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USGS2026

Decadal trends and occurrence of geogenic constituents and mixtures in groundwater across the continental United States

Worldwide, about 50% of the population is served by groundwater-sourced drinking water. Numerous groundwater quality assessments have found that geogenic constituents are among the most common contaminants in drinking-water aquifers. Documenting changing groundwater quality is a crucial aspect of water availability assessments. We assess trends and occurrence of geogenic constituent concentrations in groundwater across the continental United States using 3 decades of data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Quality Network. Thousands of groundwater wells were grouped into agricultural, urban, or domestic supply network types. Although most networks and constituents had no statistically significant change in concentration, many had increasing concentration trends, elevated concentrations, or both. Lithium, sodium, radium, sulfate, and uranium had increasing trends in more than 10% of the study networks. Urban and domestic well networks had increasing lithium and sodium trends more often than agricultural networks. Manganese most commonly increased in domestic well networks; uranium more commonly increased in agricultural and urban networks. Elevated concentration mixtures were widespread, and mixture complexities appeared to increase over time. Our results indicate that more than 2.3 million domestic-well users may be affected by elevated concentrations of one or more geogenic constituents.

continental United States↗

USGS2026

Effects of human activity on Khumbu Glacier: Towards a sustainable Everest Base Camp

The Everest Base Camp (EBC), a critical staging area for mountaineers attempting to summit Mount Everest, has seen a significant increase in human activity over the past few decades. The increasing number of climbers, trekkers, and support staff, particularly at the campsite area, has intensified environmental impacts on the Khumbu Glacier. This study investigates the effects of human activity at EBC, focusing on three contributors to glacier melt: global climate change, local fossil fuel consumption, and human urinary discharge. Through field data collected during the spring 2023 climbing season, this study examines the energy released through the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene, and petrol for cooking, heating, and electricity, as well as the heat generated by human urinary discharge. The total heat energy released from these activities at EBC in the spring of 2023 was 849,174 ± 179,774 MJ, which would be sufficient to melt 2492 ± 528 tons of glacier ice and snow. Trends in land surface temperature at EBC and adjacent environments during the 1991–2023 period were calculated from Landsat 5, 7, and 9 satellite data. The 32-year Landsat record reveals that EBC surface temperature increased by 0.28 °C year −1 , which was roughly twice the rate of warming at the surface of Khumbu Glacier adjacent to EBC and about 15% higher than the temperature increase of the debris-covered terrain immediately to the north of EBC. The findings suggest that addressing these anthropogenic influences could help to preserve the Khumbu Glacier and support the sustainability of mountaineering in the region. This paper also takes a transformative approach and explores stable and safer locations in case there is a necessity to relocate the current EBC. Two sites have been identified southwest of the existing EBC, which, unlike the current supraglacial site, are situated on stable ground.

Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Glacier↗

USGS2025

Extremophile hotspots linked to containerized industrial waste dumping in a deep-sea basin

Decaying barrels on the seafloor linked to DDT contamination have raised concerns about the public health implications of decades old industrial waste dumped off the coast of Los Angeles. To explore their contents, we collected sediment cores perpendicular to five deep-sea barrels. The concentration of DDT and its breakdown products were highly elevated relative to control sites yet did not vary with distance from the barrels, suggesting that they were not associated with the contamination. Sediment cores collected through white halos surrounding three barrels were enriched in calcite and had elevated pH. The associated microbial communities were low diversity and dominated by alkalophilic bacteria with metagenome-assembled genomes adapted to high pH. A solid concretion sampled between a white halo and barrel was composed of brucite, a magnesium hydroxide mineral that forms at high pH. Based on these findings, we postulate that leakage of containerized alkaline waste triggered the formation of mineral concretions that are slowly dissolving and raising the pH of the surrounding sediment pore water. This selects for taxa adapted to extreme alkalinity and drives the precipitation of “anthropogenic” carbonates forming white halos, which serve as a visual identifier of barrels that contained alkaline waste. Remarkably, containerized alkaline waste discarded >50 years ago represents a persistent pollutant creating localized mineral formations and microbial communities that resemble those observed at some hydrothermal systems. These formations were observed at one-third of the visually identified barrels in the San Pedro Basin and have unforeseen, long-term consequences for benthic communities in the region.

California↗

USGS2026

Predictions of anthropogenic background PFAS concentrations in soil and relation to bedrock lithology and groundwater quality

Detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been observed in soils in remote areas and presumably originate from atmospheric deposition. These anthropogenic background concentrations may enable some PFAS to leach to groundwater at levels that exceed regulatory criteria for drinking water. However, anthropogenic background soil concentrations and their connection to groundwater are not well characterized. We developed a boosted regression tree model to predict perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations in shallow soils across northern New England. Low soil pH was the most important predictor of elevated anthropogenic PFOS and PFOA concentrations in background soils, rather than potential PFAS sources, land use, or population density. Total organic carbon (TOC) was also an important predictor for PFOS soil concentrations. Model predictions indicate that 73% of the shallow soils within Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire exceed New Hampshire’s Soil Remediation Standard for PFOS (0.5 ng/g) and 41% exceed the PFOA standard (0.4 ng/g). Analysis of soil model results and groundwater data suggests that areas with high soil pH are associated with higher groundwater detection frequencies, illustrating how areas with less retention in soil are, conversely, also areas with potentially greater groundwater vulnerability. Further analysis indicates that groundwater may be more vulnerable in calcareous lithologies.

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont↗

USGS2026

Top-down targeted network analysis of critical mineral commodities applied to international geochemistry database

The global demand for critical mineral commodities is rapidly increasing, making domestic production an important factor in supporting the economy and national security. Large scale, publicly available geochemical databases allow for the application of data informatics methods to interrogate critical mineral commodities data for correlations in deposit formation and distribution, particularly for identifying enrichment of multiple critical mineral commodities at the same deposit. In this study, we applied network analysis to the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) ore geochemistry (Critical Minerals in Ores, CMiO) database to identify the high concentration (defined as 10× bulk crustal abundance) co-occurrence of different critical mineral commodities across a mineral system hierarchy from deposit environments to individual deposits. Identifying patterns or unique outliers in enrichment in network communities will allow for the location of secondary critical mineral commodity resources from under-utilized deposits. We find trends in the enrichment of critical mineral commodities in network-communities between the elements praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and dysprosium (Dy) across multiple CMiO database deposit environments and groups down to specific deposit types and sites. A separate trend in network community deposition is observed as well between iridium (Ir) and platinum (Pt) in deposit environments, groups, types, and sites. Network analysis focused on critical minerals in magmatic-hydrothermal deposits identified multiple deposit sites from different deposit types within the CMiO database with concentrations of Dy, Nd, Tb, Pr, Ir, and Pt that are at least ten times greater than the crustal average. This approach can be applied to any target element(s) or deposit(s) of interest, allowing broad investigation of co-enriched critical mineral commodities.

Journal of Geochemical Exploration↗

USGS2025

Pathways for potential exposure to onshore oil and gas wastewater: What we need to know to protect human health

Produced water is a chemically complex waste stream generated during oil and gas development. Roughly four trillion liters were generated onshore in the United States in 2021 (ALL Consulting, 2022, https://www.gwpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021_Produced_Water_Volumes.pdf ). Efforts are underway to expand historic uses of produced water to offset freshwater needs in water-stressed regions, avoid induced seismic activity associated with its disposal, and extract commodities. Understanding the potential exposures from current and proposed produced water uses and management practices can help to inform health-protective practices. This review summarizes what is known about potential human exposure to produced water from onshore oil and gas development in the United States. We synthesize 236 publications to create a conceptual model of potential human exposure that illustrates the current state of scientific inquiry and knowledge. Exposure to produced water can occur following its release to the environment through spills or leaks during its handling and management. Exposure can also arise from authorized releases, including permitted discharges to surface water, crop irrigation, and road treatment. Knowledge gaps include understanding the variable composition and toxicity of produced water released to the environment, the performance of treatment methods, migration pathways through the environment that can result in human exposure, and the significance of the exposures for human and ecosystem health. Reducing these uncertainties may help in realizing the benefits of produced water use while simultaneously protecting human health.

Environmental Health Perspectives↗

USGS2026

Perspectives and insights gained from applying landscape ecological approaches to the Upper Mississippi riverscape

Advances in remote sensing, spatial data collection, hydraulic and geospatial models, and the maturation of landscape ecology during the early 2000s spurred the concept of rivers as landscapes or ‘riverscapes’. Since that time, the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program - one of the world’s longest running large-river ecosystem restoration and monitoring programs - has applied landscape ecological principles to the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). I examine spatial patterns of aquatic nutrient concentrations, submersed aquatic vegetation, and fish and mussel communities, finding that within-river patterns are often patchy in nature, likely resulting from how nutrient processes and community traits interact with spatial variability in hydraulic exchange patterns. Local-scale patchy spatial patterns in the UMRS are embedded in system-scale longitudinal gradients and a hierarchical view of the river has provided a foundation for strategic river restoration planning. Key Words: Aquatic Habitat, hydraulic connectivity, patch, restoration, riverscape

BioScience↗

USGS2025

Irrigated agriculture influences selenium levels in an endangered marsh bird

Selenium bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs poses risks to wildlife, particularly in wetlands receiving irrigation runoff. The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, is primarily sustained by agricultural drainage. This drainage creates wetland habitat along the lakeshore that many bird species depend on, including the federally endangered Yuma Ridgway’s rail ( Rallus obsoletus yumanensis ). However, these marshes may pose an ecological trap – attracting rails despite high selenium exposure. We captured rails during the 2020–2023 breeding seasons and compared rail selenium levels within three types of marshes (fed with irrigation runoff, Colorado River water, or groundwater). We collected blood, breast feathers, and head feathers of rails in all three water sources for selenium comparisons. We tagged adult rails with GPS transmitters to locate nests and foraging locations where we collected eggshells, unhatched eggs, and prey. We assessed selenium exposure by collecting multiple prey species commonly eaten by rails in all three water sources. Selenium concentrations varied among sampling locations. Selenium concentrations in most sample types were predominately influenced by water source and marsh inflow velocity (sometimes in combination with marsh size). Distance to inflow, however, did not influence selenium concentrations in any sample type. Selenium concentrations were highest in agricultural-fed marshes compared to river-fed and spring-fed marshes. Increased marsh inflow velocities resulted in lower selenium concentrations. Given the risk of an ecological trap, our results suggest that supplementing wetlands with Colorado River water could mitigate selenium bioaccumulation in Yuma Ridgway’s rails.

California↗

USGS2026

Light-dependent activity of deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii) across substrates with and without predation risk

Light availability strongly influences predator–prey interactions in deepwater ecosystems, where visual constraints shape both foraging success and prey behavior. The behavioral response of deepwater sculpin ( Myoxocephalus thompsonii ) to siscowet lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush siscowet ) was studied under ecologically relevant light intensities spanning several orders of magnitude typical of daytime downwelling light in the 20–100 m depth range of Lake Superior. Trials were conducted over varying substrates (gravel, sand, and black fabric). Deepwater sculpin showed a significant preference for gravel over sand and black fabric. In the absence of siscowet, sculpin movement frequency increased as light intensity decreased. Sculpin reaction distance to siscowet was influenced by both light and substrate. Reaction distance was shortest at low light intensities, peaked at intermediate light intensities (3.05 × 10⁹ to < 6.0 × 10⁹ photons m⁻2 s⁻1), and declined again at the highest light intensities tested. In the presence of siscowet, sculpin activity was suppressed at the upper end of the light range (≥ 6.0 × 10⁹ photons m⁻2 s⁻1). The greatest increase in movement occurred between 6.0 × 10⁹ and 3.05 × 10⁹ photons m⁻2 s⁻1, which corresponded to the range where siscowet prey capture declined, suggesting sculpin exploit this low-light window to move with reduced risk. Reduced activity in the presence of predators is common among cryptic species, and our findings suggest that sculpin restrict movement at higher light levels to avoid detection by siscowet.

Wisconsin↗

USGS2026

Generating geochemical and mineralogy distributions of soil in the conterminous United States using Bayesian hierarchical spatial models

Characterizing geochemical and mineralogical soil distributions across large spatial extents is essential for understanding mineral resources, ecosystem processes, and environmental risks. Rasters of soil geochemical distributions for the conterminous United States, however, are limited. We present a Bayesian modeling workflow and tool for generating predictive geochemical and mineralogy distribution maps for the conterminous United States using integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) with the stochastic partial differential equation approach. By modeling soil geostatistical data with environmental covariates (soil properties, topography, climate, and land cover), we generate predictive distributions of soil geochemistry that can be mapped or extracted for further analyses. As an example, we model the spatial distribution of trace elements in soil relevant to vertebrate health (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc) and provide a workflow that can be used to generate and visualize predictive distributions of 39 other major and trace elements and 21 minerals of the soil survey, supporting a variety of ecological, environmental, and agricultural applications.

MethodsX↗

USGS2025

How do hydrological variability and human activities control the spatiotemporal changes of riverine nitrogen export in the Upper Mississippi River Basin?

Excessive nitrogen export from agricultural watersheds remains a critical water quality challenge, with the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) significantly contributing to downstream eutrophication and hypoxia in the Gulf. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of riverine nitrate plus nitrite (NO 3 – + NO 2 – -N) export across the UMRB at high spatial resolution (12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes or HUC12 subwatershed scale) during 2001–2020 and quantifies the effects of anthropogenic activities and hydrological variability on riverine NO 3 – + NO 2 – -N export changes in the region between 2001–2005 and 2016–2020. Our results revealed hotspots of substantial increases in NO 3 – + NO 2 – -N yields across the UMRB, with distinct regional patterns in driving factors. Over the entire UMRB, NO 3 – + NO 2 – -N yields increased by 9.7 kg/ha/yr on average from 2001–2005 to 2016–2020, with anthropogenic activities contributing 4.8 kg/ha/yr and hydrological variability contributing 4.9 kg/ha/yr. The northern and western UMRB had combined influences from both anthropogenic activities and hydrological variability, while the east-central regions had predominantly hydrologically driven changes. Agricultural sources, including fertilizer, manure, and biological nitrogen fixation, collectively contributed over 80% of NO 3 – + NO 2 – -N loading throughout the basin. This framework for disentangling human and hydrological impacts provides critical insights for developing effective and targeted watershed management strategies to reduce nutrient losses and improve water quality.

Upper Mississippi River Basin↗

USGS2026

Vegetation cover and composition in environments surrounding uranium mines in the Grand Canyon ecosystem, Northern Arizona

Mining uranium from breccia-pipe deposits in the greater Grand Canyon region has occurred since the mid-1900s. However, possible ecosystem contamination with harmful levels of radionuclides may have occurred due to mining activities in the 21st century. In response, a 20-year Federal moratorium on new mining claims in the Grand Canyon watershed was initiated in 2012, to allow time to evaluate the potential effects of uranium exploration and mining on human health, wildlife, and water resources. This moratorium, nor the 2023 designation of the “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument,” precludes operation or development of mining claims predating 2012. Vegetation is a core ecosystem component that may be affected by uranium mining (for instance, through uptake and storage of radionuclides from the air or soil) or may act as a vector of exposure to wildlife, livestock, and humans (for instance, via their consumption of contaminated plant tissues). To provide baseline information about the plant communities associated with uranium mines in the Grand Canyon region, the U.S. Geological Survey surveyed an approximately 200-meter-wide buffer surrounding four breccia-pipe deposits, each in a unique stage of mine development, and at one reference area (a livestock water tank) that underwent ground disturbance but contains no mineral deposits. We sectioned the buffer zones into 0.65–4.52 hectare plots, within which we (1) inventoried all plant species, (2) measured percent cover of plant species, plant functional groups, and ground surface types (dark cyanobacteria, lichen, moss, bedrock, rock, embedded litter, duff, plant bases, and bare soil) using line-point intercept, and (3) measured length and frequency of gaps between perennial plant canopies using canopy gap intercept. We found that plant composition at the mines and the reference area differed from one another but were all characteristic of expected regional vegetation patterns. We provide this data summary as potential baseline information for future research and management efforts.

Arizona↗

USGS2025

Permafrost–wildfire interactions: active layer thickness estimates for paired burned and unburned sites in northern high latitudes

As the northern high-latitude permafrost zone experiences accelerated warming, permafrost has become vulnerable to widespread thaw. Simultaneously, wildfire activity across northern boreal forest and Arctic/subarctic tundra regions impacts permafrost stability through the combustion of insulating organic matter, vegetation, and post-fire changes in albedo. Efforts to synthesis the impacts of wildfire on permafrost are limited and are typically reliant on antecedent pre-fire conditions. To address this, we created the FireALT dataset by soliciting data contributions that included thaw depth measurements, site conditions, and fire event details with paired measurements at environmentally comparable burned and unburned sites. The solicitation resulted in 52 466 thaw depth measurements from 18 contributors across North America and Russia. Because thaw depths were taken at various times throughout the thawing season, we also estimated end-of-season active layer thickness (ALT) for each measurement using a modified version of the Stefan equation. Here, we describe our methods for collecting and quality-checking the data, estimating ALT, the data structure, strengths and limitations, and future research opportunities. The final dataset includes 48 669 ALT estimates with 32 attributes across 9446 plots and 157 burned–unburned pairs spanning Canada, Russia, and the United States. The data span fire events from 1900 to 2022 with measurements collected from 2001 to 2023. The time since fire ranges from 0 to 114 years. The FireALT dataset addresses a key challenge: the ability to assess impacts of wildfire on ALT when measurements are taken at various times throughout the thaw season depending on the time of field campaigns (typically June through August) by estimating ALT at the end-of-season maximum. This dataset can be used to address understudied research areas, particularly algorithm development, calibration, and validation for evolving process-based models as well as extrapolating across space and time, which could elucidate permafrost–wildfire interactions under accelerated warming across the high-northern-latitude permafrost zone. The FireALT dataset is available through the Arctic Data Center ( https://doi.org/10.18739/A2RN3092P , Talucci et al., 2024).

Arctic↗

USGS2026

Roadway runoff induced acute mortality in juvenile coho salmon during spring storm events

Extensive mortalities of adult coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ), often called “Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome” (URMS), have been documented during the fall in creeks where water quality has been degraded by roadway runoff. The primary cause of mortality is 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ; N -(1,3-dimethylbutyl)- N ′-phenyl- p -phenylenediamine quinone)–an ozone transformation product that forms on all vehicle tires. Laboratory studies have shown that juvenile coho salmon are highly sensitive to 6PPDQ exposure. Unlike adults, juveniles reside in impacted watersheds year-round, including during the spring when 6PPDQ concentrations can frequently exceed lethal thresholds during storms. To assess the potential incidence of URMS in springtime rearing habitats for juvenile coho salmon, we conducted a paired water quality and toxicology study at Miller Creek, a runoff-impacted watershed in Normandy Park, WA, USA. Using a small field facility, three naïve groups of juvenile coho salmon ( N = 720) were exposed to either creek water or groundwater ( N = 120 per treatment per storm), across three spring storms while comparing water quality and mortality end points. In creek water during exposures, peak 6PPDQ concentrations reached 73–110 ng/L, exceeding reported median lethal concentrations (LC 50 ) for coho salmon. Over each 24–73 h storm exposure period, ∼80% of Miller Creek-exposed juvenile salmon died. No mortality occurred among control fish exposed to groundwater. These results indicate previously unidentified mortality risks for juvenile life stages of coho salmon during spring storms, suggesting substantial and year-round water quality impediments to coho salmon health and recovery across roadway runoff-impacted spawning, rearing, and migratory habitats.

Washington↗

USGS2025

Emerging investigator series: Post-wildfire sediment geochemical characterization reveals manganese reactivity and a potential link to water quality impairment in the Gallinas Creek watershed, New Mexico

Water quality post-wildfire is often impaired by increased turbidity and elevated concentrations of elements such as manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe). Precipitation events exacerbate these issues, due in part to increased erosion and transport of sediment from hillslopes to surface water. Both Mn and Fe are major redox-active elements in sediments that drive a variety of biogeochemical cycles, precipitate adsorptive phases, and can themselves be drinking water contaminants. By investigating Mn and Fe sediment geochemistry in post-wildfire sediment deposits, related water quality hazards can be assessed. To establish and strengthen this connection, we analyzed the geochemistry of sediment deposits and surface water in the Gallinas Creek watershed, New Mexico over 1.5 years post-wildfire. Analyses included particle size analysis, water extractions, sequential extractions and aqua regia extractions to determine metal partitioning in sediment deposits. Data demonstrate Mn concentrations were distributed across labile and reactive fractions, such as the exchangeable and oxyhydroxide fractions, while Fe concentrations were mainly associated with the residual fraction. Manganese concentrations in aqua regia extractions and several fractions of sequential extractions were also strongly and significantly correlated with fine-grained sediment while the same pools of Fe concentrations were not. Dissolved Mn concentrations in surface water were elevated (>50 μg L −1 ) multiple times over the 1.5 years post-wildfire, highlighting a relationship between sediment geochemistry and water quality. This work shows Mn in sediments mobilized post-wildfire has an influence on water quality and highlights how further investigation into Mn sediment redox processes and mineralogy post-wildfire can inform risk assessments and resource management.

New Mexico↗

USGS2025

Wet meadow regeneration through restoration of biophysical feedbacks

Wet meadows are globally significant ecosystems that provide critical hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical functions, yet their extent has declined dramatically due to land use changes and hydrologic alteration. These sedge-dominated wetlands exist at the drier end of the wetland gradient, maintained by shallow groundwater and periodic inundation. This paper is a global synthesis of the ecological, geomorphic, and hydrological dynamics of wet meadows, with an emphasis on alluvial systems, to inform effective restoration strategies. We compare wet meadows to other wetlands, classify them into palustrine, lacustrine, and alluvial types, then focus on alluvial wet meadows and discuss how their formation and persistence depend on ground and surface water interactions, sediment deposition and flow obstructions, all mediated by biological processes. In particular, we highlight the role of hydric graminoids in resisting erosion and maintaining soil cohesion, how beaver promote meadow persistence, and the significance of wet meadows as carbon sinks. We also present stratigraphic evidence demonstrating that incision, often triggered by anthropogenic activity or changing climate, is the primary mechanism of alluvial wet meadow degradation, resulting in water table decline and shifts in vegetation composition. Restoration requires reversing these incisional processes through techniques that elevate water tables, disperse flow and retain sediment—methods traditionally associated with either soil conservation or stream restoration. These include nature-based solutions that create obstructions such as beaver dams and their analogues, rock and wood-based obstructions and incision trench or gully filling and grading. Given their multifunctional value—including but not limited to flood attenuation, biodiversity support, and carbon sequestration—wet meadows warrant a focused restoration framework. This review advocates for a valley-floor scale restoration paradigm that integrates hydrological reconnection, sediment retention, and biological reinforcement to ensure long-term resilience of these systems in the face of changing climate and land use pressures.

Frontiers in Environmental Science↗

USGS2026

Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed

Upstream migrating fish must balance energetic costs with environmental and ecological constraints. Theoretical models predict that fish can conserve energy by adjusting swim speed in response to changing water velocity, but detailed field tests of these predictions remain rare. We used fine-scale acoustic telemetry and hydrodynamic modeling to track adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) migrating through a river and evaluated how movement speeds varied with environmental conditions and individual traits. Swim speed increased with faster water velocities, while ground speed remained constant, supporting the hypothesis that lampreys regulate swim effort to maintain a fixed migration pace. The average ground speed aligned with a predicted optimum of ∼1 body length per second. Both swim and ground speeds declined slightly in deeper water, suggesting a trade-off between movement efficiency and predator avoidance. These findings provide field-based support for a theoretical model of energy optimization and underscore how migratory fish adaptively adjust behavior to local hydrodynamic conditions. Our results highlight the value of using high-resolution tracking and environmental modeling to reveal behavioral tactics that underlie efficient migration strategies.

Michigan↗

USGS2025

USGS—An Unparalleled Scientific Asset

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) delivers information critical to powering our economy, managing our natural resources, and keeping Americans safe and healthy. 1 Mapping the Nation $21B Geologic maps save users an estimated 15% in annual costs: a value of between $14B and $21B. $25.6B in annual value to users of imagery from Landsat satellites, which were codeveloped by NASA and the USGS and operated through their lifespans by the USGS. $13.5B in annual benefits is generated by the USGS's 3D Elevation Program. Securing America’s Energy Independence 44% USGS-identified undiscovered geothermal energy is equal to 44% of current U.S. electricity generation. 29.4B barrels of oil and 391.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in recoverable resources are available on U.S. public lands based on USGS assessments. Protecting Americans’ Health and Safety $424B in recent wildland fire damages highlight the need for USGS fire science, which supports efforts to protect communities and reduce risk. USGS earthquake, volcano, landslide, and coastal hazard monitoring and information save lives and minimize costs; for example, $2.8M can be saved because of USGS enhanced information about a Mauna Loa eruption. $4.5B is the estimated cost of annual flooding. Through a network of over 11,885 streamgages, the USGS supports public safety and enables forecasts, early warning systems, and management actions that protect lives and property. Supporting National Security $3.1B The USGS identified a $3.1B risk to the American economy if China restricts gallium imports. This is one example underscoring the importance of the USGS mapping critical minerals, investigating supply chains, and producing the Nation’s critical minerals list. Enhancing Our Lands and Waters $21B in estimated annual costs results from invasive species. The USGS’s invasive species research informs approaches used to reduce their effects on agriculture, water infrastructure, disease transmission, fisheries, and outdoor recreation. USGS innovations support early warnings for harmful algal blooms—over $2M in yearly benefits are provided to Kansas alone. $45B USGS science informs the management of big game (such as deer and elk). The big-game hunting industry contributes $45B to the U.S. economy. Fostering American Prosperity $4.1T Mineral commodities are necessary for the $4.1T in value added to the GDP by major industries that consume processed mineral materials and employ 1 million workers. Because of this, USGS data on mineral supply, demand, and trade are highly valued. 45,000 metric tons Rare earths power the growing technology economy, including cell phones, electric vehicles, and medical devices. For over 70 years, USGS work has supported the discovery of rare earth resources in California’s Mountain Pass area, which produced 45,000 metric tons of rare earth concentrates in 2024—over 11% of the global supply. Guarding American Food Security $70.2B USGS science informs early warning systems and management strategies to mitigate disease outbreaks in agriculture—critical research on highly pathogenic avian influenza, for example, helps safeguard the $70B value in poultry and egg production. $11.8B USGS groundwater tools are vital for agriculture; for example, in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 65% of farming relies on groundwater to support its $11.8B annual industry. 1 Values throughout are given in billions (B), millions (M), and trillions (T) of U.S. dollars. GDP is “Gross Domestic Product.” Percentages are shown as %.

General Information Product↗