USGS Newsroom

Three Iowa Streamgages Shutting Down on Friday

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:21:27 EDT

Three U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in Iowa, which measure streamflow and water level, will be shut down on Friday, May 17, due to the federal budget sequestration.

The affected Iowa streamgages will be discontinued beginning this Friday because of a five-percent sequestration-related budget cut to the USGS National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP). Of the 35 NSIP-funded streamgages in Iowa, 22 of which are fully funded by NSIP, the USGS Iowa Water Science Center selected the following three for shutdown:

West Fork Cedar River at Finchford, Iowa (66 years of record)
Des Moines River at Humboldt, Iowa (47 years of record)
East Fork 102 River at Bedford, Iowa (29 years of record)

"It was difficult to make a selection that minimized all concerns, but these three Iowa streamgages will be shut down because they have comparatively short records, limited impacts on partner organizations, and their discontinuation is least likely to affect public safety," said USGS hydrologist Jon Nania.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), local communities may receive less accurate river flood forecasts and less advanced notice of flooding due to the shutdown of these streamgages. Communities that may be impacted include Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Fort Dodge, Finchford, and Bedford, Iowa, and Maryville, Mo.

"Streamgages like these help communities understand how and when to prepare for floods," said Jeff Zogg, a NWS Senior Hydrologist in Des Moines. "In some past floods, the peak streamflows measured by these gages have contributed several feet to the downstream crests."

Streamgages collect critical streamflow and water availability data that are used by organizations nationwide to predict and address drought and flood conditions. The USGS and over 850 federal, state, and local agencies cooperatively fund the USGS streamgaging network, which consists of over 8,000 streamgages.

The USGS will discontinue operation of no more than 200 streamgages nationwide due to budget cuts as a result of sequestration. Additional streamgages may be affected if partners reduce their funding to support USGS streamgages. The USGS is working to identify which streamgages will be impacted and will post this information online as it becomes available.

More information about streamgaging in Iowa is available on the USGS Iowa Water Science Center website.

More information about NWS flood forecasts and warnings is available on the NWS Des Moines website, and on Facebook and Twitter @NWSDesMoines.

USGS Continues to Provide Critical Flood Information

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 2 May 2013 16:15:43 EDT

As lingering spring rains soak eastern Iowa, crews from the U.S. Geological Survey continue efforts to make sure the streamgaging network is providing basic scientific information needed by water-resource managers and the community.

"The accurate flow data from the USGS is an essential part of NWS flood forecasts and warnings," said Jeff Zogg, NWS Senior Service Hydrologist. "Even small errors can negatively impact flood forecasts."

The National Weather Service uses USGS streamgaging information for flood forecasting. When flooding is frequent, the NWS stays in constant contact with the USGS. The USGS streamgaging network is the principal source of data used by the NWS to develop flood forecasts because of the stage and discharge information they provide.

The USGS operates 150 gages in Iowa that collect both stage and discharge information.

A reliable flood forecast, and subsequent warnings, requires a current source of stage, discharge, and precipitation data. NWS flood forecasts are based on river models that provide estimates of how a river will respond to rainfall. River stage and discharge data provided by USGS gaging stations are essential components of these river models and flood forecasts.

"The USGS places the utmost importance on the high quality and consistency of its streamgage network," said Kevin Richards, Director of the USGS Iowa Water Science Center. "Streamflow information is used in countless ways by government agencies, private industries, and the general public."

In addition to routine discharge measurements made at USGS streamgages, the USGS made 34 additional flood measurements once the rivers started rising in mid-April. With the forecasts calling for additional rain and snow over the next week, USGS scientists will be making extra measurements and checking equipment to assure the information is available for decision makers.

The real-time streamgaging information is available on the USGS Iowa website. Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGS WaterWatch website.

Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert.

Iowa Meteorite Crater Confirmed

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 9:01:00 EDT

USGS Airborne Surveys Back Up Previous Decorah Research

Recent airborne geophysical surveys near Decorah, Iowa are providing an unprecedented look at a 470- million-year-old meteorite crater concealed beneath bedrock and sediments.

The aerial surveys, a collaboration of the U.S. Geological Survey with the Iowa and Minnesota Geological Surveys, were conducted in the last 60 days to map geologic structures and assess the mineral and water resources of the region.

"Capturing images of an ancient meteorite impact was a huge bonus," said Dr. Paul Bedrosian, a USGS geophysicist in Denver who is leading the effort to model the recently acquired geophysical data. "These findings highlight the range of applications that these geophysical methods can address."

In 2008-09, geologists from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (Iowa DNR) Iowa Geological and Water Survey hypothesized what has become known as the Decorah Impact Structure. The scientists examined water well drill-cuttings and recognized a unique shale unit preserved only beneath and near the city of Decorah. The extent of the shale, which was deposited after the impact by an ancient seaway, defines a "nice circular basin" of 5.5 km width, according to Robert McKay, a geologist at the Iowa Geological Survey.

Bevan French, a scientist the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, subsequently identified shocked quartz - considered strong evidence of an extra-terrestrial impact - in samples of sub-shale breccia from within the crater.

"The recognition of this buried geological structure was possible because of the collaboration of a local geologist, water well drillers, the USGS STATEMAP program, and the support of the Iowa DNR concerning research on fundamental aspects of Iowa geology," said McKay.

The recent geophysical surveys include an airborne electromagnetic system, which is sensitive to how well rocks conduct electricity, and airborne gravity gradiometry, which measures subtle changes in rock density. The surveys both confirm the earlier work and provide a new view of the Decorah Impact Structure. Models of the electromagnetic data show a crater filled with electrically conductive shale and the underlying breccia, which is rock composed of broken fragments of rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix.

"The shale is an ideal target and provides the electrical contrast that allows us to clearly image the geometry and internal structure of the crater," Bedrosian said.

More analysis of the data will provide additional detail. These data show the impact as a nearly circular region distinct from the surrounding area to a depth of several hundred meters.

"These data, when coupled with physical property measurements on drill core samples, will form the basis for modeling efforts to constrain the impact geometry and energy of the meteorite," said Dr. Andy Kass, a USGS geophysicist working on the effort.

The Iowa and Minnesota airborne geophysical surveys are targeting an igneous intrusion, known as the Northeast Iowa Igneous Intrusive complex, that may be similar to the Duluth layered igneous complex exposed in the Lake Superior region of northern Minnesota. Known copper, nickel, and platinum group metal resources were deposited during the formation of the Duluth complex. Both of these complexes are associated with a large structural feature known as the Midcontinent Rift, which is exposed in the Lake Superior Region but is covered by younger rocks as it extends to the south through Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.

This geophysical survey is part of a larger USGS effort to evaluate the concealed mineral resource potential of the greater Midcontinent Rift region that formed about 1.1 billion years ago.

Upcoming Airborne Surveys To Track Potential Mineral and Water Resources in Parts of Iowa and Minnesota

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:41:04 EDT

U.S. Geological Survey scientists plan to conduct the first comprehensive, high-resolution airborne survey to study the rock layers under a region of northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota, starting December 2012 and lasting through January 2013. When the data analysis is complete, resulting state-of-the-art, 3-D subsurface maps will help USGS researchers improve an assessment of mineral and water resources of the region.

As part of this research, both a low flying airplane and helicopter with auxiliary instrumentation will be used. Residents and visitors should not be alarmed to witness either of these instruments flying low to the ground near the Decorah, Iowa, and Spring Grove, Minn., region.

"Modern society is critically dependent on clean water and a vast array of minerals to maintain and enhance our quality of life," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The USGS uses the latest technology to find new sources of these valuable commodities, even when buried deep beneath the Earth's surface, and places that information in the public domain to benefit all Americans."

The airplane is under contract to the USGS through Bell Geospace; the helicopter through Geotech. The aircrafts will be operated by experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. All flights are coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure flights are in accordance with U.S. law.

The survey area is thought to be part of the 1.1 billion year old Midcontinent Rift, a major structure that stretches across much of the central United States. Rocks of the Midcontinent Rift include large volumes of mafic rocks. In the Lake Superior region, these rocks contain significant resources of nickel, copper and platinum group elements.

USGS scientists plan to use the new geophysical data to help determine if there is potential for similar resources to exist in the survey area. A secondary goal is to evaluate the geologic structure as it relates to water resources. This research is meant to study deep rocks, beneath limestone and sandstone layers.

The helicopter will carry large electromagnetic and magnetic instruments from a cable underneath. A DC-3, retrofitted with modern avionics and gas turbine engines, will carry gravity gradient instruments. Because different rock types differ in their content of water, magnetic minerals, and density, the resulting geophysical maps allow visualization of the geologic structure below the surface. None of the instruments carried on the aircraft pose a health risk to people or animals.

This survey will be flown in a grid pattern, by both aircraft at different times. East-west lines will be flown ¼ mile apart at elevations from 100-500 feet above the ground, and 2 ½ miles apart in a north-south direction. All survey flights will occur during daylight hours.

Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance in informing the local communities is appreciated.

Photos of the aircraft available upon request.

Areas of Elevated Contaminants in Groundwater Determined from Regional Assessment in the Midwest

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT

Editor's note: This story is of particular interest to media outlets in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Michigan

At least one contaminant was found at levels of human-health concern in about one third of untreated groundwater samples collected from wells in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, according to a recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey. When radon concentrations greater than 300 picocuries per liter are included, 64 percent of wells sampled contain a contaminant concentration above a human-health benchmark.

The Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system is ranked ninth in the nation for public supply water withdrawals from principal aquifers. The aquifer supplies water to many parts of the northern Midwest, including areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as well as the major cities of Minneapolis, Rockford and Chicago.

Many of the public and private wells sampled contain natural or manmade contaminants, including; radium, radon, boron, strontium, manganese, barium, nitrate, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. Radon and radium are naturally occurring radioactive elements and known carcinogens. The deeper parts of the aquifer system in Illinois, Iowa, and eastern Wisconsin are vulnerable to high concentrations of radium, boron, and strontium. The shallow areas of the aquifer system in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are vulnerable to radon and manganese. The study was conducted as part of an ongoing systematic assessment of some of the Nation’s most important aquifer systems by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Results are available online.

"The USGS puts scientific findings and trends on water quality into the public domain so that citizens, water managers, and public officials can decide on appropriate and effective actions to address current or emerging issues that may be cause for concern now or in the future," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Both the quality of our water and scientific understanding of what is useful to monitor evolve over time, hence the need for the USGS to constantly update our water quality reports."

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates public wells, and elevated concentrations of contaminants are reduced or removed from the water before people drink it," said John Wilson, USGS hydrologist and author of the study. "This study examined contaminants that pose human-health concerns, including some that are not regulated, and findings can help water utility managers make decisions about future monitoring and treatment needs."

Human-health benchmarks used to evaluate the significance of contaminant concentrations in raw water samples included EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and USGS Health-Based Screening Levels (HBSLs) for unregulated contaminants, developed by USGS in collaboration with the EPA. Concentrations were also compared to EPA Secondary Drinking Water Regulations established for aesthetic quality or other non-health reasons. In relating measured concentrations to health benchmarks, this study offers a preliminary assessment of potential health concerns and identifies conditions that may warrant further investigation. The research is not a substitute for comprehensive risk and toxicity assessments.

Radium and strontium levels in domestic and public-supply wells from the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system are higher and more frequently exceed the human-health benchmark than in any of the other 30 principal aquifers studied by NAWQA. Arsenic levels frequently exceed the human-health benchmark in domestic and public-supply wells of many of the other principal aquifers studied by NAWQA, but arsenic did not exceed the benchmark in any samples from the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system.

Major findings included:

Water quality of the aquifer system can vary greatly between areas where the aquifers are shallow and deep. Natural contaminants such as major ions, trace elements, and radium tend to occur at higher concentrations in deeper areas. Human caused contaminants, such as pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and nitrate, are detected more often in shallow areas.

Radon-222 and radium were most frequently measured at concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks, but geographic distributions were related to different depths of the aquifer system. Radon levels exceeded the proposed MCL of 300 picocuries per liter in 43 percent of 140 wells, of which 90 percent were in regionally shallow areas. Radium levels exceeded the MCL of 5 picocuries per liter in 40 percent of 88 wells, of which 89 percent were in regionally deeper areas.

The trace elements strontium, manganese, and barium exceeded a human-health benchmark in at least one sample. Strontium levels exceeded the HBSL in nine percent of 107 wells, and manganese levels exceeded the HBSL in four percent of 154 wells. Barium levels exceeded the MCL in one of 136 wells sampled by NAWQA. Concentrations of strontium were significantly higher in regionally deeper areas, and concentrations of manganese and barium were significantly higher in shallow areas.

Nitrate was detected at a concentration greater than one milligram per liter (mg/L) in 21 percent of the wells sampled by NAWQA. Concentrations of nitrate greater than 1 mg/L were assumed to be influenced by human activity. All but one of the wells were in regionally shallow areas, indicating that the shallower areas of the aquifer system are more susceptible to manmade contaminants. Nitrate levels exceeded the MCL of 10 mg/L in approximately four percent of 154 wells sampled by NAWQA.

Nine different pesticides were detected in wells sampled by NAWQA from 2002 through 2007, but usually at concentrations significantly below human-health benchmarks. No pesticide concentration exceeded a human-health benchmark. Water samples were analyzed for as many as 83 pesticides, but atrazine and its degradate deethylatrazine accounted for 67 percent of all pesticide detections. Eighty-six percent of wells with a pesticide detection were in shallow areas.

The USGS NAWQA program began in 1991 and is the only source of nationally consistent monitoring data and information on chemical contaminants in groundwater. The program also conducts regional and national studies of the susceptibility and vulnerability of the nation’s most important aquifers.

Low Streamflow Conditions Add to Midwest Drought Woes

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:09:42 EDT

Streamflow levels are below normal across much of the Midwest states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Many states are experiencing severe drought, such as Iowa, where flows are less than 25 percent of normal streamflow conditions for the majority of the state.

Drought is the nation's most costly natural disaster, far exceeding earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and floods. Low streamflows contribute to higher than normal water temperatures, which have negatively impacted fish and have caused fish kills in some areas throughout the Midwest.

USGS crews are making extra streamflow and groundwater level measurements in a number of states so that cooperators will have sufficient data to make water management decisions. Areas of low stream flow can be viewed in real time on the USGS WaterWatch website. The map shows how current flows compare to what would be normal for a given time of year based on historical averages. For information specific to your local area, visit one of the USGS Water Science Center drought information websites in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, South Dakota or Wisconsin. To access water quality information, to include local stream temperatures, visit the USGS real-time WaterQualityWatch website.

"Of all of our Nation's natural disasters, drought is in many ways the most insidious, coming on slowly without major headlines or lead stories, and tending to continue to play out long after the life-giving rains have returned in terms of culled herds, unproductive orchards, and impaired ecosystems ripe for invasive species," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "USGS is bringing the best scientific information to bear in these tough times so that water managers will make a little water do a lot of good."

While the USGS WaterWatch website is an adequate real-time gauge for areas experiencing hydrologic drought, stream and river conditions are not the only drought indicator. The national Drought Monitor is the official report detailing drought conditions, and this map paints a fuller picture of drought than just stream flow information. In addition to relying heavily on USGS streamgage data, this map also incorporates soil moisture, agricultural information, satellite data, and precipitation.

Right now, almost 80 percent of the contiguous United States is facing abnormally dry conditions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has estimated that the annual average cost of drought in the United States ranges from $6 to $8 billion, while flooding estimates are in the $2 to $4 billion range. Unlike flooding, drought does not come and go in a single episode. Rather, it often takes a long time for drought to begin to impact an area, and it can fester for months or even years.

From Pikas to Plague, Climate Change and Wind Energy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 9:00:00 EDT

USGS Science at the Society for Conservation Biology

More than 800 people are expected to attend the first North America Congress for Conservation Biology from July 15-18, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The theme of this year's conference is “Bridging the Gap: Connecting People, Nature, and Climate.” This conference provides a forum for presenting and discussing new research and developments in conservation science, practices and challenges.

Fighting Plague with a Peanut Butter-Flavored Vaccine: Prairie dogs and highly endangered black-footed ferret populations in North America are quite susceptible to sylvatic plague, an often deadly, non-native disease of people and wildlife. Currently, wildlife managers contain the disease by dusting prairie dog burrows with an insecticide that can kill disease-carrying fleas, but this is labor-intensive and costly. As an alternative, USGS researchers and colleagues at University of Wisconsin have developed a new oral vaccine, flavored with peanut butter, which can be administered orally through baits. Laboratory tests showed that the oral vaccine protects prairie dogs against plague; tests in some wild prairie dog populations begin this year. If the vaccine is effective in the wild, it could be used in selected prairie dog populations to decrease the occurrence of plague and help in the recovery of black-footed ferrets. Ultimately, a successful vaccine could help stabilize wildlife populations in grassland ecosystems and may benefit public health, since this bacterium is also responsible for plague in people. This presentation, Sylvatic Plague Vaccine: A New Tool for Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species, will occur in Room JRB 1 on July 16 at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Tonie Rocke, trocke@usgs.gov, 608-270-2451.

Shorebird, Duck, Food Enough? With loss of natural wetlands, wintering shorebirds and diving ducks have become increasingly dependent on managed wetlands. Yet studies are limited about food availability in managed coastal estuaries, such as the ponds in the San Francisco Bay’s South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. USGS researchers and colleagues will discuss their surveys of invertebrate prey density in the pond bottoms. They will discuss whether there is enough food to support the 45,000 diving ducks and 108,000 shorebirds that depend on this area in winter, and whether pond management could increase available energy. This presentation, Effects of Wetland Management on Carrying Capacity of Duck and Shorebird Benthivores in a Coastal Estuary, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 16. Contact Arriana Brand, 707-562-2002, arriana_brand@usgs.gov, or John Takekawa, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov.

Climate Change and Pliable Pikas? Animals that live in mountain ecosystems are sensitive to small changes in climate and are often exposed to frequent swings in temperature and wind speed, poorly developed soils and generally harsher conditions than animals living at lower elevations. The American pika is a small, mountain-dwelling, hamster-like animal that lives in rocky talus slopes and lava flows typically in mountain ecosystems throughout the western United States. Recently, researchers concluded that the rate of local pika extinction in the hydrographic Great Basin over the last 10 years has increased to about five times faster than averaged during the 20th century. Analogously, the lowest elevation that pikas are occupying moved upslope 11 times faster during that decade than during the 20^th century, suggesting that what constitutes suitable habitat is now shrinking more rapidly. A USGS researcher will present findings that illustrate how hydrological variables – such as snow-water equivalent and growing-season precipitation – are important predictors of pika abundance for this region. In addition, the scientist will show how pika behavioral flexibility – such as use of non-traditional habitats and drinking free water – can, in some cases, allow pikas to live on the edges of their climatic niche. This presentation, Temporally shifting determinants of distribution and abundance of American pikas, and behavioral plasticity ‘softening’ ecological-niche boundaries,” will occur in Symposium 8 (Grand Ballroom, Rooms 1 & 2) on July 16 at 3 p.m. The presentation leads off the symposium, Pikas in Peril? Distribution, Population Trends and Resilience of the American Pika. Contact Erik Beever, ebeever@usgs.gov, 406-994-7670.

Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise: The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is attempting to restore ecosystem services such as flood control, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation to some 15,000 acres of wetlands in San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley. But to do so requires a long-term adaptive management plan with rigorous monitoring and scientific support. Project Executive Director John Bourgeois of the California State Coastal Conservancy will discuss how public and private research partners -- including USGS -- are clarifying the uncertainties involved in such a major restoration project -- such as sea level rise resiliency, sufficient sediment flow for marsh accretion, and disturbance of legacy mercury. This presentation, Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise will occur in Room JBR 1&2 on July 16 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Laura Valoppi, USGS biologist and Restoration Project's Research Coordinator, laura_valoppi@usgs.gov, 916-704-6198.

From Conservation Reserve Land to Ag Land: Substantial Losses for Amphibians: High commodity prices for agricultural crops, especially for biofuel feedstocks, is rapidly resulting in the conversion of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands to agricultural production in the northern Great Plains. USGS scientists used an ecosystem services model to evaluate the potential effects of this land-use change on amphibians, which have been declining worldwide, primarily because of land-use change. Their scenarios focused on CRP conversion rates of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent in different parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. They then compared present amphibian habitat quality and quantity under the projected conversion rates. They found that if all CRP lands were converted to cropland, one-fourth to over one-third of all amphibian habitat could be lost, which could have devastating effects on amphibian populations in the northern Great Plains. The scientists noted that even at the lowest conversion rate of 10 percent, habitat losses and potential effects on amphibians were still substantial. This presentation, Effects of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change on Amphibian Habitat in the Northern Great Plains, will take place in Room 208 on July 17 at 8:30 a.m. Contact David Mushet, dmushet@usgs.gov, 701-253-5558.

Developing Solutions to Reduce Harmful Effects of Wind Energy on Bats: U.S. Geological Survey researchers and their U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service colleagues are working together to help provide solutions for reducing harmful effects of wind turbines on bats. This joint project is prioritizing research topics such as predicting mortality of bats by wind turbines and using bat life-history information to develop ways to reduce the number of bat deaths. Projects funded through this collaborative process will focus on addressing the most critical research needs to ensure that wind energy development can grow while minimizing costs to wildlife. This presentation, Bats and Wind Energy: State of Knowledge and Research Priorities for USFWS and USGS, will take place in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 from at 12:30 p.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Laura Ellison, ellisonl@usgs.gov, 970-226-9494.

Renewable Energy and Terrestrial Wildlife: Large areas of the Desert Southwest have been developed for utility-scale renewable energy projects, including both wind and solar facilities. The Desert Southwest is also an area of exceptional biodiversity, providing habitat for many sensitive terrestrial species, including the federally protected desert tortoise. USGS scientists and their colleagues reviewed the scientific literature on the effects of utility-scale energy development (wind and solar) and operation on terrestrial, non-flying wildlife. They found that while there is a growing and comparatively large body of information on the effects of wind energy on birds and bats, little information exists in the peer-reviewed scientific literature to evaluate the effects of wind or solar facilities on terrestrial wildlife in the world, including in offshore environments. Potential effects of such facilities include habitat modification and fragmentation, as well as effects from noise, dust, and roads and traffic. Before and after studies of utility-scale renewable energy sites are needed to adequately assess their effects on terrestrial wildlife and to develop methods to address those effects. This presentation, Terrestrial Wildlife Conservation and Renewable Energy Development in the Desert Southwest United States: A Review, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 at 11:30 a.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Jeff Lovich, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov, 928-556-7358.

Wildlife Response to Fire: Climate Change and Corridor Conservation in Southern California: In southern California, wildfires are expected to become more frequent as climate change occurs, so understanding how increased fire will impact wildlife habitats and behavior is critical for effective resource planning. Researchers analyzed GPS tracking data on bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions in southern California to understand how mammalian carnivores respond to burned landscapes, and whether the home ranges and movement patterns of these species changed with wildfire and urban development. Researchers from San Diego State University, USGS, Colorado State University, and University of California, Davis, participated in this study. This presentation, Corridor Conservation in Southern California under Climate Change: Understanding Wildlife Response to Burned Landscapes, will occur in Room OCC 210/211 on July 17 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Erin Boydston, eboydston@usgs.gov, 805-370-2362, or Lisa Lyren at llyren@usgs.gov, 760-931-1101.

San Francisco Bay: Water and Climate Change Projections, 2000-2100: Just-completed climate change scenarios for the years 2000-2100 in the San Francisco Bay project an increased variability in the bay’s water runoff, recharge and stream discharge, as well as a shifting of the seasonal timing of the bay’s water cycles. The four scenarios, completed by USGS researchers, used IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) projections of future climate changes to create a regional water balance model. For both drier and wetter scenarios, seasonal warming amplified the climatic water deficit, a measure of drought stress on soils and vegetation. This state-of-the-art climate science should help managers plan for the future. This presentation, Ensemble Hydrologic Modeling for the Next Century: Implications for San Francisco Bay Area Natural Resources, will take place in Room GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 8:50 a.m. Contact A.L. Flint at aflint@usgs.gov, 916-278-3221.

California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity: By analyzing the present and expected future climate conditions of protected areas within California, USGS researchers were able to identify the stability of those areas with respect to climate change; they then identified where increased landscape connectivity might help offset the negative effects of climate change. Because changing climate conditions will not affect all areas in California equally, researchers examined which protected areas would likely benefit most from expanded landscape connectivity via corridors. This information can help resource managers and policy-makers prioritize decisions about the most effective ways to mitigate the effects of climate change with limited resources. This presentation, California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity, will occur in ROOM GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 11 a.m. Contact Jason Kreitler, jkreitler@usgs.gov, 208-426-5217.

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.

USGS Announces Mineral Research Grants for 2012

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:54:41 EDT

New research on mineral resources important to our economy, national security, and land-use decisions has been funded by more than $260,000 in grants from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Recipients of the 2012 USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program (MRERP) grants will study rare earth elements (REE), niobium, and tellurium. The principal investigators and a brief description of each of the successful proposals are provided below.

"Although the US is currently dependent on foreign imports for our supply of rare earths and other critical elements that are essential for the high tech industry, our nation is actually rich in deposits of these valuable minerals," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The Mineral Research Grants help provide the basic research foundation to better develop our domestic resources and thus become less dependent on foreign imports."

Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Metamorphic Rocks of California
The University of California, Santa Barbara will focus on determining the origin of REE-bearing phosphate minerals in metamorphic rocks of the Music Valley region of California. This research is expected to provide a better understanding of how these phosphate minerals originally formed and provide insight on new geologic environments to target for REE exploration. The work is expected to help formulate better genetic models for REE-bearing mineral deposits and will decrease uncertainty in future assessments for these deposit types. The lead UC Santa Barbara scientist for this research is John Cottle.

The Rare Earth Element (REE) Potential of Igneous Rocks in Southern New Mexico
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will conduct detailed mapping and geochemical studies in southern New Mexico to evaluate the potential for undiscovered thorium-REE-uranium vein deposits in the Caballo and Burro Mountains. The collection of new field data and laboratory analyses will help to fully assess the REE mineral resource potential of the rocks and associated veins in the region. The principal scientists on this research for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will be Virginia McLemore and Nelia Dunbar.

A Buried Rare Earth Element (REE ) and Niobium Deposit in Southeast Nebraska
The University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will conduct a collaborative research project to examine the age and origin of the REE resources of the Elk Creek deposit in southeastern Nebraska by investigating previously collected drilling core. The Elk Creek REE deposit is found in a rare carbonate-rich igneous rock known as carbonatite. In addition to REEs, the Elk Creek carbonatite may comprise the largest niobium resource in the United States. Niobium is primarily used as an alloying element in steels and superalloys, such as materials used in high performance aircraft. This research is expected to yield data and information that will advance exploration and assessment models for similar REE deposits. The principal scientists for this research will be Lang Farmer of the University of Colorado and Matt Joeckel and Richard Kettler of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Understanding How Rare Earth Elements (REE) Migrate in the Weathering Environment
The University of Texas at El Paso will investigate the distribution of REE in shales of different climatic zones and characterize the chemical controls on the release and transport of REE during the weathering process. This work is expected to help evaluate the fate and transport of REEs during the weathering of continental shale and advance our understanding of the formation of REE-bearing sediments in oceans and rivers, as potential new REE resources to explore and assess. The principal scientists on this research for the University of Texas at El Paso will be Lixin Jin and Lin Ma.

Understanding Tellurium (Te) as a Critical Mineral Commodity
Iowa State University will conduct detailed laboratory analysis to improve our understanding on the formation of tellurium-bearing minerals, evaluate the effectiveness of current tellurium extraction procedures, and determine the weathering pattern of tellurium-bearing mineral phases, to help assess mineral environmental impact of tellurium resource development. Tellurium is a rare metal most often used in steel alloys, as well as cadmium-telluride solar cells. This research is expected to advance our understanding of tellurium-bearing mineral deposits and provide more robust genetic and mineral environmental models for the assessment of undiscovered tellurium-bearing resources. The principal scientist on this research for Iowa State University is Paul Spry.

The MRERP invited research proposals that will expand its efforts in critical minerals research on commodities that are of increasing importance to economic and national security and may be subject to disruption in supply. Proposals were accepted from academia, State agencies, industry, or other private sector organizations and scientists. For more information about the USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program, visit our website.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:39:22 EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Interior today released the first in a series of regional studies measuring the amount of carbon stored in U.S. ecosystems. Published by Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the study examines the current and projected future carbon storage in the Great Plains region, as part of a nation-wide assessment.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

Landsat Satellites Track Continued Missouri River Flooding

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:45:00 EDT

IMAGE FEATURE

Flooding along the Missouri River continues as shown in Landsat satellite images of the Nebraska and Iowa border. Heavy rains and snowmelt have caused the river to remain above flood stage for an extended period.

A Landsat 5 image of the area from May 5, 2011 shows normal flow. In contrast, a Landsat 7 image taken July 17 depicts flood conditions in the same location.

A national overview map of streamflow provided by USGS WaterWatch graphically portrays the immense geographic extent of flooding in the Missouri River basin.

Landsat is a joint effort of both USGS and NASA. USGS conducts Landsat operations and NASA develops and launches new satellites that meet USGS requirements. In addition to imagery of natural hazard events, Landsat provides valuable data for land use research and advances the Department of the Interior’s important role in land remote sensing under the President’s National Space Policy. Landsat images are unique in that they provide complete global coverage, they are available for free, and they span nearly 40 years of continuous earth observation. No other satellite imagery has that combination of attributes.

Monitoring both floods and droughts, the USGS WaterWatch internet site displays maps, graphs, and tables that describe current and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time streamflow data is generally updated on an hourly basis.

Flood Risk Determines Wetland Restoration Potential Along Missouri River

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:48:44 EDT

High or low flood risks can determine where wetland restoration might occur on the lower Missouri River, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center and the Nature Conservancy’s Missouri River Program.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has projected record flooding through mid-August for the lower Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam, Yankton, S.D.

Areas along the lower Missouri River that have a greater risk of high floods tend to have a larger potential for wetlands restoration whereas those areas with a low potential for wetland restoration have a lower flood risk, the study’s authors noted. Consequently, restoring wetlands in the high-risk areas could lower flood costs and increase the ecological benefits of the river. The study is published in the journal Wetlands Ecology and Management and is available online.

"This study can be used by agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, to help balance protecting the public from flood hazards and restoring wetland ecosystems," said USGS scientist and senior author of the study, Robert Jacobson, Ph.D. "Land managers can also use studies like this to assist them in making informed decisions about their property, farms and livelihood."

The study revealed that wetland restoration potential is not uniform along the river For example, areas just downstream of Gavins Point Dam have a lack of sediment, which has caused the river channel to deepen, leaving the floodplain in that area high and usually dry. These eroded areas have low potential for restoring wetlands and a relatively low flood hazard.

The amount of channel erosion begins to decrease about 60 miles downstream of the dam, resulting in more opportunity to get water to potential floodplain wetlands, and more flood risk. The stretch of the river with the highest wetland restoration potential is between Omaha, Neb. and St. Joseph, Mo. This area is also more susceptible to flooding than the remainder of the lower Missouri River.

More information about the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center is available online.

To learn more about the Nature Conservancy's Missouri River Program, visit their website.

Flood Peaks and Probability in the Midwest Assessed

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:26:09 EDT

New information and data will allow for the assessment of future flood potential in the Midwestern U.S., which can be used to make long-term planning decisions and help residents be better prepared for future floods in the region.

A recent U.S. Geological Survey report documents the flood peak and probability of occurrence at over 100 USGS streamgages that were operational during the Midwest floods of 2008. Such assessments are useful for citizens and officials in addressing flood-control, land-use, and flood insurance regulations.

“2008 was an incredible year for floods for the Midwest,” said Dr. Robert Holmes, USGS scientist and senior author of the report. “This flood probability information is crucial to flood risk assessment efforts.”

Peak-of-record streamflows were recorded at more than 147 USGS streamgages in 2008. Separate flooding events occurred in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and September of that year. Of those, the June floods were the most severe and widespread with the most substantial and, in some places, record flooding and damage occurring in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

“USGS hydrologists and hydrologic technicians work long hours during flood events like this to collect the necessary data to provide the public and other agencies with accurate, reliable streamflow information,” Holmes said. “One of the agencies that make significant use of the USGS data is the National Weather Service (NWS), which uses the data as input to computer models. These models are the basis for NWS flood forecasts at almost 4,000 locations across the United States.”

The report “Flooding in the United States Midwest, 2008” can be found online.

Disappearing Ducks? North America's Prairie Potholes Vulnerable to Warming Climates

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EDT

The loss of wetlands in the prairie pothole region of central North America due to a warmer and drier climate will negatively affect millions of waterfowl that depend on the region for food, shelter and raising young, according to research published today in the journal BioScience.

The new research shows that the region appears to be much more sensitive to climate warming and drying than previously thought.

“The impact to the millions of wetlands that attract countless ducks to these breeding grounds in spring makes it difficult to imagine how to maintain today’s level of waterfowl populations in altered climate conditions,” said Dr. Glenn Guntenspergen, a U.S. Geological Survey researcher and one of the report authors. “Parents may not have time to raise their young to where they can fly because of wetlands drying up too quickly in the warming climate of the future,” he added.

A new wetland model developed by the authors to understand the impacts of climate change on wetlands in the prairie pothole region projected major reductions in water volume, shortening of the time water remains in wetlands and changes to wetland vegetation dynamics in this 800,000-square kilometer region in the United States (North and South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa) and Canada.

Many wetland species -- such as waterfowl and amphibians -- require a minimum time in water to complete their life cycles. For example, most dabbling ducks -- such as mallards and teal-- require at least 80 to 110 days of surface water for their young to grow to where they can fly and for breeding adults to complete molting, the time when birds are flightless while growing new feathers. In addition, an abundance of wetlands are needed because breeding waterfowl typically isolate themselves from others of the same species.

“Unfortunately, the model simulations show that under forecasted climate-change scenarios for this region (an increase of 4-degrees Celsius), the western prairie potholes will be too dry and the eastern ones will have too few functional wetlands and nesting habitat to support historical levels of waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species,” said Dr. W. Carter Johnson, another study author and a researcher at South Dakota State University.

The authors noted that their model allowed a more comprehensive analysis of climate change impacts across the northern prairies because it simultaneously examined the hydrology and vegetation dynamics of the wetland complex, which are both important for the wildlife that depend on the prairie potholes for part or all of their life cycles.

“Our results indicate that the prairie wetlands are highly vulnerable to climate warming, and are less resilient than we previously believed,” said Guntenspergen. “All but the very wettest of the historic boom years for waterfowl production in the more arid parts of the prairie pothole region may be bust years in a 4-degrees Celsius warmer climate.”

These findings may serve as a foundation for managers and policy makers to develop management plans to prepare for and adapt to climate change in the prairie pothole region.

The article, Prairie wetland complexes as landscape functional units in a changing climate, was published in BioScience (60[2]:128-140) and authored by researchers with South Dakota State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Montana, St. Olaf College, The Desert Research Institute-University of Nevada, and the University of Idaho.

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