGS scientist records information at a sampling site on a stream in Pennsylvania. The stream was sampled immediately downstream of the point of discharge of treated wastewater.
![Tidepool scenes of vibrantly colored sea stars could become a rarity as the Sea Star Wasting Disease spreads.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/sea_star_graphic_l.jpg?itok=2tDfGcgp)
Tidepool scenes of vibrantly colored sea stars could become a rarity as the Sea Star Wasting Disease spreads.
Tidepool scenes of vibrantly colored sea stars could become a rarity as the Sea Star Wasting Disease spreads.
![USGS scientists used advanced analytical equipment to investigate the composition of POEA (polyoxyethylene tallow amine)](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/ks_ogrl_analytical_equipment_img_1670_l.jpg?itok=xCkZRmIk)
USGS scientists used advanced analytical equipment to investigate the composition of POEA (polyoxyethylene tallow amine).
USGS scientists used advanced analytical equipment to investigate the composition of POEA (polyoxyethylene tallow amine).
Recent advancements in assessments using early life stages of test organisms (like the larval mussels shown) provide robust alternatives to full life-cycle chronic ecotoxicity tests. For more information on aquatic toxicology test organisms refer to the U.S.
Recent advancements in assessments using early life stages of test organisms (like the larval mussels shown) provide robust alternatives to full life-cycle chronic ecotoxicity tests. For more information on aquatic toxicology test organisms refer to the U.S.
![Left Hand Canyon damage by the September 2013 Colorado floodwaters](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/left_hand_creek_sediment_l.jpg?itok=LZtMeEKN)
The copious rocks carried by the September 2013 Colorado floodwaters pulverized and diluted non-floatable materials from the built environment on the Left Hand Canyon.
The copious rocks carried by the September 2013 Colorado floodwaters pulverized and diluted non-floatable materials from the built environment on the Left Hand Canyon.
While sampling the sediments deposited by the September 2013 Colorado floods, the scientists observed that roads (Left Hand Canyon highway) and houses built on the outside bends of river meanders were particularly vulnerable to flood damages.
While sampling the sediments deposited by the September 2013 Colorado floods, the scientists observed that roads (Left Hand Canyon highway) and houses built on the outside bends of river meanders were particularly vulnerable to flood damages.
![Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) chick in nest with ground squirrel carcasses and what's left of a raptor](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/golden_eagle_and_nest_contents_garth_herring_l.jpg?itok=URsjIm1Y)
Golden eagle chick in nest with ground squirrel and raptor carcasses
Golden eagle chick in nest with ground squirrel and raptor carcasses
![Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Photo%20of%20Neal.jpg?itok=eVmF9hRQ)
Neal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
Neal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
![Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/yellow-billed_loon_ryan_askren_l.jpg?itok=Z0t3sgIF)
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.
Yellow-billed loons are exposed to mercury on their wintering grounds in Asia before migrating to Alaska for breeding.
![Dr. Isabelle M. Cozzarellli (far right) and her colleagues pause for a photograph](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/as_team_core_sample_bemidji_1_crop_l.jpg?itok=Ppdt-ArN)
Dr. Isabelle M. Cozzarellli (far right) and her colleagues pause for a photograph at the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site, Bemidji, Minnesota. They are holding a core sample collected with "freezing drive shoe" technology developed by U.S.
Dr. Isabelle M. Cozzarellli (far right) and her colleagues pause for a photograph at the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site, Bemidji, Minnesota. They are holding a core sample collected with "freezing drive shoe" technology developed by U.S.
![A core sample was collected from the uppermost saturated portion of the sandy aquifer using the "freezing drive shoe" technology](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/as_team_core_sample_bemidji_1_crop_l_0.jpg?itok=5uWhQ1QE)
A core sample was collected from the uppermost saturated portion of the sandy aquifer using the "freezing drive shoe" technology developed by USGS scientists at the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site.
A core sample was collected from the uppermost saturated portion of the sandy aquifer using the "freezing drive shoe" technology developed by USGS scientists at the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site.
![A scientist completes anaerobic processing of sediment from selected core depths prior to geochemical analyses](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/processing_as_project_cores_bemidji_22_l.jpg?itok=CLbxhnHM)
A scientist completes anaerobic processing of sediment from selected core depths prior to geochemical analyses.
A scientist completes anaerobic processing of sediment from selected core depths prior to geochemical analyses.
![Scientist Uses a Syringe to Withdraw Water from a Core](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/close_up_pore_water_extraction_bemidji_2013_edit.jpg?itok=r_MK2-zI)
To help understand the geochemical conditions that control arsenic mobilization in the subsurface a U.S. Geological Survey scientist uses a syringe to withdraw water from a core for analysis.
To help understand the geochemical conditions that control arsenic mobilization in the subsurface a U.S. Geological Survey scientist uses a syringe to withdraw water from a core for analysis.
![Scientist Uses a Syringe to Withdraw Water from a Core](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/close_up_pore_water_extraction_bemidji_2013_edit_0.jpg?itok=LgBH3Bq5)
To help understand the geochemical conditions that control arsenic mobilization in the subsurface a USGS scientist uses a syringe to withdraw water from a core for analysis.
To help understand the geochemical conditions that control arsenic mobilization in the subsurface a USGS scientist uses a syringe to withdraw water from a core for analysis.
![Tundra swans that nest in Alaska are exposed to lead on their wintering grounds along the Atlantic Coast](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/tundra_swan_ryan_askren_l.jpg?itok=bkWBdytV)
Tundra swans that nest in Alaska are exposed to lead on their wintering grounds along the Atlantic Coast.
Tundra swans that nest in Alaska are exposed to lead on their wintering grounds along the Atlantic Coast.
USGS scientists collecting soil samples at Canyon Mine.
USGS scientists collecting soil samples at Canyon Mine.
![USGS Scientists Collecting Soil Samples on the Canyon Mine Property](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/canyon_mine_sampling_2_p6070816_l.jpg?itok=sQ16a0Xk)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists collecting soil samples on the Canyon Mine property, Arizona. The mine's headframe and mine workshop are visible in the background.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists collecting soil samples on the Canyon Mine property, Arizona. The mine's headframe and mine workshop are visible in the background.