Looking upstream on the San Miguel River in Colorado in fall 2020 when baseflow (groundwater flowing to streams) is the primary contributor to streamflow. (Credit: Olivia Miller, USGS. Public domain.) A new study projects that a hot…

Removal of Fallen Leaves Can Improve Urban Water Quality
The timely removal of leaf litter can reduce harmful phosphorus concentrations in stormwater by over 80 percent in Madison, Wisconsin, according to a…

Wastewater Disposal Likely Induced February 2016 Magnitude 5.1 Oklahoma Earthquake
Distant wastewater disposal wells likely induced the third largest earthquake in recent Oklahoma record, the Feb. 13, 2016, magnitude 5.1 event roughly…

Researchers Study Pulling Rare Earth Elements from Industrial Waters
University of Wyoming researchers have joined colleagues from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to study the potential for retrieving rare earth elements from water produced in oil and gas production and geothermal projects.…

South Dakota Scientists Help Restore Water in Armenia
South Dakota-based scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey are helping to restore a depleted aquifer and build in-country expertise for managing groundwater in the Ararat Basin of Armenia. The growth of aquaculture to raise trout, sturgeon and other cold-water…

The USGS Issues New Warnings About Coal-Tar-Based Pavement Sealcoat
Coal-tar-based pavement sealant is a potent source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as documented by the USGS and other researchers. Coal-tar-based sealcoat products typically are 20 to 35% coal tar or coal-tar pitch—these materials are known…

Winners Announced in Visualize Your Water High School Citizen Science Challenge
In January 2016, U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency challenged high school students in 13 states to create compelling and innovative visualizations of nutrient data from open government data sources. Students from across the…