Sampling and analysis plan for the water-quality monitoring program in Lake Koocanusa and upper Kootenai River, Montana, water years 2022–23
Lindsey R. King, Sara L. Caldwell Eldridge, Melissa A. Schaar, Travis S. Schmidt, Thomas Chapin, Ashley M. Bussell
2026, Open-File Report 2026-1005
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, collected water-quality samples and environmental data in Lake Koocanusa (also known as “Koocanusa Reservoir”), the Kootenai River, and the Tobacco River during water years 2022–23. The transboundary Lake Koocanusa is in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northwestern Montana,...
Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts
Page C. Valentine, VeeAnn A. Cross
2026, Scientific Investigations Map 3544
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has conducted seabed mapping and related research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region since 1993. The area being mapped using geophysical and geological data includes the SBNMS and...
Methods for estimating daily upstream location of the freshwater- saltwater interface along the Maurice and Cohansey Rivers, New Jersey
Jennifer L. Closson, Thomas P. Suro, Lukasz M. Niemoczynski
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5090
The Delaware River basin (DRB) provides drinking water to 15 million people in the surrounding area. Water is frequently withdrawn from the freshwater reaches of streams, above head of tide, in the DRB for use as public drinking water. During extended periods of low flow, saltwater can move upstream, which...
Thickness and other characteristics of overbank sediment deposited during an extreme flood in May 1978 along the Powder River, Montana
John A. Moody, Robert H. Meade
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5122
An extreme flood on the Powder River in southeastern Montana in May 1978 inundated its valley and deposited sediment on the floodplains and terraces at multiple heights. The recurrence interval for this flood was less than 1 percent in the reach between Moorhead and Broadus, Montana. Peak discharges at the...
Geologic map of the Emmons Lake volcanic center, Alaska
Thomas P. Miller, Christopher F. Waythomas, Margaret T. Mangan, Frank A. Trusdell, Andrew T. Calvert
2026, Scientific Investigations Map 3519
Introduction The Emmons Lake volcanic center is a spatially clustered group of stratovolcanoes and calderas in the southwestern part of the Alaska Peninsula, Alaska. The volcanic center is characterized by several ice- and snow-clad stratovolcanoes located within and along the margins of a nested-caldera complex that includes Emmons Lake. A shieldlike...
Geochemical disequilibrium at the brittle-ductile transition
Raphael Gottardi, Ryan J. McAleer, Gabriele Casale, Martin Wong
2026, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (27)
We investigate the microtextural, microchemical, and isotopic effects of late-stage ductile deformation in quartzite mylonites and kyanite–muscovite–quartz veins from the Raft River shear zone (Utah). Quartz microstructures record pervasive disequilibrium, expressed by unannealed features including undulatory extinction, deformation lamellae, and poorly defined fabrics, typical of waning deformation in shear zones....
Low streamflows in Massachusetts: Variability over space and time and relations with climatic and basin variables
Catherine A. Chamberlin, Glenn Hodgkins
2026, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (62)
Streamflows in Massachusetts have set record lows in recent years despite generally wetter conditions than during the drought of the 1960s, and the reasons for this are not known. To analyse potential drivers of low streamflows in Massachusetts, six low-flow metrics were computed at 107 streamgages. These metrics represent low-flow...
Identifying overwintering habitat of silver and bighead carp in the lower Mississippi River: Implications for harvesting and population reduction
K. Jack Killgore, David Ruppel, Faucheux. Nick, W. Todd Slack, Amanda J.M. Oliver, Josey Lee Ridgway, Jesse Robert Fischer, Robin D. Calfee
2026, Technical Note ERDC/EL TN-26-1
A total of 41 sites along a 58 mi reach of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) were surveyed during winter 2022 for invasive carp aggregation.* Sites consisting of scallops closest to the dike-vegetated bank interface with deeper, slow-moving water and consistent access back to the main channel were preferred. Carp...
Extrinsic factors similarly affect nest survival of a threatened shorebird in natural and human-created habitats
Elsa M. Forsberg, Rose J. Swift, Larkin A. Powell, Joel G. Jorgensen, Mark P. Vrtiska
2026, Avian Conservation and Ecology (21)
Knowledge of factors that influence nest survival can inform effective conservation management for imperiled avian species. Habitat availability and quality are common priorities of conservation efforts, and climate and interspecific associations can also affect survival rates. In the lower Platte River system of eastern Nebraska, USA, Piping...
Determining Volcanic Risk in Auckland (DEVORA) Research Programme—A transdisciplinary approach to address the challenge of distributed volcanism in an urban environment
Jan M. Lindsay, Elaine R. Smid, Natalie Balfour, Natalia I. Deligne, Angela Doherty, Annahlise Hall, Tracy Howe, Gill Jolly, Graham Leonard, Kate Lewis, Craig A. Miller, Ema Nersezova, Ross Roberts, Richard E. Smith, Thomas Stolberger, Kelvin Tapuke, Thomas M. Wilson
2026, Professional Paper 1890-B
The Determining Volcanic Risk in Auckland (DEVORA) Research Programme was launched in 2008 to address the challenges associated with monogenetic volcanism in an urban setting and to enhance volcanic risk management in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a multi-agency, increasingly transdisciplinary (defined here as research that...
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2025
Nicole M. Watson, Isabel I. Field, Jared Thomas Myers, Daniel Yule
2026, Report
The U.S. Geological Survey has conducted annual trawl surveys across Lake Superior since 1978 that describe trends in fish species occurrence and relative abundance to support fisheries science and management. In 2025, the Lake Superior fish community was sampled with daytime bottom and surface trawls at 72 nearshore stations in...
Creating usable science: A Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center study
Kinzie Cherrel Bailey, Jia Hu, Alison M. Meadow, Stephanie Anne McAfee, Alexandder Gershunov, Carolyn Armstrong Enquist, Daniel Cayan, Beth Rose MIddleton Manning, Elizabeth Fard, Geln MacDonald, Gregg M. Garfin, Michelle Baker, Nancy Huntly, Richard F. Ambroase
2026, Earth Stewardship (3)
The southwestern United States consists of diverse ecosystems that are experiencing increasing pressures from rising temperatures, increasing aridity, and sea level rise. To prepare this region for future uncertainty, there is a need for strong partnerships among researchers and societal partners. The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center...
Investigating the influence of climate and volcanic surface aging on fluvial erosion: A case study of Réunion Island, Indian Ocean
Daniel James O'hara, Loraine Gourbet, Laurent Michon, Vincent Famin
2026, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (51)
Precipitation is one of the dominant drivers of landscape erosion and evolution; however, the effects of typical rainfall compared with less frequent, high-magnitude precipitation events on erosion remain unclear. Volcanic islands are ideal locations to study such phenomena due to their simple geometries, nontectonic construction, and strong spatiotemporal rainfall gradients....
Widespread occurrence of Magnéli phases in wildland-urban interface fire ashes
Mohammed Baalousha, Morgane Desmau, Roberto A. Colina-Ruiz, Antonio Lanzirotti, Sheryl A. Singerling, Michelle A. Stern, Charles N. Alpers
2026, Environmental Science and Technology.
The increasing activity of wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires has raised concerns regarding the potential environmental and human health impacts of residual ash remaining after burning. In this study, we investigated the concentration and speciation of titanium in WUI fire ash. Total titanium concentrations in WUI fire ash ranged from 0.53...
Erosion and transport of sediments in watersheds of southwest Puerto Rico determined from strontium isotopes and mixing models
Aaron O. Reyes, Renee K. Takesue, Curt D. Storlazzi
2026, Applied Geochemistry (203)
Sediment outflow from streams to coastal regions can adversely affect water quality and the health of ecosystems including Puerto Rico's southwestern carbonate platform with shallow marine communities. Knowledge of sediment provenance and erosional areas would aid effective restoration to reduce excessive sedimentation. Strontium (Sr) isotopic ratios (87Sr/86Sr)...
Data-collection methods for total dissolved gases monitoring, Youghiogheny River at Dam Outlet Tunnel near Confluence, Pennsylvania
Allan J. Ruddy, Emily E. Woodward, Gerolamo C. Casile
2026, Open-File Report 2026-1068
Supersaturation of total dissolved gases (TDG) can potentially occur in the tailrace water at the Youghiogheny River at dam outlet tunnel near Confluence, Pennsylvania (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS] streamgaging and monitoring station 03077100). The USGS, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, established methods to collect and report...
DNA retention in sea lamprey digestive tracts: Insights from controlled feeding experiments
Conor O'Kane, Nicholas S. Johnson, Kim T. Scribner, Jeannette Kanefsky, Weiming Li, Tyler Bruning, John D. Robinson
2026, Environmental DNA (8)
The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a non-native species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, has significantly impacted native fish communities and commercial fisheries, requiring population suppression efforts. While traditional control methods such as lampricides and barriers have reduced sea lamprey population abundance, questions remain regarding sea lamprey dietary composition given the...
Advances in volcano monitoring driven by the first decade of Sentinel-1 observations
Juliet Biggs, Nantheera Anantrasirichai, Kyle R. Anderson, Valerie Cayol, Edna W. Dualeh, Quentin Dumont, Susanna K. Ebmeier, Jean Luc Froger, Matthew Gaddes, Federico Galleto, Pablo J. Gonzales, Ian Hamling, Andrew Hooper, Milan Lazecky, Camila Novoa Lizama, Matthew E. Pritchard
2026, Remote Sensing of Environment (339)
Sentinel-1 has transformed how satellite radar data (SAR and InSAR) are used in volcanology. The systematic, long-term archive and open-access policy means that volcano observatories and research organisations have invested in integrating Sentinel-1 datasets into their monitoring systems. We identify 233 high priority volcanoes and estimate that Sentinel-1 data has...
Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 6
Matthew J. Kauffman, Blake Lowrey, Jennifer L. McKee, Chloe J. Beaupre, Jeffrey Beck, Jon Beckmann, Scott Bergen, Joel Berger, Regan Berkley, Nathan Borg, Peyton Carl, Michelle Cowardin, Sarah Dewey, Katie M. Dugger, Amy Ehrhart, Jessica Fort, Eric Freeman, Ian Freeman, Emily R. Gelzer, David German, Jacob Gray, Evan Greenspan, Zach Gregory, Emily Hagler, Makeda Hanson, Valerie D. Hinojoza-Rood, Pat Hnilicka, Nick Jaffe, Andrew F. Jakes, Aran Johnson, Jaron T. Kolek, Art Lawson, Zach Lockyer, Daryl Lutz, Cody McKee, Jane McKeever, Jerod Merkle, Matthew A. Mumma, Dennis Newman, Erika Peckham, Jill E. Randall, Tempe Regan, Adele K. Reinking, Robert Ritson, William J. Rudd, Brianna M. Russo, Hall Sawyer, Cody Schroeder, Brandon Scurlock, Jeff Short, Bret Stansberry, Erik Steiner, Alethea Steingisser, Tom Stephenson, Eric VanNatta, Cody F. Wallace, Brad Weinmeister, Don Whittaker, Tatjana Woody, Sean Yancey
2026, Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5123
This report, volume 6 in the “Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States” report series, showcases the migrations of 23 ungulate herds in the Western United States. The report series is produced by the Corridor Mapping Team (CMT). Led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the CMT is a collaboration among...
Valuing socio-economic and ecological attributes of forested watershed restoration to reduce wildfire risk in the southwestern U.S.
Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, James R. Meldrum, Julie M. Mueller, Christopher Huber
2026, Forest Policy and Economics (186)
Forest restoration in a watershed can provide numerous ecological improvements and social benefits, including reducing the risk of extreme wildfire. Understanding the values of the accrued benefits can be used to evaluate the use of funds to support restoration. The Rio Grande watershed is a vast watershed...
Controlling invasive carp ichthyoplankton dispersion using a streamwise-oriented bubble screen: A proof-of-concept validation in a laboratory flume
Vindhyawasini Prasad, Henry F. Doyle, Cory Suski, P. Ryan Jackson, Amy E. George, Jesse Robert Fischer, Benjamin H. Stahlschmidt, Anne Marie Herndon, Rafael O. Tinoco
2026, Journal of Great Lakes Research
Recent evidence of invasive grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) reproducing in tributaries to the Laurentian Great Lakes has highlighted the need for control efforts targeting multiple life stages. Initial attempts to control dispersal of downstream-drifting invasive carp ichthyoplankton (i.e., eggs and larvae) using an oblique bubble screen (OBS) revealed that nearly...
Rare earth element potential in coal and coal ash in the U.S. Gulf Coast
Bridget R. Scanlon, Robert C. Reedy, Brent A. Elliott, James C. Hower, J. Richard Kyle, Marek Locmelis, Nolan Theaker, Peter D. Warwick
2026, International Journal of Coal Science & Technology (13)
United States heavy reliance on imports of critical minerals (CMs), including rare earth elements (REEs), underscores the importance of development of domestic sources. The study objective was to quantify CM and REE concentrations in coal and coal ash in the US Gulf Coast region. CM and REE...
Mangrove ecosystems: Importance, threats and opportunities for restoration
Elijah I. Ohimain, Robert Eugene Turner, Beth A. Middleton
2026, Water (18)
Mangroves are crucial for biodiversity conservation, coastal protection, and supporting local livelihoods. Mangroves may also protect coasts from storms and rising sea levels and can play a major role in climate mitigation. Threats to their health include activities such as infrastructural development, urban encroachment, aquaculture and crop farming, and oil...
Advances and applications of Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) research in landscape ecology
Miguel L. Villarreal, Tara B. Bishop, Temuulen Ts. Sankey, William K. Smith
2026, Landscape Ecology (41)
Landscape ecologists have long depended on satellite and aerial remote sensing to address questions about landscape pattern and process, structure, and change (Foody 2023). Unoccupied aerial systems/vehicles (UAS/UAV, a.k.a. drones) technology is becoming an increasingly popular research tool in environmental sciences allowing scientists to generate low-cost, high-quality, and high-resolution imagery on...
Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) at the Mojave River Dam, San Bernardino County, California—2025 Data Summary
Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus
2026, Data Report 1218
Executive Summary We surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus; vireo) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) at the Mojave River Dam study area near Hesperia, California, in 2025. Four vireo surveys were completed between April 23 and June 26, 2025, and three flycatcher surveys were completed between...
