New bedrock maps for New York City:

Depth to bedrock across New York City is highly variable. A team of USGS scientists have combined thousands of new bedrock data points with the USGS water data network. The result is an online mapper that allows stakeholders to quickly access depths to both bedrock and groundwater, which are key factors for determining feasibility of geothermal installations in new and existing buildings.

Click here for more information or contact USGS scientist Laura DeMott.

A Framework to Improve the Communications about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs):

There is no clear, universal, and specific definition of a HAB. To fill this gap USGS HAB scientists provided a framework for improved communication among researchers and summarized the potential harmful effects on human, animal, ecological, and economic health associated with common freshwater bloom-forming algal groups in an easy-to-read infographic.

For more information, read the article, or contact USGS scientist Rebecca Gorney.

USGS scientists DIG in with a new sampling method:

Sampling for suspended sediment can be costly and time consuming. So USGS scientists have developed a new suspended-sediment sampling method called a depth-integrated grab (DIG). This method combines certain elements from grab (or point) sampling, depth-integrating sampling, and suspended-sediment concentration laboratory methods. Results showed no significant differences between the new, less-expensive DIG method and more expensive specialized sampling methods.

For more information, read the paper or contact USGS scientist Joel Groten.

Future direction for simulating post-wildfire response:

Shifts in climate have led to increased concern over wildfires. Although computer-based models provide insight into the effects of wildfires on water resources, there are opportunities to advance post-wildfire research. USGS scientists outline those opportunities, such as applying models to under-represented geographic regions and finding ways to create a new cooperative modeling approach across the wildfire science community.

For more information, read the paper or contact USGS scientist Brian Ebel.

Predicting water quality in the Clark Fork near Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site:

USGS scientists used a high-resolution tool called the surrogate method to estimate metal contamination from historic mining operations upstream of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. The estimated contaminant concentrations inform resource managers regarding water quality relative to aquatic life standards following planned cleanup of contaminated soils in the streambanks and floodplains near the site and provide insight on ecosystem health for desired species such as bull trout.

Read more about sediment methods, the full report or the factsheet on this study, or contact USGS scientist Chris Ellison (retired) or USGS scientist Steve Sando.

Lessons learned from developing decision-support tools:

Decision-support tools, such as drought early warning systems, can be useful to fire managers and other stakeholders that use USGS data. By analyzing how scientists and technology professionals described their experiences, USGS scientists offered five principles of successful decision-support tool design and development.

Read about those five principles in this new report or contact USGS scientist Amanda Stoltz.

A new publication on Arctic rivers:

In the rapidly warming Arctic, processes like thawing permafrost commonly alter water flow, distribution, and chemistry, which in turn can influence water availability. USGS scientists collaborated with the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory to assess changes from a wide range of processes on the six largest rivers draining to the Arctic Ocean.

For more information, read the paper or contact USGS scientist Rob Striegl.

Organohalogenated contaminants in Pacific lamprey:

The eel-like Pacific lamprey are consumed by Indigenous peoples. However, USGS scientists detected organohalogenated compounds, including pesticides, in three life stages of the fish (larval, juvenile, and adult). Concentrations of some compounds exceeded state and federal human health consumption thresholds and were likely accumulated during the ocean juvenile life stage.

For more information, read the article or contact USGS scientist Cassandra Smith.