Earthquake magnitude and source parameter estimation with a distributed acoustic sensing dataset in the Gorda subduction zone
Andrew J. Barbour, Jeffrey J. McGuire, Martin Karrenbach, Robert McPherson, Mark Hemphill-Haley, Connie Stewart
2025, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems offer a cost‐effective way to create large‐scale strainmeter arrays for seismological applications using fiber‐optic cables. DAS‐based strain measurements are known to be influenced by various factors, bringing into question their general reliability for accurate earthquake characterization. A 15‐km‐long...
One hundred ninety-nine dead birds: Review of the scientific basis of ecological incident reporting requirements for pesticide registrants under Fifra § 6(A)(2)
Nimish B. Vyas, Cynthia Palmer
2025, Buffalo Environmental Law Journal (31)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticide use in the United States. The EPA is charged by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) with ensuring that a pesticide will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. Incident reports (documentation of exposure and injury from pesticide applications)...
A systematic literature review of forecasting and predictive models of harmful algal blooms in flowing waters
Jennifer C. Murphy, Rebecca Michelle Gorney, Lisa Lucas, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Jennifer L. Graham
2025, Preprint
Occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in rivers challenge the belief that rivers are not susceptible to HABs because of their short residence times and fluctuating hydrology. Here we present a systematic literature review of predictive and forecasting models for HABs in flowing waters, including rivers, flowing in-stream reservoirs (e.g.,...
Texas coastal wetland surface elevation static survey campaign report
Brett Patton, Colt R. Sanspree, Jena A. Moon, Sierra R. Moran
2025, Report
Surface elevation data along the Texas Coast is limited, despite having some of the highest rates of relative sea-level rise in the country (Sweet et al., 2022). To narrow these knowledge and data gaps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) established the first landscape-scale rod surface elevation table (RSET)...
Potentiometric surface maps and groundwater-level hydrographs for confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain, 2018
Alex R. Fiore, Stephen J. Cauller, Eileen J. Brown
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5080
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), prepared potentiometric surface maps for 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain physiographic province based on water-level measurements collected during late 2018 and early 2019 from 951 wells in New Jersey and parts...
Long Term Resource Monitoring procedures—Aquatic vegetation monitoring
Danelle M. Larson, Eric Lund, Alicia M. Carhart, Seth Fopma, Stephanie Szura
2025, Techniques and Methods 2-A22
This standard operating procedure (SOP) manual describes the collection of standardized, long-term data for aquatic vegetation communities in selected study pools of the Upper Mississippi River System in the United States. The primary intent of the data collection is to assess the status and trends that aid in understanding the...
User’s guide for the National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)
Richard B. Moore, Lucinda D. McKay, Alan H. Rea, Timothy R. Bondelid, Curtis V. Price, Thomas G. Dewald, Laura Hayes
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5031
The National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR) is a scalable hydrologic geospatial fabric or framework, built from (1) the High Resolution (1:24,000-scale or better) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), (2) nationally complete Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD), and (3) 1/3-arc-second 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) digital elevation model (DEM) data (at...
Mapping potential sensitivity to hydrogeomorphic change in the UMRS riverscape
Angus Vaughan, Faith Fitzpatrick, Jayme M. Strange, Molly Van Appledorn
2025, Completion Report 2021HG7
In 2020 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program, began a new project to characterize potential hydrogeomorphic change associated with hydrogeomorphic units (HGUs) and their catenae (units linked by their association with sediment sources and flow origins). The goal of the project...
Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part I: Lavas and tephras
Penny E. Wieser, Sarah C. Shi, Matthew Gleeson, Berenise Rangel, Charlotte DeVitre, Alexander T. Bearden, Kendra J. Lynn, Marie Camille-Caumon
2025, Bulletin of Volcanology (87)
There are few petrological constraints on magma storage depths at Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i. Yet understanding the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system is critical for interpreting geophysical signals of unrest at this very high-threat volcano. We address this gap by examining CO₂-rich fluid inclusions (FI) in lava and tephra from...
Impact of a place-based role-playing exercise on student sense of classroom community and science identity in a hydrology class
Megan Plenge, Wayana Dolan, Alexa Tomlinson, Bryant Hutson, Tamlin Pavelsky
2025, Journal of Geoscience Education
Fostering a sense of classroom community in earth science classes supports students’ sense of belonging within the classroom and the broader scientific community, helping them build a sense of identity as a geoscientist. This study examines the effects of incorporating a 2-week, collaborative role-playing activity on sense of classroom community...
Estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) Prediction for Eagle Ford Shale using integrated datasets and artificial neural networks
C. Ozgen Karacan, Steven T. Anderson, Steven M. Cahan
2025, Energies (18)
The estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) is an important parameter for forecasting oil and gas production and informing decisions regarding field development strategies. In this study, we combined site-specific geologic, completion, and operational parameters with the predictive capabilities of machine learning (ML) models to predict EURs of the wells for the...
Unique thermal mixing patterns in Lake Ontario revealed by novel year-round observations of thermal stratification
Mathew Wells, Tim B. Johnson, Rylie Robinson, Jon Midwood, Yulu Shi, Sarah M. Larocque, Adam Eddie, Brian O’Malley, Kyle Morton, Dimitri Gorsky, Bruce Tufts
2025, Limnology and Oceanography (70) 3401-3416
Year-round records of thermal stratification in the Great Lakes are rare, and there are few observations of thermal stratification during winter. In this paper, we analyze temperature data from 13 temperature logger chains and from over 130 benthic acoustic receivers that were deployed across Lake Ontario for 2 yr. The...
Different data for different goals: Exploring trade-offs and synergies in the use of spatial data inputs to optimize conservation action in sagebrush ecosystems
Jessica E. Shyvers, Bryan C. Tarbox, Adrian P. Monroe, Nicholas J. Van Lanen, Benjamin Seward Robb, Erin K. Buchholtz, Courtney J. Duchardt, David R. Edmunds, Michael S. O’Donnell, Nathan D. Van Schmidt, Julie A. Heinrichs, Cameron L. Aldridge
2025, Ecology and Evolution (15)
Ecosystems worldwide continue to experience rapid rates of habitat and species loss. Management actions to conserve and restore functional habitats are needed to reduce these declines, but funding and resources for such actions are limited. Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) can facilitate strategic decision-making for targeted conservation planning and delivery, but...
Beaver dams and their effects on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
Krista L. Jones, Cassandra D. Smith, James S. White, Stewart A. Rounds, Micelis C. Doyle, Erin K. Leahy
2025, Fact Sheet 2025-3022
Introduction In response to growing interest in beaver-assisted restoration in the Tualatin River Basin of northwestern Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with Clean Water Services, collected data from 2016–17 and completed a series of studies to: (1) inventory known locations of beaver dams and activity in the Tualatin...
Effects of beaver dams and ponds on water quality in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
Cassandra D. Smith, Erin K. Leahy, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5039-D
Significant Findings American beavers (Castor canadensis) are native to the Pacific Northwest, and their populations have increased in many locations after being nearly removed by historical trapping. Beaver dams have well-documented effects on water quality in forested streams, but their effects on water quality in urban streams have not been well...
Effects of beaver dams and ponds on the transport and deposition of suspended sediment in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
Micelis C. Doyle, Cassandra D. Smith, Krista L. Jones, Alexandria E. Costello
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5039-C
Significant Findings This study investigated the effects of natural beaver dams and ponds on sediment transport and deposition in two urban beaver-affected reaches in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon. Data were collected during 2016–17 from Fanno Creek at Greenway Park (between SW Hall Boulevard and SW Pearson Court) and Bronson...
Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
James S. White, Cassandra D. Smith, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5039-A
Significant Findings Beaver dams can help streams connect to their floodplains. These floodplain connections can expand the range of available aquatic habitats and aid in the restoration of stream and floodplain function and processes. American beavers (Castor canadensis) occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats; however, their ability to build dams,...
Beavers in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
Krista L. Jones, Cassandra D. Smith, editor(s)
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5039
Growing interest in beaver-assisted restoration in the Tualatin River Basin of northwestern Oregon motivated a series of studies by the U.S. Geological Survey to assess the capacity of the stream network to support beaver dams and to evaluate the effects of beaver dams and ponds on urban streams. This multichapter...
Potential risks of vegetation treatments to introduce and increase invasive annual grasses in rangelands of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota—A science synthesis to inform National Environmental Policy Act analyses
Aaron N. Johnston, David J. A. Wood, Kyle Ebenhoch, Tait K. Rutherford, Logan M. Maxwell, Sarah K. Carter
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5058
The U.S. Geological Survey is working with Federal land management agencies to develop a series of planned structured science syntheses to support environmental effects analyses that agencies conduct under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This report synthesizes science information relevant to environmental effects analyses concerned with potential increases in...
Rebuilding a volcano one lava flow at a time—Visualizing the lava dome-building eruption in the crater of Mount St. Helens, 1982–1986
Joseph A. Bard, Christina M. Friedle, Lorie Bartee, Brett C. Dierker, Joseph M. Ganick, Nichola M. Gregory, Kenton R. Hill, Jude G. Klug, Aerial Kruger, Dawson T. Mooney, Reun T. Morrison, Isa I. Rojas, Phil Rollo, Shawn A. Stanton, Bre Stewart, Blair E. Stuhlmuller, Adam D. Zyla
2025, General Information Product 262
Between 1980 and 1986, the U.S. Geological Survey made a series of 1:2,000-scale topographic contour maps from aerial photographic surveys to monitor the eruption. These maps were made for operational purposes and were not intended for publication. Since then, advances in technology made it possible to digitize the original, highly...
Computing discharge using the entropy-based probability concept
John W, Fulton, Frank L. Engel, Jack R. Eggleston, Chao-Lin Chiu
2025, Techniques and Methods 3-A26
This report describes the techniques and methods for computing the mean-channel velocity and discharge using the entropy-based probability concept (probability concept). The method is an alternative to or augments standard streamgaging methods adopted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Although sensor technology for measuring the mean velocity and discharge has...
Developing empirical fragility functions for lava flow building damage
Elinor S. Meredith, Susanna F. Jenkins, Josh L. Hayes, Denny J. Chee, David Lallemant, Natalia I. Deligne, Stravos Meletlidis, Alicia Felpeto
2025, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Fragility functions are vital tools in volcanic risk assessments to evaluate the probability of damage to structures at given hazard intensities. Traditionally, lava flow damage is assumed to be binary, whereby in contact with lava results in complete destruction and not in contact with lava remains undamaged. However, past studies present...
Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas
Daniel E. Kroes, Laura Suzanne Ruhl-Whittle, Allegra C. Pieri, Aaron L. Pugh
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5083
Many stream-channel infrastructure, habitat enhancement, and restoration projects are undertaken on streams throughout Arkansas by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as by private organizations and businesses with limited data on local geomorphology and streamflow conditions. Equations that relate drainage area above stable stream reaches to the basin characteristics,...
Hot stops, cool looks: Aesthetic solutions for thermal comfort at transit stops
Logan Steinharter, Peter Christian Ibsen, Tzeng Yih Lam, Lorien Nesbit, Keunhyun Park, Melissa McHale
2025, Urban Climate (64)
Increased urban heat intensifies thermal discomfort, particularly in critical public spaces such as transit stops. This study investigated the predictors of transit users' thermal perceptions in Denver, Colorado—a semi-arid city. Sixty bus stops spanning a gradient of land cover compositions were selected for study. Micrometeorological data, including thermal comfort indices,...
Multidecadal change in pesticide concentrations relative to human health benchmarks in the Nation’s groundwater
Sarah M. Stackpoole, Bruce D. Lindsey, Cee S. Nell
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5081
Groundwater-quality trend assessments identify aquifers that are responding to changes in pesticide use and the compounds that may pose a threat to water availability. The U.S. Geological Survey has been monitoring pesticide concentrations in groundwater for 25 principal aquifers across the conterminous United States since 1993. The groundwater well locations...
