U.S. Geological Survey streamgage network in the Upper Colorado River Basin—Recording the hydrologic history of the Western United States
Brandon T. Forbes, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Ryan C. Rowland, Olivia A. Drukker, Jeffrey Cordova
2025, Fact Sheet 2025-3039
IntroductionWater supply in the Western United States is an essential resource, and the collection of accurate and timely water information is fundamental to effectively managing water resources in the region. Efforts to document the hydrology in the Colorado River Basin are vital to life in the Western United States. These...
The influence of mountain streamflow on nearshore ecosystem metabolism in a large, oligotrophic lake across a drought and a wet year
Kelly Loria, Heili Lowman, Jasimine Krause, Leon R. Katona, Ramon C. Naranjo, Facundo Scordo, Adrian A. Harpold, Sudeep Chandra, Joanna Blaszczak
2025, Limnology and Oceanography (70) 2645-2659
The influence of streamflow can be highly heterogeneous around lake edges, making it challenging to predict how benthic productivity in the littoral zone responds to hydroclimatic change. The degree to which streamflow affects nearshore productivity varies as a function of catchment characteristics, internal lake morphometry, and processes. This study investigates...
Warming Alaskan rivers affect first-year growth in critical northern food fishes
Peyton Thomas, Dylan Blaskey, Yifan Cheng, Michael P. Carey, Heidi K. Swanson, Andrew J. Newman, Cassandra M. Brooks, Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Keith N. Musselman
2025, Scientific Reports (15)
Arctic and subarctic rivers are warming rapidly, with unknown consequences for migratory fishes and the human communities dependent on them. To date, few studies have provided a comprehensive assessment of possible climate change impacts on the hydrology and temperature of Arctic rivers at the regional scale, and even fewer have...
Wetlands, groundwater and seasonality influence the spatial distribution of stream chemistry in a low-relief catchment
Caroline R. Weidner, Jay P. Zarnestke, Anthony D. Kendall, Sherry Lynn Martin, Samuel Nesheim, Arial J. Shogren
2025, JGR Biogeosciences (130)
Evaluating stream water chemistry patterns provides insight into catchment ecosystem and hydrologic processes. Spatially distributed patterns and controls of stream solutes are well-established for high-relief catchments where solute flow paths align with surface topography. However, the controls on solute patterns are poorly constrained for low-relief catchments where hydrogeologic heterogeneities and...
Applying U.S. Geological Survey science to understand effects to water supply in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Natalie K. Day, Cory A. Williams
2025, Fact Sheet 2025-3036
IntroductionThe Colorado River Basin is a vital source of water to more than 40 million people in the Western United States and Mexico, including in major cities like Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and supports irrigation for about 16,000 square kilometers of agricultural land. Since...
Using imaging spectroscopy and elevation in machine learning to estimate soil salinity in intermittently tidal wetlands
German Silva, Dar Roberts, Kristin B. Byrd, Dana Chadwick, Ian Walker, Jennifer King
2025, Ecosphere (16)
Coastal soil salinization patterns are changing due to drought, sea level rise (SLR), and changing freshwater inflow. These changes are expected to impact coastal wetland plant health and ecosystem function, such as changes to biomass and productivity. These impacts have led to greater interest in how we monitor soil salinization...
Launching into societal benefits from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission
Margaret Srinivasan, Vardis Tsontos, Matthew Bonnema, Santiago Pena-Luque, Alexandre de Amorim-Teixiera, Alexandre Abdalla Araujo, Edward Beighley, Charon Birkett, Curtis Chen, Louise Croneborg-Jones, Cedric David, Shailen Desai, Alain Dib, Bradley Doorn, Robert W. Dudley, Bareerah Fatima, Luciana Fenoglio, Renato Prata de Moraes Frasson, Chandana Gangodagamage, Stephanie Granger, Isabel Houghton, Gregg Jacobs, Indu Jayaluxmi, Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Cassandra Nickles, Nicolas Picot, Guy Schumann, Babette Tchonang, Paula Torre Zaffaroni, Peter Van Oevelen, Jinbo Wang, Jerry Wegiel
2025, Water Resources Research (61)
The 10th Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Applications Meeting, held one year after the satellite's launch, highlighted significant milestones in mission progress and showcased the innovative work of SWOT Early Adopters (EA) using mission data products. Over 100 participants from diverse sectors convened to discuss operational applications leveraging SWOT's...
Analysis of summer water temperatures of the lower Virgin River near Mesquite, Nevada, 2019–21
Katherine J. Earp
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5065
The lower Virgin River is a sandy, shallow reach of the Virgin River that flows from northern Arizona to Lake Mead in Nevada. The Virgin River hosts several native fish species, including two endangered fish, woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimu) and Virgin River chub (Gila seminuda). All native fish species in the...
Random forest regression models for estimating low-streamflow statistics at ungaged locations in New York, excluding Long Island
Timothy J. Stagnitta, Joshua Woda, Alexander P. Graziano
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5060
Models to estimate low-streamflow statistics at ungaged locations in New York, excluding Long Island and including hydrologically connected basins from bordering States, were developed for the first time by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A total of 224 basin characteristics...
Evaluating trends using total impervious cover as a metric for degree of urbanisation
Laura Toran, Daniel Bain, Kristina G. Hopkins, Joel Moore, Emily May O'Donnell
2025, Hydrological Processes (39)
Impervious cover (IC) is a common metric for assessing the degree of urbanisation in watersheds. However, there are different methods for determining IC, and use of IC correlation with urban watershed response to hydrologic and geochemical inputs can be strongly influenced by the end members (IC below 10% and above...
Decision-support modeling and research priorities for establishing baseline conditions for outstandingly remarkable values, Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee
Elena R. Crowley-Ornelas, Rebecca Schapansky, Tom Blount, Niki S. Nicholas
2025, Open-File Report 2025-1035
The Obed River is the last undammed river in Tennessee. The Obed Wild and Scenic River is managed by the National Park Service and covers a protected area of the Obed River headwaters (including four contributing tributaries). The Obed Wild and Scenic River supports a unique ecosystem with eight federally...
Hydrologic budgets and water availability of six bedrock aquifers in the Black Hills area, South Dakota and Wyoming, 1931–2022
Colton J. Medler, Todd M. Anderson, William G. Eldridge
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5067
Population growth and recurring droughts in the Black Hills region raised interest in water resources and future availability. The Black Hills hydrology study (BHHS) was initiated in the early 1990s to address questions regarding water resources. Since completion of the BHHS in the early 2000s, the population of the Black...
Hydroclimatic and land-use factors affecting peak streamflow in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Karen R. Ryberg, Mackenzie K. Marti, Nancy A. Barth, Thomas M. Over, Sara B. Levin, Hannah Lee Podzorski, Steven K. Sando, Tara Williams-Sether, Padraic S. O’Shea, Katherine J. Chase
2025, Circular 1557
Flood-frequency analysis provides the basis for flood risk estimates used by water-resource managers in land-use planning, and it informs the design of essential infrastructure such as bridges and culverts. Federal guidelines for flood-frequency analysis do not offer guidance on addressing changing climate and land-use conditions when estimating floods. However, failing...
Land-based nutrient flux to a fringing reef: Insights from Ofu Island, American Samoa
Nancy G. Prouty, Ferdinand K.J. Oberle, Olivia M. Cheriton, Lauren Toth, Eric K. Brown, Curt D. Storlazzi
2025, Frontiers in Marine Science (12)
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a critical driver of nutrient transport in coral reef ecosystems, shaping water quality, primary productivity, and overall reef health. This study quantifies SGD fluxes and associated nutrient dynamics in two reef flat pools within the Ofu Unit of the National Park of American Samoa: Papaloloa...
Wet meadow regeneration through restoration of biophysical feedbacks
Michael Pollock, Laura M. Norman
2025, Frontiers in Environmental Science (13)
Wet meadows are globally significant ecosystems that provide critical hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical functions, yet their extent has declined dramatically due to land use changes and hydrologic alteration. These sedge-dominated wetlands exist at the drier end of the wetland gradient, maintained by shallow groundwater and periodic inundation. This paper is...
A spatial analysis of the groundwater emergence flood hazard in Long Island, New York and near coastal areas surrounding Long Island Sound in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
Kristina Kirkyla Masterson, Robert J. Welk, Janet R. Barclay, Kalle Jahn, Liv M. Herdman
2025, Preprint
Long Island, New York and near coastal areas surrounding Long Island Sound are densely populated and, like other coastal areas, are susceptible to flooding from several potential sources, including stormwater from precipitation events, tidal flooding and storm surge, and groundwater inundation or groundwater emergence flooding. The latter refers to the...
Development of regression equations to estimate flow durations, low-flow frequencies, and mean flows at ungaged stream sites in Connecticut using data through water year 2022
Elizabeth A. Ahearn, Gardner C. Bent
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5027
To aid Federal and State regulatory agencies in the effective management of water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, updated flow statistics for 118 streamgages and developed 47 regression equations to estimate selected flow...
Daily fluctuating flows affect riparian plant species distributions from local to regional scales
Bradley J. Butterfield, Emily C. Palmquist
2025, Applied Vegetation Science (28)
AimsThe number of hydropower dams has grown globally over recent decades, with significant impacts on downstream riparian plant communities. Many of these dams generate daily fluctuating flows known as hydropeaking to meet sub-daily variation in energy demands. Hydropeaking can significantly impact riparian plant communities, with obligate riparian species tending to...
Hydrologic variability and groundwater age of springs in eastern Oregon and northern Nevada, USA
Henry M. Johnson
2025, Journal of Hydrology (662)
The ecological importance of springs in semiarid regions is far greater than their small size and sparse distribution, yet little is known about the hydrologic functioning of these systems. During 2016–22, 261 springs were visited in the volcanic terrane of eastern Oregon and northern Nevada. When conditions were suitable, measurements...
Hydrogeologic framework and conceptual model of the Red River alluvial aquifer east of Lake Texoma, southeastern Oklahoma, 1980–2022
Chloe Codner, Nicole C. Gammill, Isaac A. Dale, Amy S. Morris, Ethan A. Kirby, Grant M. Graves, Evin J. Fetkovich, Derrick L. Wagner, Jon E. Sanford, Colin A. Baciocco
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5054
The 1973 Oklahoma Groundwater Law (Oklahoma Statutes §82-1020.5) requires that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board conduct hydrologic investigations of the State’s groundwater basins to support a determination of the maximum annual yield for each groundwater basin. At present (2025), the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has not established a maximum annual...
Tailwater residency patterns of Silver Carp at Kentucky Lock and Dam
William R Budnick, Kyle Mosel, Joshua Tompkins, Brent Knights, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Marybeth K. Brey, Andrea K. Fritts
2025, North American Journal of Fisheries Management (45) 603-615
ObjectiveThe management of invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the Tennessee River basin focuses on removal, and there is interest in extending removal efforts to the tailwater environments of high-head locks and dams along the Tennessee River, such as Kentucky Dam. We used acoustic telemetry data from Silver...
Selected special conditions affecting peak streamflow and extreme floods in Alaska through water year 2022
Janet H. Curran
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5056
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, inventoried selected special conditions for annual peak flows and identified extreme floods at streamgages in Alaska through water year 2022 to facilitate hydrologic analysis. Special conditions identified from U.S. Geological Survey gaging records and basin...
Tracking persistent declines in suspended sediment in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, 1992–2021: Harnessing WRTDSplus to characterize longitudinally varying trends and explore connections to streamflow
Jennifer C. Murphy, Lindsey Ayn Schafer, Scott Mize
2025, Journal of Hydrology (Volume 662)
Suspended sediment (SS) continues a century-long decline in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, United States. In this study, we use the WRTDSplus model to estimate concentrations and loads for total, fine (<0.0625 millimeter (mm)), and coarse (≥0.0625 mm) SS for 11 sites....
Blueprints for riverine cod nest boxes draw from multiple design considerations
Brendan C. Ebner, Shaun S. Morris, John St Vincent Welch, Paul C. Ryan, Mitch Turner, Leo M. Cameron, Natalie Poitras, Brooke Coonrod, Stuart A. Welsh, Matthew McLellan, Lachie Jess, Stephen Vidler, Brett A. Ingram, S. Thurstan, S. J. Rowland, S. Blake, G. L. Butler
2025, Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries (5)
Designing aquatic nest boxes is rarely afforded detailed scientific account. Here we provide some historical context for nest boxes used in production of large-bodied fishes of the Australian freshwater cod genus Maccullochella. Our experience with eastern freshwater cod is used as a case study to: (a) convey aspects of the complexity...
A novel approach to increase accuracy in remotely sensed evapotranspiration through basin water balance and flux tower constraints
Kul Bikram Khand, Gabriel B. Senay, MacKenzie Friedrichs, Koong Yi, Joshua Fisher, Lixin Wang, Kosana Suvočarev, Arman Ahmadi, Housen Chu, Stephen P. Good, Kanishka Mallick, Justine E.C. Missik, Jacob A. Nelson, David E. Reed, Tianxin Wang, Xiangming Xiao
2025, Journal of Hydrology (662)
Remote sensing-derived evapotranspiration (RSET) products capture the spatiotemporal variations of evapotranspiration (ET) from field to basin scales with unprecedented details. However, their accuracy varies across RSET estimation methods and diverse hydroclimate regions. While ET modeling efforts to account for biophysical processes and controlling parameters have made good progress in recent...
