Water resources of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
Jason M. Griffith
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3064
St. Tammany Parish, located in southeastern Louisiana, contains fresh groundwater and surface-water resources. In 2005, about 22.8 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) were withdrawn from water sources in St. Tammany Parish. Almost 100 percent (22.7 Mgal/d) was withdrawn from groundwater, and less than 1 percent (0.06 Mgal/d) was withdrawn from...
U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Modeling Software: Making Sense of a Complex Natural Resource
Alden M. Provost, Thomas E. Reilly, Arlen W. Harbaugh, David W. Pollock
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3105
Computer models of groundwater systems simulate the flow of groundwater, including water levels, and the transport of chemical constituents and thermal energy. Groundwater models afford hydrologists a framework on which to organize their knowledge and understanding of groundwater systems, and they provide insights water-resources managers need to plan effectively for...
The Water Cycle in Volusia County
Edward R. German
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3004
Earth's water is always in motion. The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface. This fact sheet provides information about how much water moves into and out of Volusia County, and where it is stored. It...
U.S. Geological Survey Methodology Development for Ecological Carbon Assessment and Monitoring
Zhi-Liang Zhu, S.M. Stackpoole
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3102
Ecological carbon sequestration refers to transfer and storage of atmospheric carbon in vegetation, soils, and aquatic environments to help offset the net increase from carbon emissions. Understanding capacities, associated opportunities, and risks of vegetated ecosystems to sequester carbon provides science information to support formulation of policies governing climate change mitigation,...
Use of StreamStats in the Upper French Broad River Basin, North Carolina: A Pilot Water-Resources Web Application
Chad R. Wagner, Kirsten C. Tighe, Silvia Terziotti
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3088
StreamStats is a Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) application that was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) to provide access to an assortment of analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management. StreamStats allows users to easily obtain...
Greater Platte River Basins - Science to sustain ecosystems and communities
June M. Thormodsgard
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3097
The Greater Platte River Basins (GPRB), located in the heartland of the United States, provides a collaborative opportunity for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners to understand the sustainability of natural and managed ecosystems under changing climate and resource requirements.The Greater Platte River Basins, an area of about...
Web application to access U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works and Restoration Projects information for the Rio Grande Basin, southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas
Christy-Ann M. Archuleta, Deanna R. Eames
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3104
The Rio Grande Civil Works and Restoration Projects Web Application, developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Albuquerque District, is designed to provide publicly available information through the Internet about civil works and restoration projects in the Rio Grande Basin. Since...
Organic Compounds in Truckee River Water Used for Public Supply near Reno, Nevada, 2002-05
Karen A. Thomas
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3100
Organic compounds studied in this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment generally are man-made, including, in part, pesticides, solvents, gasoline hydrocarbons, personal care and domestic-use products, and refrigerants and propellants. Of 258 compounds measured, 28 were detected in at least 1 source water sample collected approximately monthly during 2002-05 at the...
Gulf of Mexico Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystem Studies, 2008-2011
Christina A. Kellogg
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3094
Most people are familiar with tropical coral reefs, located in warm, well-illuminated, shallow waters. However, corals also exist hundreds and even thousands of meters below the ocean surface, where it is cold and completely dark. These deep-sea corals, also known as cold-water corals, have become a topic of interest due...
Alabama Water Use, 2005
Susan S. Hutson, Thomas M. Littlepage, Michael J. Harper, James O. Tinney
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3081
Water is one of Alabama's most precious natural resources. It is a vital component of human existence and essential to the overall quality of life. Wise stewardship of this valuable resource depends on a continuing assessment of water availability and water use. Population growth in many parts of the State...
Organic compounds in Elm Fork Trinity River water used for public supply near Carrollton, Texas, 2002–05
Patricia B. Ging, Gregory C. Delzer, Pixie A. Hamilton
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3090
Organic compounds studied in this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment generally are man-made, including pesticides, solvents, gasoline hydrocarbons, personal-care and domestic-use products, refrigerants, and propellants. A total of 103 of 277 compounds were detected at least once among the 30 samples of source water for a community water system on...
Land Treatment Digital Library
David S. Pilliod
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3095
A dynamic system to enter, store, retrieve, and analyze Federal land-treatment data. More information and access to data available at: http://greatbasin.wr.usgs.gov/ltdl Across the country, public land managers make hundreds of decisions each year that influence landscapes and ecosystems within the lands they manage. Many of these decisions involve vegetation manipulations known...
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Western Region; Santa Barbara Channel Coastal and Ocean Science
Samuel Y. Johnson
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3077
USGS coastal and ocean science in the Western United States and the Pacific integrates scientific expertise in geology, water resources, biology, and geography. Operating from 10 major science centers in the Western Region, the USGS is addressing a broad geographic and thematic range of important coastal and marine issues. In...
Understanding the Habitat Needs of the Declining Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
Matthew J. Johnson
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3091
The western yellow-billed cuckoo, once common along the streams and rivers of the American West, is now a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Most of the remaining breeding pairs are found in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Research to understand the cuckoos' habitat needs by U.S. Geological...
Organic Compounds in Running Gutter Brook Water Used for Public Supply near Hatfield, Massachusetts, 2003-05
Craig J. Brown, Thomas J. Trombley
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3076
The 258 organic compounds studied in this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment generally are man-made, including pesticides, solvents, gasoline hydrocarbons, personal-care and domestic-use products, and pavement and combustion-derived compounds. Of these 258 compounds, 26 (about 10 percent) were detected at least once among the 31 samples collected approximately monthly during...
How to Use the Marine Realms Information Bank (MRIB) Digital Libraries
Frances L. Lightsom, Alan O. Allwardt
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3083
Marine Realms Information Bank (MRIB) digital libraries provide access to free online scientific resources about oceans, coasts, and coastal watersheds. MRIB allows category, geographic, and keyword searching, alone or in combination. Instructions for searching the three MRIB libraries and for refining the searches are explained in detail....
Acid rain effects on Adirondack streams— Results from the 2003–05 Western Adirondack Stream Survey (the WASS Project)
Gregory B. Lawrence, Karen M. Roy, Barry P. Baldigo, Howard A. Simonin, Sophia I. Passy, Robert W. Bode, Susan B. Capone
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3075
Traditionally lakes have been the focus of acid rain assessments in the Adirondack region of New York. However, there is a growing recognition of the importance of streams as environmental indicators. Streams, like lakes, also provide important aquatic habitat, but streams more closely reflect acid rain effects on soils and...
Unearthing Secrets of the Forest
Sarah I. Beldin, Steven S. Perakis
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3078
Forests are a defining feature for large areas of the Pacific northwestern United States from northern California to Alaska. Coniferous temperate rainforests in the western Cascade and coastal mountain ranges are appreciated for their aesthetic value and abundant natural resources. Few people recognize the riches beneath the forest floor; yet,...
Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Groundwater Resources of the United States
Jason S. Gurdak, Randall T. Hanson, Timothy R. Green
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3074
Groundwater is an important part of the global fresh water supply and is affected by climate. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are working with local, State, Federal, and international partners to understand how the availability and sustainability of groundwater resources in the United States will be affected by climate variability...
Lead poisoning in wild birds
Lesanna L. Lahner, J. Christian Franson
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3051
Lead in its various forms has been used for thousands of years, originally in cooking utensils and glazes and more recently in many industrial and commercial applications. However, lead is a potent, potentially deadly toxin that damages many organs in the body and can affect all animals, including humans. By...
Monitoring for Pesticides in Groundwater and Surface Water in Nevada, 2008
Carl E. Thodal, Jon Carpenter, Charles W. Moses
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3093
Commercial pesticide applicators, farmers, and homeowners apply about 1 billion pounds of pesticides annually to agricultural land, non-crop land, and urban areas throughout the United States (Gilliom and others, 2006, p. 1). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) defines a pesticide as any substance used to kill or control insects,...
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3089
Coral ecosystems and their natural capital are at risk. Greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, and harmful land-use practices are damaging our coral reefs. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that the threats are serious, and if they are left unchecked, the ecological and social consequences will be significant and widespread. Although the primary...
Emissions from coal fires and their impact on the environment
Allan Kolker, Mark Engle, Glenn Stracher, James Hower, Anupma Prakash, Lawrence Radke, Arnout ter Schure, Ed Heffern
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3084
Self-ignited, naturally occurring coal fires and fires resulting from human activities persist for decades in underground coal mines, coal waste piles, and unmined coal beds. These uncontrolled coal fires occur in all coal-bearing parts of the world (Stracher, 2007) and pose multiple threats to the global environment because they emit...
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)
Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3087
Under an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense's National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is distributing elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). The SRTM is a joint project of NASA and NGA to map the Earth's...
The Ozark Highlands
Max Ethridge
2009, Fact Sheet 2009-3065
The Ozark Highlands include diverse topographic, geologic, soil, and hydrologic conditions that support a broad range of habitat types. The landscape features rugged uplands - some peaks higher than 2,500 feet above sea level - with exposed rock and varying soil depths and includes extensive areas of karst terrain. The...
