Global assessment of human losses due to earthquakes
Vitor Silva, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Graeme Weatherill, Helen Crowley
2014, Conference Paper
Current studies have demonstrated a sharp increase in human losses due to earthquakes. These alarming levels of casualties suggest the need for large-scale investment in seismic risk mitigation, which, in turn, requires an adequate understanding of the extent of the losses, and location of the most affected regions. Recent developments...
Assessing the value of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) in Everglades restoration: an ecosystem service approach
Leslie A. Richardson, Kelly Keefe, Christopher C. Huber, Laila Racevskis, Reynolds Gregg, Scott Thourot, Ian Miller
2014, Ecological Economics (107) 366-377
This study identifies a full range of ecosystem services that could be affected by a restoration project in the central Everglades and monetizes the economic value of a subset of these services using existing data. Findings suggest that the project will potentially increase many ecosystem services that have considerable economic...
Pesticides in groundwater of the United States: decadal-scale changes, 1993-2011
Patricia L. Toccalino, Robert J. Gilliom, Bruce D. Lindsey, Michael G. Rupert
2014, Groundwater (52) 112-125
The national occurrence of 83 pesticide compounds in groundwater of the United States and decadal-scale changes in concentrations for 35 compounds were assessed for the 20-year period from 1993–2011. Samples were collected from 1271 wells in 58 nationally distributed well networks. Networks consisted of shallow (mostly monitoring) wells in agricultural...
Long-term effects of seeding after wildfire on vegetation in Great Basin shrubland ecosystems
Kevin C. Knutson, David A. Pyke, Troy A. Wirth, Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Matthew L. Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, James B. Grace
2014, Journal of Applied Ecology (51) 1414-1424
1. Invasive annual grasses alter fire regimes in shrubland ecosystems of the western USA, threatening ecosystem function and fragmenting habitats necessary for shrub-obligate species such as greater sage-grouse. Post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation treatments have been administered to stabilize soils, reduce invasive species spread and restore or establish sustainable ecosystems...
Groundwater-quality characteristics for the Wyoming Groundwater-Quality Monitoring Network, November 2009 through September 2012
Gregory K. Boughton
2014, Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5130
Groundwater samples were collected from 146 shallow (less than or equal to 500 feet deep) wells for the Wyoming Groundwater-Quality Monitoring Network, from November 2009 through September 2012. Groundwater samples were analyzed for physical characteristics, major ions and dissolved solids, trace elements, nutrients and dissolved organic carbon, uranium, stable isotopes...
Estimated monthly streamflows for selected locations on the Kabul and Logar Rivers, Aynak copper, cobalt, and chromium area of interest, Afghanistan, 1951-2010
Kevin C. Vining, Aldo V. Vecchia
2014, Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5157
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, used the stochastic monthly water-balance model and existing climate data to estimate monthly streamflows for 1951–2010 for selected streamgaging stations located within the Aynak copper, cobalt, and chromium area of interest...
The 2001-present induced earthquake sequence in the Raton Basin of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Justin L. Rubinstein, William L. Ellsworth, Arthur F. McGarr, Harley M. Benz
2014, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (104) 2162-2181
We investigate the ongoing seismicity in the Raton Basin and find that the deep injection of wastewater from the coal‐bed methane field is responsible for inducing the majority of the seismicity since 2001. Many lines of evidence indicate that this earthquake sequence was induced by wastewater injection. First, there was...
In vivo and in vitro phenotypic differences between Great Lakes VHSV genotype IVb isolates with sequence types vcG001 and vcG002
Sierra M. Imanse, Emily R. Cornwell, Rodman G. Getchell, Gael Kurath, Paul R. Bowser
2014, Journal of Great Lakes Research (40) 879-885
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is an aquatic rhabdovirus first recognized in farmed rainbow trout in Denmark. In the past decade, a new genotype of this virus, IVb was discovered in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin and has caused several massive die-offs in some of the 28 species of susceptible...
User's manual for the upper Delaware River riverine environmental flow decision support system (REFDSS), Version 1.1.2
Colin Talbert, Kelly O. Maloney, Chris Holmquist-Johnson, Leanne Hanson
2014, Open-File Report 2014-1183
Between 2002 and 2006, the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted field surveys, organized workshops, and performed analysis of habitat for trout and shad in the Upper Delaware River Basin. This work culminated in the development of decision support system software (the Delaware River...
Watershed Data Management (WDM) database for Salt Creek streamflow simulation, DuPage County, Illinois, water years 2005-11
Maitreyee Bera
2014, Data Series 870
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with DuPage County Stormwater Management Division, maintains a USGS database of hourly meteorologic and hydrologic data for use in a near real-time streamflow simulation system, which assists in the management and operation of reservoirs and other flood-control structures in the Salt Creek watershed...
Groundwater and surface-water interaction and potential for underground water storage in the Buena Vista-Salida Basin, Chaffee County, Colorado, 2011
Kenneth R. Watts, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, Stogner, James F. Bruce
2014, Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5095
By 2030, the population of the Arkansas Headwaters Region, which includes all of Chaffee and Lake Counties and parts of Custer, Fremont, and Park Counties, Colorado, is forecast to increase about 73 percent. As the region’s population increases, it is anticipated that groundwater will be used to meet much of...
Withdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010
Timothy H. Diehl, Melissa A. Harris
2014, Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5184
Estimates of water use at thermoelectric plants were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey based on linked heat and water budgets, and complement reported thermoelectric water withdrawals and consumption. The heat- and water-budget models produced withdrawal and consumption estimates, including thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption,...
The National Map hydrography data stewardship: what is it and why is it important?
Dave Arnold
2014, Fact Sheet 2014-3084
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) were designed and populated by a large consortium of agencies involved in hydrography across the United States. The effort was led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)....
Lead and eagles: demographic and pathological characteristics of poisoning, and exposure levels associated with other causes of mortality
J. Christian Franson, Robin E. Russell
2014, Ecotoxicology (23) 1722-1731
We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate demographic and pathologic characteristics in 484 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and 68 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) diagnosed with lead poisoning at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center. As part of our analysis, we compared characteristics of lead poisoned eagles with those...
Molecular identification of erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV) from the blood of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
Eveline J. Emmenegger, Jolene A. Glenn, James R. Winton, William N. Batts, Jacob L. Gregg, Paul K. Hershberger
2014, Veterinary Microbiology (174) 16-26
Viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN) is a condition affecting the red blood cells of more than 20 species of marine and anadromous fishes in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. Among populations of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) on the west coast of North America the disease causes anemia and elevated...
Assessment of potential shale-oil and shale-gas resources in Silurian shales of Jordan, 2014
Christopher J. Schenk, Janet K. Pitman, Ronald R. Charpentier, Timothy R. Klett, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Tracey J. Mercier, Philip H. Nelson, Michael E. Brownfield, Mark J. Pawlewicz, Craig J. Wandrey
2014, Fact Sheet 2014-3082
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 11 million barrels of potential shale-oil and 320 billion cubic feet of shale-gas resources in Silurian shales of Jordan....
Nearshore bathymetric mapping along a 7-mile reach of Lake Sharpe shoreline near Lower Brule, South Dakota, 2013
Ryan F. Thompson
2014, Scientific Investigations Map 3307
Shoreline erosion rates along Lake Sharpe, a Missouri River reservoir, near the community of Lower Brule, South Dakota, were studied previously during 2011–12 by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and Oglala Lakota College. The rapid shoreline retreat has caused many detrimental effects along the shoreline of...
Map of assessed tight-gas resources in the United States
Laura R. H. Biewick (compiler), USGS National Assessment of Oil and Gas Resources Team
2014, Data Series 69-HH
This report presents a digital map of tight-gas resource assessments in the United States as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Assessment of Oil and Gas Project. Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the USGS quantitatively estimated potential volumes of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas resources within tight-gas assessment...
Predicting foundation bunchgrass species abundances: Model-assisted decision-making in protected-area sagebrush steppe
Thomas J. Rodhouse, Kathryn M. Irvine, Roger L. Sheley, Brenda S. Smith, Shirley Hoh, Daniel M. Esposito, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez
2014, Ecosphere (5) 1-19
Foundation species are structurally dominant members of ecological communities that can stabilize ecological processes and influence resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion. Being common, they are often overlooked for conservation but are increasingly threatened from land use change, biological invasions, and over-exploitation. The pattern of foundation species abundances over...
Surficial geologic map of the Red Rock Lakes area, southwest Montana
Kenneth L. Pierce, Tara L. Chesley-Preston, Richard L. Sojda
2014, Open-File Report 2014-1157
The Centennial Valley and Centennial Range continue to be formed by ongoing displacement on the Centennial fault. The dominant fault movement is downward, creating space in the valley for lakes and the deposition of sediment. The Centennial Valley originally drained to the northeast through a canyon now represented by a...
Report on workshop to incorporate basin response in the design of tall buildings in the Puget Sound region, Washington
Susan Chang, Arthur D. Frankel, Craig S. Weaver
2014, Open-File Report 2014-1196
On March 4, 2013, the City of Seattle and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) convened a workshop of 25 engineers and seismologists to provide recommendations to the City for the incorporation of amplification of earthquake ground shaking by the Seattle sedimentary basin in the design of tall buildings in Seattle....
Data compilation for assessing sediment and toxic chemical loads from the Green River to the lower Duwamish Waterway, Washington
Kathleen E. Conn, Robert W. Black
2014, Data Series 880
Between February and June 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey collected representative samples of whole water, suspended sediment, and (or) bed sediment from a single strategically located site on the Duwamish River, Washington, during seven periods of different flow conditions. Samples were analyzed by Washington-State-accredited laboratories for a large suite of...
Building a better sticky trap: description of an easy-to-use trap and pole mount for quantifying the abundance of adult aquatic insects
Joshua T. Smith, Theodore A. Kennedy, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer
2014, Freshwater Science (33) 972-977
Insect emergence is a fundamental process in freshwaters. It is a critical life-history stage for aquatic insects and provides an important prey resource for terrestrial and aquatic consumers. Sticky traps are increasingly being used to sample these insects. The most common design consists of an acetate sheet coated with a...
Biodiversity and community composition of sediment macrofauna associated with deep-sea Lophelia pertusa habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Jill R. Bourque, Janessy Frometa
2014, Deep Sea Research Part A, Oceanographic Research Papers (93) 91-103
Scleractinian corals create three-dimensional reefs that provide sheltered refuges, facilitate sediment accumulation, and enhance colonization of encrusting fauna. While heterogeneous coral habitats can harbor high levels of biodiversity, their effect on the community composition within nearby sediments remains unclear, particularly in the deep sea. Sediment macrofauna from deep-sea coral habitats...
The effects of hydropattern and predator communities on amphibian occupancy
Staci Amburgey, L.L. Bailey, M.A. Murphy, Erin L. Muths, W. C. Funk
2014, Canadian Journal of Zoology (92) 927-937
Complex, interactive ecological constraints regulate species distributions, and understanding these factors is crucial for predicting species persistence. We used occupancy analysis, which corrects for imperfect detection, to test the importance of abiotic and biotic habitat and landscape factors on probability of occupancy by Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata (Agassiz, 1850)) tadpoles....
