USGS Water Resources

If you’re happy and you know it, check your local streamflow! 👏🎶 Reliable data is the backbone of a safe day on the water. We’re in the field every day collecting the data that keeps your "happy place" safe, accessible, and healthy. Whether you’re fishing, kayaking, or just enjoying the view, we monitor the flow so you’re in the know before you go – waterdata.usgs.gov What’s your "happy place” near the water? Tell us! 👇 📷 A USGS hydrologic technician stands under a rainbow during field work at USGS monitoring location 14187200, South Santiam River near Foster, Oregon. #InternationalDayOfHappiness #FieldPhotoFriday #WaterData

February streamflow conditions across the U.S. 💧 USGS monitors streamflow conditions across the U.S., allowing us to see how streamflow varied throughout February from state to state compared to the historic record. In February, dry conditions across much of the U.S. early in the month were swamped by large precipitation events later in the month in some regions. Notable weather events included: 🌨️ Early February winter storms to California brought feet of snow and flash flood warnings 🌊 Hawaii experienced such heavy rain and saturated ground that a Emergency Proclamation was issued by the state’s Governor 🌨️ Mid-month winter storms to the eastern U.S., hit up as snow in New England but causing flooding and power outages to central eastern states Visit the USGS Vizlab’s homepage to see how February compared to previous months: water.usgs.gov/vizlab/ #WaterData #rstats #dataRetrieval

Hey teachers - make sure your students snow their facts about snow melt! New lesson plan for 9-12 grade walks students through this "cool" science. Snow-capped mountains, where snow accumulates all winter and often well into spring, function as frozen water towers by storing water as snow into late spring and summer. When spring weather arrives, and the snow melts, the high elevation areas produce a large pulse of streamflow that redistributes water downstream through the landscape. These seasonal dynamics are critical components of the surface water cycle in the Western U.S., for both humans and ecosystems. Changes in the timing, magnitude, and duration of snowmelt can substantially alter downstream water availability: ❄️ High snow conditions are followed by later snowmelt and can result in large streamflow events. This is because as peak snowpack remains frozen later into the year, the more likely it is that the snow will melt all at once when temperatures warm. ☀️ In less snowy years, a combination of low snow accumulation, warmer and earlier spring weather, and dry soils can lead to a greatly reduced streamflow and water availability. Check out the USGS Water Science School’s new lesson plan – ow.ly/sGYk50YsmJq 📷: USGS scientists collecting a snow sample to analyze for snow chemistry in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. Photo by Garrett Akie, USGS #WaterScienceWednesday #Snow #STEMEducation

🌈 Beyond the rainbow, it’s not a pot of gold… It’s data! While it feels like a stroke of St. Paddy’s Day luck to catch a rainbow over one of our streamgages, the data we collect inside isn't left to chance. We don’t rely on four-leaf clovers or lucky guesses to keep communities safe. Our network of over 12,000 streamgages takes the gamble out of guessing, providing critical data for: 🌊 Monitoring floods and droughts 🚰 Water supply management 🛣️ Infrastructure design 🏞️ Assessing ecosystem health 🚣 Recreational activities No blarney here, just high-quality data. Don’t leave your plans to luck. Check out your local river’s "pot of gold" at waterdata.usgs.gov 📷 A rainbow over a USGS streamgage. Photo by Nick Stasilus, USGS #WDFN #WaterData #StPatricksDay

@watersagemd Thanks for sharing this with us!

@USGS_Water WaterAlert has saved my team more than a few late nights during crisis exercises. Real-time data: the difference between response and reaction.

How do we protect a resource we can't see? With cameras, real-time remote monitoring, site visits and more! Groundwater data are then delivered through Water Data for the Nation at waterdata.usgs.gov Better data = better protection. #GWAW26 #FieldPhotoFriday

The USGS Groundwater Dating Lab finds out how old your drinking water is by analyzing global samples. Age matters for groundwater sustainability, contamination risk, and conservation. Learn more - ow.ly/iFPc50YlUEO #GroundwaterAwarenessWeek

What's in a name? Stream names do more than tell us where water is, they shape how we imagine it. In this new blog, we show you how to make these glowing firefly maps using the feature names of U.S. streams listed in GNIS. waterdata.usgs.gov/blog/vizlab-st… #rstats #WaterData #GNIS

This week is National Groundwater Awareness Week, a reminder that our actions today directly impact our water supply tomorrow. Follow along as we highlight one of our nation's most precious, yet hidden, resources. #GroundwaterAwarenessWeek #GWAW2026 #Groundwater

We’re "overflowing" with gratitude for our amazing USGS Water Team! 💧 ✨ We don’t mean to be “shallow," but we truly have the best staff. Your un-wave-ring commitment to scientific excellence and public service is appreciated! #EmployeeAppreciationDay #FieldPhotoFriday

@LCnaturalist Great question! Unfortunately, this specific product isn't available in Illinois yet because it was built for a regional partnership in the South-Central U.S. However, the USGS FIM has a map for the Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire, Illinois - fim.wim.usgs.gov/fim/

@USGS_Water No coverage for the Des Plaines here in Illinois? It travels through many states and passes by large populated areas. It also empties into the Mississippi.

What if we could picture a flood before it happens? We partnered with the TWDB, FEMA, NWS, and USACE to provide flood scenario maps at over 300 streamgages in Texas and beyond in the Flood Decision Support Toolbox. Explore the toolbox - webapps.usgs.gov/infrm/fdst/ #Floods

Happy 147th birthday to us! 🎉 We know, we know...we don’t look a day over 146 — but hey, that’s super young in geologic time! Mapping, measuring, and discovering since 1879. 🌎 #Freedom250 #America250

The USGS, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service are collaborating to understand the impacts of Elodea on Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems. This research informs management efforts for aquatic plant invaders and contributes to our understanding of invasion ecology.

Elodea—Alaska's first invasive aquatic plant! 🌿  Once established, submerged mats form dense stands that can reduce the quality of spawning habitat, alter prey resources, and impact predator-prey interactions for juvenile coho salmon.    #FieldPhotoFriday #InvasiveSpeciesWeek

Hot spots and cold snaps: Four decades of stream temperature data. USGS scientists recently published modeled daily stream temperature values for nearly 60,000 river reaches across the lower 48 United States from 1979-2021. usgs.gov/mission-areas/… #MachineLearning #WaterData

It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Low water levels in Lake Powell have let smallmouth bass slip through Glen Canyon Dam into the Colorado River, potentially threatening native fish. Watch how USGS & partners responded: usgs.gov/programs/clima… #NISAW

Tracking a flood isn't just about looking at a gage’s data—it’s about boots-on-the-ground fieldwork. After a storm, hydrologists visit impacted areas to capture "footprints" left behind by rising waters. Every mark we log today could protect lives tomorrow. #FieldPhotoFriday

High-water marks = nature's flood footprints 🌊 From mud lines on buildings to debris caught on structures, hydrologists document high-water marks to understand floods, map future flood risk, and protect communities. Learn more: usgs.gov/mission-areas/…

It's not just water - it’s data! USGS hydrologists collect suspended sediment samples to track erosion, sediment transport, and water quality in our rivers. These data provide crucial information for keeping our waterways healthy. 🔬💧 #FieldPhotoFriday #WaterScience #Data