All News

PCMSC’s Andy O’Neill Receives CSBPA’s Joe Johnson Outstanding Service Award

ppearsall@usgs.gov — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:11:09 EDT

This annual award honors coastal scientists, planners, engineers, and innovators who advance the knowledge and understanding of coastal science and coastal processes, with special focus on California and the West Coast.

Photo & Video Chronology — May 19, 2026 — Kīlauea summit fieldwork

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 22:07:25 EDT

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a GPS survey to measure the elevation along a transect across the tephra cone formed by lava fountaining episodes at the summit of Kīlauea. Repeat measurements across the same set of points have been done after episodes to track the hill growth and changes over time.

As Wildfires Burn, Rainfall Can Strip Oxygen From Rivers, Killing Fish

jason_burton@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:22:52 EDT

Runoff from a high-intensity storm during the 2022 McKinney Fire depleted oxygen in the Klamath River to levels lethal to fish, killing aquatic life along nearly 60 miles of one of California's most culturally significant waterways, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study.

Causal Analysis of Fire Regime Drivers

sally_house@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:12:04 EDT

Join us for a co-hosted USGS Friday's Findings / Fueling Discovery webinar that takes a closer look at how climate and human factors influence wildfire activity.

Genetic Diversity is a Key Factor in Climate-Driven Range Shifts

cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:32:49 EDT

A new global study of nearly 1,900 species, co-authored by National CASC scientists, shows that species with higher genetic diversity are better able to persist in changing conditions and expand their ranges as the climate warms.

Webinar Series - Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:54:03 EDT

Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science is a public webinar series hosted by USGS Wildland Fire Science and the Ecosystems Mission Area. These webinars are meant to provide information on the breadth of USGS fire science used by stakeholders to make decisions before, during, and after wildfires in ecosystems across the U.S.

Celebrating American Wetlands Month with USGS Wetland Science

kkovacs@usgs.gov — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:45:00 EDT

This month we’re recognizing American Wetlands Month by sharing the important wetland science the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC) provides to partners along the Gulf Coast, throughout America, and around the world.

Repeated Marine Heatwaves Have Dramatically Reshaped Coral Reefs in Hawaiʻi National Parks

ppearsall@usgs.gov — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:14:25 EDT

Coral reefs along Hawaiʻi’s Kona Coast have undergone major declines over the past two decades, according to a new report from USGS and the National Park Service (NPS).

Acadia National Park Stream Crossings Assessed for Erosion Potential, Flood Vulnerability

krossos@usgs.gov — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:24:49 EDT

Acadia National Park has had stronger and more frequent precipitation events in recent years, leading to a rise in high, infrastructure-damaging streamflows (flood flows), stream erosion, and costly impairments to historic carriage roads and trails.

Happy 25th Birthday YVO!

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 18 May 2026 06:00:00 EDT

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory is turning 25 years old! Surprisingly, the seeds for the observatory were planted at Lassen Volcanic National Park, almost 1,000 miles to the southwest.

Photo & Video Chronology — May 14, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 47

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Fri, 15 May 2026 22:54:43 EDT

Episode 47 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea lasted for 9 hours, from 3:27 p.m. HST on May 14, 2026, until 12:27 a.m. HST on May 15, 2026. Lava fountained from the north vent; sparse tephra fell in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Fine ash and Peleʻs hair fell outside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in communities to the northeast.

The U.S. Geological Survey Library Celebrates Our Nation's 250th Anniversary

rlgarcia@usgs.gov — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:42:05 EDT

June – August 2026

In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the USGS Library will host a special art installation in the National Center Art Hallway throughout the months of June, July, and August.

Volcano Watch — A “window” into forecasting fountaining episodes at Kīlauea’s summit

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:19:16 EDT

Over the past month, the frequency of fountaining events at the summit of Kīlauea has increased to nearly one per week. This is reminiscent of the early days of the current episodic eruption that began on December 23, 2024. Nonetheless in 2026, we started to get used to longer pauses between episodes, which allowed for more time to clean up fallout if necessary and to prepare for the next episode.

Volcano Minute — Forecasting fountaining episodes at Kīlauea's summit

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:24:38 EDT

Over the past month, Kīlauea’s summit has seen fountaining episodes nearly every week—much faster than earlier in this eruption, which began in December 2024. These quick turnarounds happen because recent episodes have erupted less lava, allowing the volcano’s magma system to recover more quickly.

Photo & Video Chronology — May 12, 2026 — Kīlauea summit overflight

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Wed, 13 May 2026 21:34:36 EDT

On May 12, 2026, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a helicopter overflight around Halema‘uma‘u crater and the eruptive vents at Kīlauea summit.

Knowing what's at stake: USGS maps wildfire risk on the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

meredith_hartwell@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:00:00 EDT

USGS researchers partnered with the White Mountain Apache Tribe to develop a first-of-its-kind wildfire risk assessment tailored to the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona, mapping fire risk to wildlands, wildlife, and livelihoods.

Where surface water runs low, groundwater supplements water supply

aaarcher@usgs.gov — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:19:00 EDT

Both surface water and groundwater provide critical water supplies across the United States. In surface-water limited regions, users turn to groundwater to meet water demand. But water above and below the ground can be closely connected. Is groundwater the answer to limited surface water supplies?

USGS, NASA Map Critical Minerals from 65,000 Feet

jason_burton@ios.doi.gov — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 EDT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA announced an addition to the world’s largest airborne hyperspectral survey – a digital portrait of critical minerals and geology in the American West, taken from 12 miles up.

Your Favorite Software for Calculating Shoreline Change Just Got Better

sernst@usgs.gov — Tue, 12 May 2026 11:40:12 EDT

Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6.1 is now available, offering new and reinstated features such as more data export options, enhanced editing tools and customizable symbology, and the ability to forecast shoreline positions.

IGBST Public Notifications and Resources

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Tue, 12 May 2026 06:15:00 EDT

As part of ongoing efforts required under the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the current field season.

USGS Response to April 2026 Michigan and Wisconsin Floods

jvelkoverh@usgs.gov — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:00:00 EDT

In mid-to late April 2026, Michigan and Wisconsin faced one of the wettest springs on record, as rapid snowmelt combined with sustained, record‑breaking rainfall produced widespread flooding across rivers and streams.

A tribute to Mike Stickney, Montana’s earthquake expert!

mpoland@usgs.gov — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:30:00 EDT

Mike Stickney was a one-person earthquake hazards show in Montana for 45 years and a valuable contributor to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. His retirement in 2025 is a good excuse to celebrate his understated yet impactful career.

May ScienceBase Data Release Training for USGS Authors and Data Managers

aliford@usgs.gov — Fri, 8 May 2026 14:02:32 EDT

The USGS Science Data Management Branch will be hosting two upcoming training events for USGS authors and data managers. The first will be our general ScienceBase data release training and the second will be training on data release revisions.

Congratulations to the 2026 CDI Awarded Projects

lhsu@usgs.gov — Fri, 8 May 2026 12:45:00 EDT

The Community for Data Integration announces ten projects to be supported in FY2026. The theme this year was R2X (Research to Technology, Application, or Operations), and USGS Data Strategy goals in support of USGS and Department of the Interior priorities.

Volcano Watch — Think Hawaii has many volcanoes? Think again, says El Salvador

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Thu, 7 May 2026 20:03:07 EDT

This past March, a team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists—two of whom travelled from Hawaii—visited El Salvador in Central America for volcanological field studies and a workshop on lava flow hazards. Exchanges like this help to improve awareness of volcanic hazards in other countries, and they enable the USGS to better understand volcanoes in our own backyard.

1,000 Cameras and Counting

jlmckay@usgs.gov — Thu, 7 May 2026 13:49:24 EDT

The USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) now has more than 1,000 active webcams providing remote visibility of current water conditions. This real-time imagery supports water science and public safety nationwide.

Experts Gather at Lake Tahoe to Reimagine the Future of Recreational Fishing

cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov — Wed, 6 May 2026 14:59:21 EDT

National and Midwest CASC scientists participated in a workshop focused on the future of recreational fisheries in North America. The workshop highlighted science-backed adaptive management strategies and collaboration as key to sustaining fishing opportunities.

Notes From The Field: Wintering Rosy-Finches

kharvey@usgs.gov — Wed, 6 May 2026 13:35:35 EDT

"Notes from the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding. This article focuses on a long-term Rosy-Finch monitoring project in New Mexico.

USGS releases assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Bossier Formation of Gulf Coast

seth_amgott@ios.doi.gov — Wed, 6 May 2026 13:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of undiscovered gas and oil in the Bossier Formation along the Gulf Coast, assessing that there are technically recoverable resources of 343.5 trillion cubic feet of gas – enough to supply the United States for more than 10 years at the current rate of consumption -- as well as 3 million barrels of oil.

Photo & Video Chronology — May 5, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 46

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Tue, 5 May 2026 21:46:43 EDT

Episode 46 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 8:17 a.m. HST on May 5, after one day of precursory activity. The north vent erupted lava fountains reaching up to 650 feet (200 meters) above ground level. Minor tephra fallout was reported to the north-northwest and northeast of the eruptive vents.