USGS Science⌕ Search

SEARCH · USGS Science

Results for “Report”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources
USGS2018

Supporting natural resource management—The role of economics at the Department of the Interior—A workshop report

The first U.S. Department of the Interior Economics Workshop was held April 5–7, 2017 in Washington, D.C., to identify, highlight, and better understand needs and opportunities for economic analysis to support the Department of the Interior’s mission. The Economics Workshop, jointly convened by the Department of the Interior Office of Policy Analysis and the U.S. Geological Survey Science and Decisions Center, provided an opportunity for Department of the Interior’s economists to share expertise and experiences and to build collaboration and communication channels across the Department of the Interior. Natural and cultural resource managers face complex questions and often have to balance competing stakeholder interests. Per the mission statement, the Department of the Interior “protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities.” Economic analysis is relevant to issues integral to nearly all the land and water management decisions made by the Department of the Interior. More than 80 Department of the Interior economists gathered at the Economics Workshop to share their work, discuss common challenges, and identify approaches to advance the use and contribution of economics at the Department of the Interior.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2018

U.S. Geological Survey continuous monitoring workshop—Workshop summary report

Executive Summary The collection of high-frequency (in other words, “continuous”) water data has been made easier over the years because of advances in technologies to measure, transmit, store, and query large, temporally dense datasets. Commercially available, in-situ sensors and data-collection platforms—together with new techniques for data analysis—provide an opportunity to monitor water quantity and quality at time scales during which meaningful changes occur. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Continuous Monitoring Workshop was held to build stronger collaboration within the Water Mission Area on the collection, interpretation, and application of continuous monitoring data; share technical approaches for the collection and management of continuous data that improves consistency and efficiency across the USGS; and explore techniques and tools for the interpretation of continuous monitoring data, which increases the value to cooperators and the public. The workshop was organized into three major themes: Collecting Continuous Data, Understanding and Using Continuous Data, and Observing and Delivering Continuous Data in the Future. Presentations each day covered a variety of related topics, with a special session at the end of each day designed to bring discussion and problem solving to the forefront. The workshop brought together more than 70 USGS scientists and managers from across the Water Mission Area and Water Science Centers. Tools to manage, assure, control quality, and explore large streams of continuous water data are being developed by the USGS and other organizations and will be critical to making full use of these high-frequency data for research and monitoring. Disseminating continuous monitoring data and findings relevant to critical cooperator and societal issues is central to advancing the USGS networks and mission. Several important outcomes emerged from the presentations and breakout sessions.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2018

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year class strength, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2016 Monitoring Report

Executive Summary The largest populations of federally endangered Lost River ( Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers ( Chasmistes brevirostris ) exist in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because adult mortality, which is relatively low, is not being balanced by recruitment of young adult suckers into known spawning aggregations. Most Upper Klamath Lake juvenile sucker mortality appears to occur within the first year of life. Annual production of juvenile suckers in Clear Lake Reservoir appears to be highly variable and may not occur at all in very dry years. However, juvenile sucker survival is much higher in Clear Lake, with non-trivial numbers of suckers surviving to join spawning aggregations. Long-term monitoring of juvenile sucker populations is needed to (1) determine if there are annual and species-specific differences in production, survival, and growth, (2) to identify the season (summer or winter) in which most mortality occurs, and (3) to help identify potential causes of high juvenile sucker mortality, particularly in Upper Klamath Lake. We initiated an annual juvenile sucker monitoring program in 2015 to track cohorts in 3 months (June, August, and September) annually in Upper Klamath Lake and Clear Lake Reservoir. We tracked annual variability in age-0 sucker apparent production, juvenile sucker apparent survival, and apparent growth. Using genetic markers, we were able to classify suckers as one of three taxa: shortnose or Klamath largescale suckers, Lost River, or suckers with genetic markers of both species (Intermediate Prob[LRS]). Using catch data, we generated taxa-specific indices of year class strength, August–September apparent survival, and overwinter apparent survival. We also examined prevalence and severity of afflictions such as parasites, wounds, and deformities. Indices of year class strength in Upper Klamath Lake were similar for shortnose suckers in 2015 and 2016, but about twice as high for Lost River suckers and suckers having intermediate Prob[LRS] in 2016 than in 2015. Indices of apparent August–September survival were lower in 2016 (0.41) than in 2015 (1.07) for shortnose suckers and suckers identified as having intermediate Prob [LRS] (0.14 in 2016 and 1.69 in 2015). Indices of apparent August—September survival were similar in 2016 (0.16) and 2015 (0.07) for Lost River suckers. Indices of apparent survival were lower for age-0 Lost River suckers than age-0 shortnose suckers in both years. Although samples sizes are small, a declining trend in the ratio of Lost River to shortnose suckers from 28/23 (1.22) as age-0 fish in September of 2015 to 1/9 (0.11) as age-1 fish in June of 2016 is consistent with higher over winter apparent mortality for Lost River suckers than shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake. Shortnose sucker year class strength was greater in years with high Willow Creek inflows and Clear Lake surface elevation during the spawning season, indicating that access to spawning habitat was an important contributing factor. In previous sampling, age-0 sucker catch per unit effort (CPUE) was relatively high in 2011 and 2012, moderately high in 2013, and zero in 2014 and 2015. The 2011 and 2012 year classes continued to be detected, but the 2013 year class went undetected for the first time in 2016. The 2014 year class continued to be undetected in 2016. Three suckers with one annulus each on fin rays were captured in Clear Lake in 2016. Although these fish are potential representatives of the 2015 year class, they were small for their age, indicating they may have hatched in 2016. Age-0 shortnose and Lost River suckers were captured in Clear Lake in 2016, indicating new cohorts of both taxa were produced. Moderate to abundant year classes were produced in 2011, 2012, and 2016 when lake surface elevation greater than 1,378.9 m (4,524 ft) during the February–June spawning season. Also in 2011 and 2016, rapid increases in lake-surface elevation indicated potentially high Willow Creek inflows. A somewhat less abundant year class produced in 2012 than in 2011 and 2016 was associated with lower spawning season inflows. The apparently smaller 2013 year class was formed when Willow Creek inflows were apparently low and lake surface never exceeded 1,379.2 m (4,524.9 ft). In 2014 and 2015, when year-classes were small or not detected, the Clear Lake surface elevations were at or below 1,378.2 m (4,522 ft), and there was very little spring time Willow Creek inflow. Age-0 shortnose sucker CPUE in Clear Lake was correlated with seasonal decreases in water volumes in 2016 and could not be used to create indices of August–September survival. Age-0 shortnose sucker catch rates in Clear Lake Reservoir were about seven times less in August than in September. Meanwhile, the water volume in Clear Lake Reservoir declined by about 36 percent between these two sampling periods. Higher September catch rates may have resulted from additional age-0 suckers entering the lake from the river, a concentrating effect of declining water volumes, or both. Differences in August standard length, apparent growth rates, and the prevalence of abnormalities were consistent with healthier age-0 suckers in Clear Lake Reservoir than in Upper Klamath Lake. Age-0 suckers were larger in August in Clear Lake Reservoir than in Upper Klamath Lake, which may be due to an earlier hatch date, faster growth, or both in Clear Lake Reservoir. Sample sizes were only large enough to compare growth rates of age-0 shortnose suckers from Upper Klamath Lake in 2015 to Clear Lake Reservoir in 2016. Age-0 shortnose suckers grew more between August and September in Clear Lake Reservoir in 2016 than in Upper Klamath Lake in 2015. Petechial hemorrhages of the skin on age-0 suckers were more prevalent in Upper Klamath Lake than in Clear Lake Reservoir in 2016. Deformed opercula, black-spot forming parasites, and infections presumed to be Columnaris sp. were observed on less than 12 percent of suckers from Upper Klamath Lake but were not observed on suckers from Clear Lake Reservoir in 2016.

California, Oregon↗
USGS2018

Regional spectral analysis of moderate earthquakes in northeastern North America—Final Report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Project V6240, Task 3

We analyze the Fourier spectra of S + Lg +surface wave groups from the horizontal and vertical components of broadband and accelerogram recordings of 120 small and moderate (2< M w <6) earthquakes recorded by Canadian and American stations sited on rock at distances from 3 to 600 kilometers. There are seven M w 4.0–4.5, six M w 4.5–5.0, and three M w ≥5 earthquakes in this event set. We test the regional spectral analysis by comparing the moment magnitudes with the moment magnitudes from the earthquake moment tensors determined by Bob Herrmann (St. Louis University) for 27 events, obtaining d M w =0.004±0.074. We determine the Lg attenuation in seven regions within northeastern North America: Charlevoix, lower St. Lawrence, Maine, Northern New York, lower Great Lakes, Ontario, and Nunavut. These attenuation estimates yield an average attenuation Q = (368±13) f (0.54±0.02) for the Appalachian region, a stronger attenuation Q = (317±16) f (0.54±0.03) for the Appalachian lowlands, and a weaker attenuation Q=(455±20) f (0.51±0.02) for Ontario and western Quebec. For events in Nunavut and northernmost Quebec, we estimate a similar attenuation for r <450 km, but a weaker attenuation Q = (773±70) f (0.27±0.06) for Lg propagation for 450< r <1700 kilometers. This far-regional attenuation allows us to analyze recordings of the 1989 Ungava and Payne Bay earthquakes obtained in Ontario and southern Quebec. We use these regional attenuations to determine the corner frequencies, stress drops, and radiated energies of the 120 earthquakes.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2018

Evaluation of social attraction measures to establish Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) nesting colonies for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, San Francisco Bay, California—2017 Annual Report

Forster’s terns ( Sterna forsteri ), historically one of the most numerous colonial-breeding waterbirds in South San Francisco Bay, California, have had recent decreases in the number of nesting colonies and overall breeding population size. The South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project aims to restore 50–90 percent of former salt evaporation ponds to tidal marsh habitat in South San Francisco Bay. This restoration will remove much of the historical island nesting habitat used by Forster’s terns, American avocets ( Recurvirostra americana ), and other waterbirds. To address this issue, the SBSP Restoration Project organized the construction of new nesting islands in managed ponds that will not be restored to tidal marsh, thereby providing enduring island nesting habitat for waterbirds. In 2012, 16 new islands were constructed in Pond A16 in the Alviso complex of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, increasing the number of islands in this pond from 4 to 20. However, despite a history of nesting on the four historical islands in Pond A16 before 2012, no Forster’s terns have nested in Pond A16 since the new islands were constructed. In 2017, we used social attraction measures (decoys and electronic call systems) to attract Forster’s terns to islands within Pond A16 to re-establish nesting colonies. We maintained these systems from March through August 2017. To evaluate the effect of these social attraction measures, we also completed waterbird surveys between April and August, where we recorded the number and location of all Forster’s terns and other waterbirds using Pond A16, and monitored waterbird nests. We compared bird survey and nest monitoring data collected in 2017 to data collected in 2015 and 2016, prior to the implementation of social attraction measures, allowing for direct evaluation of social attraction efforts on Forster’s terns. To increase the visibility and stakeholder involvement of this project, we engaged in multiple outreach activities, including the development of a project web site ( https://apps.usgs.gov/shorebirds/ ) and educational video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IaZD0YlAvM&feature=youtu.be ); publication of a popular article ( http://www.sfestuary.org/estuary-news-caspian-push-and-pull/ ); and public presentations to relay findings to managers, stakeholders, and the general public. The relative number of Forster’s terns using Pond A16, after adjusting for the overall South San Francisco Bay breeding population each year, was higher during the nesting period in 2017 (after social attraction was used) than in 2015 and 2016 (before social attraction was used). Furthermore, in 2017, more Forster’s terns were observed in the areas of Pond A16 where decoys and call systems were deployed during the pre-nesting and nesting periods. Although no Forster’s tern nests were recorded in Pond A16 before (2015, 2016) or after (2017) implementation of social attraction measures, bird survey results indicate that Forster’s terns were attracted to areas within Pond A16 where decoys and call systems were deployed, suggesting that terns may have been prospecting for future breeding sites. As social attraction efforts often benefit from multiple years of decoy and call system deployment, these first-year results suggest that continued implementation of social attraction measures could help to re-establish Forster’s tern breeding colonies in Pond A16 and other areas of South San Francisco Bay.

California↗
USGS2018

Social attraction used to establish Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) nesting colonies on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—Final report

To address the 2008/2010 and Supplemental 2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Biological Opinion for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) developed and began implementation of Caspian tern ( Hydroprogne caspia ) management plans. This implementation includes redistribution of the Caspian terns in the Columbia River estuary and the mid-Columbia River region to reduce predation on salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act. Key elements of the plans are (1) reduction of nesting habitat for Caspian terns in the Columbia River estuary and the mid-Columbia River region, and (2) creation or modification of nesting habitat at alternative sites within the Caspian tern breeding range. As part of this effort, USACE and Reclamation developed Caspian tern nesting habitat at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (DENWR), California, prior to the 2015 nesting season. Furthermore, nesting habitat for western snowy plovers ( Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus ) also was developed to provide separate nesting opportunities in the same managed ponds to reduce potential conflicts with Caspian terns. Specifically, seven recently constructed islands within two managed ponds (Ponds A16 and SF2) of DENWR were modified to provide habitat attractive to nesting Caspian terns (5 islands) and snowy plovers (2 islands). These 7 islands were a subset of 46 islands recently constructed in Ponds A16 and SF2 to provide waterbird nesting habitat as part of the South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project. We used social attraction methods (decoys and electronic call systems) to attract Caspian terns and snowy plovers to these seven modified islands, and conducted surveys from March to September of 2015, 2016, and 2017 to evaluate nest numbers, nest density, and productivity. Results from the 2015 nesting season, the first year of the study, indicated that island modifications and social attraction measures were successful in establishing Caspian tern breeding colonies at Ponds A16 and SF2 of DENWR. Prior to 2015, there was no history of Caspian terns nesting in either Pond A16 or Pond SF2. The success of 2015 continued in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, the third and final year of the project, Caspian terns initiated at least 664 nests, fledged at least 239 chicks, and had a breeding success rate of 0.36 fledged chicks per breeding pair. This represents a 171 percent increase in the number of breeding pairs and a 41 percent increase in the number of chicks fledged, but a 48 percent decrease in the fledglings produced per breeding pair in 2017 compared to 2015, the first year the colonies were established. The two new large and growing Caspian tern nesting colonies at Ponds A16 and SF2 demonstrate the effectiveness of social attraction measures in helping to establish tern nesting colonies in San Francisco Bay. Social attraction measures similar to those used in this study, but targeting other colonial species such as Forster’s terns ( Sterna forsteri ) and American avocets ( Recurvirostra americana ), may help to establish waterbird breeding colonies at wetlands enhanced as part of the SBSP Restoration Project.

California↗
USGS2019

Florida Coastal Mapping Program—Overview and 2018 workshop report

The Florida Coastal Mapping Program is a nascent but highly relevant program that has the potential to greatly enhance the “Blue Economy” of Florida by coordinating and facilitating sea-floor mapping efforts and aligning partner and stakeholder activities for increased efficiency and cost reduction. Sustained acquisition of modern coastal mapping information for Florida may improve management of resources and reduce costs by eliminating redundancy. Economic growth could be aided by improved data to support emerging sectors such as aquaculture and renewable energy. The present focus of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program is on modern, high-resolution bathymetric and coastal topobathymetric data, which can be immediately used to update navigational charts and identify navigation hazards, provide fundamental baseline data for scientific research, and provide information for use by emergency managers and responders. Derivative products include identifying sand resources for beach nourishment, creating vastly improved models for coastal erosion and flooding, identifying coastal springs, and creating benthic habitat maps. The uses and applications of the data generated could grow over time. The process of creating a steering committee and technical team, conducting an inventory and gaps analysis, soliciting feedback from the stakeholder and partner communities, and developing a prioritization process has provided a framework on which a successful program can develop a sustainable funding strategy that may be an investment the citizens of Florida could benefit from for decades.

Florida↗
USGS2020

Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report

Federal agencies need credible scientific information to determine the production and value of ecosystem services in an efficient and timely manner. The U.S. Geological Survey addresses this scientific information need through the Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative project. The project has relied on U.S. Geological Survey expertise related to water, fisheries, advanced modeling, and economics and other social sciences to conduct eight case studies across a range of environment types, including water-based environments, deserts, sagebrush ecosystems, floodplains, and forests. The Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative also supported the development and expansion of four tools with the intent of adding content and usability for partners’ decision-making needs. The tools are the Natural Value Resource Center, Benefit Transfer Toolkit, Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System, and Artificial Intelligence for Ecosystem Services modeling platform.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2020

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2017 Monitoring Report

Executive Summary Populations of federally endangered Lost River ( Deltistes luxatus ) and shortnose suckers ( Chasmistes brevirostris ) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter referred to as Clear Lake; fig. 1), California, are experiencing long-term declines in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because juvenile suckers are not surviving and recruiting into the adult population. Most juvenile sucker mortality occurs within the first year of life in Upper Klamath Lake. Annual production of juvenile suckers in Clear Lake appear to be highly variable and may not occur at all in very dry years. However, juvenile sucker survival is much higher in Clear Lake, with some suckers surviving to join spawning aggregations. Long-term monitoring of juvenile sucker populations is needed to 1) determine if there are annual and species-specific differences in production, survival, and growth; 2) better understand when juvenile sucker mortality is greatest; 3) help identify potential causes of high juvenile sucker mortality particularly in Upper Klamath Lake; and 4) monitor for successful juvenile survival in Upper Klamath Lake. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a summer juvenile sucker monitoring program in 2015 to track cohorts over time in Upper Klamath and Clear Lakes. The juvenile sucker monitoring program involved using trap net data at fixed sites to determine the status of juvenile suckers. Annual variability in apparent age-0 sucker production, juvenile sucker survival, and growth were tracked. Using genetic markers, suckers were classified as one of three taxa; shortnose (combinations of shortnose and Klamath largescale suckers), Lost River, or suckers with genetic markers of both species (Intermediate [Prob]). By using catch data, we generated taxa-specific indices of year-class strength, August–September apparent survival, and overwinter apparent survival. We also examined the prevalence and severity of afflictions such as parasites, wounds, and deformities. The Upper Klamath Lake year-class strength indices for both Lost River and shortnose suckers were slightly lower in 2015 and 2017 than in 2016. The ratios of age-0 Lost River suckers to age-0 shortnose suckers captured in August in Upper Klamath Lake were low in 2015 and 2017, given that adult Lost River suckers are more abundant and more fecund than adult shortnose suckers. This may indicate lower egg, larval, or juvenile survival or poorer spawning success for Lost River suckers than shortnose suckers in these two years. Apparent relative age-0 survival indices for Lost River suckers from August to September in Upper Klamath Lake were greater in 2015 (0.29) than in 2016 (0.16) or 2017 (0.14). Age-0 shortnose sucker catch rates increased between August and September in 2015, possibly indicating new individuals of this species were still recruiting to the lake between the two sampling periods. August to September relative survival indices for Upper Klamath Lake shortnose suckers were 0.35 in 2016 and 0.00 in 2017. We predicted year-class strength would be greater in Clear Lake in years when high spring-time lake elevations and instream flow allowed adult suckers access to spawning habitat in the Willow Creek drainage. Instream flows and lake elevations were sufficient to allow adult suckers to access Willow Creek during the 2016 and 2017 spawning seasons, and age-0 suckers were detected in Clear Lake both years. Higher lake surface elevations and instream flows in 2017 than in 2016 were not associated with higher year-class strength indices in 2017 than in 2016. Low lake surface elevations appeared to limit access by adults to Willow Creek during the 2014 and 2015 spawning seasons and age-0 suckers were not detected in Clear Lake during these years. Nineteen shortnose suckers from the 2014 cohort were captured in Clear Lake in 2017. A 2015 cohort of shortnose suckers was captured as age-1 in 2016 and as age-2 in 2017. The most likely explanation for increasing catch rates of the 2015 cohort is that the higher Willow Creek flows in 2016 and 2017 facilitated the movement of stream-resident suckers, spawned in 2014 and 2015 downstream into Clear Lake. Due to uncertainty in the genetic identification of non-Lost River suckers, these fish are equally likely to be Klamath largescale or shortnose suckers (Hoy and Ostberg, 2015).

California, Oregon↗
USGS2020

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2018 monitoring report

Executive Summary Populations of federally endangered Lost River ( Deltistes luxatus ) and shortnose suckers ( Chasmistes brevirostris ) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter Clear Lake), California, are experiencing long-term decreases in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing not only because of adult mortality, which is relatively low, but also because they are not being balanced by recruitment of young adult suckers into known adult spawning aggregations. Long-term monitoring of juvenile sucker populations is conducted to (1) determine if there are annual and species-specific differences in production, survival, and growth; (2) better understand when juvenile sucker mortality is greatest, and (3) help identify potential causes of high juvenile sucker mortality, particularly in Upper Klamath Lake. The U.S. Geological Survey monitoring program, which began in 2015, tracks cohorts through summer months and among years in Upper Klamath and Clear Lakes. Data on juvenile suckers captured in trap nets are used to provide information on annual variability in age-0 sucker apparent production, juvenile sucker apparent survival, apparent growth, species composition, and health. Juvenile sucker year-class strength and apparent survival were low in 2018 in Upper Klamath Lake. Most juvenile sucker mortality occurs within the first year of life. The Upper Klamath Lake year-class strength indices for Lost River and shortnose suckers in 2018 were the lowest they had been since the start of monitoring in 2015. The annual catch rates of shortnose sucker remained consistently low, whereas Lost River sucker catch rates varied. The capture of only four age-1 and older suckers from Upper Klamath Lake during the 2018 sampling season indicated low annual survival of the 2017 cohort. Annual production indices of juvenile suckers in Clear Lake are highly variable and potentially affected by seasonal connections to spawning habitat in Willow Creek. A total of seven age-0 shortnose or Klamath largescale suckers ( Catostomus snyderi ) were captured from Clear Lake in 2018, which was a relatively wet year, indicating that a small cohort was formed or that there was a delay in the recruitment of age-0 suckers. The 2018 sampling continued to detect recruitment of juveniles from the 2015 cohort to the lake. Given the dysconnectivity between Willow Creek and Clear Lake during the 2015 spawning season, the continued recruitment of young fish of this cohort to the lake may be attributed to reproduction by resident suckers in Willow Creek. Suckers younger than age-3 in Clear Lake could be identified as either shortnose or Klamath largescale suckers. A stream resident life history, if it were occurring, is consistent with these fish being Klamath largescale suckers. Survival of all distinguishable taxa of juvenile suckers is much higher in Clear Lake than in Upper Klamath Lake, with non-trivial numbers of suckers surviving to join spawning aggregations.

California, Oregon↗
USGS2021

U.S. Geological Survey—Department of the Interior Region 11, Alaska —2020 annual science report

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mission: The USGS national mission is to monitor, analyze, and predict current and evolving dynamics of complex human and natural Earth-system interactions and to deliver actionable information at scales and timeframes relevant to decision-makers. Consistent with the national mission, the USGS in Alaska provides timely and objective scientific information to help address issues and inform management decisions across five inter-connected themes: Energy and Minerals; Geospatial Mapping; Natural Hazards; Water Quality, Streamflow, and Ice Dynamics; and Ecosystems. The USGS in Alaska consists of approximately 350 scientists and support staff working in three Alaska-based science centers, a Cooperative Research Unit, and USGS centers outside Alaska, with a combined annual science budget of about $60 million. In the last 5 years, USGS research in Alaska has produced many scientific benefits resulting from more than 1,100 publications. Publications relevant to Alaska can be conveniently searched by keyword through the USGS Publications Warehouse at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/search?q=Alaska .

Alaska↗
USGS2021

Community for Data Integration 2019 annual report

The Community for Data Integration is a community of practice whose purpose is to advance the U.S. Geological Survey’s data integration capabilities. In fiscal year 2019, the Community for Data Integration held 9 monthly forums, facilitated 11 collaboration areas, held several workshops and training events, and funded 14 projects. The activities supported the U.S. Geological Survey priorities of enabling integrated predictive science, producing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data, building modular and reusable tools, building authoritative national datasets for hazards or assets, and developing tools and methods for biosurveillance of emerging invasive species and health threats. Through these efforts, community members were informed of new and emerging technologies and data topics that helped them in their professional responsibilities.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2024

System characterization report on the Gaofen-6

Executive Summary Gaofen-6 represents a series of Chinese high-resolution Earth observation satellites. More than 12 satellites have been launched in the Gaofen series, beginning with Gaofen-1 in 2013. Satellites within the series have varying infrared, radar, and optical imaging capabilities. The primary goal for the satellites in this series is to provide near real-time observations for climate change monitoring, geographical mapping, precision agriculture support, environmental and resource surveying, and disaster prevention. More information on Chinese satellites and sensors is available in the “2022 Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation—Remote Sensing Satellite Compendium.” The Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization team completed data analyses to characterize the geometric (interior and exterior), radiometric, and spatial performances of Gaofen-6. Results of these analyses indicate that Gaofen-6 has an interior geometric performance root mean square error ranging from 2.84 meters (m; 0.18 pixel) to 7.42 m (0.46 pixel) in easting and from 2.84 m (0.18 pixel) to 11.57 m (0.72 pixel) in northing in band-to-band registration, an exterior geometric performance root mean square error ranging from 154.50 m (8.80 pixels) in easting to 14.65 m (0.80 pixel) in northing in comparison to a corresponding Sentinel-2 scene, a radiometric performance ranging from 0.018 to 0.055 (in offset) and from 0.620 to 0.858 (in slope), and a spatial performance ranging from 2.10 to 2.30 pixels at full width at half maximum, with a modulation transfer function at a Nyquist frequency ranging from 0.040 to 0.055.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

Final report on the assessment of the U.S. Geological Survey’s bureauwide Research Grade Evaluation (RGE) process

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) formed the internal Research Grade Evaluation (RGE) Review Team in May 2017. The Team undertook a 2-year comprehensive review of RGE practices and policies at the USGS that included (1) the first-ever quantitative assessment of the USGS workforce evaluated under the RGE process, (2) a benchmarking meet­ing in March 2018 of the USGS and 11 other Federal science agencies to compare how each conducts research scientist evaluation, and (3) extensive surveys of four internal stakeholder groups. The Team recommends that the RGE review process emphasize the importance of outcomes resulting from a scientist’s efforts, rather than focusing on easily quantified outputs such as peer-reviewed papers, presentations, and posters. Thus, the Team recommends that a scientist’s work be assessed according to contributions and impacts in three areas: (1) scientific understanding, (2) the missions of the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of the Interior, and (3) society more broadly. The Team developed (1) new formats for the Research Scientist Record (RSR) and Development Scientist Record (DSR) that match the Office of Personnel Management’s guidelines for factor scoring and (2) new findings templates to pro­vide more meaningful feedback to scientists.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2021

Least Bell's Vireos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers at the San Luis Rey flood risk management project area in San Diego County, California—Breeding activities and habitat use—2020 annual report

Executive Summary Surveys and monitoring for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo ( Vireo bellii pusillus ; vireo) were done at the San Luis Rey Flood Risk Management Project Area (Project Area) in the city of Oceanside, San Diego County, California, between March 31 and July 20, 2020. We completed four protocol surveys during the breeding season, supplemented by weekly territory monitoring visits. We identified a total of 161 territorial male vireos; 145 were confirmed as paired and 4 were confirmed as single males. For the remaining 12 territories, we were unable to confirm pair status. Three transient vireos were detected in 2020. The vireo population in the Project Area increased by 26 percent from 2019 to 2020. Vireo populations increased across San Diego County, with a 39-percent increase documented at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP); a 58-percent increase at Marine Corps Air Station; a 78-percent increase on the Otay River; and a 7-percent increase in the population on the middle San Luis Rey River. We used an index of treatment (Treatment Index) to evaluate the impact of on-going vegetation clearing on the Project Area vireo population. The Treatment Index measures the cumulative effect of vegetation treatment within a territory (since 2005) by using the percent area treated weighted by the number of years since treatment. We found that the Treatment Index for unoccupied habitat was more than five times that of occupied habitat, indicating that vireos selected less disturbed habitat in which to settle. We monitored vireo nests at three general site types: (1) within the flood channel where exotic and native vegetation removal has occurred regularly (Channel), (2) three sites next to the flood channel where limited exotic and native vegetation removal has occurred (Off-channel), and (3) three sites that have been actively restored by planting native vegetation (Restoration). Nesting activity was monitored in 100 territories, 4 of which were occupied by single males. Hatching success was higher in the Channel relative to the Off-channel. We found no other differences between Channel, Off-channel, and Restoration nests in terms of clutch size or fledging success. There also was no difference in measures of productivity per pair between Channel, Off-channel, Restoration, and Mixed territories (territories that were classified as one site type but nesting occurred in another site type, or where multiple site types were used for nesting). Overall, breeding success and productivity were lower in 2020 than in 2019, with 69 percent of pairs fledgling at least one young and pairs fledging an average of 2.1±1.7 young. To investigate whether the cumulative years of treatment had an impact on vireo reproductive effort, we looked at the effects of the Treatment Index on reproductive parameters. Results from generalized linear models indicated that treatment did not have an effect on vireo nesting effort or the number of vireo fledglings per pair produced in 2020. Similarly, our analysis of nest survival for 2020 revealed no effect of Treatment Index on daily survival rate. Analysis of vegetation data collected at vireo nests from 2006 to 2020 revealed that vegetation at 1–2 meters (m) from the ground was the most important predictor of daily survival rate. There were differences in nest-placement characteristics among site types and successful/unsuccessful nests. Channel nests were placed higher in the vegetation than Off-channel or Restoration nests. Host plant height, distance to edge of host plant, and distance to edge of vegetation clump were greater at Channel sites compared with Off-channel sites, but were not different from Restoration sites. Within sites, we found only one difference between successful and unsuccessful nests. At Off-channel sites, successful nests were placed higher in the vegetation than unsuccessful nests. Red/arroyo willow ( Salix laevigata or Salix lasiolepis ) and mule fat ( Baccharis salicifolia ) were the species most commonly selected for nesting by vireos in all 3 site types. Vireos used a wider variety of species for nesting in Channel and Off-channel sites (7 and 10 species, respectively) compared to Restoration sites (3 species). Ninety-three vireos banded before the 2020 breeding season were resighted and identified at the Project Area in 2020, all of which were originally banded at the Project Area. Adult birds of known age ranged from 1 to 9 years old. A total of 171 vireos were newly banded in 2020. Twenty-eight adult vireos were banded with a unique color combination, and 143 nestlings were banded with a single dark blue numbered federal band on the left leg. Between 2006 and 2020, survivorship of males (67±10 percent) was consistently higher than females (59±11 percent). First-year birds from 2006 to 2020 had an average over-winter survivorship of 17±5 percent. First-year dispersal in 2020 averaged 2.9±2.9 kilometers (km), with the longest dispersal (13.5 km) by a female that was recaptured at Las Flores Creek, MCBCP. From 2007 to 2012, most returning first-year vireos returned to the Project Area, whereas from 2013 to 2017, the majority of returning birds dispersed to areas outside of the Project Area. In 2018, the trend shifted, and most first-year vireos returned to the Project area. This trend continued in 2020 with most first-year vireos returning to the Project Area; 77 percent of all re-encountered first-year birds returned to the Project Area and 23 percent dispersed to areas outside of the Project Area (upstream to the middle San Luis Rey River and to drainages on MCBCP). Most of the returning adult male vireos showed strong between-year site fidelity to their previous territories. Eighty percent of males (45/56) occupied a territory in 2020 that they had defended in 2019 (within 100 m). Thirty-three percent of females (2/6) detected in 2020 returned to a territory that they occupied in 2019. The average between-year movement for returning adult vireos was 0.1±0.5 km. We completed four protocol surveys for the endangered Southwestern Willow Fycatcher ( Empidonax traillii extimus ; flycatcher) at the Project Area between May 20 and July 20, 2020. No Willow Flycatchers were detected in the Project Area in 2020. A total of 46 vegetation transects (526 points) were sampled at the San Luis Rey Flood Risk Management Project Area in 2020. Seventy-one percent (376/526) of points were in the Channel and 22 percent (115/526) were at Upper Pond. The remaining 7 percent (35/526) were at the Whelan Restoration site. Foliage cover below 1 m was higher at the Channel points compared to Upper Pond and Whelan Restoration. Higher foliage cover in the Channel was attributed to the higher herbaceous component. However, foliage cover from 1 to 3 m was higher at the Whelan Restoration site compared to both Upper Pond and the Channel. Average canopy height was similar at all three site types and was 4.4 m or less. From 2006 to 2020, total foliage cover declined above 1 m in the Channel, from 4 to 5 m at Upper Pond, and above 8 m at Whelan Restoration. Within the Channel, the steepest declines occurred between 2009 and 2013 and between 2014 and 2016. Since 2016, we observed an increase in percent foliage between 0 and 2 m within the Channel, but for other height classes, percent cover remained below levels detected before 2009. Changes in cover at Upper Pond and Whelan Restoration appeared to be driven by the loss of tall tree cover. The vegetation mowing and treatment activities, in combination with lack of precipitation (especially between 2012 and 2016), may have contributed to the decline in foliage cover observed from 2006 to 2020. We sampled vegetation at 49 vireo nests and 49 random plots (“territory” plots) within territories in the Channel and Upper Pond following the 2020 breeding season. Vireos in the Channel selected territories with significantly more foliage cover above 2 m but less cover below 1 m relative to the available habitat. In contrast, Channel vireos selected nest sites within their territories with lower foliage cover above 3 m and were non-selective with regard to cover below 2 m. Vireos at Upper Pond generally were less selective with regard to territory and nest sites but tended to select territories with more foliage cover from 1 to 2 m and above 8 m, and they selected nest sites within their territories with greater foliage cover from 0 to 1 m.

California↗
USGS2021

Growth, survival, and cohort formation of juvenile Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2019 Monitoring Report

Populations of federally endangered Lost River ( Deltistes luxatus ) and shortnose suckers ( Chasmistes brevirostris ) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter, Clear Lake), California, are experiencing long-term decreases in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing not only due to adult mortality, which is relatively low, but also because they are not being balanced by recruitment of young adult suckers into known adult spawning aggregations. Long-term monitoring of juvenile sucker populations is conducted to (1) determine if there are annual and species-specific differences in production, survival, and growth, (2) better understand when juvenile sucker mortality is greatest, and (3) help identify potential causes of high juvenile sucker mortality particularly in Upper Klamath Lake. The U.S. Geological Survey monitoring program, that began in 2015, tracks cohorts through summer months and among years in Upper Klamath and Clear Lakes. Data on juvenile suckers captured in trap nets are used to provide information on annual variability in age-0 sucker apparent production, juvenile sucker apparent survival, apparent growth, species composition, and health. Upper Klamath Lake indices of year-class strength indicated that the 2019 year-class was the strongest in the past 5 years of monitoring. Low detections of age-1 and older suckers indicate that the 2018 cohort experienced poor survival within the first year of life. Shortnose suckers constituted the smallest proportion and suckers with uncertain species identification constituted the largest proportion of the 2019 year-class. Small numbers of Lost River sucker were captured consistently throughout the sampling season. The relative abundance of age-0 suckers is not a good indicator of year-class strength in Clear Lake. There were no age-0 suckers captured in Clear Lake during the 2015 and 2019 sampling seasons. Most suckers captured were age-1 Klamath largescale/shortnose suckers, which indicated a relatively strong 2018 cohort. Four-year old juveniles from the 2015 cohort were present in 2019 in Clear Lake. Cohorts that do not recruit to our sampling gear until a year or more of age seem to indicate that (1) a stream resident life history is contributing to the lake population and (2) juvenile suckers occupy the Willow Creek drainage for a full year or more. Although these suckers could be either the non-endangered Klamath largescale or the endangered shortnose suckers, a stream resident life history is consistent with these fish being Klamath largescale suckers. Survival of all distinguishable taxa of juvenile suckers is much higher in Clear Lake than in Upper Klamath Lake, with non-trivial numbers of suckers surviving to join spawning aggregations in most years.

California, Oregon↗
USGS2022

Least Bell's Vireos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers at the San Luis Rey flood risk management project area in San Diego County, California: Breeding activities and habitat use—2021 Annual report

Executive Summary Surveys and monitoring for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo ( Vireo bellii pusillus ; vireo) were done at the San Luis Rey Flood Risk Management Project Area (Project Area) in the city of Oceanside, San Diego County, California, between April 4 and August 4, 2021. We completed four protocol surveys during the breeding season, supplemented by weekly territory monitoring visits. We identified a total of 122 territorial male vireos; 111 were confirmed as paired and 8 were confirmed as single males. For the remaining three territories, we were unable to confirm pair status. Five transient vireos were detected in 2021. The vireo population in the Project Area decreased by 24 percent from 2020 to 2021. Vireo populations decreased across San Diego County, with a 14-percent decrease documented at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP); a 5-percent decrease on the Otay River; a 6-percent decrease on the middle San Luis Rey River; and a 44-percent decrease at Marine Corps Air Station (although this decrease was likely exaggerated by large-scale vegetation clearing that occurred prior to the 2021 breeding season). We used an index of treatment (Treatment Index) to evaluate the impact of on-going vegetation clearing on the Project Area vireo population. The Treatment Index measures the cumulative effect of vegetation treatment within a territory (since 2005) by using the percent area treated weighted by the number of years since treatment. We found that the Treatment Index for unoccupied habitat was more than two times that of occupied habitat, indicating that vireos selected less treated habitat in which to settle. We monitored vireo nests at three general site types: (1) within the flood channel where exotic and native vegetation removal has occurred regularly (Channel), (2) three sites next to the flood channel where limited exotic and native vegetation removal has occurred (Off-channel), and (3) three sites that have been actively restored by planting native vegetation (Restoration). Nesting activity was monitored in 85 territories, 8 of which were occupied by single males. Of the completed nests, 39 percent were successful, and nest success did not differ among the three sites. Clutch size was greater in the Channel than the Off-channel sites, and the proportion of hatchlings that fledged was greater in Off-channel sites than Channel and Restoration sites. There were no other nest-level differences detected among site types, nor were there any differences in territory-level measures of productivity (young fledged per pair, double-brooding) among the sites. Overall, breeding success and productivity were slightly lower in 2021 than in 2020, with 66 percent of pairs fledgling at least one young and pairs fledging an average of 1.9±1.7 young. To investigate if the cumulative years of treatment had an impact on vireo reproductive effort, we looked at the effects of the Treatment Index on reproductive parameters. Results from generalized linear models indicated that treatment did not have an effect on vireo nesting effort or the number of vireo fledglings per pair produced in 2021. Similarly, our analysis of nest survival for 2021 revealed no effect of Treatment Index on daily survival rate. Analysis of vegetation data collected at vireo nests from 2006 to 2021 did not indicate an effect of vegetation at the nest on daily survival rate. We also found no differences in nest-placement characteristics among site types or successful/unsuccessful nests. Red/arroyo willow ( Salix laevigata or Salix lasiolepis ) was the species most commonly selected for nesting by vireos in all three site types. Black willow ( Salix gooddingii ) and mule fat ( Baccharis salicifolia ) also were commonly used. Vireos used a wider variety of species for nesting in Channel and Off-channel sites (seven and eight species, respectively) compared with Restoration sites (three species).

California↗
USGS2022

Community for data integration 2020 annual report

The Community for Data Integration is a community of practice whose purpose is to advance the data integration capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey. In fiscal year 2020, the Community for Data Integration held 11 monthly forums, facilitated 13 collaboration areas, and supported 13 projects. The activities supported the broad U.S. Geological Survey priority of producing building blocks for doing integrated predictive science. Specifically, the activities supported tools and methods for findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data and wildland fire and water prediction. Through these efforts, community members were informed of new and emerging technologies and data topics that helped them accomplish their professional responsibilities.

Open-File Report↗