San Francisco Bay-Delta
The Bay-Delta is a nexus for challenging issues about water, ecosystems, and human use. USGS science helps address key problems and uncertainties.
The Bay-Delta is a nexus for challenging issues about water, ecosystems, and human use. USGS science helps address key problems and uncertainties.
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
How does Glen Canyon Dam affect downstream Colorado River resources?
How does Glen Canyon Dam affect downstream Colorado River resources?
Lake Tahoe
An underwater view of periphyton growing on rocks near the shore of Lake Tahoe with a reflection of the rocks on the water surface
An underwater view of periphyton growing on rocks near the shore of Lake Tahoe with a reflection of the rocks on the water surface
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is facing many challenges as inflows and water levels decline. USGS science helps identify problems and evaluate possible solutions.
The Salton Sea is facing many challenges as inflows and water levels decline. USGS science helps identify problems and evaluate possible solutions.
New Technologies for Mapping Surface Soil Moisture
Coastal Dwellers
Southwest Region
The Southwest Region covers Arizona, California, Nevada, and a portion of southern Oregon. Our scientists do a broad array of research and technical assistance throughout the U.S. and across the globe. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight & support, facilitates internal & external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science direction.
News
Media Alert: Low-level flights to image geology over parts of south-central New Mexico
Media Alert: Low-level flights to image geology over parts of south-central New Mexico
Erosion following wildfire has increased in California since 1984
Erosion following wildfire has increased in California since 1984
Low-flying airplane mapping parts of northwestern California
Low-flying airplane mapping parts of northwestern California
Publications
Bees of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge—A preliminary report on a bee survey in a vulnerable semi-desert grassland of the Sonoran Desert
Pollinators are vital to the continued existence and seed production of about 87.5 percent of all flowering plants (Ollerton and others, 2011). In the semi-desert grasslands of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, in the Sonoran Desert of the United States, flowering forbs provide seed vital to the food base of wildlife, including the 136 species of resident and migratory birds using the Refuge’
Analyzing spatial distributions and alignments of pitted cone features in Utopia Planitia on Mars
Martian geomorphology and surface features provide links to understanding past geologic processes such as fluid movement, local and regional tectonics, and feature formation mechanisms. Pitted cones are common features in the northern plains basins of Mars. They have been proposed to have formed from upwelling volatile-rich fluids, such as magma or water-sediment slurries. In this study, we map th
Near surface sediments introduce low frequency noise into gravity models
3D geologic modeling and mapping often relies on gravity modeling to identify key geologic structures, such as basin depth, fault offset, or fault dip. Such gravity models generally assume either homogeneous or spatially uncorrelated densities within modeled rock bodies and overlying sediments, with average densities typically derived from surface and drill-hole sampling. The noise contributed to
Science
Partners in Science
Partners in Science is a collaborative effort between Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Grand Canyon Youth, and the National Park Service to provide opportunities for youth to engage in scientific field research in Grand Canyon. This partnership connects youth from diverse backgrounds with the Nation’s natural and cultural resources on 2-3 river-based expeditions on the Colorado River...
Can ruderal components of biocrust (mosses and cyanobacteria) be maintained under increasing threats of drought, grazing and feral horses?
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are a community of living organisms, like moss, lichen, and algae, covering soils in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, providing important ecological functions like carbon cycling and soil stabilization. Analyses show that biocrusts are negatively associated with the abundance of invasive annual grasses that are responsible for increasing fire across the Great Basin...
U.S. Geological Survey Develops Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Sampling Guide
USGS scientist’s published a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) sampling guide for personnel involved with Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) activities. This guide introduces individuals involved in NRDAR efforts and other investigators to key concepts and considerations when sampling different environmental media for PFAS.