USGS Newsroom

Photos Reveal Severity of Hurricane Sandy's Coastal Impacts

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 9 Nov 2012 15:20:00 EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The USGS has released a series of aerial photographs showing before-and-after images of Hurricane Sandy’s impacts on the Atlantic Coast.

The photos, part of a USGS assessment of coastal change from as far south as the Outer Banks of North Carolina to as far north as Massachusetts, show that the storm caused dramatic changes to portions of shoreline extending hundreds of miles. Pre- and post-storm images of the New Jersey and New York shoreline in particular tell a story of a coastal landscape that was considerably altered by the historic storm.

"Sandy taught us yet again that not all Cat-1 hurricanes are created equal: the superstorm's enormous fetch over the Atlantic produced storm surge and wave erosion of historic proportions," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We have seized this opportunity to gather unique data on a major coastline-altering event."

As major storms approach, the USGS conducts pre-storm and post-storm flights to gather aerial images along the length of the coastline expected to experience impacts from the storm’s landfall. Identifying sites of such impacts helps scientists understand which areas are likely to undergo the most severe impacts from future storms, and improves future coastal impact forecasting.

Photo pairs from North Carolina to Massachusetts will be made available online as the coastal change assessment continues.

"This storm's impact on sandy beaches included significant beach and dune erosion and minor disruption of infrastructure in the south," said USGS oceanographer Nathaniel Plant, "to extreme and often catastrophic erosion, overwash and sediment deposition, and inundation on northern beaches like Mantoloking, New Jersey."

Overwash occurs when storm surge and waves exceed the elevation of protective sand dunes, thereby transporting sand inland. In addition to threatening infrastructure like roadways, it can bury portions of buildings and cause extensive property damage. Since beaches and dunes serve as a first line of defense against extreme storms, this could further compromise the safety of coastal populations.

Data collected from these surveys are also used to improve predictive models of potential impacts from future severe storms. Before a storm makes landfall, USGS makes these predictions to help coastal communities identify areas particularly vulnerable to severe coastal change, such as beach and dune erosion, overwash, and inundation.

For instance, in the days before Sandy approached the eastern seaboard, the USGS ran models forecasting that 91 percent of the Delmarva coastline would experience beach and dune erosion, while 98 percent and 93 percent of beaches and dunes in New Jersey and New York, respectively, were likely to erode. Preliminary analysis suggests that Hurricane Sandy rapidly displaced massive quantities of sand in a capacity that visibly changed the landscape.

The USGS worked closely with the National Park Service to gather field data on pre- and post- storm conditions at Fire Island National Seashore on Long Island. The field team went to Fire Island in advance of the storm to capture the morphology of the beach and dunes. The team re-surveyed the beach to capture its state immediately after the storm, and they found drastic changes.

"We found that there was widespread dune erosion and overwash," said St. Petersburg-based USGS coastal geologist Cheryl Hapke. "On average the dunes eroded back 70 feet - the equivalent of 30-years of change, which had previously been measured. Our data also showed that dunes lost as much as 10 feet of elevation."

This rapid response data was used to help the National Park Service assess the areas of the coast that were most vulnerable to a nor'easter that impacted the coast a week after Sandy.

The USGS is also processing pre- and post-landfall airborne lidar data to gather information on the extent of coastal change caused by Sandy. Lidar, or light detection and ranging, is an aircraft-based remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to collect highly detailed ground elevation data.

USGS Storm-Surge Sensors Deployed Ahead of Tropical Storm Sandy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:01:41 EDT

RESTON, Va. -- Storm response crews from the U.S. Geological Survey are installing more than 150 storm-tide sensors at key locations along the Atlantic Coast -- from the Chesapeake Bay to Massachusetts -- in advance of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sandy.

Working with various partner agencies such as NOAA, FEMA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USGS is securing the storm-tide sensors, frequently called storm-surge sensors, to piers and poles in areas where the storm is expected to make landfall. The instruments being installed will record the precise time the storm-tide arrived, how ocean and inland water levels changed during the storm, the depth of the storm-tide throughout the event, and how long it took for the water to recede.

"In the hours and days before Irene made its epic sweep up the eastern seaboard last year, USGS deployed a record number of storm-surge sensors that yielded important new information on storm tides along some of the most populated coastline in the United States," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now with Sandy we have the opportunity to test and improve predictive models of coastal zone impact based on what we previously learned."

Storm-tides are increases in ocean water levels generated at sea by extreme storms and can have devastating coastal impacts. In locations where tidal forecasts are known, the sensors being installed can also help determine storm surge. For differences between storm-surge and tidal-surge, visit the National Hurricane Center's website.

This information will be used to assess storm damage, discern between wind and flood damage, and improve computer models used to forecast future coastal inundation.

In addition, rapid deployment gauges will be installed at critical locations to provide real-time information to forecast floods and coordinate flood-response activities in the affected areas. The sensors augment a network of existing U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, which are part of the permanent network of more than 7,500 streamgages nationwide.

Of the sensors deployed specifically for Sandy, eight have real-time capability that will allow viewing of the storm-tide as the storm approaches and makes landfall. Besides water level, some of these real-time gauges include precipitation and wind sensors that will transmit all data hourly. All data collected by these sensors and the existing USGS streamgage network will be available on the USGS Storm-Tide Mapper link at www.usgs.gov/hurricanes.

Providing information to support future forecasts could ultimately save lives during future storms. These sensors were deployed for the first time during Hurricane Rita in 2005. Before then, scientists had limited data available to study the effects of storm surge.

"Forecasters at the National Weather Service rely on USGS real-time and long-term data to improve storm surge models and prepare storm-tide warnings," said Brian McCallum, assistant director of the USGS Georgia Water Science Center, who is helping coordinate the sensor installation effort. "Floodplain managers, federal, state and local emergency preparedness officials, emergency responders, scientists and researchers all benefit from the storm-tide and associated flood data. It’s useful for flood damage prevention and public safety."

The USGS studies the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms to better understand potential impacts on coastal areas. Information provided through the sensor networks provides critical data for more accurate modeling and prediction capabilities and allows for improved structure designs and response for public safety.

The USGS also continuously monitors water levels and flows at thousands of the nation's streams on a real-time basis. The public can access this information for their area at the USGS Current Streamflow Conditions web page. Also, USGS WaterAlert allows users to receive a text or email from the USGS when waters are rising in rivers and streams near them.

For the latest forecasts on the storm, listen to NOAA radio. For information on preparing for the storm, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov

Study Confirms Presence of Contaminants in Some New England Bedrock Groundwater, ID's New Concerns, Determines Likely Locations

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:26:36 EDT

The report is posted online. The project website includes selected maps and more information.

PEMBROKE, N.H. -- Potentially harmful levels of naturally occurring arsenic, uranium, radium, radon and manganese have been found in some bedrock groundwater that supplies drinking water wells in New England, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.

While the presence of contaminants, such as arsenic, in some groundwater was already known, this new study identifies several that hadn’t been previously identified. This new report also provides information on the type of bedrock geologic formations where high concentrations are most likely to be found, which will help identify areas most at risk of contamination.

The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal requirements, there are no such requirements for private supplies, which serve more than 2.3 million people in the region. Private well owners can find information on how to have their wells tested here. All of the contaminants identified can be reduced or eliminated through a variety of treatments.

"The same geologic forces which gave rise to the spectacular mountains and architecturally significant rock quarries of New England are also responsible, over time, for leaching trace contaminants into the groundwater that can be harmful to human health," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This study helps focus attention on where and what the risk factors are such that citizens who depend on private wells can get their water tested to ensure peace of mind."

Among the findings, arsenic in untreated samples exceeded federal safety standards for public drinking water at 13 percent of sites – nearly double the national rate. Manganese exceeded its human-health benchmark in more than 7 percent of wells tested. Radon exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed standards in 33 percent of wells. Additionally, uranium, which is easily measurable, was found to be a significant predictor of the presence of other forms of radioactivity (radon, radium, gross alpha radioactivity) that are a cause of concern for human health.

The study, part of an ongoing national effort by the USGS to systematically assess the quality of the Nation’s most important aquifers, is the most comprehensive study of the quality of New England’s bedrock groundwater to date.

“The concentrations above human health benchmarks and the wide variety of natural and man-made contaminants found show the vulnerability of crystalline rock aquifers that millions of people rely on to produce safe drinking water,” said USGS scientist and lead author Sarah Flanagan. “The well-to-well variability of water quality from bedrock aquifers in the region underscores the importance of testing public and private wells individually.”

"The bedrock aquifer in New England is a crucial drinking water resource, supplying water for the majority of our 2.3 million private well owners and many small public water systems in the region," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England office. "This and other scientific studies on bedrock groundwater quality conducted by the USGS provide the scientific foundation for implementing protection programs to ensure that all New Englanders have access to safe, clean drinking water."

For this study, scientists examined water-quality data from more than 4,700 public-supply wells that were sampled for the USEPA Safe Drinking Water Program from 1997 to 2007 and 117 private wells sampled by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program from 1995 to 2007. The samples included only well water from crystalline rock aquifers found in most of New England and small portions of northern New Jersey and southern New York State.

Depending on concentrations and the period of time someone consumes the water, among the potential health issues associated with drinking water containing these contaminants at levels above human health benchmarks include various types of cancer; reproductive and developmental problems; kidney and blood diseases; diabetes; and a weakened immune system.

“This study confirmed many areas already known to have groundwater with high levels of arsenic and radiochemicals and revealed for the first time, the potential fluoride hotspots in parts of the White Mountain region of northern New Hampshire,” said Flanagan.

These hotspots are locations with naturally occurring fluoride that can exceed drinking water standards.

“We also found that high concentrations of many naturally occurring compounds in groundwater were related to specific bedrock formations,” added Flanagan.

In addition to natural sources, human activities affected the quality of groundwater from New England’s crystalline rock aquifers. The researchers found sodium and chloride in water sources, both naturally occurring as well as that from road salt; nitrates; MtBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) and chloroform; and, rarely, pesticides. The concentrations of these contaminants were all below levels of human health concern, but some, such as chloride, had the potential to impact aquatic organisms.

The complete results of the study, Quality of Water from Crystalline Rock Aquifers in New England, New Jersey, and New York, 1995-2007, by Sarah M. Flanagan, Joseph D. Ayotte, and Gilpin R. Robinson, Jr., are available online.

Private well owners in New England can contact their State Drinking Water Programs for guidance and information about well maintenance, testing, and in-home water treatment options.

Information about water quality nationwide is found on the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program website.

Information about the USEPA’s New England Drinking Water Program can be found online.

Access the USGS New Hampshire Water Science Center for more information about water in New England.

USGS Releases Unconventional Gas Estimates for Five East Coast Basins

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:04:29 EDT

Using a geology-based assessment method, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean undiscovered natural gas resource of 3.9 trillion cubic feet and a mean undiscovered natural gas liquids resource of 135 million barrels in continuous accumulations within five East Coast Mesozoic basins, according to a new USGS report.

The area assessed extends across parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The five basins assessed are the Deep River, Taylorsville, South Newark, Dan River-Danville, and Richmond basins. Of those five, the Deep River, in North Carolina; the Taylorsville, primarily in Virginia and southern Maryland; and the South Newark, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are estimated to possess the most resource potential.

"Americans are currently benefitting from a plentiful supply of natural gas from continuous resource accumulations similar to the ones considered in this assessment," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "By providing estimates of undiscovered resources, the USGS helps both producers and consumers understand the future for our domestic supply and the geographic locations for impacts from energy development."

The five basins formed 227 million years ago during the Mesozoic era along the continental margin in response to the regional uplift, extension (rifting), and crustal thinning that occurred during the early opening of the Atlantic Ocean. As the basins formed, they were filled with a variety of sediments, including boulder beds, coarse-grained fluvial to deltaic sandstones, red siltstones, mudstones, gray and black shales, and coal.

The USGS assessment of undiscovered gas resources ranges from 1.8 to 7.1 trillion cubic feet (95 percent and 5 percent probability, respectively). The assessment of undiscovered natural gas liquids ranges from 56 to 260 million barrels (95 percent and 5 percent probability, respectively).

Natural gas resources like those found in the East Coast Mesozoic Basins are known as continuous resources. Continuous resources have a close association with one or more petroleum source rocks and typically extend across a large area of accumulation. Continuous petroleum accumulations may be found in shale, coal, and sandstone. All of the accumulations assessed in this study are "tight gas sandstone" continuous reservoirs.

This assessment of the East Coast Mesozoic basins is based on the geologic and geochemical characteristics of the individual total petroleum systems, or TPS. For the petroleum source rock, the characteristics include the source rock richness, thermal maturation, timing of petroleum generation, and migration; for the reservoir rocks and seals, they include their stratigraphic position and content and petrophysical properties. Using this geologic framework, the USGS defined a composite TPS and an assessment unit for continuous accumulations in each of the 14 major East Coast Mesozoic rift basins. The basins are present both onshore and offshore, in State-administered waters, of the eastern United States. Of those 14 basins, only five had enough data to be quantitatively assessed.

The USGS acknowledges the directors and staff of the state geological surveys of North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey for providing geological information and assisting with the basin-analysis workshops, which were held in preparation for the USGS assessment.

USGS is the only provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources of onshore lands and offshore state waters. The USGS estimates of continuous accumulations within the East Coast Mesozoic basins are part of a nationwide project to assess domestic petroleum basins using standardized methodology and protocol.

To access this assessment, as well as learn more about USGS energy research, please visit the USGS Energy Resources Program, and stay up to date with USGS energy science by subscribing to the USGS Energy Newsletter or following us on Twitter.

USGS Details Effects of Climate Change on Water Availability in 14 Local Basins Nationwide

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 16 May 2012 6:00:00 EDT

Climate change projections indicate a steady increase in temperature progressing through the 21^st century, generally resulting in snowpack reductions, changes to the timing of snowmelt, altered streamflows, and reductions in soil moisture, all of which could affect water management, agriculture, recreation, hazard mitigation, and ecosystems across the nation. Despite some widespread similarities in climate change trends, climate change will affect specific water basins in the U.S. differently, based on the particular hydrologic and geologic conditions in that area.

New USGS modeling studies project changes in water availability due to climate change at the local level. So far, the USGS has applied these models to fourteen basins, including:

"The advantage of these studies is that they demonstrate that there is not just one hydrological response to climate change: the predictions account for essential local factors that will govern the timing, severity, and type of impact, whether it be water shortage, drought, or flood," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This is exactly the sort of information communities need to know now, because we are unlikely to see a 'water-as-usual' future."

These local projections are based on General Circulation Models (GCM) that predict how climate change will affect temperature, precipitation, and emissions for large regional areas. The USGS’s Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) applies information from the downscaled GCM projections to local watersheds, where impacts of climate change on water availability will depend on local conditions. These local-scale hydrologic projections will allow managers to plan for changes in water resources that are specific to their area.

For example, the USGS models project that changes to snow pack in the Sprague River Basin in Oregon could cause annual peak streamflows to occur earlier in the spring as overall basin storage decreases, which may force managers to modify storage operation and reprioritize water deliveries for environmental and human needs. Reduced snowpack in headwaters of the Colorado River could affect the amount and timing of streamflow to the Colorado River and also impact important recreation areas. Portions of Maine may see higher streamflows which could affect populations of endangered Atlantic salmon. Areas of the already drought-stressed Flint River Basin, one of Atlanta’s primary drinking water supplies, are projected to become even drier.

The results for each basin present a complex story due to uncertainty associated with the future climate projections and their effect on the hydrological response of the different geographical regions of the nation.

Detailed information about watershed responses to climate change can be found online. Additionally, a collection of USGS studies that contributed to these basin-wide analyses was published in the journal Earth Interactions.

The downscaled GCM models are obtained from the World Climate Research Programme's Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 multi-model dataset archive. The USGS PRMS models were developed as part of the USGS National Research Program (NRP) in cooperation with USGS Water Science Centers. The NRP develops new information, theories, and techniques to anticipate, understand, and solve problems facing resources managers and is a national leader in understanding the effects of climate change on water resources.

These USGS models are just one of several tools developed and used by agencies within the Department of the Interior to study potential impacts from climate change and to provide tools to resource managers to adapt to those changes. For example, the Bureau of Reclamation recently unveiled a user-friendly tool for calculating future streamflow and water supplies at 195 sites in the western United States to help increase accessibility of science-based information and ease understanding of how climate variations will impact water availability for local communities.

A Big Day for Science: Citizens Have Contributed One Million Observations to Top Nature Database

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 3 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — Thanks to citizen-scientists around the country, the USA National Phenology Network hit a major milestone this week by reaching its one millionth nature observation.

The millionth observation was done by Lucille Tower, a citizen-scientist in Portland, Ore., who entered a record about seeing maple vines flowering. Her data, like all of the entries, came in through USA-NPN’s online observation program, Nature's Notebook, which engages more than 4,000 volunteers across the country to observe and record phenology – the timing of the recurring life events of plants and animals such as when cherry trees or lilacs blossom, when robins build their nests, when salmon swim upstream to spawn or when leaves turn colors in the fall.

Each record not only represents a single data point — the status of a specific life stage of an individual plant or animal on one day – but also benefits both science and society by helping researchers understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and, in turn, how those responses are affecting people and ecological systems.

"My dream is that through the wonders of modern technology and the National Phenology Network we could turn the more than six billion people on the planet into components of our scientific observing system," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We could make giant leaps in science education, improve the spatial and temporal coverage of the planet, lower the cost of scientific data collection, and all while making ordinary citizens feel a part of the scientific process."

Jake Weltzin, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and the executive director of USA-NPN, concurs. "Hitting the one millionth observation is exciting because researchers and decision-makers need more information to understand and respond to our rapidly changing planet. More information means better-informed decisions that ensure the continued vitality of our natural areas that we all depend on and enjoy."

For example, said Weltzin, the data in Nature's Notebook are already being used to benefit society, including the development of more accurate indicators of spring, forecasting the onset of allergy seasons or the chances of western wildfires, managing wildlife and invasive plants, and setting goals for habitat restoration. Ultimately, such information can be used for better managing water resources, wildlife and ecosystem management, and even help farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Changes in phenology are among the most sensitive biological indicators of global change. Across the world, many springtime events are occurring earlier — and fall events happening later — than in the past. These changes are happening quickly for some species and more slowly, or not at all, for others, altering relationships and processes that have been dynamically stable for thousands of years. Some wildlife —like caribou and butterflies — are becoming mismatched from their plant food resources, which are responding differently. Migrations for some birds are changing too, as they can now overwinter instead of moving south for the winter, or as they fly north more quickly to keep pace with an advancing front of spring flowering.

Because of this, said Weltzin, scientists need more and better information about the pace and pattern of nature — locally to nationally — to answer important scientific and societal questions, and to build the tools and models needed to help people understand and adapt to the changes.

"So much of our improved understanding about global environmental changes is driven by varied and valuable sources of information that include networks of citizen-scientists," said John Wingfield, National Science Foundation’s assistant director for biological sciences. "The public at large has played an important role collecting observations and data for a hundred years and more. Knowledge and data gained from their work will continue to have a lasting effect on how we understand regularly recurring biological phenomena for hundreds of plant and animal species and contribute to the policy arena."

Gwen Lundburg in Seattle is one citizen-scientist who has contributed hundreds of entries into Nature’s Notebook. "Just noticing small changes like tiny purple lilac buds suddenly turning green has taught me to look more closely at my plants," Lundburg said. "I see things in my garden I never saw before."

With the help of citizen-scientist volunteers, working in concert with professionals, the USA-NPN, which was established in 2007, collects, stores and freely shares phenological data on more than 800 species of plants and animals. The Nature’s Notebook observing program has been in operation since 2009. The coordinating office of the organization is located at 1955 E. 6^th St., Tucson, Ariz., 85721. For more information, visit the USA National Phenology Network, or contact Jake Weltzin at 520-626-3821 or jweltzin@usgs.gov.

Rising Groundwater Associated with Sea Level Rise Expected to Impact New Haven

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 1 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Basements of some local buildings and underground utilities may be at risk of being inundated by rising groundwater by the end of the 21^st century due to projected rates of sea level rise for the area, according to a preliminary study released today.

The report, produced in partnership by the U.S. Geological Survey and Yale University, indicates that a projected three-foot increase in sea level can be expected to increase groundwater levels in coastal areas, presenting long-term water management issues that could be very costly to mitigate. Groundwater levels may rise even higher if groundwater recharge -- the rate at which water is added to groundwater through precipitation -- also increases.

The report Preliminary Investigations of the Effects of Sea-Level Rise on Groundwater Levels, New Haven, Connecticut, is one of the first reports on a site in Connecticut to examine the effects of sea-level rise on groundwater in a complex urban environment. Studies on climate change and sea-level rise are typically focused on coastal issues like salt water intrusion, coastal erosion or flooding.

"An underappreciated aspect of climate change is going to be the rising toll on property owners in the coastal zone from effects such as the one identified in this report: rising ground water that produces water damage in basements that for decades and possibly a century were dry," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Utility bills will also rise to re-engineer utilities that were not designed to be installed completely above ground, as in the case in more temperate climates farther south."

The study simulated effects from a projected three foot rise in sea-level, which caused groundwater levels beneath New Haven to rise as much as three feet near the shoreline, tapering to less than a half foot rise in groundwater levels farther inland. In a second scenario, scientists coupled the three-foot rise in sea level with a 12-percent increase in the rate of groundwater recharge. In this scenario, simulated groundwater levels rose higher farther inland, and in some areas of New Haven, simulated groundwater levels rose as much as an additional foot when compared to sea-level rise alone.

"Rising groundwater levels are expected to be a chronic problem and will likely be a major issue for all large cities along the coast in the future," said David Bjerklie, USGS hydrologist and lead author on the report.

While this is a preliminary study, the models used illustrate concepts associated with rising sea levels that can be extrapolated to other areas throughout southern New England, and will provide information for the engineering community as they plan to accommodate rising groundwater levels.

"As groundwater levels rise, buildings and basements which were not designed to be in contact with groundwater may be exposed to groundwater seepage, leading to costly de-watering procedures," said John Mullaney, USGS hydrologist and second author of the report. "Knowing how water levels are expected to rise provides planners and engineers with information important for future building design or maintenance."

"In response to the study, Yale has been designing new building projects to accommodate the increases in groundwater levels anticipated in future years," said University Press Secretary Tom Conroy.

The report, is available online.

USGS In the Surge Sampling for Nutrients, Sediment, E. coli, and Pesticides

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:39:09 EDT

Follow USGS on twitter @USGS to learn where the crews will be each day.
Media: If you would like to accompany a USGS crew during sampling, contact Kara Capelli at kcapelli@usgs.gov.

As Hurricane Irene has left her mark along the East Coast, USGS crews are sampling water for pesticides, E. coli, nutrients, and sediment to document water quality in areas affected by the hurricane. This sampling effort is part of the federal government’s broad efforts to ensure public health and to support the state, tribal, and local response to the storm.

Sampling is taking place along the East Coast. Crews will follow the path of the hurricane where it brought high flows.

“Significant high water events are important to document, because a storm event like this can flush large quantities of nutrients, pesticides, and bacteria into rivers and also alter sediment flow,” said Charles Crawford, coordinator of the sampling effort. “When looking at long-term water quality trends and year to year variation, this hurricane could be a defining event for 2011, and it’s important that USGS captures a complete picture of what happens this year.”

Excessive nutrients in the Nation’s rivers, streams and coastal areas are a major issue for water managers, because they cause algal blooms that increase costs to treat drinking water, limit recreational activities, and threaten valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. Increased sediment can cause costly changes in shipping channels, where new sediment can require additional dredging.

“The USGS creates models that relate nutrient, pesticide and sediment concentrations to how much water is flowing,” said Crawford.” In order to have the most accurate model, it’s important to document concentrations during a high flow event such as this one.”

Additionally, high flows from the hurricane have the potential to create higher concentrations of E. Coli in areas that use surface water for drinking.

USGS Responds to Hurricane Irene and Prepares for Aftermath

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:18:11 EDT

Storm-Surge Sensor Installations in Northeast Nearly Complete

* Reporters: want to join a crew recovering storm-surge sensors, making flood flow measurements, or sampling water quality? Contact the above points of contact.

Government scientists have blanketed the East Coast the past few days installing advanced equipment to monitor potential impacts from Hurricane Irene as it moves up the coast. This is part of the Federal government's broad efforts in support of state, tribal and local response to the storm.

U.S. Geological Survey crews completed installations of storm-surge sensors at key locations along the North Carolina coast, Chesapeake and Delaware Bays yesterday, and are finishing installations all the way up the east coast today.

In total, more than 260 emergency sensors needed to measure storm surge will have been installed in critical areas from North Carolina to Maine. The data that the sensors produce will help define the depth and duration of overland storm-surge, as well as the time of its arrival and retreat. That information will help public officials assess storm damage, discern between wind and flood damage, develop better land use and building codes, and improve computer models used to forecast future floods.

The USGS, in cooperation with state and federal agencies, already operates long-term sensor networks on inland rivers and streams throughout through out the nation. These networks provide real-time data important to the National Weather Service, FEMA and other USGS partners involved in issuing flood and evacuation warnings, coordinating emergency responses to communities, and operating flood-control reservoirs.

The information collected by the USGS real-time storm surge sensors is available online. Additionally, the USGS has deployed a live webcam at Virginia Beach, Va., to be able to observe the storm there.

Storm-surges are increases in ocean water levels generated at sea by extreme storms and can have devastating coastal impacts. The USGS studies the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms to better understand potential impacts on coastal areas. Information provided through the sensor networks provides critical data for more accurate modeling and prediction capabilities and allows for improved structure designs and response for public safety.

In addition to the storm surge, the USGS is also looking at streamflows to assist in forecasting flooding, and how water quality and coastal geology may be impacted by the storm.

Streamgages and flooding

Hydrologists from USGS Water Science Centers up the entire coast are prepared to go into the field immediately after the worst of the storm passes to calibrate streamgages and ensure they transmit critical river level and flow velocity information to the National Weather Service for flood forecasting and to emergency officials for response.

Real time data from these streamgages is available online.

Precipitation in Maryland, New Jersey and New York during the last two weeks is already four to six times normal in some of these areas, according the NWS, with Hurricane Irene expected to add significantly to runoff. USGS crews will measure flood flows along streams and major rivers in the days following the storm.

Water quality

Other USGS crews will sample water quality at selected sites along the Atlantic coast to document the impact of Hurricane Irene on water quality. They will be monitoring concentrations and transport to coastal areas of nutrients, sediment, carbon, E. coli, and pesticides during the high flows expected along major rivers in the days following Irene.

Sand movement and overwash

USGS coastal geologists have forecast that sand may be washed inland, covering roads, evacuation routes, and lower levels of homes in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. USGS has completed pre-storm surveys to assess significant coastal erosion expected in this area, and is beginning post-storm survey flights as early as Sunday.

As USGS continues to take all appropriate preparedness and response actions as Hurricane Irene develops over the coming days, we encourage everyone to visit ready.gov or listo.gov for tips on creating emergency plans and putting together an emergency supply kit.

If you are in an impact zone, stay inside, away from windows, and off the roads. Irene remains a dangerous storm, and no hurricanes should be taken lightly.

If you are in an evacuation zone and can still leave, do so now-you are not just risking your own life, but putting first responders in danger and taking resources away from those who need help, including the sick and disabled.

USGS Installs Sensors along Atlantic prior to Hurricane Irene's Arrival

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:51:23 EDT

Hurricane response crews from the USGS have installed storm-surge sensors at key locations along the North Carolina coast in advance of Hurricane Irene. And now, they are actively consulting with federal and state partners about the need for similar equipment for other coastal areas including the Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware Bay, Long Island Sound and even as far north as Cape Cod.

These storm surge sensors, housed in vented steel pipes a few inches wide and about a foot long, are being installed on bridges, piers, and other structures that have a good chance of surviving a storm surge during a hurricane. The information they collect will help define the depth and duration of a storm-surge, as well as the time of its arrival and retreat. That information will help public officials assess storm damage, discern between wind and flood damage, and improve computer models used to forecast future floods.

Storm-surges are increases in ocean water levels generated at sea by extreme storms and can have devastating coastal impacts. Current tracking shows Irene making first landfall over Carolinas’ Outer Banks and Virginia, with secondary landfall projected in New England.

In addition, rapid deployment gauges will be installed along critical roadways to provide real time information to forecast floods and coordinate flood-response activities in the affected areas. The sensors augment a network of existing U.S. Geological Survey gauging stations already in place before the storm arrives. The USGS crews installing the sensors come from water science centers from Georgia to Maine.

The USGS, in cooperation with state and federal agencies, also operates more permanent sensor networks installed along the East Coast of the U.S. These networks provide real-time data important to the National Weather Service, FEMA and other USGS partners involved in issuing flood and evacuation warnings and in coordinating emergency responses to communities.

Additional information can be found on the USGS Preparation and Data Collection Activity for Hurricane Irene, 2011 website.

As USGS continues to take all appropriate preparedness and response actions as Hurricane Irene develops over the coming days, we encourage everyone to visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov for tips on creating emergency plans and putting together an emergency supply kit .

Bats Worth Billions to Agriculture: Pest-control Services at Risk

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:38:46 EDT

Additional Media Contacts:

Paul Cryan, USGS, 970-226-9389, cryanp@usgs.gov
Gary McCracken, University of Tennessee, 865-974-3065, gmccrack@utk.edu
Thomas Kunz, Boston University, 617-353-2474, kunz@bu.edu

Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats in the United States likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year, and yet insectivorous bats are among the most overlooked economically important, non-domesticated animals in North America, according to an analysis published in this week’s Science magazine Policy Forum.

"People often ask why we should care about bats,” said Paul Cryan, a U.S. Geological Survey research scientist and one of the study’s authors. “This analysis suggests that bats are saving us big bucks by gobbling up insects that eat or damage our crops. It is obviously beneficial that insectivorous bats are patrolling the skies at night above our fields and forests — these bats deserve help."

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The value of the pest-control services to agriculture provided by bats in the U.S. alone range from a low of $3.7 billion to a high of $53 billion a year, estimated the study’s authors, scientists from the University of Pretoria (South Africa), USGS, University of Tennessee and Boston University. They also warned that noticeable economic losses to North American agriculture could occur in the next 4 to 5 years as a result of emerging threats to bat populations.

“Bats eat tremendous quantities of flying pest insects, so the loss of bats is likely to have long-term effects on agricultural and ecological systems,” said Justin Boyles, a researcher with the University of Pretoria and the lead author of the study. “Consequently, not only is the conservation of bats important for the well-being of ecosystems, but it is also in the best interest of national and international economies.”

A single little brown bat, which has a body no bigger than an adult’s thumb, can eat 4 to 8 grams (the weight of about a grape or two) of insects each night, the authors wrote. Although this may not sound like much, it adds up — the loss of the one million bats in the Northeast has probably resulted in between 660 and 1320 metric tons of insects no longer being eaten each year by bats in the region.

“Additionally, because the agricultural value of bats in the Northeast is small compared with other parts of the country, such losses could be even more substantial in the extensive agricultural regions in the Midwest and the Great Plains where wind-energy development is booming and the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome was recently detected,” said Tom Kunz, a professor of ecology at Boston University, another co-author.

Although these estimates include the costs of pesticide applications that are not needed because of the pest-control services bats provide, Boyles and his colleagues said they did not account for the detrimental effects of pesticides on ecosystems nor the economic benefits of bats suppressing pest insects in forests, both of which may be considerable.

Bat populations are at risk in some areas of the country as a result of the emerging disease of white-nose syndrome. The loss of bats to white-nose syndrome has largely occurred during the past 4 years, after the disease first appeared in upstate New York. Since then, the fungus thought to cause white-nose syndrome has spread southward and westward and has now been found in 16 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Bat declines in the Northeast, the most severely affected region in the U.S. thus far, have exceeded 70 percent. Populations of at least one species, the little brown bat, have declined so precipitously that scientists expect the species to disappear from the region within the next 20 years.

Scientists are also concerned with the potential for losses of certain species of migratory bats at wind-energy facilities. By one estimate, published by Kunz and colleagues in 2007, about 33,000 to 111,000 bats will die each year by 2020 just in the mountainous region of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands from direct collisions with wind turbines as well as lung damage caused by pressure changes bats experience when flying near moving turbine blades. The issue raised by the authors is that the impacts on bat populations from white nose syndrome and wind turbines are just beginning to interact and might result in economic consequences.

“We hope that our analysis gets people thinking more about the value of bats and why their conservation is important,” said Gary McCracken, a University of Tennessee professor and co-author of the analysis. “The bottom line is that the natural pest-control services provided by bats save farmers a lot of money.”

The authors conclude that solutions to reduce threats to bat populations may be possible in the coming years, but that such work is most likely to be driven by public support that will require a wider awareness of the benefits of insectivorous bats.

The article, “Economic importance of bats in agriculture,” appears in the April 1 edition of Science. Authors are J.G. Boyles, P. Cryan, G. McCracken and T. Kunz.

Extent and Speed of Lionfish Spread Unprecedented

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 8:30:00 EDT

Invasive Marine Fish May Stress Reefs

Gainesville, Fla. -- The rapid spread of lionfishes along the U.S. eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean is the first documented case of a non-native marine fish establishing a self-sustaining population in the region, according to recent U.S. Geological Survey studies.

“Nothing like this has been seen before in these waters,” said Dr. Pam Schofield, a biologist with the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center here. “We’ve observed sightings of numerous non-native species, but the extent and speed with which lionfish have spread has been unprecedented; lionfishes pretty much blanketed the Caribbean in three short years.”

More than 30 species of non-native marine fishes have been sighted off the coast of Florida alone, but until now none of these have demonstrated the ability to survive, reproduce, and spread successfully. Although lionfishes originally came from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, there are now self-sustaining populations spreading along the western Atlantic coast of the U.S. and throughout the Caribbean.

It is not yet clear exactly how the new invasive species will affect reefs in this part of the world. Foremost on the minds of scientists is the lionfishes’ predatory behavior, which may negatively impact native species in the newly invaded ecosystems. They have already been observed preying on and competing with a wide range of native species.

Invasive lionfishes were first reported off Florida’s Atlantic coast in the mid-1980s, but did not become numerous in the region until 2000. Since then, the lionfish population has rapidly spread north through the Atlantic Ocean and south throughout most of the Caribbean. The spreading population is now working its way around the Gulf of Mexico.

Schofield spent years compiling and verifying sightings of lionfishes, reaching out to local experts such as biologists, museum curators, natural resource managers, divemasters and citizens groups to collect detailed records of specimen collections and sightings throughout the region. The records were compiled in the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database and used to map the fishes’ spread.

No one knows for sure exactly how the predecessors of the current population first made it into the Atlantic and Caribbean, but Schofield believes the invasion serves as a warning of the dangers posed by introductions of non-native fishes into an ecosystem.

“This invasion may constitute a harbinger of the emerging threat of non-native marine fishes to coastal systems,” Schofield said.

In the Florida Keys, Schofield and her team are working closely with partners from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Beaufort, North Carolina and Reef Environmental Education Foundation in Key Largo, Florida to analyze lionfish diets, an important first step in understanding their impact on reef ecosystems.

Eradication of lionfishes is probably not possible, admits Schofield. Yet, local control efforts may be able to keep the population tamped down, releasing pressure on the native ecosystem. Many Caribbean countries such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands have begun lionfish control programs. In the U.S., REEF held a series of lionfish derbies in the Florida Keys that resulted in more than 600 lionfishes being removed from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Schofield’s most recent paper, “Update on geographic spread of invasive lionfishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico,” was published in the Dec. 2010 issue of Aquatic Invasions; it updates a 2009 article published in the same journal. For more information on lionfish, see the USGS Lionfish Factsheet.

Background on lionfish biology and ecology is also available on NOAA’s Lionfish Website. Information on REEF’s lionfish programs is available at their website.

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Celebrity Manatee Survived Florida's Harsh Freeze

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:41:51 EDT

Ilya, an adventurous manatee that wandered as far north as Cape Cod last summer, has recently been sighted at several locations around Miami’s Biscayne Bay, confirmed U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologists.

After a winter of harsh conditions that led to hundreds of manatee deaths in Florida, Ilya’s survival was welcome news to biologists and veterinarians who rescued Ilya from the dangerously cold waters of New Jersey last October.

“He doesn’t have any new scars and he’s doing really well,” said Kit Curtin, a scientist contracted by USGS who photographed Ilya. “We think he spent the winter in southeast Florida, where the Gulf Stream can have a warming effect,” she added.

Before being rescued from New Jersey, Ilya had been spotted up and down the Atlantic Coast throughout the summer, making appearances in the Chesapeake Bay before wandering as far north as East Dennis, a small town on the northern side of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. His widespread travels made him an aquatic celebrity.

The USGS biologists confirmed Ilya’s identity by the white scar on his head and notches on his tail, unique markings that match his record in a visual identification database that is maintained to research the manatee population. The database, known as MIPS (Manatee Individual Photo-identification System), contains photos and identification notes for thousands of individual manatees, who are assigned a reference number so that their locations, new scars, health, and reproductive habits can be updated over the course of their lifetime.

Often, researchers go a step further and name the manatees that they tag and follow with radio or satellite equipment.

“We’re all pleased that Ilya survived despite January’s extreme freeze,” said USGS biologist Cathy Beck, who researches manatee biology for the Sirenia Project.

She added, “Ilya’s survival against the odds is one of those stories that really fuels our research – why did Ilya survive when so many others succumbed to the cold? Was it because he knew how to find a warm water shelter, was he just in good physical condition, or did his genes somehow give him an advantage? Those are some of the questions we are trying to answer through the MIPS database.”

The Sirenia Project provides survival estimates of adult manatees, scientific details about their biology, and has even helped test the effectiveness of proposed management approaches with computer models. The scientific information is used by state and federal agencies to develop effective plans to protect and conserve manatee populations.

When asked about the likelihood that Ilya would return up north, Curtin replied, “Male manatees usually start their migrations in April, so just because he’s down in Florida now doesn’t mean he might not start a trek back again this year.”

For more information on USGS manatee research, visit the Southeast Ecological Science Center Web site.

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High Flows in Connecticut from Recent Storm Estimated

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 1 Apr 2010 17:34:32 EDT

The recent storm that brought heavy rain to the region resulted in high flows for rivers in southeastern Connecticut. Some rivers had record-breaking flows, according to preliminary estimates released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

During the storm, Pendleton Hill Brook in North Stonington had its highest flow in more than 50 years, measuring about 700 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Cherry Hill Road. The Yantic River in Norwich had its fourth largest flow in nearly 80 years (7,610 cfs) and exceeded the National Weather Service flood stage by 4 ft. The Quinebaug River in Jewett City had its fourth highest flow in more than 90 years (24,300 cfs)

“The peak flows in the Pendleton Hill Brook had about a 1 in 100 chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, ” said Elizabeth Ahearn of the USGS Connecticut Water Science Center. “The peak flows in the Yantic River and Quinebaug River had about a 1 in 25 chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year;” Ahearn noted.

More than 7 inches of rain fell across southeast Connecticut, where many small rivers and streams exceeded their banks. Prior to the March 29-30^th storm, excessive rainfall from two other events had saturated the soils and raised river levels in most of the state.

The USGS operates a network of about 7500 streamgages throughout the U.S. Seventy streamgages are in Connecticut. The gages provide critical information within minutes to the National Weather Service, which relies on USGS data to issue flood warnings, and Connecticut Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, which alerts Town and Cities of river and coastal flooding.

During and after storms and floods, USGS hydrologic technicians also measure the flow and height of rivers and verify that gages are working properly.

Graphs and tables showing the real-time streamflow data for the last 120 days can be found on the web and historical periods of record and the annual peak flows collected at USGS gages in Connecticut also can be found on the web.

USGS Preliminary Information on High River Flows in Northeastern U.S.

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 1 Apr 2010 16:05:08 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is releasing the following preliminary data on flooding in the Northeastern U.S.

In Connecticut: During the storm, Pendleton Hill Brook in North Stonington had its highest flow in more than 50 years, measuring about 700 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Cherry Hill Road. The Yantic River in Norwich had its fourth largest flow in nearly 80 years (7,610 cfs) and exceeded the National Weather Service flood stage by 4 ft. The Quinebaug River in Jewett City had its fourth highest flow in more than 90 years (24,300 cfs)

Contact: Elizabeth Ahearn 860-291-6745.

On Long Island: Record or near-record-high groundwater levels are occurring across many parts of Long Island as a result of frequent and intense precipitation during the past several months. Record-high groundwater will continue for weeks to come, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The high water-table has caused widespread flooding of basements in parts of southwestern Nassau County and in central Suffolk County. Water-level records from wells in these areas show long-term upward trends that have reached record or near-record highs. More sporadic flooding has been reported in some locations near-shore and near stream channels throughout Long Island.

Contact: Ronald Busciolano (631) 736-0783, ext. 104

River Flows in Rhode Island Called “Historic”: In Rhode Island 22 of the 27 long-term network streamgages that measure the state’s rivers and streams exceeded their previous period of record peaks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The flows at the majority of these 22 streamgages peaked March 30-31. The Pawtuxet River at Cranston, RI set new records, exceeding the 9.00 foot flood stage by 11.79 feet and flow (14,100 cfs) versus the previous records of 5.50 feet above flood stage and 5,440 cfs of flow set in 1982. The Pawtuxet River streamgage has been in operation since 1940. The Pawcatuck River at Westerly, RI also set a new record for flow at 9,390 cfs versus the previous record of 7,070 cfs set in 1982. The Pawcatuck River streamgage has been in operation since 1939. The Blackstone River at Woonsocket exceeded its 9 foot flood stage by 5.5 feet and had a preliminary peak flow of 14,900 cfs.

Contact: Gardner Bent 508-751-3292.

In Massachusetts 8 of the 30 long-term network streamgages that measure the state’s rivers and streams have exceeded their previous period of record peaks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Flows at most of these streamgages have peaked and are starting to recede but flows at a few streamgages are currently at the maximum and will receded slowly over the next few days.The Charles River at Waltham, MA set new records for stage and discharge (7.56 feet, 4,160 cubic feet per second) exceeding the previous peaks of 6.54 feet and 4,150 cubic feet per second. The Charles River streamgage has been in operation since 1931. The Concord River at Lowell, MA set new records for stage and discharge (9.74 feet, 5,660 cubic feet per second) exceeding the previous peaks of 9.60 feet and 5,410 cubic feet per second. The Concord River streamgage has been in operation since 1936. The Shawsheen River near Wilmington, MA set new records for stage and discharge (10.59 feet, 1,900 cubic feet per second) which exceeded the previous peaks of 10.49 feet and 1,850 cubic feet per second. The Shawsheen River streamgage has been in operation since 1963. You can view stage and discharge data for all streamgages operated by the USGS in Rhode Island and Massachusetts online

During storms, USGS field crews measure the flow and height of rivers and verify the accuracy of streamgages. Field crews will also continue to work as waters recede, gathering high water marks for post flood analysis.

The USGS operates a network of about 7500 streamgages throughout the U.S. The gages provide critical information within minutes to many users including the National Weather Service, which issues flood warnings.

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state. They can provide more detailed information on stream conditions and on the USGS response to local events.