USGS Newsroom

Warmer Springs Causing Loss of Snow Cover throughout the Rocky Mountains

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 EDT

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Warmer spring temperatures since 1980 are causing an estimated 20 percent loss of snow cover across the Rocky Mountains of western North America, according to new research from the U.S. Geological Survey.

The new study builds upon a previous USGS snowpack investigation which showed that, until the 1980s, the northern Rocky Mountains experienced large snowpacks when the central and southern Rockies experienced meager ones, and vice versa. Yet, since the 1980s, there have been simultaneous snowpack declines along the entire length of the Rocky Mountains, and unusually severe declines in the north.

The new study has teased apart and quantified the different influences of winter temperature, spring temperature, and precipitation on historic snowpack variations and trends in the region. To distinguish those varying influences, the researchers implemented a regional snow model that uses inputs of monthly temperature and precipitation data from 1895 to 2011.

"Each year we looked at temperature and precipitation variations and the amount of water contained within the snowpack as of April," said USGS scientist Greg Pederson, the lead author of the study. "Snow deficits were consistent throughout the Rockies due to the lack of precipitation during the cool seasons during the 1930s – coinciding with the Dust Bowl era. From 1980 on, warmer spring temperatures melted snowpack throughout the Rockies early, regardless of winter precipitation. The model in turn shows temperature as the major driving factor in snowpack declines over the past thirty years."

Runoff from Rocky Mountain winter snowpack accounts for 60 to 80 percent of the annual water supply for more than 70 million people living in the western U.S., and is influenced by factors such as the snowpack’s water content, known as snow water equivalent, and the timing of snowmelt.

The timing of snowmelt affects not only when water is available for crop irrigation and energy production from hydroelectric dams, but also the risk of regional floods and wildfires. Earlier and faster snowmelt could have repercussions for water supply, risk management, and ecosystem health in western watersheds.

Regional snowpack accumulation is highly sensitive to variations in both temperature and precipitation over time. Patterns and sources of these variations are difficult to discern due to complex mountain topography, the different influence of Pacific Ocean climate, like La Niña and El Niño, on winter precipitation in the northern versus southern and central Rockies, and the brevity and patchiness of detailed snow records.

In the study, the regional snow model used by Pederson and his USGS colleagues Julio Betancourt and Greg McCabe allows estimation of snow water and cover variability at different latitudes and elevations during the last century regardless of the absence of direct and long-term observations everywhere. Recent snowpack variations also were evaluated in the context of snowpack evidence from tree-rings, allowing the scientists to compare recent observations to measurements from the past 800 years.

McCabe, co-author of the study, explains that "recent springtime warming also reduced the extent of snow cover at low to middle elevations where temperature has had the greatest impact."

"Both natural variability in temperature and anthropogenic warming have contributed to the recent snowpack decline, though disentangling their influences exactly remains elusive." Betancourt said,

"Regardless of the ultimate causes, continuation of present snowpack trends in the Rocky Mountains will pose difficult challenges for watershed management and conventional water planning in the American West."

The study, "Regional patterns and proximal causes of the recent snowpack decline in the Rocky Mountains," is available from Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

USGS Estimates 162 Billion Short Tons of Recoverable Coal in the Powder River Basin

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EDT

New basin-wide assessment of recoverable resources and reserves

The Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana contains about 162 billion short tons (BST) of recoverable coal from a total of 1.07 trillion short tons of in-place resources according to a new USGS assessment. This assessment also estimates that 25 BST of those resources are currently economical to recover, the first such estimate released by the USGS for coal for an entire basin.

The Powder River Basin—a large geologic feature located in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana—contains the largest deposits of low-sulfur subbituminous coal in the world. This study is significant because it illustrates that only a relatively small percentage of in-place coal resources are technically and economically recoverable.

Powder River Basin Assessment Map — A map showing the four assessment units for the 2013 USGS Powder River Basin coal assessment.

“The United States is well-known for its rich endowment of coal resources and our in-place estimates bear that out,” said USGS Acting Director Suzette Kimball. “It’s important to note, however, the substantial difference between what is in-place and what is technically recoverable, let alone economic. This new basin-wide assessment provides that critical link for government and private managers to make informed decisions.”

In 2011, the 16 mines in the PRB produced 462 million short tons (MST), about 42 percent of the Nation’s total coal production that year. Subbituminous coal is typically used in electric power generation.

The key to this study was taking advantage of the wealth of recently available geologic data from the interpretation of thousands of new drill logs from coalbed methane development in the PRB. More than 8,000 new drill holes were added to the original Gillette coal field database alone. About 30,000 total data points were used in the entire PRB assessment. This geologic information interpreted from well information of the recent drilling provided an unprecedented level of data about the coal resources for the basin.

The USGS developed the geologic information that formed the basis of this assessment in cooperation with the Wyoming State Geological Survey and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.

The Basin was divided into four areas for assessment: the Montana Powder River Basin, the Northern Wyoming Powder River Basin, the Gillette coal field, and the Southwestern Wyoming Powder River Basin.

Within these four areas, the USGS assessed coal resources for 47 coal beds. The three largest beds by resource are the Canyon coal bed, the Anderson coal bed, and the Smith coal bed. These three coal beds together represent about 38 percent of the total coal resources for the Powder River Basin.

To arrive at the estimate of recoverable coal and 25 BST of reserves, USGS scientists selected portions of those coal beds from the total in-place resources that were deemed both shallow and thick enough to be recoverable using current surface mining technology. Ten conceptual mine models were developed to account for the differences in coal bed geology using proven mining techniques for each the four assessment areas of the PRB. Then, estimated mining costs were calculated for all of the modeled coal resources. Finally, those resources that could be produced at or below the current sales price for PRB coal were designated reserves.

The current 25 BST of reserves does not mean that is all that remains mineable. The size of reserves change because mining costs and coal sales prices are subject to fluctuation based on market conditions – recoverable resources become reserves with favorable changes in costs, demand, and prices.

The USGS Energy Resources Program research efforts yield modern, digital assessments of the quantity, quality, location, and accessibility of the Nation’s coal resources.

To learn more about this or other geologic assessments, please visit the USGS Energy Resources Program website. Stay up to date with USGS energy science by subscribing to our newsletter or by following us on Twitter.

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.

USGS Releases Reports on Groundwater-Quality Sampling Near Pavillion, Wyo.

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:34:51 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey is making available two reports related to groundwater-quality, quality-control, and well yield data for two monitoring wells near Pavillion, Wyo. The first USGS report describes the sampling and analysis plan that was developed to collect groundwater data. A second report provides the raw data and information from the groundwater-quality samples.

USGS conducted the sampling at the request of the State of Wyoming and in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consistent with a cooperative agreement with Wyoming, the USGS did not interpret data as part of this sampling effort. Results are being provided to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, EPA and the public. The USGS data, along with data that EPA has collected, will also be available to the peer review panel tasked with looking at the broader EPA study.

“Today’s USGS reports are intended to provide additional scientific information to decision makers and all interested parties on the composition of the groundwater represented in the aquifer underlying Pavillion,” said David Mott, Director of the USGS Wyoming Water Science Center. “While USGS did not interpret the data as part of this sampling effort, the raw data results are adding to the body of knowledge to support informed decisions.”

In June 2010, EPA installed two deep monitoring wells (MW01 and MW02) near Pavillion to study groundwater quality. During April 2012, USGS, through a cooperative agreement with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, collected groundwater-quality data and quality-control data from monitoring well MW01. While well yield and quality-control data were collected from monitoring well MW02, the USGS did not collect groundwater-quality data for that well.

Groundwater-quality samples were analyzed for water-quality properties; inorganic constituents including naturally occurring radioactive compounds; organic constituents; dissolved gases; stable isotopes of methane, water and dissolved inorganic carbon; and environmental tracers.

The sampling and analysis plan was developed by the USGS in consultation with an interagency technical team which included representatives from the State of Wyoming, EPA, and the Northern Arapahoe and Eastern Shoshone Tribes. It describes the sampling equipment that was used, well purging strategy, purge water disposal, sample collection and processing, field and laboratory sample analysis, equipment decontamination, and quality-assurance and quality-control procedures.

The two reports can be found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/718/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1197/.

Northern Plains Data Improved

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 8:00:00 EDT

New US Topo maps for Wyoming and South Dakota are available, with the introduction of Public Land Survey and other new data

The ongoing US Topo map project, as part of the U.S. Geological Survey national map series, recently released new maps for Wyoming and South Dakota. The more than 3,230 revised digital quadrangles increase the collection in the lower 48 states to nearly 53,000 US Topo maps. The maps are available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Store website.

Wyoming is the first state to have Public Land Survey System (PLSS) data added to US Topo maps. The PLSS is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. All lands in the public domain are subject to subdivision by this rectangular system of surveys, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. South Dakota and other selected states will begin getting PLSS map data during the next respective revision cycle. 　

"The addition of the new digital data is just one example of how the USGS is constantly improving the usefulness and functionality of its map series as it systematically updates the basic underlying topographic information," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We hope that these new maps for South Dakota and Wyoming will be freely and often downloaded by everyone from county planners to outdoor enthusiasts to natural resource managers."

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

Contours
Rivers, lakes steams and other hydrography
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

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. 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 for these new states– along with

44 other completed states - are delivered in GeoPDF image software format and may be viewed using Adobe Reader, also available as a no cost download.

For more information, visit the The National Map, A New Generation of Maps website.

Few Changes in Stream-Water Quality from Coalbed Natural Gas Development

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:57:09 EDT

Water quality of streams in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana shows a few statistical changes from 2001 to 2010, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

The USGS report focuses analyses on 17 sites that had data collected from 2001 to 2010. Also included is an evaluation of a subset of these sites with longer-term data collected from 1991 to 2010. The Powder River at Arvada, Wyo. showed changes in dissolved minerals and other constituents most consistent with changes that might be expected from coalbed natural gas (CBNG) production during both time periods. The report, written in cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, is available online.

"This study shows the value of the USGS's water monitoring program, which maintains a national network of stations that sample for a broad array of constituents indicative of the quality of water used by humans and wildlife," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "After there is some major development that could potentially affect water quality, it is too late to wish someone had established a baseline monitoring program years earlier."

USGS stream monitoring for effects from coalbed natural gas development began in 2001. Trend analysis is a tool to statistically analyze whether or not water-quality changes have occurred.

"Long-term monitoring is necessary to answer questions concerning effects of human activities on streams" said Melanie Clark, USGS hydrologist and author of the report. "With consistent data collection, differences arising from seasonal or annual variability, for example, can be included to improve interpretation of results."

A few sites in the study showed some changes in the quality of stream water over time, but because multiple factors can affect stream-water quality, or because changes also were seen in sites upstream from the CBNG development, the reason for the trend could not be determined.

Copies of "Water-Quality Characteristics and Trend Analyses for the Tongue, Powder, Cheyenne, and Belle Fourche River Drainage Basins, Wyoming and Montana, for Selected Periods, Water Years 1991 through 2010" are available free of charge by calling 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747) or online.

From Pikas to Plague, Climate Change and Wind Energy

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

USGS Science at the Society for Conservation Biology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Technical Announcement: USGS Releases Southwestern Wyoming Energy Map

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EDT

Land and resource managers now have a comprehensive new map of coal and wind energy resources information for southwestern Wyoming. This map has been released by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Wyoming State Geological Survey, as Part A of a two part energy map and data series.

Developed as a component of the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, this publication compiles coal, including coalbed methane, and wind resources data in southwestern Wyoming. It adds maps and information on electrical energy sources in southwestern Wyoming to previously published maps of oil and gas development for the entire state.

"This map ably demonstrates the value of the USGS's integrated science, that reaches across both conventional and renewable energy sources to provide new products in a seamless manner," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Users are able to immediately assess the geographic extent of power production from different sources as well as the relative capacity as the nation's energy mix evolves with time."

The USGS and WSGS coal and wind map for southwestern Wyoming is presented in the form of a Geographic Information System (GIS) data package, over 100 layers that can be used as overlays in GIS products, or analyzed as a stand-alone map.

The primary focus of this map is sources of electrical power, which is the reason coal and wind were included. Coal dominates Wyoming’s electrical power generation, and there are several coal mines within the study area. Most of these are surface mines, with only one underground coal mine. In addition to the coal resource itself, many of the coal deposits contain enough gas to be potentially economic.

Wyoming contains significant wind energy potential. Electrical generation capacity of eight wind farms operating in southwestern Wyoming was approximately 674 megawatts in 2010, with an additional 5 wind energy projects proposed or underway. Nationwide, wind capacity reached 39,135 megawatts in 2010.

Data for the map came from previously published USGS and WSGS materials on coal and coalbed methane assessments and maps, wind turbine spatial mapping and attribution, and the National Coal Resource Data System, as well as information from the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Land Management.

This energy map for southwestern Wyoming was created as part of the WLCI's ongoing efforts to disseminate online energy resources data for multi-disciplinary science investigations, to collaborators, land and resource managers, as well as the public.

Part B is in progress and will include oil, gas, oil shale, uranium and solar resource information, as well as infrastructure associated with exploration, production and development, and the extent and nature of restrictions or impediments to energy resources development.

The WLCI is a long-term, multi-agency, science-based effort to assess and enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in southwestern Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development through local collaboration and partnerships.

USGS is a partner in the WLCI and worked with the Wyoming State Geological Survey to develop this first of a two part energy map.

For more information on this map and other USGS energy resources, please visit the USGS Energy Resources Program and for other WLCI efforts please visit the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative. To stay up-to-date on USGS Energy publications, sign up for our Newsletter or follow us on Twitter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

New Tools for Well Owners in Southeastern Wyoming

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:49:04 EDT

A new U.S. Geological Survey fact sheet and a map showing the water-surface elevation of groundwater in the High Plains aquifer system in Laramie County can help local well owners in southeastern Wyoming better understand the quality and quantity of their well water.

The USGS fact sheet, written in cooperation with the Laramie County Conservation District, Platte County Resource District, Southeast Wyoming Resource Conservation and Development Council, and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, summarizes concentration ranges of selected chemicals and physical properties in the drinking-water aquifers in southeastern Wyoming, along with selected drinking-water-quality standards.

"In many parts of the American west, options for land use are dictated by the quality and quantity of the local groundwater," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The USGS is pleased to work with our local partners to make useful products available to landowners so that they can make wise decisions concerning this valuable resource."

The number of homeowners in southeastern Wyoming interested in testing their well-water quality has dramatically increased with the onset of oil and natural gas drilling associated with the Niobrara Formation.

"Regardless of the reason well owners are testing their water, it is good for them to know what they are drinking, and the new fact sheet will help landowners interpret the results about their well water that they receive from a lab," said Liberty Blain, Water Specialist with the Laramie County Conservation District and co-author of the fact sheet.

Continued interest in groundwater levels in the High Plains aquifer system, the most used source of groundwater in the state, prompted the USGS and the Wyoming State Engineer's Office to conduct a study and develop a map that involved visiting nearly 450 wells throughout Laramie County.

"From this map, it is possible to estimate the direction groundwater is flowing, how far it is from the land surface to the groundwater, and even how thick the aquifer is in different areas," stated USGS hydrologist Tim Bartos.

Copies of "Groundwater Quality of Southeastern Wyoming” are available free of charge by calling 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747), online, or by contacting the Laramie County Conservation District or Platte County Resource District. Copies of the Scientific Investigations Map, “Generalized potentiometric surface, estimated depth to water, and estimated saturated thickness of the High Plains aquifer system, March–June 2009, Laramie County, Wyoming” are also available free of charge by calling 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747) or online.

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.

Dramatic Links Found Between Climate Change, Elk, Plants, and Birds

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EDT

Missoula, MT – Climate change in the form of reduced snowfall in mountains is causing powerful and cascading shifts in mountainous plant and bird communities through the increased ability of elk to stay at high elevations over winter and consume plants, according to a groundbreaking study in Nature Climate Change.

The U.S. Geological Survey and University of Montana study not only showed that the abundance of deciduous trees and their associated songbirds in mountainous Arizona have declined over the last 22 years as snowpack has declined, but it also experimentally demonstrated that declining snowfall indirectly affects plants and birds by enabling more winter browsing by elk. Increased winter browsing by elk results in trickle-down ecological effects such as lowering the quality of habitat for songbirds.

The authors, USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit scientist Thomas Martin and University of Montana scientist John Maron, mimicked the effects of more snow on limiting the ability of elk to browse on plants by excluding the animals from large, fenced areas. They compared bird and plant communities in these exclusion areas with nearby similar areas where elk had access, and found that, over the six years of the study, multi-decadal declines in plant and songbird populations were reversed in the areas where elk were prohibited from browsing.

"This study illustrates that profound impacts of climate change on ecosystems arise over a time span of but two decades through unexplored feedbacks," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "The significance lies in the fact that humans and our economy are at the end of the same chain of cascading consequences."

The study demonstrates a classic ecological cascade, added Martin. For example, he said, from an elk’s perspective, less snow means an increased ability to freely browse on woody plants in winter in areas where they would not be inclined to forage in previous times due to high snowpack. Increased overwinter browsing led to a decline in deciduous trees, which reduced the number of birds that chose the habitat and increased predation on nests of those birds that did choose the habitat.

"This study demonstrates that the indirect effects of climate on plant communities may be just as important as the effects of climate-change-induced mismatches between migrating birds and food abundance because plants, including trees, provide the habitat birds need to survive," Martin said.

The study, Climate impacts on bird and plant communities from altered animal-plant interactions, was published online on Jan. 8 in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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