The floodplain food web mosaic: a study of its importance to salmon and steelhead with implications for their recovery
J. Ryan Bellmore, Colden V. Baxter, Kyle Martens, Patrick J. Connolly
2013, Ecological Applications (23) 189-207
Although numerous studies have attempted to place species of interest within the context of food webs, such efforts have generally occurred at small scales or disregard potentially important spatial heterogeneity. If food web approaches are to be employed to manage species, studies are needed that evaluate the multiple habitats and...
Oak woodlands and forests fire consortium: A regional view of fire science sharing
Keith W. Grabner, Michael C. Stambaugh, Joseph M. Marschall, Erin R. Abadir
2013, Conference Paper, Proceedings of 4th Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference
The Joint Fire Science Program established 14 regional fire science knowledge exchange consortia to improve the delivery of fire science information and communication among fire managers and researchers. Consortia were developed regionally to ensure that fire science information is tailored to meet regional needs. In this paper, emphasis was placed...
The impact of lower sea-ice extent on Arctic greenhouse-gas exchange
Frans-Jan W. Parmentier, Torben R. Christensen, Lise Lotte Sorensen, Soren Rysgaard, A. David McGuire, Paul A. Miller, Donald A. Walker
2013, Nature Climate Change (3) 195-202
In September 2012, Arctic sea-ice extent plummeted to a new record low: two times lower than the 1979–2000 average. Often, record lows in sea-ice cover are hailed as an example of climate change impacts in the Arctic. Less apparent, however, are the implications of reduced sea-ice cover in the Arctic...
Paleoseismology of a newly discovered scarp in the Yakima fold-and-thrust belt, Kittitas County, Washington
Elizabeth A. Barnett, Brian L. Sherrod, Robert Norris, Douglas Gibbons
2013, Scientific Investigations Map 3212
The Boylston Mountains anticlinal ridge is one of several that are cored by rocks of the Columbia River Basalt Group and, with the interceding synclinal valleys, constitute the Yakima fold-and-thrust belt of central Washington. Lidar data acquired from the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Center reveal a prominent, northwest-side-up, 65°- to...
Introduced northern pike predation on salmonids in southcentral Alaska
Adam Sepulveda, David S. Rutz, Sam S. Ivey, Kristine J. Dunker, Jackson A. Gross
2013, Ecology of Freshwater Fish (22) 268-279
Northern pike (Esox lucius) are opportunistic predators that can switch to alternative prey species after preferred prey have declined. This trophic adaptability allows invasive pike to have negative effects on aquatic food webs. In Southcentral Alaska, invasive pike are a substantial concern because they have spread to important spawning and...
Mass fractionation of noble gases in synthetic methane hydrate: Implications for naturally occurring gas hydrate dissociation
Andrew G. Hunt, Laura Stern, John W. Pohlman, Carolyn Ruppel, Richard J. Moscati, Gary P. Landis
2013, Chemical Geology (339) 242-250
As a consequence of contemporary or longer term (since 15 ka) climate warming, gas hydrates in some settings may presently be dissociating and releasing methane and other gases to the ocean-atmosphere system. A key challenge in assessing the impact of dissociating gas hydrates on global atmospheric methane is the lack...
Streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality monitoring by USGS Nevada Water Science Center
Marsha L. Gipson, Kurtiss Schmidt
2013, Fact Sheet 2013-3004
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has monitored and assessed the quantity and quality of our Nation's streams and aquifers since its inception in 1879. Today, the USGS provides hydrologic information to aid in the evaluation of the availability and suitability of water for public and domestic supply, agriculture, aquatic ecosystems,...
Tracking and forecasting the Nation’s water quality - Priorities and strategies for 2013-2023
Gary L. Rowe, Robert J. Gilliom, Michael D. Woodside
2013, Fact Sheet 2013-3008
Water-quality issues facing the Nation are growing in number and complexity, and solutions are becoming more challenging and costly. Key factors that affect the quality of our drinking water supplies and ecosystem health include contaminants of human and natural origin in streams and groundwater; excess nutrients and sediment; alteration of...
Flood-inundation maps for an 8.9-mile reach of the South Fork Little River at Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Jeremiah G. Lant
2013, Scientific Investigations Map 3242
Digital flood-inundation maps for an 8.9-mile reach of South Fork Little River at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the City of Hopkinsville Community Development Services. The inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science Web site at...
Mapping, monitoring, and modeling Western Gateway Community landscape dynamics
D. J. Hester
2013, Fact Sheet 2012-3141
Federal public lands in the western United States are becoming increasingly surrounded by Gateway Communities. These communities are undergoing landscape change due to population growth, economic growth, and the resulting land-use development. Socioeconomic, demographic, and land-use changes in Gateway Communities are often perceived as threats to Federal land resources, natural...
Model documentation for relations between continuous real-time and discrete water-quality constituents in the North Fork Ninnescah River upstream from Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas, 1999--2009
Mandy L. Stone, Jennifer L. Graham, Jackline W. Gatotho
2013, Open-File Report 2013-1014
Cheney Reservoir in south-central Kansas is one of the primary sources of water for the city of Wichita. The North Fork Ninnescah River is the largest contributing tributary to Cheney Reservoir. The U.S. Geological Survey has operated a continuous real-time water-quality monitoring station since 1998 on the North Fork Ninnescah...
Environmental correlates of upstream migration of yellow-phase American eels in the Potomac River drainage
Stuart A. Welsh, Heather L. Liller
2013, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (142) 483-491
Assessing the relationships between upstream migration and environmental variables is important to understanding the ecology of yellow-phase American Eels Anguilla rostrata. During an American Eel migration study within the lower Shenandoah River (Potomac River drainage), we counted and measured American Eels at the Millville Dam eel ladder for three periods: 14...
Water-quality data collected to determine the presence, source, and concentration of lead in the drinking water supply at Pipe Spring National Monument, northern Arizona
Jamie P. Macy, David Sharrow, Joel Unema
2013, Open-File Report 2013-1029
Pipe Spring National Monument in northern Arizona contains historically significant springs. The groundwater source of these springs is the same aquifer that presently is an important source of drinking water for the Pipe Spring National Monument facilities, the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, and the community of Moccasin. The Kaibab Paiute Tribe...
Mineral commodity summaries 2013
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2013, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2013
Each chapter of the 2013 edition of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS) includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity as well as discussions and tabular presentations on domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, 5-year salient statistics, and world production and resources. The...
Population estimates for the Toiyabe population of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris), 2004–10
M. J. Adams, Chad Mellison, Stephanie K. Galvan
2013, Open-File Report 2013-1036
The Toiyabe population of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris, hereafter "Toiyabe frogs") is a geographically isolated population located in central Nevada (fig. 1). The Toiyabe population is part of the Great Basin Distinct Population Segment of Columbia spotted frogs, and is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act...
Spectroscopic remote sensing of the distribution and persistence of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in Barataria Bay marshes
Raymond F. Kokaly, Brady Couvillion, JoAnn M. Holloway, Dar A. Roberts, Susan L. Ustin, Seth H. Peterson, Shruti Khanna, Sarai C. Piazza
2013, Remote Sensing of Environment (129) 210-230
We applied a spectroscopic analysis to Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data collected from low and medium altitudes during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to delineate the distribution of oil-damaged canopies in the marshes of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Spectral feature analysis compared the AVIRIS data to reference spectra...
Water-level and storage changes in the High Plains aquifer, predevelopment to 2011 and 2009-11
Virginia L. McGuire
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5291
The High Plains aquifer underlies 111.8 million acres (175,000 square miles) in parts of eight States--Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Water-level declines began in parts of the High Plains aquifer soon after the beginning of substantial irrigation with groundwater in the aquifer area. This...
Characterization of streamflow, water quality, and instantaneous dissolved solids, selenium, and uranium loads in selected reaches of the Arkansas River, southeastern Colorado, 2009-2010
Tamara Ivahnenko, Roderick F. Ortiz, Stogner
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5234
As a result of continued water-quality concerns in the Arkansas River, including metal contamination from historical mining practices, potential effects associated with storage and movement of water, point- and nonpoint-source contamination, population growth, storm-water flows, and future changes in land and water use, the Arkansas River Basin Regional Resource Planning...
U.S. Department of the Interior STEM education and employment pathways strategic plan fiscal years 2013--2018
DOI STEM Education Working Group
2013, Report
The Department of the Interior’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2011–2016 presents the Department of the Interior’s vision for a 21st century Department whose highly skilled workforce reflects the diversity of the Nation, optimizes youth engagement throughout its programs, promotes sustainable operations, and applies effective and efficient management....
Potential reductions of street solids and phosphorus in urban watersheds from street cleaning, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2009-11
Jason R. Sorenson
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5292
Material accumulating and washing off urban street surfaces and ultimately into stormwater drainage systems represents a substantial nonpoint source of solids, phosphorus, and other constituent loading to waterways in urban areas. Cost and lack of usable space limit the type and number of structural stormwater source controls available to municipalities...
Aquatic assessment of the Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund site, Corinth, Vermont
Nadine M. Piatak, Denise M. Argue, Robert R. Seal II, Richard G. Kiah, John M. Besser, James F. Coles, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Denise M. Levitan, Jeffrey R. Deacon, Christopher G. Ingersoll
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5288
The Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund site in Corinth, Orange County, Vermont, includes the Eureka, Union, and Smith mines along with areas of downstream aquatic ecosystem impairment. The site was placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) National Priorities List in 2004. The mines, which operated from about 1847...
Velocity Mapping Toolbox (VMT): a processing and visualization suite for moving-vessel ADCP measurements
D.R. Parsons, P.R. Jackson, J. A. Czuba, F.L. Engel, B.L. Rhoads, K. A. Oberg, J.L. Best, D. S. Mueller, K. K. Johnson, J.D. Riley
2013, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (38) 1244-1260
The use of acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) for discharge measurements and three-dimensional flow mapping has increased rapidly in recent years and has been primarily driven by advances in acoustic technology and signal processing. Recent research has developed a variety of methods for processing data obtained from a range of...
Groundwater quality in the Madera and Chowchilla subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley, California
Jennifer L. Shelton, Miranda S. Fram, Kenneth Belitz
2013, Fact Sheet 2012-3099
Groundwater provides more than 40 percent of California’s drinking water. To protect this vital resource, the State of California created the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. The Priority Basin Project of the GAMA Program provides a comprehensive assessment of the State’s untreated groundwater quality and increases public access...
Sources and characteristics of organic matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, related to the formation of disinfection by-products in treated drinking water
Kurt D. Carpenter, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Jami H. Goldman, John Franco Saraceno, Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Gordon McGhee, Tracy Triplett
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5001
This study characterized the amount and quality of organic matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, to gain an understanding of sources that contribute to the formation of chlorinated and brominated disinfection by-products (DBPs), focusing on regulated DBPs in treated drinking water from two direct-filtration treatment plants that together serve approximately...
Status and understanding of groundwater quality in the Madera, Chowchilla Study Unit, 2008: California GAMA Priority Basin Project
Jennifer L. Shelton, Miranda S. Fram, Kenneth Belitz, Bryant C. Jurgens
2013, Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5094
Groundwater quality in the approximately 860-square-mile Madera and Chowchilla Subbasins (Madera-Chowchilla study unit) of the San Joaquin Valley Basin was investigated as part of the Priority Basin Project of the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. The study unit is located in California's Central Valley region in parts of...
