Satellite radar advances could transform global snow monitoring
Randall Ray Bonnell, Jack Tarricone, Hans-Peter Marshall, Elias Deeb, Carrie Vuyovich
2025, Eos, American Geophysical Union (106)
The recent SnowEx campaign and the new NISAR satellite mission are lighting the way to high-resolution snowpack monitoring and improved decisionmaking in critical river basins around the world....
Elevation mediates juvenile steelhead demographic response to stream temperature and flow
Ryan A. Vosbigian, Alexa Ballinger, Timothy E. Link, Timothy Copeland, Matthew Richard Falcy
2025, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (82)
Climate change alters streams by modifying flow dynamics, temperature, and biotic communities, changing the habitat where stream dwelling fish have evolved. We used snorkel survey data spanning four decades to investigate how juvenile steelhead (anadromous Oncorhynchus mykiss) counts and size structure were influenced by stream temperature and flow....
Using visualization science to inform the design of environmental decision-support tools—A case study of the U.S. Geological Survey Waterwatch
Michael D. Gerst, Melissa A. Kenney, Emily Read
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5085
Environmental decision-support tools are increasingly being used to serve both expert and non-expert audiences. Many existing tools are primarily expert-focused, and redesigning them can be challenging because experts and non-experts interact with tools differently, existing users may be resistant to changes, and there is little guidance on how to prioritize...
Advancing current understanding of Martian impact-generated hydrothermal systems through novel coupled modeling: Insights from Gale, Jezero, and other craters
Alexander J. Trowbridge, Simone Marchi, Joshua M. Taron, Gordon R. Osinski
2025, Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets (130)
Impact-generated hydrothermal systems are considered potentially habitable environments on Mars, Earth, and other planetary bodies for microbial life. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding what geological features on Mars provide definitive evidence for such systems. Although earlier studies have modeled hydrothermal processes in Martian craters, they often lacked integration...
MTAB 113, December 2025
Kyra Harvey, Jennifer L. McKay
2025, Newsletter
This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 113) was released in December 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp – End-of-Year Message and BBL’s Year in Numbers; 2. Alerts –Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Screw-worms; 3. News – GameBirds Data Release and Banders Without Borders Updates;...
Are behavioural ecotoxicity endpoints relevant at the population level? Evidence-based insights for environmental protection
Michael G. Bertram, Marlene Ågerstrand, Jack A. Brand, Bryan W. Brooks, ZhiChao Dang, Alex T. Ford, Henner Hollert, Matthew K. LeFauve, Jack L. Manera, Jake M. Martin, Marcus Michelangeli, Maria Moiron, Eleanor R. Moore, Holly J. Puglis, Andrew Sih, Jeffery A. Steevens, Eli S.J. Thoré, Bob B.M. Wong, Lauren Zink, Tomas Bodin
2025, Environmental Science and Technology (60) 86-95
A substantial body of evidence exists demonstrating that exposure to environmental contaminants can alter animal behavior. Moreover, methodological and technological advancements, as well as increasing standardization, mean that behavioral ecotoxicity studies are more rigorous and reliable than ever before. Despite this, behavioral data are still seldom used in the risk...
The geology of Canadian potash: A critical mineral for feeding the world
E.J. Matheson, Mark D. Cocker, M. E. Snyder, Craig Funk, R. Boehner, Chaowei Yang, M.P.B. Nicolas, N. W. Kruger
2025, Facets (10) 1-40
Potash, potassium-bearing water-soluble salt, is the primary global economic source of potassium. Potash is recognized as a critical mineral in Canada as it is the largest source of potassium used in fertilizers. It is essential for global agricultural productivity and food security. Canada is the world’s largest...
Assessment of treated wastewater infiltration in Bright Angel Wash and the potential for contaminants of emerging concern influencing spring water quality along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Nicholas V. Paretti, Kimberly R. Beisner, Sarah J.R. Shepherd
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5095
In April 2021, a synoptic study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS) identified wastewater-related contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in springs along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. These springs are located north of Bright Angel Wash, an ephemeral channel that receives treated...
Evaluating uncertainties with sample-collection method and source selection in sediment fingerprinting: an example from a Great Lakes tributary
Tanja N. Williamson, James D. Blount, Heidi Mae Broerman, Faith Fitzpatrick, Isaac James Mevis, Dayle J. Hoefling, Shannon Murphy Pace, Matthew J. Komiskey, Rebecca Kreiling
2025, Journal of Soils and Sediments (25) 4140-4163
PurposeIdentifying suspended-sediment (SS) sources, seasonal variability, and phosphorus (P) transported with SS is critical information for basin managers, although there may be concerns about comparability between flow-integrated SS samples used for sediment fingerprinting and discrete samples used for concentrations and loads in basins where SS is mostly silt + clay...
A laboratory-based spectrometer intercomparison for the measurement of snow spectra
Benjamin M. Roberts-Pierel, Christopher J. Crawford, Steven W. Brown, Raymond F. Kokaly, Kelly E. Gleason, Anne W. Nolin, Edward H. Bair, Brenton A. Wilder, Anton J. Surunis, S. McKenzie K. Skiles, Joachim Meyer, Allyson E. Fitts, Jeremy M. Johnston, Adam G. Hunsaker, Martin Steufer, Trond Løke
2025, Cold Regions Science and Technology (245)
Seasonal snow is an integral component of global hydrological systems, global energy budget and Earth's climate. As an important part of many Earth systems, seasonal snow is also an essential source of water for many human populations and ecosystems around the world. As such, the measurement of...
Big River bluegill: Combining vital rates and long-term monitoring to understand population dynamics in large rivers
Kristen L. Bouska, Levi E. Solomon, Andrew D. Bartels, Melvin C. Bowler, Steven A. DeLain, Eric J. Gittinger, Travis Kueter, Kristopher A. Maxson, Eric N. Ratcliff, John L. West, James T. Lamer, Hae H. Kim, Quinton Edward Phelps
2025, River Research and Applications
Long-term monitoring indicates bluegill catch rates are relatively stable in some reaches of the Upper Mississippi River and highly variable in others, whereas in the Illinois River, catch rates have decreased. A lack of age structure information precludes understanding population processes responsible for patterns in catch rates....
Speciation genomics in the tiger whiptail lizards (Aspidoscelis tigris complex)
Anthony J. Barley, David V. Ho, Peter Baumann, Ian J. Wang, H. Bradley Shaffer, Robert N. Fisher, Levi N. Gray, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft, Robert E. Espinoza, Merly Escalona, Erin Toffelmier, Ruta Sahasrabudhe, Oanh Nguyen, Colin W. Fairbairn, Eric Beraut, Robert C. Thomson
2025, Genome Biology and Evolution (17)
The transition from small genetic to genome-scale datasets for studying biodiversity has revealed that genetic exchange through introgressive hybridization is a widespread phenomenon in nature. Despite this, a lack of high-quality reference genomes for most non-model species limits our understanding of the impact of this process for...
Hydrogeologic characterization of the Cahuilla Valley and Terwilliger Valley Groundwater Basins, Riverside County, California
Christina L. Stamos, Allen H. Christensen, Geoffrey Cromwell, Meghan C. Dick, Christopher P. Ely, Elizabeth R. Jachens, Sarah E. Ogle, Mackenzie M. Shepherd
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5073
The relation between the groundwater and the amount of natural recharge to the Cahuilla Valley and Terwilliger Valley groundwater basins is not well understood. During the 20th century, the reliance on groundwater near Anza, California, used for agricultural, domestic, and municipal reasons has increased, and there is the potential for...
Geologic map of the Guinevere Planitia quadrangle (V–30), Venus
David A. Crown, Ellen R. Stofan, Leslie F. Bleamaster III
James A. Skinner, editor(s)
2025, Scientific Investigations Map 3539
This 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map of the Guinevere Planitia quadrangle divides the region into 15 geologic material units, defined using Magellan synthetic aperture radar (12.6-centimeter-wavelength radar system; 75 meters per pixel) datasets and including upland terrain units (2.4 percent of the surface area), plains materials units (59 percent), flow materials associated...
A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic energy storage capacity—Natural gas storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs
Marc L. Buursink, Ashton M. Wiens, Matthew M. Jones, Brian A. Varela, Philip A. Freeman, Sean T. Brennan, Matthew D. Merrill, Peter D. Warwick
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5108
The need for energy storage, particularly underground, where capacity and duration may far exceed battery storage technologies, is especially relevant given the increasing demands for reliable power alongside the development of intermittent renewable electricity sources. Geologic energy storage facilities already exist, and expanded use would enable storing gases such as...
Regional characterization of coal resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast
Peter D. Warwick, Robert C. Reedy, Bridget R. Scanlon
2025, Preprint
There is increasing interest in extracting critical minerals (CM), including rare earth elements (REE), from coals in the United States to address the overreliance on imported REE. The U.S. Gulf Coast and the Williston basins are the two major lignite-bearing basins within the country. Recent REE and CM studies of...
Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams
Taylor Woods, Daniel J. McGarvey, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Daren M. Carlisle, Ken Eng, Darin A. Kopp, Kelly O. Maloney
2025, Science Advances (11)
Individual size distributions (ISDs) are prominent in ecological research and may support resource managers with ecosystem-scale objectives. We use a database of individual size measurements for US stream fishes to test for direct and indirect effects of traits, flow regimes, and land use on the interspecific ISD exponent. Path analysis...
Fungi, fire, and feedbacks: Grasses and wildfire interact to alter ectomycorrhizal fungal communities and decrease tree seedling growth
G.M. Trimber, Sasha C. Reed, John B. Bradford, Cara Marie Lauria, T. Spector, R.J. Rondeau, Michala Lee Phillips, C.A. Gehring
2025, Forest Ecology and Management (603)
Wildfire and its effects, including changes to soil biota and the introduction of invasive or seeded grasses, can cause long-term shifts in ecological communities. Post-wildfire establishment of long-lived trees and shrubs is a critical bottleneck to recovering native plant communities. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can improve plant responses to stressors and...
Landscape associations and population genetics of a generalist carnivore at a range limit
Bailey A. Kleeberg, Robert Charles Lonsinger, Jennifer R. Adams, Lisette P. Waits, W. Sue Fairbanks
2025, PLoS ONE (20)
American black bear (Ursus americanus) sightings have increased in the Oklahoma Panhandle, an area outside of the species’ historical range, prompting an assessment of bears in the region. We used camera traps and an occupancy modeling framework to identify factors influencing bear detection and space-use patterns. We used noninvasive genetic...
A comprehensive geologic framework of the National Crustal Model for seismic hazard studies in the conterminous United States
Oliver S. Boyd, Donald S. Sweetkind
2025, Lithosphere (2025)
A three-dimensional (3D) geologic framework has been developed for the conterminous United States (U.S.) as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Crustal Model to enhance seismic hazard modeling. The geologic framework is created from geologic maps and multiple subsurface geologic unit boundaries including the base of the Miocene, Cenozoic,...
USGS Flow Photo Explorer is still going and growing!
Jennifer H. Fair
2025, Newsletter
The Flow Photo Explorer (FPE) platform continues to grow rapidly as a national resource for using imagery to monitor environmental conditions. As of early December 2025, FPE now supports more than 350 users, operating across more than 600 monitoring sites. The database has expanded to over 12 million images, 800,000 annotations, and approximately 160 trained models, reflecting...
Shallow geologic framework of the Mississippi Sound and the potential for sediment resources
James Flocks, Arnell Forde
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5100
The Mississippi Sound, an estuarine environment located between the mainland and barrier islands bordering the northern Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico), serves as a vital ecosystem for the States of Mississippi and Alabama. Spanning approximately 100 kilometers from east to west and covering 1,400 square kilometers, the...
Environmental characterization of Blue Mesa Reservoir and potential causes of and management strategies for harmful algal blooms, 1970 through 2023, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado
Katherine Walton-Day, Natalie K. Day, M. Alisa Mast, Rachel G. Gidley, Evan J. Gohring, Tyler V. King, Warren C. Day, Nicole D. Gibney, Nancy J. Bauch
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5109
Blue Mesa Reservoir, in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, is the largest storage reservoir in Colorado and consists of three distinct basins: Iola (the shallowest), Cebolla, and Sapinero. After algal toxins were first documented in Iola basin in 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey began a study in cooperation with the...
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024
Rand Gardner, Jason A. Flaum, Justin E. Birdwell, Scott A. Kinney, Janet K. Pitman, Stanley T. Paxton, Katherine L. French, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Christopher J. Schenk
2025, Fact Sheet 2025-3054
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 152 million barrels of oil and 47.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in reservoirs of the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin....
Quantifying leachable phosphorus from the leaves of common midwest urban street trees and implications for stormwater management
Collin Klaubauf, Anita Thompson, William R. Selbig, Laxmir Prasad
2025, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution (237)
Urban runoff containing high amounts of nutrients like phosphorus (P) is a well-established driver of surface water eutrophication. In residential areas, a primary source of nutrients is derived from leaf litter. P contained in leaves is leached and transported by stormwater from source to stream. The majority of P leached...
