Water Quality

Accessibility


| Share

USGS

Branching out: New study reveals when invasive pythons take to the trees

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 28, 2026.

Effective management of invasive species often depends on not only understanding where the species lives, but how it behaves. In Big Cypress National Preserve, USGS scientists are uncovering new insights into the behavior of one of Florida’s most prolific invasive snakes – the Burmese python. A new study provides important context for understanding and managing this formidable snake. 

USGS Study Outlines Scope and Severity of Bat Fatalities at US Wind Energy Facilities

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 27, 2026.

A new USGS study reveals that an estimated 18.7 million bats have been killed at U.S. onshore wind energy facilities since 1981, far more than previously understood. By analyzing data from hundreds of wind projects, researchers identified the species most vulnerable to turbine collisions and uncovered patterns that could help reduce future bat fatalities.

SAWSC Hydrologist Presents at the Biennial Okefenokee Science Symposium

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 26, 2026.

SAWSC Hydrologist Greg Cherry was invited to speak at the Biennial Okefenokee Science Symposium. Cherry presented on the Floridan aquifer system in Coastal Georgia and issues with saltwater intrusion in the Savannah/Hilton Head area and near downtown Brunswick, Georgia.

Crystal clues: The case of the Lava Creek Tuff’s missing members

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 25, 2026.

Recent studies are changing the way geologists think about the Lava Creek Tuff—the deposit that was created during the formation of Yellowstone Caldera 631,000 years ago. That eruption seems to have been even more complex than originally thought.

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 23, 2026.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff conducted a lava sampling mission and monitoring overflight of Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea the morning of October 22, 2026, following episode 55 which occurred on October 17, 2026.

Media Alert: Low-level Flights to Image Geology over Western Idaho

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 23, 2026.

RESTON, Va. – The U.S. Geological Survey plans low-level helicopter flights over western Idaho in October and early November to image geology using airborne geophysical technology.

Volcano Watch — A look back at recent Kīlauea eruptions and intrusions

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 22, 2026.

A caldera intrusion from September 30-October 1, amidst the ongoing episodic lava fountaining eruption at Kīlauea summit, has a lot of people wondering what will come next. Eruptions and magmatic intrusions are not unusual, and Kīlauea has experienced many of these in the summit region and along the rift zones over the past few years.

Volcano Minute — Patterns of eruptions and intrusions at Kīlauea

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 22, 2026.

If you've been wondering what Kīlauea's recent caldera intrusion means, you're not alone. 

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the 2026 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America Meeting

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 22, 2026.

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) scientists and collaborators are presenting findings from hazard and risk studies at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America 47th Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from November 2-5, 2026.

Summer Drought May Increase Human-Bear Interactions in Maryland

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 22, 2026.

By mapping where human-bear interactions are most likely to occur under normal and drought conditions in Maryland, National CASC research can help wildlife managers support coexistence.

The Global Food-and-Water Security-support Analysis Data (GFSAD) Project held its 5th Workshop

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 21, 2026.

Summary of the Global Food-and-Water Security-support Analysis Data (GFSAD) Project Workshop held on October 15th-16th, 2026 at the U. S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Flagstaff Science Center

USGS Releases Assessment of Undiscovered Natural Gas Resources in Alaska’s North Slope

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 21, 2026.

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released an assessment estimating 96 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable, undiscovered natural gas resources on Alaska’s North Slope.

New Improvements to Burn Severity Portal Announced

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 21, 2026.

Improvements to the Burn Severity Portal, including increased consistency to previously released maps and expanded data access, have been released, strengthening tools that are used for wildfire response and analysis.  

2026 Best Student Geologic Map Competition Winners

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

The U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Best Student Geologic Map Competition, which took place at the annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects meeting in Denver, CO this past October.

New publication on geochemistry of Kīlauea lava fountains

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

A new paper led by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory tracks the geochemistry of the first year of lava fountains (episodes 1–39) erupted during the ongoing episodic eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea, which began December 23, 2024.

Media Alert: Low-level Flights to Image Geology over Eastern Oregon

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

RESTON, Va. – Low-level helicopter flights will begin in October over eastern Oregon to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. 

The Slime Trail: How USGS eDNA Efforts Are Revealing What Lives in the Deep Gulf

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

USGS scientists are using eDNA to piece together the story of deep-water ocean life in the Gulf and monitor the health of this unique ecosystem.

USGS monitors California's coastal hazards during the 2026-2027 El Niño event

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

To improve assessments of the beach erosion hazards of U.S. coastlines, the USGS conducts coastal monitoring of these vulnerable beach landforms. This monitoring results in better understanding of the seasonal, event-based, and long-term changes to the coast and helps with planning for impacts from storms, such as those related to El Niño.

Landsat Science Team: Dead Vegetation Tells a Story

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

Brown, dead grass and leaves can tell a story – whether it’s one of wildfire danger, disease or drought. 

To help understand the connection between nature’s hazards and plants, University of Utah researchers Phil Dennison and Mickey Campbell want to track non-photosynthetic vegetation, or NPV, which refers to dead or weathered plant material, including plant litter, leaves, needles and branches.

Landsat Science Team: Tracking Snow Crucial in Water Supply Monitoring

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

Snow, covering more than one-third of the Earth’s land surface seasonally, is a crucial water source for more than 1.2 billon people across the globe. 

As significant as it is to the world’s water supply, snow is also one of the most difficult elements to monitor with remote sensing due to its brightness, challenging terrain, ever-changing nature and depth, along with cloud cover and topography. 

Landsat Science Team: Landsat 10 to Improve Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when algae or cyanobacteria grow rapidly. These blooms can wreak havoc in aquatic ecosystems, killing hundreds of thousands of fish, harming people and animals and costing up to $100 million annually in the United States. 

Landsat Science Team: Helping Farmers Monitor Water Use

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

Agriculture and the Landsat program have a long history together. The satellite Earth observations that began in 1972 provided a vital ability to monitor how crops were growing around the world—and whether shortages might be looming that would affect the food supply. 

Landsat Science Team Focuses on Advanced Satellite Technology

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

Landsat 10 promises improved scientific discovery and innovation with better imaging capabilities for the next generation of Earth observation, continuing the 54-year legacy of the remote sensing program. 

The newest satellite, with 26 spectral bands and enhanced resolution, is planned to launch in 2031. 

SPCMSC Repairs Madeira Beach, FL Coastal Camera

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

The USGS coastal camera at Madeira Beach, FL was recently repaired by staff at the SPCMSC. Near real-time images are again available to be viewed on USGS webpages.

SPCMSC Scientists Perform Fieldwork on the Coral-Rubble Keys Protecting Dry Tortugas National Park

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 20, 2026.

A team of U.S. Geological Survey scientists and National Park Service staff recently conducted fieldwork in Dry Tortugas National Park aimed at improving understanding of how coastal islands evolve over time and how severe storms influence their growth and erosion.

Was that Yellowstone earthquake volcanic or tectonic?

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 18, 2026.

There are lots of earthquakes in the Yellowstone region. How do scientists know if they are volcanic events, driven by magma, or tectonic events, caused by fault motion?

Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit episode 55

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 17, 2026.

Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 a.m. HST on October 17, 2026.

Bats of the California Coast and Beyond!

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 16, 2026.

Join us for a Friday's Findings to kick off Bat Week! Tune in to learn how USGS scientists are studying bat migratory activity in coastal and offshore environments. 

Powell Center Seminar: FresH2O Zoops

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 16, 2026.

Join us for a Powell Center seminar on Thursday, October 22 from 1-2 pm MT / 3-4 pm ET.

Volcano Minute — Learning from lava erupted at the summit of Kīlauea

By U.S. Geological Survey from All News. Published on Oct 15, 2026.

The six new eruptive vents that opened along the western wall of Halemaʻumaʻu between September 14th and 16th, offered scientists a new glimpse into Kīlauea's evolving magma system. 

Creative Commons License
Feel free to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license and our Rules for Use. Thanks.