USGS
Knowing what's at stake: USGS maps wildfire risk at Mount Baldy and Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona
By meredith_hartwell@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on May 12, 2026.
USGS researchers partnered with the White Mountain Apache Tribe to develop a first-of-its-kind wildfire risk assessment tailored to Mt. Baldy and the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona, mapping fire risk to wildlands, wildlife, and livelihoods.
USGS, NASA Map Critical Minerals from 65,000 Feet
By jason_burton@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on May 12, 2026.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA announced an addition to the world’s largest airborne hyperspectral survey – a digital portrait of critical minerals and geology in the American West, taken from 12 miles up.
Your Favorite Software for Calculating Shoreline Change Just Got Better
By sernst@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 12, 2026.
Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 6.1 is now available, offering new and reinstated features such as more data export options, enhanced editing tools and customizable symbology, and the ability to forecast shoreline positions.
IGBST Public Notifications and Resources
By ssoileau@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 12, 2026.
As part of ongoing efforts required under the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the current field season.
A tribute to Mike Stickney, Montana’s earthquake expert!
By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 10, 2026.
Mike Stickney was a one-person earthquake hazards show in Montana for 45 years and a valuable contributor to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. His retirement in 2025 is a good excuse to celebrate his understated yet impactful career.
May ScienceBase Data Release Training for USGS Authors and Data Managers
By aliford@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 08, 2026.
The USGS Science Data Management Branch will be hosting two upcoming training events for USGS authors and data managers. The first will be our general ScienceBase data release training and the second will be training on data release revisions.
Congratulations to the 2026 CDI Awarded Projects
By lhsu@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 08, 2026.
The Community for Data Integration announces ten projects to be supported in FY2026. The theme this year was R2X (Research to Technology, Application, or Operations), and USGS Data Strategy goals in support of USGS and Department of the Interior priorities.
Volcano Watch — Think Hawaii has many volcanoes? Think again, says El Salvador
By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 07, 2026.
This past March, a team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists—two of whom travelled from Hawaii—visited El Salvador in Central America for volcanological field studies and a workshop on lava flow hazards. Exchanges like this help to improve awareness of volcanic hazards in other countries, and they enable the USGS to better understand volcanoes in our own backyard.
1,000 Cameras and Counting
By jlmckay@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 07, 2026.
The USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) now has more than 1,000 active webcams providing remote visibility of current water conditions. This real-time imagery supports water science and public safety nationwide.
Experts Gather at Lake Tahoe to Reimagine the Future of Recreational Fishing
By cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 06, 2026.
National and Midwest CASC scientists participated in a workshop focused on the future of recreational fisheries in North America. The workshop highlighted science-backed adaptive management strategies and collaboration as key to sustaining fishing opportunities.
Notes From The Field: Wintering Rosy-Finches
By kharvey@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 06, 2026.
"Notes from the Field” are contributed articles that highlight current banding projects and the continued importance of bird banding. This article focuses on a long-term Rosy-Finch monitoring project in New Mexico.
USGS releases assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Bossier Formation of Gulf Coast
By seth_amgott@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on May 06, 2026.
RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of undiscovered gas and oil in the Bossier Formation along the Gulf Coast, assessing that there are technically recoverable resources of 343.5 trillion cubic feet of gas – enough to supply the United States for more than 10 years at the current rate of consumption -- as well as 3 million barrels of oil.
Photo & Video Chronology — May 5, 2026 — Kīlauea episode 46
By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 05, 2026.
Episode 46 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 8:17 a.m. HST on May 5, after one day of precursory activity. The north vent erupted lava fountains reaching up to 650 feet (200 meters) above ground level. Minor tephra fallout was reported to the north-northwest and northeast of the eruptive vents.
NOROCK Research in Support of Native Amphibians
By twojtowicz@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 05, 2026.
NOROCK continues its important amphibian research program. Recent studies have explored the effects of environmental contaminants and pathogens on amphibians, and the influence of beaver-modified wetlands on pathogen prevalence in amphibians. See below for more information.
Cycle of a Bird Band
By megan_evans@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on May 05, 2026.
A Blue-winged Teal banded in Louisiana becomes part of the North American Bird Banding Program, which tracks millions of records to guide waterfowl research and conservation. Recaptures and hunter reports reveal its multi‑year migration, contributing vital data for managing gamebird populations.
CalVO geologists help build a new eruptive history for the Springerville Volcanic Field in Arizona
By jlball@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 05, 2026.
Scientists at the California Volcano Observatory often travel far afield to answer volcanic questions, especially when it comes to regions where there isn't just one volcano, but many.
Can a geological thermometer help forecast hydrothermal explosions in Yellowstone?
By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 03, 2026.
Hydrothermal explosions are notoriously hard to predict. But a geological thermometer based on hot spring chemistry might help.
Low Streamflow in Massachusetts Affected by Climate and Human Activity
By krossos@usgs.gov from All News. Published on May 01, 2026.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated possible reasons for why Massachusetts has set record low streamflows recently even though climate conditions have been generally wetter than they were decades ago. They found that the low streamflows in the state are most influenced by a combination of human causes, such as population growth, and minimal precipitation during summer months.
Every Bird Counts – Delivering Gold Standard Science for North America’s Birds
By megan_evans@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on May 01, 2026.
Each spring, as migratory birds span continents, our ability to protect them depends on one simple but powerful force: people paying attention. This World Migratory Bird Day, the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” underscores how everyday observers and community scientists provide the essential data that drives bird conservation.
Volcano Watch — Kīlauea summit eruptions outside of Halemaʻumaʻu
By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 30, 2026.
We are used to seeing eruptions from the summit region of Kīlauea contained to the region that is referred to as Halemaʻumaʻu. Halemaʻumaʻu, home of Pele, is a crater situated within the larger, steep-walled caldera at the summit of Kīlauea named Kaluapele. While eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea most frequently occur within Halemaʻumaʻu, they can occur outside of the modern caldera as well.
Photo & Video Chronology — April 30, 2026 — Satellite imagery showing changes to Kīlauea summit region
By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 30, 2026.
Satellite images collected before and during the episodic lava fountaining eruption at the summit of Kīlauea show how the deposits from this eruption have changed the local landscape.
Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Spring 2026 Seminar
By lisa_hoaks@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on Apr 29, 2026.
Join us for a virtual seminar to learn about our work on the Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA.
Proactive Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in South Carolina
By tmcconnell@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 29, 2026.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Clemson University, and Dr. Luke Bower with the South Carolina Cooperative Research Unit have worked collaboratively with wildlife officials from North Carolina and Georgia to develop the Aquatic Planning Tool. The Aquatic Planning tool helps managers grapple with freshwater fish conservation questions
Tree rings provide an important multi-century context for the current wildfire crisis
By sally_house@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on Apr 29, 2026.
Join us for a USGS Fueling Discovery webinar that takes in-depth look at what centuries of tree-ring data can tell us about today’s wildfire crisis.
Webinar Series - Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science
By ssoileau@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 29, 2026.
Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science is a public webinar series hosted by USGS Wildland Fire Science and the Ecosystems Mission Area. These webinars are meant to provide information on the breadth of USGS fire science used by stakeholders to make decisions before, during, and after wildfires in ecosystems across the U.S.
USGS Astrogeology at LPSC 2026: Advancing Planetary Science and Collaboration
By jrichie@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 28, 2026.
Insights, Networking, and Scientific Progress at the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Several USGS Astrogeology Science Center scientists and technicians attended the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas from March 10–14, 2026, for professional development and to share their expertise in planetary science.
Lithium in Eastern States Could Replace Imports for a Century or More
By seth_amgott@ios.doi.gov from All News. Published on Apr 28, 2026.
RESTON, Va. — The Appalachian region of the eastern United States contains an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of undiscovered, economically recoverable lithium, enough to replace 328 years of U.S. imports at last year’s level, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Detecting a Grassland Invader, Above and Below Ground
By cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 28, 2026.
Invasive plants are rapidly transforming the prairie grasslands of the Southern Great Plains. Researchers supported by the South Central CASC are turning to innovative tools to better detect these species, map their spread, and assess their impacts, both above and below the soil.
USGS announces release of updated 3D Hydrography Program data service and supporting tables
By ajonesi@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 27, 2026.
The updated service includes new geospatial data based on 3D Elevation Program data. Nationwide Flow Network Derivatives (FNDs) and flow probability statistics are included as separate, downloadable files.
Tracking sediment erosion and transport in a reef-adjacent watershed
By ppearsall@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Apr 27, 2026.
A new study from USGS uses strontium isotopes and mixing models to determine the provenance of terrestrial sediment clouding an ecologically important bay in southwestern Puerto Rico, offering a clearer path for restoration efforts aimed at protecting coastal waters and territorially protected coral reef habitats.

