By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 26, 2026.

On February 26, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff serviced the V3 livestreaming camera at the summit of Kīlauea, and conducted a monitoring helicopter overflight. 

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 26, 2026.

The 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa was an extraordinary eruption in a lot of ways. It was the first eruption from this volcano in 38 years and the first Mauna Loa eruption that occurred during the current era of modern instrumentation. Scientists continue to learn about Mauna Loa monitoring in the years since the 2022 eruption, including subtle recent changes. 

By mhartwell@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 26, 2026.

The USGS and partners are conducting environmental DNA (eDNA) research in the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and in Lake Powell to detect invasive fish species and other aquatic threats before they become established. eDNA is a cutting-edge technology that makes it possible to identify invasive species before they are visible.

By sshukla@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 26, 2026.

A new publication from the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Department of Water Resources summarizes multiple years of collaborative work between the two agencies in the northern Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.

By jdanfora@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 26, 2026.

Elevate Your Understanding with Detailed Specifications

By cduzet@contractor.usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 25, 2026.

National CASC-supported research shows that warmwater fish are a growing share of angler catch in the Upper Midwest, but larger, deeper lakes may sustain cool and coldwater fishing opportunities. 

By mhartwell@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 25, 2026.

Working closely with the U.S. Navy on San Nicolas Island, the USGS conducts a long-term monitoring program of Island Night Lizards, a rare species endemic to the California Channel Islands. The USGS-Navy collaboration provides rigorous scientific data essential for making informed management decisions while supporting the Navy's dual mission of operational readiness and environmental stewardship.

By shouse@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 24, 2026.

Title:  Geospatial Applications to Visualize Science and Support Decision‑Making Across Scales
Date:  March 6, 2026, at 2:00-2:30 pm Eastern/11:00 -11:30 am Pacific 

By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 23, 2026.

In the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park there is a thermal area with a strange composition.  And even stranger names.

By aaarcher@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 20, 2026.

USGS scientists recently published four decades of modeled daily stream temperature values for nearly 60,000 river reaches across the lower 48 United States

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 19, 2026.

Visual observations have been a backbone in studies of volcanoes, from 2,000 years ago to now. They remain fundamental to understanding how volcanoes work, and technological advancements, such as livestreaming cameras, allow volcanic eruptions to be viewed from around the world. 

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 19, 2026.

Episode 42 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea lasted for just under 10 hours on February 15, 2026. These maps show lava flow and tephra accumulation during episode 42, as well as ground deformation spanning the eruptive episode. 

By lhsu@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 18, 2026.

The Powell Center is pleased to announce two new working groups beginning in FY26. These projects were ranked by the Science Advisory Board and reflect the highest quality science, breadth, depth, and relevance reflective of the mission of the USGS.

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 17, 2026.

Episode 42 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea lasted for just under 10 hours on February 15, 2026. Both the north and south vents erupted, with peak lava fountain heights at the south vent reaching about 400 m (1300 ft). A volume of 15 million cubic yards (11.4 million m³) of lava erupted. Light tephra (fine ash & Pele’s hair) was reported in the communities downwind.

By ppearsall@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 17, 2026.

Ozette Lake, on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, is the largest unaltered lake in the state. Glacially carved to depths of about 100 meters (328 feet), the lake is just 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) from the present-day Pacific coastline. Its sediments preserve a record of seismic activity going back more than 14,000 years.

By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 16, 2026.

Volcanology has evolved over millennia from myths and legends to a modern and interdisciplinary science. Better monitoring networks and improved understanding of how volcanoes work make people around the world safer from volcanic hazards. 

By krossos@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 13, 2026.

The National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR) is a powerful suite of geospatial datasets that enable scientists to map and study watersheds and rivers across the 48 Contiguous United States (CONUS).

By kmulliken@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 12, 2026.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists use tiny features within crystals in erupted lava to answer big questions about the underlying plumbing system at Kīlauea. 

By mrwilson@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 12, 2026.

The USGS celebrated science with the St. Petersburg community at the St. Petersburg Science Festival

By krossos@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 12, 2026.

Looking across the Connecticut River from a USGS streamgage in Suffield, Connecticut, you can see structural remnants from the past and present infrastructure that have shaped and affected the river.

By jrichie@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 11, 2026.

The Artemis missions are making progress back to the Moon, paving the way for human exploration of the lunar south pole and on to Mars. Artemis II is set to launch in the coming weeks, delivering humans farther into the solar system than we’ve ever been! Although the four astronauts will not land on the Moon this time, we’re getting set up for future landings and beyond!

By ppearsall@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 11, 2026.

In September 2025, USGS Research Geophysicist Guy Cochrane served as a technical expert on seafloor mapping and marine benthic ecosystems during two presentations in the Philippines.

By edietrich@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 11, 2026.

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of America’s National Conservation Lands, a group of over 900 landscapes managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for cultural, ecological, and scientific values. As part of a special edition of Park Stewardship Forum celebrating this anniversary, USGS and BLM collaborated on a piece highlighting key science opportunities on National Conservation Lands.

By mnewbrough@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 11, 2026.

Chesapeake Bay Program — by Ezra Krantz, Gabriel Duran, Breck Sullivan, and Kaylyn Gootman — February 11, 2026

By lhsu@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 10, 2026.

Synthesis Skills for Early Career Researchers (SSECR; [SEE-ker]) is a newly-designed course organized by the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network.

By jlball@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 10, 2026.

Last week we mentioned some of the volcanic rocks in the Bay Area, and a few of you were surprised to hear that we had them. Yes, there are old volcanoes in our part of California, but we also have volcanic rocks from quite a long way away: mid-ocean ridges! How did seafloor volcanics end up on land? For that, we have to look at the story of ophiolite (not opalite - sorry Swifties).

By shouse@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 09, 2026.

In recognition of National Invasive Species Awareness Week, join us for a Friday's Findings webinar exploring USGS research on dreissenid mussel management and control.

February 20, 2026 | 2:00–2:30 PM Eastern / 11:00–11:30 AM Pacific

Presenter: Diane Waller, Supervisory Fishery Biologist, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

By aaarcher@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 09, 2026.

New comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality from 1988 to 2022 can help water-resource managers and the public health community assess the potential risk from well water contaminants and contaminant mixtures and to develop additional guidance to protect public health. 

By mpoland@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 09, 2026.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about a geyser in Norris Geyser Basin that came back to life in August 2025 after a 20-year hiatus -- Valentine Geyser.

By jburton@usgs.gov from All News. Published on Feb 06, 2026.

The USGS releases Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, the first and most authoritative source for mineral production, trade and consumption data