USGS Newsroom

Crowd-Sourcing the Nation: Using Volunteers for Enhanced Data Collection

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:41:01 EDT

The USGS is expanding the involvement of volunteers to enhance data collection about structures for The National Map.

This program, known as The National Map Corps, focuses on encouraging citizens to collect data relating to structures by both adding new features and/or correcting existing data within The National Map database. These structures can include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public places.

Collaborative pilot projects in Colorado were recently used to test the concept of crowd-sourcing. While the project is on-going, early indications point to positive results and show the success of using TNMC volunteers to enhance data sets.

Over a trial period of ten months, 143 volunteers collected, improved, or deleted data on more than 6,400 structures in Colorado. The volunteers’ actions were accurate and exceeded USGS quality standards. In the Colorado pilot project the volunteer-collected data showed an improvement of approximately 25 percent in both location and attribute accuracy for existing data points. Completeness, or the extent to which all appropriate features were identified and recorded, was nearly perfect.

The significant results of the Colorado pilot have led to a phased, nation-wide expansion of the crowd-sourcing /volunteer project. The states in the first expansion of TNMC are: Arkansas, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

After an evaluation of the quality and procedures of the first group of states, the second set will be made available. Ultimately, by the end of 2013, the third batch of states will complete the expansion of the program.

"The response by volunteers in Colorado exceeded our expectations both in terms of the number of volunteers and the quality of the data they collected”, said Kari Craun, the Director of the USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. “The Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) community represents a fantastic, untapped resource to assist USGS in maintaining data that are part of The National Map.”

While some familiarity with the area that a volunteer chooses is helpful, one doesn’t have to live near a particular place to contribute. The tools on TNMC website, along with ancillary information available on the Internet, are generally sufficient to edit a distant area.

There have been several instances of crowd-sourced geographic information making significant contributions to research and databases in government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. The goal of the TNMC is to provide data for the nation’s primary federal mapping agency in its effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial data via the web-based National Map.

The citizen geographers/cartographers who participate in this program will make a significant addition to the USGS’s ability to provide accurate information to the public. Data collected by volunteers become part of TNM Structures dataset which is available to users free of charge.

Without a network of volunteers, the desired information would not be collected this year and the existing data would not be updated. TNMC volunteers perform important work that otherwise will not be accomplished in the foreseeable future.

Becoming a volunteer for TNMC is easy; go to the National Map Corps website to learn more and to sign up as a volunteer. If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time to editing map data, we hope you will consider participating!

Birds at Sea and Offshore Wind Energy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 11:59:28 EDT

Topic of Free Lecture Wednesday

Reston, Va. – Offshore wind energy development and migratory birds is the topic of a free public lecture Wednesday, December 5, at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Geological Survey National Center in Reston, Va.

Titled, "Birds at Sea and Offshore Wind Energy," the lecture takes place in a federal facility and a valid photo ID is required for entry by attendees 18 years of age and older. Attendees should plan to arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes early to process through security.

For this lecture, USGS scientists Alicia Berlin and Allan O'Connell will discuss efforts to determine the potential effects of offshore wind energy development on more than 60 different sea-bird species along the Atlantic coast. USGS collaborative research on the migratory routes and patterns of sea birds is being used to help inform decisions on potential locations of wind farms in Atlantic waters.

For more information and directions visit the Public Lecture Series website.

Those unable to attend the lecture in person can follow it live on Twitter @USGSLive

These evening events are free to the public and intended to familiarize a general audience with science issues that are meaningful to their daily lives. USGS speakers are selected for their ability and enthusiasm to share their expertise with an audience that may be unfamiliar with the topic.

The series provides the public an opportunity to interact with USGS scientists and ask questions about recent developments in Natural Hazards; Water; Energy Minerals and Environmental Health; Climate and Land Use Change; Ecosystems; and Core Science Systems. Ultimately, the goal is to create a better understanding of the importance and value of USGS science in action.

North Carolina, Delmarva Coastlines Changed by Hurricane Sandy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:10:57 EDT

USGS releases new before-and-after photos

Updated

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. Among the latest photo pairs to be published are images showing the extent of coastal change in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

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. Meanwhile, images from hundreds of miles south of the storm’s landfall demonstrate that the storm’s breadth caused significant coastal change as far south as the Carolinas.

"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 are now available online.

"This storm’s impact on sandy beaches included disruption of infrastructure in the south, such as overwash of roads near Pea Island, Buxton, and Rodanthe in N.C., and some dune erosion near Duck, N.C.," said St. Petersburg-based USGS oceanographer Nathaniel Plant. Such storm-induced changes to the coastal profile can jeopardize the resilience of impacted coastal communities in the path of subsequent storms.

"Houses and infrastructure may be more vulnerable to future storms because beaches are narrower and dunes are lower," Plant said.

The configuration of a coastline's physical features determine how it will respond to storm forces, and whether it will experience erosion, overwash, or inundation.

In South Bethany, Delaware, the storm appears to have eroded a low dune that had stood between the Atlantic and a row of beachfront homes. Like overwash, beach and dune erosion can compromise a coastline's natural defenses against future storms.

The Hurricanes and Extreme Storms team aims to quantify the degree to which such these defenses have weakened in all areas Hurricane Sandy impacted.

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 assessment also includes pre- and post-landfall airborne lidar data, which offers a more quantitative look at 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.

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.

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.

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 Sampling Water for Nutrients, Sediment, and Pesticides in Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 1 Nov 2012 13:17:01 EDT

As recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy continue, U.S. Geological Survey crews are sampling water for nutrients, sediment, and pesticides 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.

"We tend to think of events like Sandy in terms of the ephemeral effect of the wind, rain, waves, and even snow as it swept through our communities, but in fact this superstorm can have a longer-term effect in the large pulse of sediment and associated pollutants swept into our waterways," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "It is particularly important to quantify the input of this one unusual event before concluding that certain efforts to reduce pollutant run-off from year to year have or have not been effective."

Sampling is taking place at various locations. In New Jersey, crews will collect water quality samples along the Delaware River near Trenton and along the Raritan River near Queens Bridge. Pennsylvania crews will be sampling near the Chesapeake Bay. In Maryland, water quality samples will be collected from the Potomac River, various sites in Washington, D.C., several locations along the Eastern Shore, and from the Susquehanna River at the Conowingo Dam. In addition, Virginia crews will be sampling throughout Northern Virginia. USGS crews will be sampling in these and other areas for contaminants like pesticides, E. coli, nutrients, and sediment to document water quality in areas affected by the hurricane.

"Significant high water events are important to document, because a storm event like this can flush large quantities of nutrients, pesticides, and sediment into rivers," 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 the past few decades, and it’s important that USGS captures a complete picture of what happens."

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."

The USGS collects water-quality samples in cooperation with States as part of several water-quality monitoring programs and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Update: Sandy to Erode Many Atlantic Beaches

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:36:16 EDT

Oct. 29 Update: USGS Revises Coastal Change Forecasts

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – On Oct. 29, 2012, USGS revised its forecasts for coastal change due to Hurricane Sandy. Now, the forecasts are as follows:

Delmarva Peninsula: 91 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 55 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 22 percent are expected to experience inundation.

Coastal New Jersey: 98 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 54 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 9 percent are expected to experience inundation.

South Coast of Long Island: 93 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 12 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 4 percent are expected to experience inundation.

The new forecasts, along with maps showing the extent of the impacts, can be found online.

End Update

(Original post from Oct. 27, 2012)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Nearly three quarters of the coast along the Delmarva Peninsula is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, while overwash is expected along nearly half of the shoreline.

The predictions of coastal change for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia peninsula is part of a larger assessment of probable coastal change released by the U.S. Geological Survey Friday.

"Model forecasts are run anew for each hurricane, as each case has unique factors in terms of storm intensity, timing with respect to tides, angle of approach, and must account for ever-changing details of coastal dune configuration," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "These models help us understand where emergency management resources might be most needed."

Overwash, the landward movement of large volumes of sand from overtopped dunes, is forecasted for portions of the east coast with the projected landfall of the storm. The severity of overwash depends on the strength of the storm, the height of the dunes, and how direct a hit the coast takes.

"On the Delmarva Peninsula, near the storm's expected landfall, close to three quarters of the sandy coast is expected to see beach and dune erosion. Fifteen percent of the coast is very likely to be inundated by waves and storm surge," said USGS Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon from the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

In these areas, waves and storm surge would transport large amounts of sand across coastal environments, depositing sand both inland and offshore and causing significant changes to the landscape, Stockdon noted.

The models show that along the New Jersey shore, 81 percent of the coast is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion, while 7 percent is very likely to experience overwash. It also indicates that on the south shore of Long Island, N.Y., including Fire Island National Seashore, 43 percent of the coast is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion. Overwash and inundation are not expected in these areas because of the relative high dune elevations.

According to USGS geologist Cheryl Hapke, many of the sandy beaches along the mid-Atlantic Coast have become increasingly vulnerable to significant impacts such as erosion because of past storms, including Hurricanes Ida (2009) and Irene (2011), as well as large northeastern storms in 2005 and 2007.

"Beaches and dunes often serve as the first line of defense for coastal communities against flooding and other hazards associated with extreme storm" said Hapke, "Any compromise to these features means that storm-related hazards are more likely to threaten coastal property, infrastructure, and public safety during a future extreme storm event."

Beach and dune erosion occurs when storm surge and waves collide with the base of a dune, termed collision in the model, and wash away significant amounts of sand. Overwash happens when these forces exceed dune height and move sand inland. Inundation is a process by which an entire beach system is submerged and, in extreme cases, can result in island breaching.

The USGS coastal change model forecasting likely dune erosion and overwash from the storm can be viewed online.

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

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

Sandy to Erode Many Atlantic Beaches

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:56:16 EDT

The predictions of coastal change for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia peninsula is part of a larger assessment of probable coastal change released by the U.S. Geological Survey Friday.

“On the Delmarva Peninsula, near the storm's expected landfall, close to three quarters of the sandy coast is expected to see beach and dune erosion. Fifteen percent of the coast is very likely to be inundated by waves and storm surge,” said USGS Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon from the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

“Beaches and dunes often serve as the first line of defense for coastal communities against flooding and other hazards associated with extreme storm” said Hapke, “Any compromise to these features means that storm-related hazards are more likely to threaten coastal property, infrastructure, and public safety during a future extreme storm event.”

The USGS coastal change model forecasting likely dune erosion and overwash from the storm can be viewed online.

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

Increased Sediment and Nutrients Delivered to Bay as Susquehanna Reservoirs Near Sediment Capacity

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 9:00:00 EDT

This USGS report can be found online.

Reservoirs near the mouth of the Susquehanna River just above Chesapeake Bay are nearly at capacity in their ability to trap sediment. As a result, large storms are already delivering increasingly more suspended sediment and nutrients to the Bay, which may negatively impact restoration efforts.

Too many nutrients rob the Bay of oxygen needed for fish and, along with sediment, cloud the waters, disturbing the habitat of underwater plants crucial for aquatic life and waterfowl.

"The upstream reservoirs have served previously to help reduce nutrient pollutant loads to the Chesapeake Bay by trapping sediment and the pollutants attached to them behind dams," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now that these reservoirs are filling to capacity with sediment, they have become much less effective at preventing nutrient-rich sediments from reaching the Bay. Further progress in meeting the goals for improving water quality in the Chesapeake will be more difficult to achieve as a result."

"It has been understood for many years that as the reservoirs on the Lower Susquehanna River fill with sediment, there will be a substantial decrease in their ability to limit the influx of sediment and nutrients, especially phosphorus, to the Chesapeake Bay," said Bob Hirsch, research hydrologist and author of the report. "Analysis of USGS water quality data from the Susquehanna River, particularly the data from Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011, provides evidence that the increases in nutrient and sediment delivery are not just a theoretical issue for future consideration, but are already underway."

According to a new USGS report, the Susquehanna River delivered more phosphorus and sediment to the Bay during 2011 than from than any other year since monitoring began in 1978. Flooding from Tropical Storm Lee made up a large fraction of the Susquehanna River's inputs to the Bay for both 2011 and over the last decade. During the flooding the Susquehanna River delivered about 2 percent of total water to the Bay for the last decade; however, it delivered 5 percent of the nitrogen, 22 percent of the phosphorus, and 39 percent of the suspended sediment.

According to the report, from 1996-2011 total phosphorus moving into the Bay has increased by 55 percent, and suspended sediment has increased by 97 percent. Over this time period, total nitrogen decreased by about 3 percent overall, but showed increases during large events.

These results represent the combined effects of the changes in sediment within the reservoirs, as well as changes in the sources of these constituents upstream. Another recent USGS study reported about a 25 percent reduction in nutrients and sediment concentrations just upstream of the reservoirs, reflecting the benefit of actions to improve water quality in the upper portion of the Susquehanna River watershed.

"Progress on reducing loadings of these pollutants from the Susquehanna River Basin depends on efforts made to limit the loadings in the watershed, as well as the effects of the downstream reservoirs," said Hirsch. "In general, the changes we have observed in the reservoirs and the resulting greater impact of storms are already overshadowing the ongoing progress being made in the watershed to reduce the amount of nutrients and sediments entering the Bay."

Sediment and nutrient loadings from the Susquehanna River are crucial to understanding the status and progress of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. On average, the Susquehanna River contributes nearly 41 percent of the nitrogen, 25 percent of the phosphorus, and 27 percent of the sediment load to the Bay.

"The findings of this USGS study increase the urgency of identifying and implementing effective management options for addressing the filling reservoirs," said Bruce Michael, director, Resource Assessment Service for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "The Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment study, a 3-year partnership of federal, state, private sector, and non-governmental organizations, is developing potential management options for extending the sediment-holding capacity of the reservoirs. The USGS information is critical for guiding the strategies undertaken by the Chesapeake Bay Program to assure that the actions taken in the watershed will serve to meet restoration goals."

The lower reaches of the Susquehanna River, just upstream from Chesapeake Bay, include three reservoirs: Safe Harbor Dam and Holtwood Dam in Pennsylvania and Conowingo Dam in Maryland. Over the past several decades these reservoirs have been gradually filling with sediment.

While the reservoirs are filling, they are a trap for sediment and the nutrients attached to that sediment. As a reservoir approaches its sediment storage capacity, it can't hold as much sediment. When reservoirs are near capacity, significant flow events, such as flooding from Tropical Storm Lee, have greater potential to cause scour, or the sudden removal of large amounts of sediment, allowing that sediment and attached nutrients to flow out of the reservoirs and into the Bay.

Additionally, as the reservoir becomes filled, the channel that water flows through gets smaller. As a result, for any given amount of flow, the water moves through the channel faster, further increasing the likelihood of scour. Higher velocities also result in lower rates of settling, decreasing the amount of sediment that will be deposited.

This new report is based on 34 years of monitoring streamflow and water quality for the Susquehanna River by the USGS and its state and local partners. The report compares nutrients and sediment behavior during high flow events, such as the flood after Tropical Storm Lee in September of 2011, the high flows of March 2011, and Hurricane Ivan in 2004, with high flow conditions of the past.

This research was conducted as part of The USGS National Research Program in Water Resources and the USGS Chesapeake Bay Ecosystems Program. The report, titled Flux of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment from the Susquehanna River Basin to the Chesapeake Bay during Tropical Storm Lee, September 2011, as an indicator of the effects of reservoir sedimentation on water quality, can be found online.

Information about the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment is available online.

Results of monitoring in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are available online.

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.

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.

USGS Research Frontiers on Fish at the American Fisheries Society Conference

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EDT

SEATTLE – The 141^st annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society will take place in Seattle from Sept. 4-8, 2011. The theme of this year’s conference is “New Frontiers in Fisheries Management and Ecology: Leading the Way in a Changing World.” For more information, visit http://afs2011.org/ All talks will be at the Washington State Convention Center. Highlighted USGS presentations are below:

Eat but don’t get eaten: after restoration, young salmon better off: Habitat restoration has had major benefits for juvenile salmon in the Columbia River Estuary, including new rearing habitat where food is plentiful and where the risk of being eaten is low, accordingly to a USGS study. Models showed that temperature was an important reason for the increased young salmon growth in areas of the river that the current didn’t reach, but this growth spurt was somewhat counteracted by the fact that typical foods eaten in the main part of the river were higher in energy. USGS scientists successfully used bioenergetics, a field of biology that looks at the flow of energy in living systems, to study the effectiveness of the restoration project. The study also points to the importance of refuges to keep young salmon safer from predators, a distinct benefit afforded by restoration. This study, Eat, but don't get eaten -- quantifying the energetic benefit of Columbia River Estuary restoration to juvenile salmon, will be presented Sept. 5at 2 p.m. in room 609. To learn more, contact Craig Haskell at chaskell@usgs.gov or at 509-637-3619.

Targeting young silver carp for control may pay off: Efforts to reduce the harmful effects of invasive silver carp on native fish should focus on younger silver carp, according to a recent USGS, Kansas State University and University of Missouri study. The USGS and university scientists projected a growth rate of 58 percent a year of silver carp, with their models demonstrating that the growth and maturation of young fish are most critical to the continuation of the explosive growth of this exceedingly noxious species. Currently, however, most management efforts are focused on adult silver carp because they are easier to locate and remove. First introduced to the United States in the 1980s, silver carp have quickly expanded their range with a combination of rapid growth, quick maturation and the ability to reproduce multiple times per year. These fish are also capable of eating large quantities of plankton and detritus, and are affecting native fishes in areas where they become established. The model, which looked at silver carp populations in large Midwestern rivers, indicates that resource managers may want to target the removal of younger fishes to better control the expansion of this prolific invasive species. This study, Age-specific demography of silver carp: implications for management and control, will be presented Sept. 7at 9 a.m. in room 612. To learn more, contact Joseph Gerken at gerkenje@ksu.edu or at 785-477-4150.

Climate change likely to be both a boom and a bust for smallmouth bass populations: The smallmouth bass is a popular sport fish that has spread far and wide beyond its native range, but climate change may play a significant role in where it goes next. USGS and University of Missouri scientists modeled the effects of conservative climate change estimates on smallmouth bass population growth, assuming a 2-degree Celsius increase in temperature over the next 30 years. While smallmouth bass populations in more northern habitats were expected to increase growth, southern climates could expect a decline in growth, since this fish doesn’t do as well when temperatures frequently exceed 27 degrees Celsius (80 F). This research shows that climate has direct implications for smallmouth bass survival and reproduction, and understanding how smallmouth bass populations will react to warmer temperatures can help decision makers manage and conserve this sought-after game fish. This study, Potential effects of climate change on growth of smallmouth bass in streams of the central U.S., will be presented on Sept. 8at 1:45 p.m. in room 4C-3. To learn more, contact Allison Pease at peasea@missouri.edu or at 979-220-3930.

The Exxon Valdez oil spill and long-term effects on nearshore animals: Research in the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill has demonstrated the potential for oil to persist in the environment and for deleterious effects on wildlife to occur over an extended time scale. Oil from the spill remains in intertidal areas of western Prince William Sound, Alaska, presenting a risk of chronic exposure for species that use nearshore areas. Sea otters, harlequin ducks and other species at risk are vulnerable to exposure and potential effects as long as oil remains in sediments, perhaps for several decades; it now appears that cumulative chronic effects may be as significant as acute effects on wildlife. Reduced survival has been identified as a concern for both sea otters and harlequin ducks in oiled areas; however, recent data suggest recovery is under way for both species. The extended timeline over which impacts from lingering oil are being documented is an unanticipated finding, made possible by the long-term support of studies implemented after the spill. This study, The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Long-term effects and pathways of exposure to nearshore vertebrates, will be presented on Sept. 8 at 8:45 a.m. in room 4C-4; it is part of the Gulf Oil Session. To learn more, contact Brenda Ballachey at bballachey@usgs.gov or at 403-397-3073.

Working together a win-win for red knots, horseshoes, and fishermen: Fishery managers, scientists and stakeholders worked together in a USGS-led effort to create a multi-species management strategy for the Atlantic horseshoe crab fishery. This innovative management strategy used information from another USGS study indicating that managing horseshoe crab resources in the Delaware Bay has the potential to improve red knot population status. Red knots are an at-risk shorebird that dines upon the horseshoe crab’s eggs during migration. The new management strategy has suggested a harvest limit for horseshoe crabs that takes shorebird needs into account. Most horseshoe crab harvest today comes from the fishing industry, which uses the crab as bait, and the pharmaceutical industry, which collects their blood for its clotting properties. This collaboration is the first to quantitatively connect the two species, and also to provide recommendations for management based on their connection. This study, An adaptive multispecies approach to managing the horseshoe crab fishery in Delaware Bay, will be presented on Sept. 5 at 6:00 p.m. in room 4E. To learn more, contact Conor McGowan at cmcgowan@usgs.gov or at 334-844-9231.

Free reign of the stream suits fish of the West: Scientists know that fish need to move freely in search of better habitat for feeding, refuge and reproduction – and that what is considered “good” habitat changes throughout the life cycle of a fish. This movement represents the path a fish takes over its lifetime from one point to the next, and the ability to freely move among these points is critical for the survival of both individual fish and other organisms that benefit from their presence in the ecosystem. Physical, chemical and biological factors that restrict movement along this path can have negative consequences. By looking at several charismatic fish species in the western U.S., researchers can better characterize why “free reign” of the stream is so essential to the survival of native fish throughout the west. This study, Role of connectivity in survival and persistence of potamodromous and non-migratory salmonids, will be presented on Sept. 6 at 8:45 a.m. in room 606. To learn more, contact Bob Gresswell at bgresswell@usgs.gov or at 406-994-7085.

Climate change could put Western fish in hot water: Climate in the western United States is expected to become warmer and more variable during the next century, putting pressure on water resources and the fish that inhabit western waterways. Fisheries ecologists and manager are striving to understand how future changes in both climate and land use will affect native coldwater fish species, especially those that are already vulnerable because of fragmented habitat and warming water. By using a dynamic array of historical data and modern technology, scientists identified the most critical temperature-suitable habitat for coldwater-loving fish. This information was combined with regional climate change predictions to estimate how stream temperatures may change over time in the face of a warming climate – providing a model of how increases in stream temperature will impact native fish and helping identify areas critical to maintaining suitable coldwater habitat in the future. This study, Predicting effects of land use and climate change on availability of suitable thermal habitat for native and nonnative salmonids, will be presented on Sept. 8at 10:45 a.m. in room 4C-3. To learn more, contact Bob Gresswell at bgresswell@usgs.gov or at 406-994-7085.

Partners work together on whole-river fish survey of the Elwha River before dam removal: Ten anadromous fish populations are expected to recolonize over 115 kilometers (72 miles) of historical habitats after two large hydroelectric dams are removed from the Elwha River on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. To understand watershed recolonization and ecosystem restoration, the collection of geographically continuous information on fish and aquatic habitats is necessary. The USGS, National Park Service and its partners conducted snorkel and habitat surveys in the Elwha River from the headwaters to its mouth in 2007 and 2008. This “riverscape” approach enabled scientists to characterize extent, abundance, age, and community make-up (what species occurred) of Pacific salmonids along almost the entire river. Not surprisingly, the study revealed that species richness was highest below the dams, where anadromous salmonids still have access. It also demonstrated clear differences in habitat along the river because of natural and human-caused factors. This comprehensive approach helped highlight species-specific biological hotspots – for example, it showed that nearly two-thirds of federally threatened bull trout occurred near or below the dams. The riverscape approach also helped address linkages between fish and aquatic habitats before dam removal. Such geographically continuous surveys will be vital in evaluating the effectiveness of upcoming dam removal projects at restoring anadromous salmonids. This study, A riverscape approach to assess fish and habitat relationships prior to dam removal on the Elwha River, Washington, will be presented Sept. 7 at 8:15 a.m. in room 608. To learn more, contact Jeff Duda at jduda@usgs.gov or at 206-526-6282; or contact Sam Brenkman at sam_brenkman@nps.gov or at 360-565-3081.

Designing a cookbook for Asian Carp control: The food and feeding behavior of invasive Asian carp may hold the key ingredients to designing a chemical or biological control that could reduce the population of these invaders in the Mississippi River. Asian carp have become a major threat to ecosystems in the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio Rivers since their introduction in the 1970s. Asian carp filter feed selectively on microscopic algae and plankton, and scientists are exploring the size of preferred food particles and how the digestive system works to develop an Asian carp-specific toxicant with selective uptake and delivery. Preliminary findings suggest that to build a selective toxicant -- 50-100 micron size particles, the presence of select enzymes and a late winter or spring timeframe are basic ingredients to blend for success. Asian carp were found to feed on the blank designer food particles, and now studies will begin with the chemical ingredient. This study, Using New Technologies for the Control of Filter-Feeding Aquatic Invasive Species Like Asian Carps, will be presented on Sep. 6 th at 10:15 a.m. in room 612 (Washington State Convention Center). To learn more, contact Jon Amberg at jamberg@usgs.gov or at 608-781-6322.

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 .