USGS Newsroom

New USGS Report Updates Decline of High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Levels

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 7:48:52 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new report detailing changes of groundwater levels in the High Plains Aquifer. The report presents water-level change data in the aquifer in two separate periods: from 1950–the time prior to significant groundwater irrigation development–to 2011, and 2009 to 2011.

In 2011, the total water stored in the aquifer was about 2.96 billion acre-feet, an overall decline of about 246 million acre-feet (or 8 percent) since pre-development. Change in water in storage from 2009 to 2011 was an overall decline of 2.8 million acre-feet. The overall average water-level decline in the aquifer was 14.2 feet from pre-development to 2011, and 0.1 foot from 2009 to 2011.

The study used water-level measurements from 3,322 wells for pre-development to 2011 and 7,376 wells for 2009 to 2011.

The High Plains Aquifer, also known as the Ogallala Aquifer, underlies about 112 million acres (175,000 square miles) in parts of eight states Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The USGS, at the request of the U.S. Congress, has published reports on water-level changes in the High Plains Aquifer since 1988. Congress requested these reports in response to substantial water-level declines in large areas of the aquifer.

This multi-state, groundwater-level monitoring program has allowed water-level changes in all eight states to be tracked over time and has provided data critical to evaluating different options for groundwater management. This level of coordinated groundwater-level monitoring is unique among major, multi-state regional aquifers in the country.

The report "Water-Level and Storage Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2011 and 2009–11" is available online.

Kansas and Oklahoma Lead Round 2

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 9:51:47 EDT

The release of new US Topo maps covering Kansas and Oklahoma usher in the second round of quadrangle revisions, updates and product improvement

Last September the U.S. Geological Survey marked the important milestone of completing the initial round of US Topo map production for the 48 contiguous states. The agency is continuing to improve the US Topo map product, moving into the second round of national map revisions. Hawaii is in production and Alaska production will start later this year.

The first two states to undergo this second US Topo map revision are Kansas and Oklahoma. The 1,403 quadrangles for Kansas and 1,032 quads covering Oklahoma replace the current US Topo maps, which will be added to the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. All of these maps are available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Store website.

Other new feature additions and improvements on the updated US Topo maps include:

Woodland tint derived from the National Land Cover Dataset
Fire stations
Hospitals
State and county boundaries
Forest service boundaries
Commercial roads in lieu of census roads
Forest Service roads and road numbers

"We are excited to begin our second part of our three-year mapping cycle," said Mike Cooley, the US Topo Project Manager. "During the past year, more than 3,000 US Topo maps were downloaded every day, and that number continues to increase."

US Topos are derived from key layers of geographic data found in The National Map, which delivers visible content such as high resolution aerial photography, which was not available on older paper-based topographic maps. The new US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and on-screen geographic analysis tools for users.

Future enhancements to the US Topo are scheduled to include additional tools and map content such as a shaded relief layer, updated structures, enhanced transportation, additional federal boundaries and Forest Service trails. Wyoming, which was added in the fall of 2012, also featured Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The USGS expects to produce more than 18,500 revised quadrangles annually. US Topo maps are updated every three years.

The new digital electronic topographic maps are delivered in GeoPDF image software format and may be viewed using Adobe Reader, available as a no cost download.

For more information, visit US Topo Quadrangles - Maps for America.

New South Central Climate Science Center Director Announced

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT

NORMAN, OK -- Kimberly Winton, Ph.D., has been selected as the director of the Department of the Interior's South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC), headquartered at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. This is the sixth federally funded center on the OU Research Campus.

Winton will be the first permanent director of the new center, which is one of eight regional Climate Science Centers managed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The SC CSC is a collaboration among the Department and the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

"The natural environment is changing, and the drought, high temperatures, and wildfires experienced in the south-central region are a case in point. Good science can help shape smart strategies to cope with these and other changes," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Under the leadership of Dr. Kim Winton, the USGS has every expectation that the South Central Climate Science Center will achieve its goal of providing science information and tools to allow resource managers and citizens alike to anticipate, measure, and appropriately adapt to these changing conditions on the local and regional scale, where decisions matter most to communities at risk."

Winton's expertise with water and agricultural issues, and her long experience in working with diverse stakeholders, give her a strong background in climate change questions of interest to the region.

The national network of regional Climate Science Centers will provide land managers in federal, state and local agencies access to the best science available regarding climate change and other landscape-scale stressors impacting the nation's natural and cultural resources. The new centers will be managed by the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center at the USGS headquarters in Reston, Va.

"Dr. Winton's experience and research work make her an outstanding choice as the South Central Climate Science Center's new director," said University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren. "As a native Oklahoman, she understands the importance of research in advancing our state, and I am glad she will be continuing to serve our communities."

For the past 10 years, Winton has been the Director of the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center (OKWSC), in Oklahoma City, where she directed a staff of approximately 45 employees with an annual budget of $5 to 6 million. The OKWSC works with about 40 different cooperators, including state and federal agencies, tribes, and cities, to supply surface water and groundwater monitoring data, flood inundation studies and a variety of other water information to decision makers. Dr. Winton also assumed the duties of the USGS Tribal Liaison for the USGS South Central region, and served as a DOI Diversity Change agent.

Winton spent most of her professional career in the agrichemical industry, where she gained experience in biological research, agricultural practices and the environmental fate and effects of pesticides. She conducted field biological research for five years in Greenville, Miss., and managed the contracting of environmental field, lab and analytical chemistry research for 10 years in Greensboro, N.C. Winton has also worked for an environmental consulting company and for the EPA National Groundwater Risk Management Lab in Ada, Okla.

Winton was born in Oklahoma, and has a bachelor's degree in zoology and a master's in agronomy from Oklahoma State University. She received her doctorate in agronomy from the University of Arkansas.

The south-central United States encompasses 20 ecoregions, from coastal areas to deserts, as well as a diversity of cultures. The region's highly-variable climate, including recent and severe droughts, provides a challenging environment for decision makers who manage land, water and other resources in the region. The Center will provide science-based products and information that are tailored to the south-central United States and the needs of its managers and decision makers.

Simulating Effects of Dam Breaches near Lawton, Oklahoma

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:00:00 EDT

The effects of floods resulting from dam breaches at Lakes Ellsworth and Lawtonka in southwestern Okla. were recently simulated and results are available today in a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey and the City of Lawton.

Dam breaches and resultant floods can cause substantial property damage and loss of life. While dams provide beneficial functions, such as flood control, recreation, and reliable water supplies, they also entail risk.

Flood-inundation maps made from the simulations provide valuable information to city officials, emergency managers, and local residents for planning emergency response if a dam breach occurs. The project report, including flood-inundation maps, is available online.

"Complex simulations such as the dam breach scenario benefit from years of experience at the USGS in predicting areas to be inundated by flash floods and cresting rivers," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Understanding which facilities are at risk helps concentrate pre-emptive actions only where they are needed."

Some areas of concern near the city of Lawton include; water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, recreational areas, and community-services offices.

Accurate flood-inundation maps require high-resolution topographic maps that cover areas downstream of dams. The USGS collected light detection and ranging (lidar) data to develop a high-resolution digital elevation model and map for the flood plains downstream from Lakes Ellsworth and Lawtonka. These maps, combined with streamflow-gaging data and basin hydraulic characteristics were put into a dynamic (changing-flow) model, using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System.

Model scenarios used to develop the inundation maps included a 75 -percent probable maximum flood and a sunny-day dam-breach scenario. Flood-wave arrival times were determined for selected bridge crossings.

Nutrient Levels Decrease in Water Used for Tulsa Public Water Supply

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:07:34 EDT

Concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus have decreased at several locations in two creeks that flow into Lake Eucha and Spavinaw Lake, near the City of Tulsa, Okla., according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

The City of Tulsa uses water from Lake Eucha and Spavinaw Lake for public water supply. From 1998-2005 the City has invested in eliminating taste and odor problems in the drinking water, which can be attributed to high levels of nutrients causing algal biomass in the water.

"It is a great service to communities when USGS monitoring of water quality demonstrates whether changes in management practices are having any impact on nitrogen and phosphorous levels in public water supplies," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "And it is a cause for celebration when that monitoring confirms that indeed those actions are having the intended beneficial effect."

Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus measured in 2010 were less than those typically recorded in from 2002–2009. USGS scientists tested for nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment at five streamflow-gaging stations in the Spavinaw and Beaty Creek basins in the Eucha-Spavinaw basin of northwestern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma. The report, written in cooperation with the City of Tulsa, is available online.

Estimated amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus delivered to Lake Eucha from the Spavinaw and Beaty Creek basins during 2002–2010 were 2.5 to 7.8 percent less, respectively, than the amounts discharged from 2002–2009.

Trend analyses of water-quality data indicated no significant downward trends in nitrogen-compound concentrations, but that there were significant downward trends in phosphorus and suspended-sediment concentrations at several sites on streams draining to Lake Eucha.

Possible causes for downward trends in phosphorus concentrations include decreases in phosphorus discharges from a wastewater-treatment plant upstream from the Spavinaw Creek near Cherokee City, Okla., and the effects of best management practices in the basin.

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.

Irrigation Causing Declines in the High Plains Aquifer

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:15:40 EDT

Groundwater withdrawals for crop irrigation have increased to over 16 million acre-feet per year in the High Plains Aquifer, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.

The USGS study shows that recharge, or the amount of water entering the aquifer, is less than the amount of groundwater being withdrawn, causing groundwater losses in this already diminished natural resource. Crop irrigation is the largest use of groundwater in the aquifer, and, over the past 60 years, has caused severe water-level declines of up to 100 feet in some areas. The new USGS findings address concerns about the long-term sustainability of the aquifer.

"The High Plains Aquifer is Nature's nearly perfect water storage system: self-recharging, safe from natural disasters, readily accessed over a broad area, and with copious capacity," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "And yet in less than 100 years we are seriously depleting what took Nature more than 10,000 years to fill."

The High Plains aquifer underlies about 175,000 square miles in parts of eight states – Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming – and is a major source of groundwater irrigation in the region. The High Plains region supplies approximately one-fourth of the nation’s agricultural production.

"Because groundwater losses are greater than recharge, water levels in many parts of the aquifer are currently declining," said Jennifer Stanton, USGS scientist and an author of the report. "Such information can inform groundwater management decisions made by state and local agencies."

The new USGS study also compares previously published data with new methods for estimating recharge and groundwater withdrawals and provides an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of those methods.

This USGS report is part of a larger study to evaluate groundwater availability of the High Plains Aquifer. The study is being conducted through the USGS Groundwater Resources Program to assist state and local groundwater management agencies and to assess the status of groundwater resources from a national perspective.

Click here to access the full report on line.

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

Water Quality Trends Near Oklahoma City

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 6 Oct 2011 19:53:40 EDT

Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and some pesticides have increased from 1999-2009 in parts of the North Canadian River watershed, downstream of Oklahoma City, Okla., according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients essential for plant growth, but in high concentrations they can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Scientists sampled water quality and streamflow on the North Canadian River at USGS streamgage stations in Harrah, Okla. and downstream at Britton Road in Oklahoma City, Okla. The study also examined land-cover changes, and results show increasing urban land use and development in the basin between Lake Overholser and Harrah, Okla.

“An increasing population makes understanding water quality trends even more important,” said Kim Winton, USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center Director. “Decision makers can use this information to help make informed choices about water resources management.

Changes in water quality may have been caused by changes in point-source wastewater discharges, urban development, population growth, streamflow, and/or agricultural activities. The full USGS report, done in cooperation with the City of Oklahoma City, can be found online.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients that increase growth of aquatic plants and algae, which then decay and consume dissolved oxygen, causing areas with low oxygen. The resulting lack of oxygen can cause stress or death of fish and other aquatic animals. From 1999-2009, there was a significant decrease of dissolved oxygen concentrations in water collected at the Harrah station, along with an increase in dissolved phosphorus. Both Harrah and Britton Road samples showed an upward trend in dissolved nitrogen. From 1988-2009, nutrient levels decreased in water samples collected at the Britton Road station, but levels were much greater at the downstream Harrah station.

The pesticides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and bromacil were found to increase over the study period. Some pesticide concentrations decreased over time, including; atrazine, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorprop, and lindane. Concentrations of dieldrin, heptochlor epoxide, and simazine remained the same.

Streamflow in the study area has decreased, especially after 1999. This may be due to a decline in precipitation between 1999 and 2009, or the construction of low-water dams on the river upstream from Oklahoma City in 1999.

Simulating Effects of Water Withdrawal from Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Simulated effects of withdrawing water from the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer in south-central Oklahoma are now available in a new U.S. Geological Survey report, done in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

Results from the USGS groundwater-flow model simulations can help water managers make informed decisions about balancing human and environmental water needs across the region. This tool evaluates how aquifer withdrawals resulting from increased water demands and development could affect nearby springs and streams.

The simulations demonstrate to maintain flows to springs and streams, long-term groundwater withdrawals cannot exceed the amount of water that recharges the aquifer. The report describes this recharge rate and how it varies over time. This is the first time an aquifer has been studied this way in Oklahoma. The results are available online.

“This much-anticipated report not only presents the results from six years of extensive research, but it provides a vitally important guide for decision-makers in balancing local use of Arbuckle-Simpson waters with the unique needs of the region’s springs and streams,” said Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, J.D. Strong. “Staff from both the OWRB and USGS should be commended for their dedicated work on what is likely the most complex and high-profile groundwater study ever conducted in Oklahoma.”

“With Oklahoma experiencing a severe drought, it’s important to study our water resources so that managers can make educated choices about this precious resource,” said USGS scientist Noel Osborn. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer provides water to public supply utilities, farms, mining facilities, wildlife conservation areas, recreational activities, and springs, streams and waterfalls. Groundwater discharge from the aquifer maintains flow to Blue River, Honey Creek, Mill Creek, Pennington Creek, Travertine Creek, and other streams. Many springs also discharge water from the aquifer, including the primary water supply for the City of Ada, Byrds Mill Spring, and the springs in Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Results of several simulations of groundwater withdrawals and their effects on Blue River, Pennington Creek, and other streams in the eastern Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer are included in the report. This study also characterizes the geology, climate, streamflow, and groundwater use of the aquifer. USGS scientists

developed a digital three-dimensional geologic model, which provides the framework for the groundwater flow model.

The Arbuckle-Simpson Hydrology Study was funded by the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. More information about this study is available online.

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Rattles Southern Colorado

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:28:23 EDT

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled southern Colorado Monday, August 22, at 11:46PM MDT, causing strong shaking, but minor damage, and was felt throughout the state of Colorado and neighboring states. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system issued a Green Alert, indicating a low probability for fatalities or significant economic losses.

The earthquake occurred approximately nine miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo.

This was the largest earthquake in Colorado since a M5.3 in August, 1967 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The largest earthquake in Colorado history was Nov 7th, 1882, near Rocky Mountain National Park; estimates vary but it was about a Magnitude 6.5.

Yesterday's M5.3 had three detected foreshocks (M4.6, 3.0 and 2.9), and there have been many recorded aftershocks.

Citizens who felt the earthquake can go online and report their observations on the USGS Did You Feel It? website. Over 1,000 reports of felt shaking have already been received from more than 200 zip codes in six states.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted. This area in Colorado has a history of earthquakes, notably a swarm that occurred in 2001, with earthquake magnitudes between M2.9 and 4.6. A USGS report on those earthquakes is available at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website.

For more information on earthquake and other hazards, please visit the USGS Natural Hazards website. The USGS operates a 24/7 National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo., that can be reached for more information at (303) 273-8500.

Lichens May Aid in Combating Deadly Chronic Wasting Disease in Wildlife

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:50 EDT

MADISON, Wis. – Certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada, according to U.S. Geological Survey research published today in the journal PLoS ONE.

Like other "prion" diseases, CWD is caused by unusual, infectious proteins called prions. One of the best-known of these diseases is "mad cow" disease, a cattle disease that has infected humans. However, there is no evidence that CWD has infected humans. Disease-causing prions, responsible for some incurable neurological diseases of people and other diseases in animals, are notoriously difficult to decontaminate or kill. Prions are not killed by most detergents, cooking, freezing or by autoclaving, a method used to sterilize medical instruments.

"When prions are released into the environment by infected sheep or deer, they can stay infectious for many years, even decades," said Christopher Johnson, Ph.D., a scientist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the lead author of the study. "To help limit the spread of these diseases in animals, we need to be able to remove prions from the environment."

The researchers found that lichens have great potential for safely reducing the number of prions because some lichen species contain a protease enzyme (a naturally produced chemical) capable of significantly breaking down prions in the lab.

"This work is exciting because there are so few agents that degrade prions and even fewer that could be used in the environment without causing harm," said Jim Bennett, Ph.D., a USGS lichenologist and a co-author of the study.

CWD and scrapie in sheep are different than other prion diseases because they can easily spread in sheep or deer by direct animal-to-animal contact or through contact with contaminated inanimate objects like soil. Chronic wasting disease was first diagnosed in the 1960s and has since been detected in 19 states and two Canadian provinces. CWD has been detected in wild elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose in North America.

Lichens, said Johnson, produce unique and unusual organic compounds that aid their survival and can have antibiotic, antiviral and other chemotherapeutic activities. In fact, pharmaceutical companies have been examining the medicinal properties of lichens more closely in recent years.

Lichens - which are often mistaken for moss - are unusual plant-like organisms that are actually a symbioses of fungi, algae and bacteria living together. They usually live on soil, bark, leaves and wood and can live in barren and unwelcoming environments, including the Arctic and in deserts.

Future work will examine the effect of lichens on prions in the environment and determine if lichen consumption can protect animals from acquiring prion diseases.

The study, “Degradation of the disease-associated prion protein by a serine protease from lichens,” was published in PLoS ONE and is freely accessible to the public. The study was authored by USGS scientists Christopher Johnson, James Bennett and Tonie Rocke, as well as authors from Montana State University and the University of Wisconsin.

USGS Measures Record Flooding in Oklahoma

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:07:30 EDT

Reporters: Do you want to accompany a USGS field crew as they measure flooding? Please contact Jennifer LaVista or Kim Winton at above numbers.

U.S. Geological Survey crews are measuring all-time record flooding on the Illinois River in Oklahoma, and substantial flooding in Eastern and Northeastern parts of the state.

The Illinois River near Watts, Okla. has reached a “500-year” flood stage, which is based on the annual likelihood of the degree of flooding. This degree of flooding has a 0.2 percent chance – or 1 in 500 – of being exceeded in any one year.

USGS field crews are collecting critical streamflow data that are vital for protection of life, property and the environment. These data are used by the National Weather Service (NWS) to develop flood forecasts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage flood control, and the various state and local agencies in their flood response activities.

In Oklahoma, there are more than 179 USGS-operated streamgages that measure water levels, streamflow and rainfall. Currently, there are seven streamgage sites across the state with water levels above flood stage. The NWS is predicting possible 100-year flood levels, which have a 1 percent chance of being exceeded in any year, on the Illinois River near Tahlequah around midnight tonight.

“Up to date flood measurements are essential for emergency managers to help reduce the risks to life, property and the environment,” said Kim Winton, USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center Director. “USGS field teams are working rapidly to make sure that emergency managers have the most up to date, accurate streamflow measurements.”

A map of real-time streamflow monitoring sites and graphs of flooding in Missouri from the past seven days are available at the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center real-time streamflow website.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk, and for many recreational activities.

Scientists do not base 100 and 500 year floods levels on what happened last year, 15 years ago or even 100 years ago. These levels are calculated by taking annual peak flow values from the network of USGS streamgages and incorporating that data into highly developed probability models. Streamgages provide long-term stream flow data that scientists need to better understand floods and define flood-prone areas. To learn more, listen to USGS CoreCast episode 50.

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.

Groundwater Efforts that Serve Oklahoma Well!

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 7 Mar 2011 17:14:11 EDT

Studies to determine the quality and quantity of Oklahoma’s groundwater are underway by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners.

Digital Data Sets That Describe Aquifer Characteristics of Selected Aquifers in Oklahoma

Oklahoma relies heavily on groundwater – 570 million gallons are used each day by more than 20,000 homeowners for household or yard use. This essential resource is vital for the health and well being of humanity and the environment.

March 6-12 is National Groundwater Awareness Week, and USGS partners with the sponsoring National Groundwater Association to help support and protect this important resource.

Below are a few highlights of USGS efforts in Oklahoma that help water managers make informed choices about water use. To learn more, visit the Oklahoma Water Science Center or the National Groundwater Association website. Photos available upon request.

Will Central and Southwest Oklahoma Have Enough Clean Water?

The Garber-Wellington and Rush Springs Aquifer Studies addresses growing concerns about the future of water availability in central and southwest Oklahoma.

Many metro-area cities, including Norman, Edmond, Nichols Hills, and Midwest City, rely either solely or partly on groundwater from the Garber-Wellington Aquifer. This water body, also known as the Central Oklahoma aquifer, underlies almost 3,000 square miles of the state. A team of scientists from the USGS, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma Geological Survey, and Tinker Air Force Base have been collaborating and sharing data to better understand this vital aquifer. A regional model will be used to predict the impacts of long-term groundwater withdrawals and simulate water-management strategies

Scientists are conducting a pump test at a municipal groundwater well within the city of Norman from Mar. 1- 14. The well will be monitored while being shut off and pumped to determine flow and storage properties of the aquifer. The test will also be a teaching opportunity for select Oklahoma State University students. This study is part of a USGS and Oklahoma Water Resources Board multi-year cooperative Garber-Wellington Water Management Study.

The Rush Springs Aquifer supplies 10 percent of the Oklahoma’s groundwater resources. The aquifer provides irrigation water for productive cropland and livestock operations in southwest Oklahoma.

Both of these aquifers have areas with elevated concentrations of potentially harmful, yet naturally occurring metals such as arsenic, chromium, and uranium. The USGS is working with Tribal, state, and local governments in Oklahoma to determine where those metals occur in greater concentrations. USGS has also worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Norman to develop treatment methods. This information can be used by the public so they can avoid drinking potentially harmful water or use treatment methods to reduce concentrations of these metals to prevent exceedance of drinking water standards.

Groundwater Effects on Tourism?

There are concerns of a future drought in the southern Oklahoma Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, which is the foundation of water-based tourism in the area. Increased water use and possible intrastate water transfers may cause decrease in local spring and streamflow. The USGS has been working with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and other stakeholders to evaluate the water quality of water in the aquifer. Models are being developed to simulate different scenarios of climate and water use to predict sustainable amounts of water use for the future.

What about Salty Groundwater?

Like the rest of the U.S., fresh groundwater in Oklahoma is underlain by salt water that cannot be used for drinking water, crop irrigation, and sustaining livestock without expensive treatment. As part of a USGS National Program, the Oklahoma Water Science Center is mapping the depths and distribution of saline groundwater that will be of value to managers and scientists planning for future water-resource needs.

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.