USGS Water Resources
@USGS_Water

Observing, understanding, predicting, delivering #WaterScience 💧Comment policy: usgs.gov/comments 💧Posts do not=endorsements on.doi.gov/pgwu0Y

usgs.gov/mission-areas/water…
Joined April 2016
2,186 Photos and videos
Hawaii is in the path of a major storm once again, while damage from previous storms is still impacting communities around the islands. Hurricane Nolo is forecast to strengthen as it approaches the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, bringing a significant risk of damaging winds and flooding. With assistance from staff deployed from multiple mainland Water Science Centers (WSC), USGS Pacific Island WSC is prioritizing restoration of critical real-time monitoring on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi while repositioning staff to ensure their safety. 💧 Staff restored real-time operations at USGS station Paauau Gulch at Pahala (16770500) yesterday. This is the only real-time site in the Kaʻū District of southeastern Hawaiʻi Island, where Hurricane Lala destroyed monitoring infrastructure and significantly altered channel conditions, hampering restoration.  💧 Across the Pacific Islands network, 10 sites remain damaged or malfunctioning: 5 real-time stations and five peak-flow-only crest-stage gages. These outages are associated with Hurricane Lowell on Kauaʻi (1 site), Hurricane Lala on Oʻahu (1 site) and Hawaiʻi Island (6 sites), and Typhoon Sinlaku on Guam (2 sites).  Safety is our highest priority. While we’ve been working to restore data flows, we’re also keeping safety in mind as the storm approaches. No USGS staff will be deployed to islands where hurricane conditions are expected until conditions are clear. Stay tuned here to learn more about the USGS response after the storm. 📷 1: Screenshot of precipitation and streamflow conditions on Hawaiian Islands from the USGS National Water Dashboard, September 25, 2026 at 10:30am Central. Credit: USGS 📷 2-3: These photos represent the reality that USGS field crews are facing as they work to restore monitoring equipment in Hawaii. These photos were taken at SF Wailua River near Lihue, Kauai (ID 16060000) site on September 24, 2026. Credit: Tim Brunetto, USGS #Hawaii #Hurricanes #Nolo
1
153
Tomorrow is National Public Lands Day - a day for volunteering and giving back to the lands that sustain us. 🏞️💧 From the roaring rapids of the Columbia River to the vibrant wetlands of the Everglades, our public lands protect vital watersheds that provide clean drinking water, sustain wildlife, and offer endless adventures. USGS monitors thousands of streamgages across public lands to track water flow, quality, and ecosystem health. These data help land managers protect these resources for generations to come. 📈✨ Water connects us all. Whether you're volunteering at a local cleanup or hitting your favorite local waterway, your stewardship matters. How will you enjoy or support your favorite park this weekend? Share your go-to nature spot with us! 👇 📷 1: Water sampling on the pontoon of a seaplane in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Credit: Jacob Ogorek, USGS 📷 2: A hydrologist conducting water quality sampling in Hunters Brook in Acadia National Park. Credit: USGS 📷 3: USGS researchers at work at Shark River, Everglades National Park. Credit: USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center 📷 4: A research hydrologist samples water at Crissy Marsh at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Credit: Lisa Shender, National Park Service #NPLD #WaterScience #FieldPhotoFriday
Water sampling on the pontoon of a seaplane in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Credit: Jacob Ogorek, USGS

ALT Water sampling on the pontoon of a seaplane in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Credit: Jacob Ogorek, USGS

A Hydrologist conducting water quality sampling in Hunters Brook in Acadia National Park. Credit: USGS

ALT A Hydrologist conducting water quality sampling in Hunters Brook in Acadia National Park. Credit: USGS

USGS researchers at work at Shark River, Everglades National Park. Credit: USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center

ALT USGS researchers at work at Shark River, Everglades National Park. Credit: USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center

A Research Hydrologist samples water at Crissy Marsh at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Credit: Lisa Shender, National Park Service

ALT A Research Hydrologist samples water at Crissy Marsh at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Credit: Lisa Shender, National Park Service

1
1
4
140
Putting the "S" in estuary: Salinity 🧂🌊 An estuary is a dynamic coastal transition zone where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean. This blending creates a unique environment known as brackish water. Because of tidal cycles and river flows, salinity levels in an estuary are constantly shifting. Many of the plants and animals that live here have evolved highly specialized adaptations to survive these rapid changes in salt concentration. To understand how these vital ecosystems are changing, USGS scientists deploy real-time monitoring sensors. By tracking data like salinity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen, we can better protect these critical habitats, which serve as essential nurseries for marine life and natural buffers against coastal storms. Learn more - ow.ly/al1M50ZQbkz 📸 1: View of Salmon River estuary, Oregon. Credit: USGS 📸 2: View of lower Columbia River estuary, approximately 55 kilometers from the mouth, looking down-estuary with Welch Island in the foreground; the ocean entrance in the background. Credit: Charles Simenstad, University of Washington (Public Domain) 📸 3: Landscape view of a salt marsh in Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Cape Kennedy space center. Credit: Randolph Femmer, USGS 📸 4: Sunset at Sage Lot Pond Salt Marsh Observatory marks the end of 16 hour field effort. During this sampling, USGS researchers captured the exchange of materials between the marsh and estuary. Credit: Sandy Brosnahan, USGS #EstuariesWeek #WadeIn #WaterScience
View of Salmon River estuary, Oregon. Credit: USGS

ALT View of Salmon River estuary, Oregon. Credit: USGS

View of lower Columbia River estuary, approximately 55 kilometers from the mouth, looking down-estuary with Welch Island in the foreground; the ocean entrance in the background. Credit: Charles Simenstad, University of Washington (Public Domain)

ALT View of lower Columbia River estuary, approximately 55 kilometers from the mouth, looking down-estuary with Welch Island in the foreground; the ocean entrance in the background. Credit: Charles Simenstad, University of Washington (Public Domain)

Landscape view of a salt marsh in Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Cape Kennedy space center. Credit: Randolph Femmer, USGS

ALT Landscape view of a salt marsh in Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near the Cape Kennedy space center. Credit: Randolph Femmer, USGS

Sunset at Sage Lot Pond Salt Marsh Observatory marks the end of 16 hour field effort. During this sampling, USGS researchers captured the exchange of materials between the marsh and estuary. Credit: Sandy Brosnahan, USGS

ALT Sunset at Sage Lot Pond Salt Marsh Observatory marks the end of 16 hour field effort. During this sampling, USGS researchers captured the exchange of materials between the marsh and estuary. Credit: Sandy Brosnahan, USGS

1
4
184
Getting your feet wet in the world of data delivery is what USGS Water is all about! For USGS Hydrologic Technicians like Amarys Acosta, the day-to-day is all about solving the puzzle: 🧩 How do we connect rugged, real-time field data to the systems that make it accessible to the public? Many hydrologic technicians are asked to not only be experts in the field, but also to contribute to how data are delivered. 🦺 Amarys’ strong foundation in surface-water data collection and hydroacoustics come from measuring small tributaries in the Florida Everglades to tracking high flows on the massive Columbia River 💻 In addition, Amarys supports data delivery by working on database management, training staff, and supporting data collection and quality assurance. ⚖️ By combining field skills with data delivery, hydrotechs like Amarys help make sure near real-time water data are available, even during challenging field conditions and network outages. Whether she’s fixing instrumentation in a downpour or working to improve our data systems, keeping our gages reliable is what Amarys is all about and led her to her receiving the 2026 Data Person of the Year recognition! Congrats, Amarys and thanks to all our hard-working hydrotechs nationwide! 📷 1: Deploying an ADCP for a moving boat measurement on Columbia River at The Dalles, OR. Credit Philip Conrad, USGS 📷 2: ADCP Measurement from a cableway at Metolius River Near Grandview, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS 📷 3: Hiking to Crooked River below Osborne Canyon, NR Opal City, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS 📷 4: Amarys Acosta, Data Person of the Year. Credit: Amarys Acosta, USGS
Deploying an ADCP for a moving boat measurement at 14105700 Columbia River at The Dalles, OR. Credit Philip Conrad, USGS

ALT Deploying an ADCP for a moving boat measurement at 14105700 Columbia River at The Dalles, OR. Credit Philip Conrad, USGS

ADCP Measurement from a cableway at 14091500 Metolius River Near Grandview, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS

ALT ADCP Measurement from a cableway at 14091500 Metolius River Near Grandview, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS

Hiking to 14087380 Crooked River below Osborne Canyon, NR Opal City, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS

ALT Hiking to 14087380 Crooked River below Osborne Canyon, NR Opal City, OR. Credit Lathasha Albertson-Herberholz, USGS

Amarys Acosta, Data Person of the Year. Credit: Amarys Acosta, USGS

ALT Amarys Acosta, Data Person of the Year. Credit: Amarys Acosta, USGS

1
9
233
Floods can happen for many reasons, from snowmelt in the spring to excessive rainfall, yet all have the potential to be life-threatening. Understanding more about what caused past flood events can support future decision-making. This process is called “flood-typing,” which relies on a combination of determining weather events and watershed conditions. USGS has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop robust flood-typing methods. These methods involve: 💧 Using a multiple-lines-of-evidence approach to classify floods as driven by rainfall, snowmelt, or mixed, such as rain-on-snow events 💧 Further refining the flood type based on hydrologic conditions, such as saturated ground, frozen ground, snowpack, ice jams, or wildfire 💧 Identifying storm types, such as atmospheric rivers, mid-latitude cyclones, or tropical storms (hurricanes) and their remnants 💧 Applying innovative, basin-specific methods that account for how flood-generating mechanisms vary with climate, topography, geology, and watershed characteristics These methods are informed by USGS streamgage data, hydroclimatic data (precipitation, air temperature, etc.), and historical U.S. daily weather maps from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Learn more about flood-typing and how these studies can improve decision-making - ow.ly/2miS50ZPcCa 📷 1: USGS streamgage tipped over after flooding along Puget Sound. Credit: USGS 📷 2: USGS hydrographer wades out in freezing waters to collect flood measurements on the Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, North Dakota. Credit: David Baude, USGS #NationalPreparednessMonth #Flood #PugetSound
USGS streamgaging station tipped on its side beside a calm river with dense trees in the background under a cloudy sky.

ALT USGS streamgaging station tipped on its side beside a calm river with dense trees in the background under a cloudy sky.

Person in bright green jacket standing in a partially frozen river surrounded by snow-covered banks and leafless trees under gray sky.

ALT Person in bright green jacket standing in a partially frozen river surrounded by snow-covered banks and leafless trees under gray sky.
2
7
249
Extreme rain events, like Hurricane Helene, show us how closely water and land are connected. 🌧️🌀⛰️ Two years ago, Hurricane Helene, made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane before moving inland where the storm’s most devastating impacts were felt in Western North Carolina. The scale of the disaster was historic, with more than 2,200 landslides across North Carolina alone. Dangerous and difficult to predict, landslides are the downslope movement of rock, debris, and soil. They can happen with no notice or can take place over a period of days, weeks, or longer. Any area composed of weak or fractured materials resting on a steep slope is at risk. What can you do to be prepared? 🔎 Know your local risk: Check historical landslide maps for your area through your local geology office or the USGS. ⚠️ Watch for warning signs: Look for new cracks in plaster or foundations, doors and windows that suddenly stick, tilting trees or utility poles, or a sudden change in creek water from clear to muddy. 👂Listen closely: During intense storms, listen for unusual sounds like trees cracking or boulders knocking together, which can indicate moving earth. 📋 Have an evacuation plan: Know where you will go if your property shows signs of movement or if local officials issue a warning. 🚨 Follow local guidance: Always listen to local emergency management officials and evacuate immediately if a warning or order is issued. Understanding when, where, and how landslides occur can help reduce the risk of living with these natural hazards. Learn more - ow.ly/mAgV50ZO1Fy 📷 1: A landslide near Vilas, North Carolina, October 2024, taken as part of Hurricane Helene LASER response. Credit: Jonathan Godt, USGS 📷 2: Mud Creek landslide, seen from the air on February 22, 2024, as part of USGS remote sensing data to track Big Sur landslides in 2024. Credit: USGS 📷 3: Home in Utuado Municipality damaged by a landslide from Hurricane Maria. Credit: USGS 📷 4: Aerial photograph of the March 2014 Oso, Washington landslide. Credit: Mark Reid, USGS #BePrepared #Landslides #NationalPreparednessMonth
A landslide near Vilas, North Carolina, October 2024, taken as part of Hurricane Helene LASER response. Credit: Jonathan Godt, USGS

ALT A landslide near Vilas, North Carolina, October 2024, taken as part of Hurricane Helene LASER response. Credit: Jonathan Godt, USGS

Mud Creek landslide, seen from the air on February 22, 2024, as part of USGS remote sensing data to track Big Sur landslides in 2024. Credit: USGS

ALT Mud Creek landslide, seen from the air on February 22, 2024, as part of USGS remote sensing data to track Big Sur landslides in 2024. Credit: USGS

Home in Utuado Municipality damaged by a landslide from Hurricane Maria. Credit: USGS

ALT Home in Utuado Municipality damaged by a landslide from Hurricane Maria. Credit: USGS

Aerial photograph of the March 2014 Oso, Washington landslide. Credit: Mark Reid, USGS

ALT Aerial photograph of the March 2014 Oso, Washington landslide. Credit: Mark Reid, USGS
1
6
306
It's World Water Monitoring Day. Celebrate by staying prepared! 🌍💧 World Water Monitoring Day is all about understanding and protecting our most vital resource. For USGS hydrotechs, that mission happens 365 days a year. Our dedicated teams are on the front lines, deploying sensors, measuring streamflow, and tracking water quality to keep communities safe. Monitoring our waterways isn't just for scientists, though. It's your best tool for emergency preparedness. Here’s how to stay prepared: 💧 Explore the National Water Dashboard: Check real-time streamflow, groundwater levels, and weather alerts on an interactive map. 💧 Subscribe to WaterAlert: Set up text or email alerts for rivers and creeks near you to get updates if water rises. 💧 Check water quality: Monitor local waterways to see how your watershed is doing. Knowledge is your best defense. This World Water Monitoring Day, be prepared. Track your local waterways, know your risk, and always follow local safety guidance. Explore USGS water monitoring tools - waterdata.usgs.gov 📷 1: USGS hydrologic technician reads measurements from a streamgage while sitting on a partially submerged park table in Zephyrhills, Florida in 2024 just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Todd Dunkle, USGS. 📷 2: USGS hydrographer measuring streamflow using a handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter in fast moving floodwater Cajon Creek near Keenbrook, California. Credit: USGS. 📷 3: USGS hydrologic technician takes a high flow measurement on Chartiers Creek in Carnegie, PA during flooding from remnants of Hurricane Ida.  📷 4: A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. Credit: USGS. #StayPrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #WorldWaterMonitoringDay
USGS Hydrologic Technician reads measurements from a streamgage while sitting on a partially submerged park table in Zephyrhills, Florida in 2024 just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Todd Dunkle, USGS.

ALT USGS Hydrologic Technician reads measurements from a streamgage while sitting on a partially submerged park table in Zephyrhills, Florida in 2024 just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Todd Dunkle, USGS.

USGS Hydrographer measuring streamflow using a handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter in fast moving floodwater Cajon Creek near Keenbrook, California. Credit: USGS.

ALT USGS Hydrographer measuring streamflow using a handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter in fast moving floodwater Cajon Creek near Keenbrook, California. Credit: USGS.

USGS Hydrologic Technician takes a high flow measurement on Chartiers Creek in Carnegie, PA during flooding from remnants of Hurricane Ida. 

ALT USGS Hydrologic Technician takes a high flow measurement on Chartiers Creek in Carnegie, PA during flooding from remnants of Hurricane Ida. 

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. Credit: USGS

ALT A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. Credit: USGS

2
26
2,608
Want to know what your river looks like right now? USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) cameras can show you. 👀 Rivers and streams can change rapidly and staying prepared starts with staying informed. With more than 1,000 USGS HIVIS cameras nationwide, you can see real-time conditions that help you make safer decisions, whether you’re heading out to recreate or keeping an eye on changing weather. Emergency managers use HIVIS to remotely verify hazardous conditions like flooding or ice jams, while the public can quickly check nearby water conditions before fishing, hiking, or traveling. HIVIS even helps keep USGS crews safe by reducing the need to visit hazardous sites during dangerous conditions. 🎣 Checking your favorite fishing spot? 🥾 Planning a hike near the water? 🌧️ Watching conditions after a storm? USGS HIVIS helps you see it, understand it, and stay prepared. 🔎 Explore the HIVIS Dashboard - apps.usgs.gov/hivis/ 📷 1: A HIVIS camera along the San Antonio River in San Antonio, Texas. The camera is used to verify the position of a gate that is operated by the City of San Antonio. Credit: Keith Mecum, USGS. 📷 2&3: HIVIS camera on the Big Sioux River in Akron, Iowa (Station 06485500), captures dramatic rise in water levels during a flood event in June 2024. Credit: USGS 📷 2: Taken at 12pm Central, Friday June 21, 2024 📷 3: Taken at 9am Central, Friday, June 28, 2024 #StayPrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #HIVIS
1
1
8
266
🌊 Stay prepared with the USGS Real-Time Flood Impact Mapper Flooding can affect roads, bridges, buildings, pedestrian paths, and other infrastructure. The USGS Real-Time Flood Impact Map (RT-FI) helps users understand where rising water levels may be affecting these locations. The map combines water level data from nearby USGS streamgages with surveyed elevations of infrastructure and other features that are vulnerable to flooding. With the RT-FI map, users can: 💧 View potential flood impacts at surveyed locations when water levels at nearby streamgages exceed the surveyed height of those locations. 📈 View forecasted impacts where solid-bordered icons indicate water is currently above the threshold and hashed-bordered indicate that National Weather Service forecasts will be available soon. 📊 Compare water level by selecting a Flood Impact Location to see the current gage height and the surveyed height of the location. ⚠️ Identify potential early impacts at locations where surveyed elevations may indicate impacts before widespread flooding occurs. 💻 Access the data programmatically through the RT-FI map and API for use in applications and analyses. Explore the RT-FI map and API - apps.usgs.gov/rtfi-map/#/ 📷 1: USGS hydrologic technician takes floodwater measurements on a road overtopped with water near Parrish, Florida in 2024, just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Patrick Marasco, USGS. 📷 2: USGS hydrographer measures Red River water flowing over the road in East Grand Forks, Minnesota as flood protection walls prevent further flooding. 📷 3: Aerial view of the Missouri River flooding on July 30, 1993, at U.S. Highway 54 just north of Jefferson City, Missouri, looking south. Credit: USGS. 📷 4: Real-Time Flood Impact Map showing Road 2 near Wailuku River at Piihonua, HI (USGS-16704000) flooded on 8/15/2026 8:55PM during Hurricane Lala. #StayPrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #Floods
USGS hydrologic technician takes floodwater measurements on a road overtopped with water near Parrish, Florida in 2024, just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Patrick Marasco, USGS.

ALT USGS hydrologic technician takes floodwater measurements on a road overtopped with water near Parrish, Florida in 2024, just days after Tropical Storm Debby struck Florida's Gulf Coast. Credit: Patrick Marasco, USGS.

USGS hydrographer measures Red River water flowing over the road in East Grand Forks, Minnesota as flood protection walls prevent further flooding.

ALT USGS hydrographer measures Red River water flowing over the road in East Grand Forks, Minnesota as flood protection walls prevent further flooding.

USGS hydrographer measures Red River water flowing over the road in East Grand Forks, Minnesota as flood protection walls prevent further flooding.

ALT USGS hydrographer measures Red River water flowing over the road in East Grand Forks, Minnesota as flood protection walls prevent further flooding.

Real-Time Flood Impact Map showing Road 2 near Wailuku River at Piihonua, HI (USGS-16704000) flooded on 8/15/2026 8:55PM during Hurricane Lala.

ALT Real-Time Flood Impact Map showing Road 2 near Wailuku River at Piihonua, HI (USGS-16704000) flooded on 8/15/2026 8:55PM during Hurricane Lala.
1
6
272
What’s that sound? It’s a WaterAlert on your phone, letting you know of changing water conditions in your area. With USGS WaterAlert, you can get notified of changing stream, lake, and coastal conditions across the nation. USGS WaterAlert is a near real-time hydrologic alerting system that notifies you based on locations you’ve selected and thresholds you’ve set. 🚨 Choose your locations of interest and then set alert notifications, such as when a streamgage goes above or below specific water levels. 🚨 Subscribe to text or email alerts to learn when water conditions change. 🚨 Share alerts with your community members to spread awareness of changing conditions. Sign up today for a USGS WaterAlert – accounts.waterdata.usgs.gov/… 📷1: American flag waving in storm clouds. Credit: L. Colleen Stewart, USGS 📷2: Thunderstorms over Yellowstone Lake, Montana. Credit: Jim Peaco, National Park Service 📷3: Photograph taken during a morning overflight of the Kīlauea Volcano showing heavy, localized rain at fissure 8 in Leilani Estates, Island of Hawai’i. Credit: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory #StayPrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #WaterAlert
American flag waving in storm clouds. Credit: L. Colleen Stewart, USGS.

ALT American flag waving in storm clouds. Credit: L. Colleen Stewart, USGS.

Thunderstorms over Yellowstone Lake, Montana. Credit: Jim Peaco, National Park Service

ALT Thunderstorms over Yellowstone Lake, Montana. Credit: Jim Peaco, National Park Service

Photograph taken during a morning overflight of the Kīlauea Volcano showing heavy, localized rain at fissure 8 in Leilani Estates, Island of Hawai’i

ALT Photograph taken during a morning overflight of the Kīlauea Volcano showing heavy, localized rain at fissure 8 in Leilani Estates, Island of Hawai’i
3
9
292
Storms and flooding can happen anytime, anywhere. Stay better prepared by learning more this week about how USGS helps communities plan for and respond to water-related hazards. USGS Water Data for the Nation is a centralized delivery service that provides near real-time water data in several ways: 💧 The National Water Dashboard provides measurements of water conditions from over 13,000 monitoring locations across the country. In addition, users can overlay precipitation to see the impact in near real-time from storms as they move across the country. 💧 State pages provide a summary of the latest continuous data being collected in your state. Quickly filter the map and list to show a data type of interest to you or customize the filters to further refine the map and list to your needs. 💧 My Favorites allows you to make and share a list of monitoring locations that you are interested in. Access the latest water data for those locations all in one place. 💧 Explore USGS Water Data gives you easy access to over 135 years worth of data from across the U.S. Find historical and current locations with filters to locations, types of water data, and recency of data. 💧 For more tech-savvy users, Water Data APIs provide USGS water data in machine-readable formats. Additionally, the dataRetrieval package simplifies the process of loading USGS water data into R or Python environments. Stay prepared with Water Data for the Nation – waterdata.usgs.gov 📷1: 2009 Red River flooding in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Credit: Jason Lambrecht. 📷2: The effects of debris floods following the 2020 River Fire in Monterey County, California. Credit: Matthew A. Thomas, USGS. 📷3: Debris from the Withlacoochee River near Lee, Florida, downstream from Pinetta, Florida, where flooding occurred on April 13, 2009. Credit: Rachel Pawlitz, USGS. #StayPrepared #NationalPreparednessMonth #WaterData
2009 Red River flooding in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Credit: Jason Lambrecht.

ALT 2009 Red River flooding in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Credit: Jason Lambrecht.

The effects of debris floods following the 2020 River Fire in Monterey County, California. Credit: Matthew A. Thomas, USGS.

ALT The effects of debris floods following the 2020 River Fire in Monterey County, California. Credit: Matthew A. Thomas, USGS.

Debris from the Withlacoochee River near Lee, Florida, downstream from Pinetta, Florida, where flooding occurred on April 13, 2009. Credit: Rachel Pawlitz, USGS.

ALT Debris from the Withlacoochee River near Lee, Florida, downstream from Pinetta, Florida, where flooding occurred on April 13, 2009. Credit: Rachel Pawlitz, USGS.

1
4
246
August streamflow conditions across the U.S. 💧 In August, dry conditions persisted across much of the western U.S., while wet conditions expanded across parts of Hawaii and the central and eastern U.S. Notable weather patterns included: 🌧 Flooding in the midcontinent region in mid-August affected communities in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. 💧 Wetter than normal conditions occurred earlier in the month in parts of the Midwestern and eastern U.S., such as Rhode Island and Connecticut. ☀️ Dry conditions expanded across much of the Western U.S., including the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and Southwest. 💧 Hurricane Lala brought heavy rainfall and wet conditions to Hawaii Find more water data visualizations from the link in our bio. 📷 August 2026 streamflow conditions. Tile charts showing national streamflow conditions by flow percentiles at USGS streamgages relative to the historic record across the U.S. Flow percentiles are broken up into seven bins from 0–100% where increased percentiles indicate wetter conditions. #WaterData #rstats #DataRetrieval
August 2026 streamflow conditions. A tile chart showing national streamflow conditions by flow percentiles at USGS streamgages relative to the historic record across the U.S. Flow percentiles are broken up into seven bins from 0–100% where increased percentiles indicate wetter conditions. Streamflow conditions in the U.S. with a tile chart for each state.

ALT August 2026 streamflow conditions. A tile chart showing national streamflow conditions by flow percentiles at USGS streamgages relative to the historic record across the U.S. Flow percentiles are broken up into seven bins from 0–100% where increased percentiles indicate wetter conditions. Streamflow conditions in the U.S. with a tile chart for each state.

1
3
5
316
Explore the USGS VizLab - water.usgs.gov/vizlab/
2
61
In Hawaii, a minor flood doesn’t mean minor impacts. Hurricane Lowell brought high winds, heavy rainfall, and powerful waves as it traveled past the Hawaiian Islands as a Category 2 Hurricane this weekend. As of 2:30am Hawaiian-Aleutian time (7:30am Central), USGS has tracked the following impacts: 💧 Seven gages had minor flooding, two gages hit peaks in the top 5 on record, and another four hit peaks in the top 10 on record. 💧 Six gages not providing measurements and potentially damaged. 💧 Two real-time flood impact thresholds were triggered on Highway 56 near Hanalei, Kauai, indicating transportation impacts. 💧 Two real-time flood impact thresholds were triggered on Wailua River near Lihue, Kauai, including a marina and the Fern Grotto tourist attraction, indicating flooding that could affect local communities. Kauai Island has small watersheds with steep surrounding slopes. In such areas, minor floods can have major impacts as it doesn’t take as much total precipitation to inundate the local waterways. USGS is sending crews today, if conditions allow, to assess damage, make repairs, and measure high-water marks. Track Lowell’s impacts on the USGS National Water Dashboard (NWD, link below) and the Real-Time Flood Impact (RTFI) Mapper. 🔗 ow.ly/ULKu50ZKYwY 📷 1: The Island of Kauai, which is one of the western islands in Hawaii. Credit: USGS. 📷 2: Screenshot of the USGS RTFI Mapper, with a quote from Chris Laveau, Assistant Director for Hydrologic Data in the Washington Water Science Center in the Northwest-Pacific Islands Region. 📷 3: Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing streamgage conditions, the default view. 📷 4: Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing surface water levels, with rising and falling status. 📷 2-4: Screenshots all taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026. #Flood #HurricaneLowell #Hawaii
The Island of Kauai, which is one of the western islands in Hawaii. Credit: USGS.

ALT The Island of Kauai, which is one of the western islands in Hawaii. Credit: USGS.

Screenshot of the USGS RTFI Mapper, with a quote from Chris Laveau, Assistant Director for Hydrologic Data in the Washington Water Science Center in the Northwest-Pacific Islands Region. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

ALT Screenshot of the USGS RTFI Mapper, with a quote from Chris Laveau, Assistant Director for Hydrologic Data in the Washington Water Science Center in the Northwest-Pacific Islands Region. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing streamgage conditions, the default view. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

ALT Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing streamgage conditions, the default view. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing surface water levels, with rising and falling status. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

ALT Screenshot of the USGS NWD showing surface water levels, with rising and falling status. Screenshot taken at 2:30am local Hawaiian time on September 8, 2026.

7
477
Last weekend, severe flash flooding occurred in the Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch area. The flooding occurred in a relatively remote area, in which the USGS maintains four streamgages and a series of precipitation gages. 💧 Two USGS streamgages were destroyed in the flood, and one additional streamgage has readings affected by debris build-up. However, two USGS streamgages in the watershed are still actively transmitting data to provide flood warnings to hikers in the Phantom Ranch area. 💧Redundant sensors on the gage on Phantom Creek below Haunted Canyon (ID 09402900) allowed this gage to maintain operation through the flooding. In this case, the radar system stayed intact, while the bubbler system was damaged by the flood waters. 💧 Piled up debris under one radar sensor on the Bright Angel Creek below Cottonwood Campground (ID 09402700) shows higher gage height values in the provisional data than reality. USGS post-processing will account for this when the data are in a published state. 💧Precipitation gages on the North Rim remain operational, providing ongoing weather information. USGS is coordinating with the National Park Service to determine access. The primary focus of the USGS response is on continuing to supply precipitation and gage height data to support flood monitoring. Once it is safe to access the area, USGS will focus their immediate response on: 💧Assess damage to existing equipment and redeploy new gages, such as Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs) as appropriate. 💧 Recover any remaining equipment from the area. 💧 Collecting field measurements of high water marks and flow conditions. 💧 Deploying terrestrial LiDAR to document high water marks and using satellite imagery and Unmanned Aircraft Systems to assess damage. Further, USGS crews will be looking for evidence of post-fire debris in flood waters from the 2025 Dragon Bravo fire upstream of this area 📷 1-2: Photos looking upstream and downstream of flood-impacted areas in the canyon. 📷 3: Satellite imagery of the Phantom Ranch area after the flooding from Sentinel 1. August 30, 2026. 📷 4: Provisional hydrographs showing gage height (ft) over time for four streamgages in the area. 📷 Credit: USGS #Flood #Arizona #GrandCanyon
4
348
🌊 Diving deep for science! 🤿 Ever wonder how scientists track water flow, monitor groundwater, and keep tabs on aquatic health from the bottom of our lakes and rivers? Meet the divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center (NYWSC). This team combines advanced scuba skills with high-tech research. Whether they are braving zero-visibility conditions or freezing temperatures, they head underwater to safely deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments. Data from these instruments helps protect drinking water, track climate impacts, and monitor environmental hazards. To ensure they are always prepared for the unexpected, the team hosts rigorous training events like the Annual NYWSC Dive Safety Day. This training allows team members to master communications, practice emergency protocols, and sharpen the specialized underwater skills required to conduct critical fieldwork safely. 💬 We’re here to bring light to the depths of water research – what other topics would you like to learn about? Let us know in the comments! 📷 1-4: Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS #FieldPhotoFriday #WaterScience #Diving
Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

ALT Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

ALT Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

ALT Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS

ALT Divers from the USGS New York Water Science Center service deploy and maintain crucial data-gathering instruments across the state to ensure data collected is as accurate as possible for cooperators and public. Credit: USGS
3
7
255
Fishing for fun doesn't mean food isn't an important factor 🐟 Most people traditionally view inland recreational fishing as a leisure activity with limited contributions to food and nutrition. USGS research, however, suggests that consumptive fishing plays a meaningful, though often overlooked, role in supporting nutrition and food security across the U.S. and globally. An estimated 220-700 million people participate in consumptive inland recreational fishing worldwide, harvesting nearly 40 billion fish annually. But the boundaries between fishing for fun and fishing to meet dietary needs are fuzzy, leaving key knowledge gaps: 🎣 Food system impact - Recreationally harvested fish play a substantial role in broader food systems. 📊 Unrecorded harvest - Standard monitoring and reporting often miss catches made by food-insecure recreational fishers. 🍽️ Hidden food security - For many communities, inland fisheries serve as an informal, unrecorded food source. 🌍 Climate variability - Changing temperatures, precipitation, seasonality, extreme events, and other stressors can impact fish populations. Protecting local waters isn’t just about preserving a pastime. It’s an investment in public health, community resilience, and economic vitality. Explore interactive data visualizations at the USGS Vizlab’s Earth in Flux Gallery to see the scale of global freshwater harvests and learn more about climate vulnerability of recreational fish consumption: water.usgs.gov/vizlab/earth-… 📷 1: USGS fisheries biologist holds a yellow perch (Perca flavescens) onboard the Research Vessel Muskie, Lake Erie, April 29, 2022. Credit: USGS 📷 2: Screenshot from the data visualization showing the monetary value and distribution of trout as food. Icon credit: Althea Archer, USGS 📷 3: Screenshot from the data visualization showing the monetary value and distribution of salmon as food. Icon credit: Tessa Rehill, licensed under Creative Commons 1.0
2
8
292
Deep underground, oil and gas extraction unlocks a hidden fluid resource, but what exactly is it? 🛢️💧 This liquid is called produced water. More complex than regular groundwater, it is a changing mix of water that has been trapped deep underground and the fluids used to facilitate petroleum extraction. The USGS Oil and Gas Waters (OGW) project is dedicated to studying it. Funded by the Energy Resources Program, this project evaluates the volume, chemistry, and environmental impacts of wastewater co-produced during domestic petroleum extraction. 🧪 Here is what the OGW project is uncovering: 📊 Critical data: The project supplies essential insights to Congress and industry stakeholders regarding underground resource impacts. 🗺️ National mapping: Scientists track chemical fingerprints to maintain a massive public database mapping produced water quality across the country. ♻️ Critical minerals: Research helps determine the potential for recovering valuable, high-demand minerals, like lithium, directly from this wastewater. Why does it matter? Understanding this deep subsurface water is vital for protecting our shallow drinking water aquifers, managing industrial waste safely, and unlocking new domestic mineral resources. 🌍🔬 Learn more about the project - ow.ly/wPA750ZGmK9 📷 1: Screenshot of the U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) which provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States. 📷 2: A USGS scientist collects a sample of produced brine from an oil well in western New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS 📷 3: The brine sampling team and their processing “lab” setup at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation office in Allegany, New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS #WaterScience #CriticalMinerals
Screenshot of the U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) which provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States.

ALT Screenshot of the U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) which provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States.

A USGS scientist collects a sample of produced brine from an oil well in western New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS

ALT A USGS scientist collects a sample of produced brine from an oil well in western New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS

The brine sampling team and their processing “lab” setup at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation office in Allegany, New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS

ALT The brine sampling team and their processing “lab” setup at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation office in Allegany, New York. Credit: Laura DeMott, USGS

2
239
Natural disaster preparedness starts with science! As National Preparedness Month begins, the historic inland impacts of Hurricane Helene serve as a valuable reminder of the need to be prepared. When Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on September 26, 2024, it brought historic rainfall and catastrophic flooding across the Southeast U.S., reminding us that extreme storm events can impact communities hundreds of miles from the coast. Key Lessons: ⛈️ Inland risk: Hurricanes are not just coastal threats. Heavy rains can cause severe inland flooding far from the coast. ℹ️ Informed preparation: Hydrologic data allows agencies to analyze and map high-risk areas before a storm hits. 🌊 Flood tracking: Real-time hazard visualization tools help emergency managers and communities track rapid changes and respond more quickly. What you can do: ⚠️ Know your risk: Review local flood maps to learn if your area is vulnerable to rising waters. 🚨 Stay informed: Sign up for emergency alerts and follow guidance from official emergency management resources. 🛡️ Be prepared: Have a plan, and prepare an emergency kit with fresh water, non-perishable food, and vital documents. USGS is on the front lines of preparedness science, providing the science information and tools needed to prepare for natural hazards like floods. Explore the impacts of Hurricane Helene - ow.ly/1T5H50ZFq06 📷 1-4: Screenshots tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS #NationalPreparednessMonth #BePrepared #WaterData
Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

ALT Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

ALT Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

ALT Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS

ALT Screenshot tracking precipitation and streamflow at USGS streamgages along Helene's path (Sep 24–29, 2024). Spikes appear at streamgages flowing at or above the 75th percentile, with height scaled to streamflow percentile and color marking flood severity. Credit: Elmera Azadpour, USGS
2
2
215
Making headway in understanding headwaters 💧 Earth’s rivers, modest and mighty alike, all have humble beginnings in small rain-, snowmelt-, and groundwater-fed headwaters. Headwater streams deliver nutrients and sediment to larger waterways downstream, provide critical habitat for numerous species, and make up more than 70% of total stream length globally. Yet headwater streams are among the least known components of river networks, as streamgages are often more common on large, perennial rivers. Scientists are advancing our understanding of headwater streams in several ways: 💧Expanding observational networks with community science programs and low-cost camera and sensor systems. 💧Developing sophisticated models that are better at simulating runoff, snow dynamics, and subsurface water storage. 💧Using remote sensing observational networks for monitoring stream surface water indirectly, particularly where it is difficult to access.  Understanding more about headwaters can help scientists better predict historic floods, droughts, and other structural failures in the downstream rivers into which headwaters flow. USGS scientists recently led the publication of an article outlining the ways in which federal agencies, academic researchers, and regional watershed managers could effectively advance new hybrid headwater modeling frameworks. Read the article at the link in our story! 📷 1: Kanarra Creek, a perennial third-order stream, runs through a sandstone canyon in Iron County, Utah, just northwest of Zion National Park and drains a 20.5-square-kilometer catchment. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA 📷 2: The headwaters of the Michigan River in the Cache la Poudre River watershed of Colorado are, like many other headwaters, sparsely monitored. Credit: John Hammond, USGS 📷 3: This perennial second-order tributary of Big Fiery Gizzard Creek in Marion County, Tennessee, drains an area of 2.5 square kilometers and flows through sandstone and shale of the Cumberland Plateau. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA #WaterScience #CommunityScience #RemoteSensing
The headwaters of the Michigan River in the Cache la Poudre River watershed of Colorado are, like many other headwaters, sparsely monitored. Credit: John Hammond, USGS

ALT The headwaters of the Michigan River in the Cache la Poudre River watershed of Colorado are, like many other headwaters, sparsely monitored. Credit: John Hammond, USGS

Kanarra Creek, a perennial third-order stream, runs through a sandstone canyon in Iron County, Utah, just northwest of Zion National Park and drains a 20.5-square-kilometer catchment. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA

ALT Kanarra Creek, a perennial third-order stream, runs through a sandstone canyon in Iron County, Utah, just northwest of Zion National Park and drains a 20.5-square-kilometer catchment. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA

This perennial second-order tributary of Big Fiery Gizzard Creek in Marion County, Tennessee, drains an area of 2.5 square kilometers and flows through sandstone and shale of the Cumberland Plateau. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA

ALT This perennial second-order tributary of Big Fiery Gizzard Creek in Marion County, Tennessee, drains an area of 2.5 square kilometers and flows through sandstone and shale of the Cumberland Plateau. Credit: Jay Christensen, US EPA

2
3
7
393
Read the article - eos.org/opinions/a-hybrid-ap…

A Hybrid Approach for Revealing Headwater Hydrology - Eos

Coordinated work to compile existing data and apply models pairing physical understanding with machine learning could substantially improve streamflow predictions for little-known headwater basins.

eos.org
4
82
Load more