USGS Newsroom

Undeveloped Sagebrush Habitat Important for Maintaining Sage-grouse

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho— Among the diverse array of western habitats available to them, greater sage-grouse require sagebrush-dominated landscapes with extremely minimal levels of human land use according to USGS researchers who detailed the scientific results in a recently published report about the ecological conditions needed by this large, ground-dwelling bird.

The science, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, was done to describe and accurately map the basic combination of factors necessary to support sage-grouse across large expanses of its range. Scientists compiled and analyzed information about the environment surrounding 3,000 active breeding areas, known as leks, within a 355,000 square–mile portion of the sage-grouse’s historic range. Environmental factors examined within a 3-mile radius of each lek were climate, land cover, and densities of roads, power lines, pipelines, and communication towers.

Ninety-nine percent of active leks were in landscapes with less than 3 percent of a developed category of land cover, and all lands surrounding leks were less than 14 percent developed. Further, most leks were in regions characterized by broad expanses of sagebrush and containing less than 25 percent agricultural activity. The location of leks relative to some specific types of infrastructure also was documented. For example, the average number of communication towers per square mile was 0.2 for the study area as a whole, 0.04 for active leks, but 7.1 for locations where sage-grouse occurred historically but not presently.

"We knew, from previously published science, that human activity affected sage-grouse, but our results in this new research showed that most leks were even absent from areas that had very low levels of human activity," said Steve Knick, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the report.

The importance of sagebrush as habitat for sage-grouse also was affirmed by this study. The vast majority of leks occurred where at least 40 percent of the surrounding landscape was dominated by sagebrush. Furthermore, almost all leks were in areas containing few conifer trees or few grassland expanses. These results are consistent with other evidence that sage-grouse are vulnerable to decreases in sagebrush due to the spread of invasive grasses in some areas and due to the encroachment of junipers and other conifer trees in other areas.

Leks also occurred in drier-than-average regions within a small temperature and precipitation range, suggesting that predicted changes in climate may cause lek locations to change depending on where there are optimal arid conditions.

Ecological connections among sage-grouse populations across the large study area also were described because species with multiple interconnected populations are more likely to persist than those with isolated populations. Large populations within the interior of the sage-grouse range were highly interconnected. In contrast, smaller populations along the range periphery often were connected to only one or two neighboring populations. Habitat changes in the connecting corridors that limit or disrupt sage-grouse movement could further isolate these peripheral populations, putting them at increased risk of loss.

Greater sage-grouse currently occupy approximately half of their historic range across western North America. They are a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act because of habitat and population fragmentation coupled with inadequate regulatory mechanism to control development in critical areas. Most of the sagebrush habitat used by sage-grouse is under public land management, with 50 percent managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The publication is Knick, S.T., S.E. Hanser, and K.L. Preston. 2013. Modeling ecological minimum requirements for distribution of greater sage-grouse leks: implications for population connectivity across their western range, U.S.A. Ecology and Evolution.

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!

Water Levels to be Measured in 1,300 Southern Idaho Wells

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho —Between April 8 and 19, employees of the U.S. Geological Survey, working with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, will measure groundwater levels in more than 1,300 private and public wells throughout southern Idaho’s eastern Snake River Plain. The eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, with an estimated volume of 200 billion cubic feet, is the area’s chief source of drinking water, provides irrigation for one million acres of farmland, and is the water source for the state’s aquaculture industry.

The data collected from this large-scale measurement will help water resources managers understand the status of the aquifer as the state enters the April-September water year. In addition, the IDWR will use the data to continue improving their computer model of the aquifer. The USGS and IDWR measured aquifer water levels in 2002 and 2008, and the agencies plan to continue the mass measurements every five years.

"The mass measurement is like taking a snapshot of the current state of the aquifer," said IDWR Hydrology Section Manager Sean Vincent. "The USGS and IDWR would greatly appreciate well owners' cooperation in the study by granting them access to their wells. Privately-owned wells are a valuable source of information. The more wells from which information can be gathered, the better the assessment of the current state of the aquifer will be."

USGS and IDWR employees will carry official government identification. The USGS and IDWR technicians will spend a few minutes with well owners to ask about any changes the owner has made to the well since the last measurement and how long it has been since the well was last pumped. The technicians will then measure the water level in the well using a steel tape or an electronic water level meter, and they will report the results to the well owner.

For more information about this study, please contact either Sean Vincent at the Idaho Department of Water Resources or Annette Campbell at the USGS Idaho Water Science Center.

Flood Awareness Starts with Science

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho — Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter has proclaimed the week of March 18-22 Flood Awareness Week in Idaho. Many local, state, and Federal agencies contribute to warning citizens about flood hazards and helping them recover from flooding. From warning through response, these agencies depend on vital science information from the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS maintains a nationwide network of streamgauges that provide real-time information about river levels and flows. Idaho is home to more than 200 such gauges. The National Weather Service uses streamgauge information to forecast floods and issue warnings.

"USGS streamgauges provide absolutely critical information to National Weather Service hydrologists responsible for issuing river flood warnings," said Bob Diaz, Meteorologist in Charge of the National Weather Service Weather Forecast office in Boise. "The USGS is a valuable partner and a key part of the National Weather Service Flood Warning Program."

To supplement this network of streamgauges, the USGS can rapidly deploy portable gauges on bridges or other structures to provide additional information about rising floodwaters. The USGS Idaho Water Science Center installed three of these rapid deployment gauges along the Boise River during flooding in May 2012.

"We requested the rapid deployment gauge at the Highway 95 bridge near Parma in conjunction with the state water master," said Brian Sauer of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. "The bridge does not have a lot of clearance during high flows. I think the data from the site was monitored closely by a variety of entities. We’d likely consider it again under similar circumstances."

All of the information provided by USGS is publicly available through its National Water Information System website.

Citizens and emergency responders can also obtain USGS alerts that deliver river flow and level information directly to a mobile device. USGS WaterAlert sends e-mail or text alerts when conditions at a gauge meet or exceed user-selected thresholds. USGS WaterNow lets users query a gauge from their phone to receive a text message containing current conditions.

To learn how to use USGS WaterAlert, visit USGS WaterAlert.

To learn how to use USGS WaterNow, visit USGS WaterNow.

Pika Populations Affected by Climate in the Great Basin

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:38:40 EDT

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Climate factors such as snowpack and precipitation are playing an increasingly important role in the abundance of American pikas in the Great Basin, according to a continuing ecological study by the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Montana and Montana State University.

Pikas are diminutive herbivores that resemble hamsters and live exclusively in rocky slopes across many mountain ranges in the American West. This study contributes to a legacy of more than 100 years of pika studies in the Great Basin – the internally draining area between the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. In the Basin, researchers are recording pikas' shrinking distribution, and finding their population sizes increasingly responsive to climate change but difficult to predict.

The size of pika populations did not correlate with the extent of habitat present in either the 1990s or 2000s, according to the researchers, who were revisiting sites where pikas were first recorded in historical surveys going back more than a century. Given how strongly pikas are tied to their rocky habitat, this current finding challenges the assumption that just because physically suitable habitat is present – even in remote, apparently relatively undisturbed locations – that pikas will continue to occupy those habitats.

Researchers also investigated the potential impact of climate stress on pika density. The results suggested that climate change may be adding another filter for suitability of habitats. "Precipitation during June-September and amount of snowpack appeared to be the most powerful predictors of pika density in the 2000s," said USGS research ecologist Erik Beever, lead author of the study. "Precipitation appears to be important because it can influence the amount of food available for pikas in the summer, and an insulating snowpack can minimize exposure of pikas to extreme cold-stress," Beever said. Across the western United States, snow-water equivalents have been declining and temperatures have been rising since the 1930s.

Perhaps the most surprising result was the direct relationship between population size and probability of future extinctions of local pika populations. "When we consider extinction risk, we intuitively think that smaller populations are at the highest risk," Beever said. "We looked at the record of extinctions up to 1999, and calculated the risk of future site-level extinction. We were surprised to find that sites with higher extinction risk in 1999 had larger populations in 2003-2008," he said. The authors suggest that this non-intuitive result may reflect changes in the rules governing abundance between the 1990s and 2000s surveys (perhaps ushered in by recent climate change), lags in response of abundance to extinction risk, or other mechanisms.

Researchers revisited sites of historical (1898-1956) pika records and performed surveys of pika abundance from 1994 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2008 to understand the factors predicting pika population sizes.

The study, "Understanding relationships among abundance, extinction and climate at ecoregional scales," to be published in the journal Ecology, is available online.

Geology + Wells + Pumping = Drops in Water Levels in Columbia Plateau

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 5 Feb 2013 13:15:00 EDT

[Editors: The new USGS report is on the Web at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5261/]

TACOMA, Wash. — Geologic barriers, the intermixing of water between aquifers through wells, and groundwater pumping contribute to the pattern of declines of groundwater levels of the Columbia Plateau, according to a report published by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Groundwater from the 44,000-square-mile Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer, a system in decline since the 1970s, is a critical resource for the nearly 1.3 million people in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, as well as providing irrigation water for the region’s estimated $6 billion-per-year agriculture.

"This study is a beautiful example of USGS scientists doing what we do best: making detailed measurements over a broad region, combining those observations with historical information, interpreting the data within a geologic context, including the use of geologic analogues, and working well with local partners," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Understanding the cause of the groundwater declines is the important first step in solving the problem."

To help resource managers in the region, the USGS Groundwater Resources Program began a study in 2007 of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System to answer key questions about widespread water-level declines, reductions in groundwater flow into rivers, and the as-yet unknown effects of a changing climate on groundwater resources.

As part of this effort to document changes in the aquifer system, scientists compiled water levels measured in about 60,000 wells over the last 100 years. From a subset of the collected information, scientists developed a groundwater-level trend map for a period of widespread groundwater level changes (1968 to 2009). The average rate of change for all wells was 1.9 feet per year of decline, with 72 percent of all wells declining.

Scientists also analyzed water-level data to define areas of similar groundwater flow conditions. The areas of focus for this analysis included two large areas of continued concern for locals and state agencies: the Umatilla area, Oregon, and the Palouse Slope/eastern Yakima Fold Belt in the Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area (GWMA) consisting of Adams, Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Counties, Washington. Scientists found that in these areas groundwater levels have declined hundreds of feet and that geologic barriers to groundwater flow protect some areas from decline while making declines in other areas more severe. Evidence suggests that both groundwater pumping and leakage of groundwater between aquifers through long open intervals in wells may be contributing to the observed groundwater level changes.

Information gathered in the study was used to identify groundwater flow paths and major barriers to groundwater flow. Understanding the features that control the direction of flow will help scientists build a groundwater flow simulation model that water managers can use to test ways of managing the region’s groundwater under different development and climate conditions.

Agencies cooperating in the collection of groundwater data used in the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer study: Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon Water Resources Department, U.S. Department of Energy, Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council, and Washington State Department of Ecology. More information about the study is available online.

The report, "Groundwater Status and Trends for the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho," by Erick R. Burns, Daniel T. Snyder, Jonathan V. Haynes, and Michael S. Waibel, is published as U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5261 and is available on the Web.

New "Hair of the Bear" Study Launched to Estimate Grizzly Bear Population

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 23 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

Bears in the far northwest corner of Montana and northeastern Idaho will soon be part of a new study using "hair of the bear" to estimate their population size.

This method of estimating population size and distribution was successfully used to estimate the grizzly bear population size in the Glacier National Park - Bob Marshall Wilderness complex in northern Montana. The U.S. Geological Survey's new research project will result in a population size estimate of grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, one of the six recovery zones defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

Researchers believe at least 40 grizzly bears make their homes within this 2,600-square-mile recovery zone. USGS scientists will use hair collection methods similar to those used in Glacier National Park and elsewhere to gain a more accurate estimate of the bear population size. This work will also provide detailed information about the distribution of the population and expand the genetic database for grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem.

"Getting accurate counts of infrequently encountered animals in the wild is always a challenge, especially when individuals are difficult to distinguish from one another," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The great advantage of using DNA for counting is that it not only distinguishes individuals reliably, but also can determine how related or inbred a population has become, an important parameter in monitoring genetic diversity in the wild."

Individual bears will be identified by DNA in bear hair collected from almost 800 scent-baited hair corrals and more than 1,200 unbaited, naturally occurring bear rubs such as trees, posts and poles that bears rub on. This information will be used to examine population and genetic health.

The hair corrals are set up by encircling a group of trees with 100 feet of barbed wire and pouring liquid scent lure in the center of the wire corral. When a bear passes under or over the wire to investigate the source of the odor, the barbs collect the bear's hair. At the bear rubs, small strips of wire are attached to the rubbed surface to facilitate hair collection. No lure or attractants are used at these sample sites; rubbing is the result of natural behavior.

Hair samples will be collected periodically throughout the summer and sent to a lab for genetic analysis. Only a few hair follicles are needed to obtain a great deal of information about the bear that left the sample, such as species, individual identity, sex and potentially, its relationship to other bears. All hair collection sites will be at least one-third mile from all structures and at least 100 yards from roads and trails.

"Determining the size and distribution of bear populations with accuracy and precision requires a lot of resources because it involves intense sampling on a large scale," said USGS scientist Kate Kendall. "That the local community and agencies were able to pull together the funding for this effort is an indication of the importance to them of moving toward recovering this population."

Fieldwork to set up the scent-baited hair traps and collect hair from the wire corrals and network of bear rubs will begin June 7. The study area extends beyond the recovery zone to include all 2.4 million acres thought to be occupied by grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem.

This project is a collaborative effort among city, county, tribal, federal, and state agencies, as well as partners from private industry and the non-profit sector. For more information, please visit the Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Project website.

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.

Earbones Accurately Record a Fish�s Life Travels

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 9:07:33 EDT

Studying the earbones of trout can reveal their lifetime movements in a large river system, according to a study released in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Scientists correlated the natural variation in strontium isotopes found in stream waters against those recorded in otoliths (earbones) of westslope cutthroat trout to examine fish movements during their lifetime.

This study was the first to show that the use of isotopes in water and earbones accurately assesses movement of trout wholly within a freshwater system. The research was conducted by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Montana State University, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

"It worked so well! The values in the water matched those in the otoliths, which grow like rings in a tree," said Clint Muhlfeld, USGS scientist and lead author of the study. "As fish grow and move into new environments, the otoliths record that information and we matched that with stream statistics to reconstruct the entire life cycle of a fish."

The study provides a reliable method that compliments traditional fish tracking techniques. This research may allow biologists to investigate non-native species invasions, identify important populations, and quantify life histories of freshwater fishes in river networks.

"All life is literally a product of its chemical environment, and there is no more dramatic demonstration of that fact than the ability to retrace the life history of fish from the variations in the chemicals deposited in their ear bones as they grow and migrate through space and time," explained USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "As this technique has already proven its scientific value in understanding the movement of fish in the marine environment and those which migrate from freshwater streams to the ocean, it is truly an achievement that could inspire 'CSI'."

Westslope cutthroat trout are an important native fish species in western North America where their populations have declined because of factors including habitat destruction, fragmentation and non-native species. These fish make extensive migrations among spawning, growth and refuge habitats, yet conventional tracking techniques have not been able to unravel the extent of their movements. Knowing exactly what habitat the fish use during each life stage is an important component to understanding their ecology and, in turn, more effectively managing this important species.

"This approach could be very useful in understanding life history strategies and conservation needs of freshwater fishes worldwide," said Muhlfeld. "Biologists are typically limited to examining movements of fish at checkpoints throughout their lives or over small periods of time. This approach allows examination of a fish’s entire life with significant accuracy."

The study provides a reliable method that compliments traditional fish tracking techniques and may allow biologists to investigate non-native species invasions, identify important populations, and quantify life histories of freshwater fishes in river networks. The article, "Estimating westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) movements in a river network using strontium isoscapes," can be viewed online.

More information about this study can be found on the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center website.

Lewis Named Director of USGS Idaho Water Science Center

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:23:51 EDT

Photo is of new Idaho water science director, Michael Lewis. Photo courtesy of USGS.

BOISE, Idaho — The U.S. Geological Survey has named Michael E. Lewis as the new director of its Idaho Water Science Center, headquartered in Boise.

Lewis previously served as associate director for data programs for the USGS Colorado Water Science Center. He takes over in Idaho from acting director Greg Clark. Clark will retain his duties as associate director for scientific investigations.

"Michael Lewis has decades of experience with the USGS and with all aspects of our water programs, having literally worked his way from an entry level student appointment to the top position in one of our most important water science centers," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This depth of familiarity will be invaluable as he guides the Center and our Idaho partners through new water challenges ahead."

Lewis said he expects to begin his tenure by reaching out to the Idaho water community, including local, state, and federal resource managers, Idaho’s congressional delegation, tribal leaders, soil and water conservation officials, and nonprofit organizations with interests in Idaho water issues.

“It takes time to develop the partnerships necessary for establishing strong cooperative science programs,” Lewis said. “The lasting partnerships don’t drop out of a meeting or two. Successful scientific cooperation requires developing a strong understanding of the needs of the partner community,” he said.

Lewis points to his previous experience on the development of a water-quality monitoring system for the North Platte River drainage in Colorado. “The North Platte drainage, a beautiful and historically sparsely developed area, is undergoing substantial energy development activities; however, water-quality monitoring in the basin has been limited to the point that any potential effects of the development cannot be identified,” he said. “It was important to establish a baseline of scientific data before development took off. The forging of strong partnerships has made that vital network a reality.”

Lewis started with the USGS in 1984 while attending Tennessee Technological University. After graduating with undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering, Lewis worked as a USGS hydrologist in Memphis, Tenn. and Pueblo, Colo. From 1998 to 2000, Lewis served as chief of hydrologic studies for the USGS Virginia Water Science Center. He then returned to Colorado, where his work included the oversight of a hydrologic data program involving more than 90 partner agencies and an extensive statewide network of surface-water, groundwater, and water-quality data collection stations.

The USGS Idaho Water Science Center provides reliable, impartial scientific information about surface and ground water, water quality, and water use to citizens and to local, state, tribal, and federal cooperators. In addition to the Boise headquarters, the center has field offices in Boise, Post Falls, and Idaho Falls, as well as a project office at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls.

USGS Provides Detailed Description of Idaho�s Wood River Valley Aquifer System

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:15:38 EDT

BOISE, Idaho — The entire population of central Idaho’s Wood River Valley depends on groundwater for domestic water supply. Today, the U.S. Geological Survey released the most detailed scientific description to date of the valley’s aquifer system.

The description, called a “hydrogeologic framework,” defines the aquifer system’s extent, physical characteristics, and hydraulic properties. USGS scientists compiled data from more than 3,000 well-drilling reports, geologic maps, previous studies, and new geophysical surveys. They found that the aquifer system, composed of Quaternary-age sediment and basalt, ranges in thickness from less than a foot in some places to about 350 feet thick in the southern part of the Bellevue Triangle.

"The Wood River Valley Aquifer is a priceless gift from nature that with proper use, can provide a sustainable water supply for generations of Blaine County residents into the future," said USGS director Marcia McNutt. "USGS science is helping to understand the size and complexity of this magnificent underground system so that those whose lives depend on it can make wise decisions."

The framework represents the third phase of a multi-year study of the aquifer system that the USGS is conducting in partnership with Blaine County and a consortium of local government and nonprofit agencies. The improved understanding that the framework provides will play a critical role in the development of an accurate groundwater flow model of the aquifer system. It will also help the valley’s communities make science-based decisions about future development in the Wood River Valley, which includes Blaine County and the cities of Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue, whose population grew from 5,700 to 22,000 from 1970 to 2010.

“The completion of the third phase of this project represents what patient collaboration can accomplish with committed partners,” said Blaine County Commissioner Tom Bowman. “When viewed as a community investment, this benchmark study will continue to pay dividends of truly informed development decisions in the Wood River Valley for decades or perhaps centuries to come.”

The report “Hydrogeologic Framework of the Wood River Valley Aquifer System, South-Central Idaho” is available online from the USGS Publications Warehouse. The report includes maps of the base of the aquifer system, aquifer-system thickness, and aquifer permeability. For more information about the multi-phase Wood River Valley groundwater study, please visit http://id.water.usgs.gov/.

USGS Releases Regional Ecological Assessment of Sagebrush Wildlife and Habitats

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho - For the first time, managers of sagebrush habitats in several western states have comprehensive, comparable information about the distribution and habitats of greater sage-grouse and 14 other wildlife species, as they consider how to manage land for wildlife and accommodate other uses, including agriculture, recreation, and energy development. The U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have published this study in the book, "Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management: Ecoregional Assessment Tools and Models for the Wyoming Basins," providing land managers with valuable information for critical decisions.

"Iconic ecosystems of the American west, such as the sagebrush, can and must be managed to accommodate wildlife, recreation, and compatible economic development, but to do so requires scientific understanding of complex feedbacks," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "This multiagency, multistate study is a landmark in providing information and solutions on the scale that this challenge demands and deserves."

The 133,000 square-mile ecological study area, involving most of Wyoming and parts of Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, contains about one quarter of the sagebrush ecosystem in the United States and is a stronghold for wildlife that depend to varying degrees on sagebrush for habitat. The area also is poised for rapid change because of growing interests in many forms of development, especially renewable and non-renewable energy facilities.

The species addressed in the book include birds, mammals, lizards, and insects. The variety of species’ responses to change illustrates the complexity of managing habitats for more than one species in a rapidly changing landscape. The occurrence of three species, including the greater sage-grouse, was negatively influenced by features associated with humans, such as roads, oil and gas wells, and power lines. In contrast, human-associated features were a positive influence for three species, including the pronghorn, and one species showed no measurable influence one way or the other.

"We used a process called an ecoregional assessment," said Steve Hanser, USGS wildlife biologist and the lead editor of the book. "Assessments like these yield data about species and the systems in which they occur across large geographic regions. Information from this assessment can be directly integrated into planning processes and provide understanding of the effects of proposed developments on species of concern."

The complex study had multiple phases. Field surveys were used to identify species relationships with vegetation, soils, climate, and human developments. Scientists used the field data and computer programs to characterize species and environmental relationships. These relationships were then used to create maps of where species can be found on the landscape and interpret the importance of habitat features and human land-use in determining species distributions.

The book and the data developed as part of this study are available at Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management.

USGS Provides New Insights to Water Quality Issues of Boise and Snake Rivers

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho — Southwestern Idaho's Boise River contributes a significant amount of phosphorus to the lower Snake River, according to the findings of a U.S. Geological Survey study.

Phosphorus-induced algae blooms and fish kills have plagued a stretch of the lower Snake River that flows through Brownlee Reservoir along the Idaho-Oregon border. These incidents cause environmental hardship for the surrounding area and its inhabitants. The USGS conducted a study to determine to what extent the Boise River, a tributary to the Snake, was impacting the phosphorus problem.

All of the samples that USGS scientists collected between September 2008 and October 2010 in the Boise River near the confluence with the Snake exceeded a target level of phosphorus established by the State of Idaho to protect beneficial uses for both rivers. This phosphorus concentration of 0.07 milligram per liter was set for the confluence between May 1 and September 30 each year to help reduce downstream algae blooms and related problems.

Elevated concentrations of phosphorus in the Boise have been documented for years. What was not well understood before this study was the relative contribution of constituents such as phosphorus that the Boise adds to the impaired stretch of the lower Snake River flowing through Brownlee Reservoir. Communities along the Boise River in southwestern Idaho need to know that contribution so they can work toward meeting the 0.07 milligram-per-liter target.

Resource managers also need a better understanding of how various water-quality variables such as water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen interact with concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll-a to affect the growth of algae.

"People are attracted to the Pacific Northwest by fresh-flowing, scenic rivers that nourish abundant wildlife," said USGS director Marcia McNutt. "The USGS is pleased when our science can be used to help prevent threats from negatively impacting the incomparable quality of life residents enjoy in this beautiful part of the nation."

In an effort to find some answers, the cities of Boise, Caldwell, Meridian, and Nampa commissioned the USGS study. The USGS contributed a portion of the study funding through its Cooperative Water Program. USGS scientists monitored water quality on the Boise River and on the Snake River upstream and downstream of the confluence.

During the course of the study, the Boise River contributed 11 percent of the mean annual flow and 30 percent of total phosphorus, 72 percent of dissolved orthophosphorus, 16 percent of total nitrogen, and 13 percent of suspended sediment loads to the Snake River system that were measured at Nyssa, OR.

In addition to determining the relative contributions of various chemical constituents at three monitoring sites, this study revealed two keys to help resource managers in the future.

First, algae growth is currently monitored in these rivers by measuring chlorophyll-a, which is a green pigment found in most plants and algae, but the study findings show that chlorophyll-a alone may not be the best measure. Dissolved oxygen, which is produced and consumed by algae and plants, is a more appropriate measure of algae growth and can be monitored every 15 minutes by the instruments used in the study. These instruments were invaluable for measuring short-term variations in water quality, which is meaningful for resource managers when evaluating compliance with water-quality targets.

Second, USGS scientists were able to use the same instruments to estimate nutrient and sediment concentrations when samples were not possible, using more easily-measured water-quality parameters. These instruments and relations could become useful tools for resource managers to assess their efforts to improve water quality over time in the Snake and Boise Rivers.

Details of these and other study results are documented in the report "Water-Quality Conditions near the Confluence of the Snake and Boise Rivers, Canyon County, Idaho" available online from the USGS Publications Warehouse.

New USGS Science: Groundwater Study of the Eastern Great Basin

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:50:00 EDT

The report can be found online.

Groundwater pumping, which has been increasing since the 1940s, now accounts for about one third of the estimated annual flow from the aquifers of the eastern Great Basin. In parts of this region, groundwater pumping exceeds the rate of natural discharge, leading to land subsidence and declines in water levels and spring flow.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists recently published a report examining groundwater recharge (replenishment) and discharge for the eastern Great Basin. The study examined 110,000 square miles across Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho, and the report covers groundwater conditions from Death Valley in the southwest to Cache Valley in the northeast.

"Groundwater resources are not only a critical part of present water supplies in this area, but are likely to increase in importance in the future because the region is facing population growth and limited surface water supplies," said Kevin Dennehy, coordinator for the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. "The results of the study have the potential to aid state and local agencies to better manage their future water supplies."

"This USGS publication evaluates the groundwater resources of the eastern Great Basin, a part of the United States that is predominantly desert yet is under considerable pressure for continued development," said Hugh Hurlow, a senior scientist with the Utah Geological Survey. "The USGS used the most advanced techniques available and the report thoroughly explains the data sources and methods of analysis. This work improves understanding at a regional scale, providing an essential template for more local, focused analyses."

The primary uses for groundwater withdrawals in this area are for irrigation, municipal purposes and industrial water. There are several large water development projects currently being considered for transporting groundwater from rural valleys to urban areas in order to supply cities with municipal water for future growth.

USGS scientists developed a new three-dimensional model of the area's geology, providing insights into how carbonate (bedrock) and alluvial (loose sediment) aquifers are connected over much of the eastern Great Basin. Hydrologic data from hundreds of previous reports were compiled to map directions of groundwater flow and develop a regional groundwater budget (analysis of recharge and discharge) of the aquifer system.

USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5193, "Conceptual Model of the Great Basin Carbonate and Alluvial Aquifer System," can be viewed online. The report consists of multiple chapters documenting various aspects of the aquifer system, along with plates, appendices, auxiliary files and GIS data sets.

This report is a product from the four-year study funded by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program as part of a national assessment of groundwater availability.

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.