Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Circular 1274
U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Compiled by Kathleen K. Gohn
Circular 1274
U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004
Free on application to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services
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Suggested citation: Gohn, Kathleen K., comp., 2004, Celebrating 125 years of the U.S. Geological Survey : U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1274, 56 p.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
2001051109 ISBN 0-607-86197-5 iii
Message from the Today, the USGS continues respond as new environmental to map, measure, and monitor challenges and concerns emerge Director our land and its resources and and to seize new enhancements to conduct research that builds to information technology that In the 125 years since its fundamental knowledge about make producing and present- creation, the U.S. Geological the Earth, its resources, and its ing our science both easier and Survey (USGS) has provided processes, contributing relevant faster. the science information needed and impartial information to Through a wealth of long- to make vital decisions and critical societal issues. term data and research, we have safeguard society. In this anni- As we celebrate our served the needs of society, versary year, we celebrate the contributions and those made the Earth, and its environment. mission that has guided us, the in partnership with the broader This Circular captures a few of people and traditions that have science community, we look our past achievements, cur- shaped us, and the science and with renewed energy to the rent research efforts, and hopes technology that will lead us into coming decades. The USGS and challenges for the future. I the future. and the Nation will face many invite you to celebrate our 125 The early leaders of the challenges during the coming years of service to the Nation USGS—King, Powell, Wal- years: water availability, climate as you read these pages and to cott—set high standards for the change, habitat alteration, join us as we look forward with new organization, instilling a emerging diseases, invasive a renewed sense of commitment USGS Director Chip Groat. desire to achieve excellence in species, prediction of natural to our mission of science for a science and in service to the hazards before they become changing world. Nation. USGS accomplish- disasters, and many as-yet- ments over the past 125 years unforeseen problems. We must have lived up to the vision be flexible and embrace new laid out by the first Directors. opportunities as they arise, to
Contents v
Message from the Director ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… iii Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 A Proud History of Service ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Resource Information for a Strong Economy ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Biological Reconnaissance and Research ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Geologic and Topographic Mapping ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Measuring the Nation’s Streamflow ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Natural Hazards ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 Protecting Biodiversity—Research on Endangered Species ……………………………………………………………………………………… 10 North American Breeding Bird Survey ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Ground Water—The Invisible Resource ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 Understanding and Classifying Wetlands …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Mapping Beneath the Sea …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 Geographic Tools for the Nation ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17 Challenges and Opportunities Today ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 National Assessments—Looking at the Land ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 Ecosystem Assessment and Restoration …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 America’s Amphibians: Vanishing from the Landscape? …………………………………………………………………………………………… 22 Tracking Down Biological Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 Monitoring at Many Levels …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 Real-Time Data—Critical for Many Users …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25 Earthquake Monitoring for a Safer America ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28 Partnerships for Collecting Geographic Data ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 GIS Technology ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31 Understanding Landscape Change …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33 America’s Least Wanted: Invasive Species ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35 Science: the Foundation for Sound Decisions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36 USGS and Native Americans—We Are All Related ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 38 Science Around the World …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40 An Exciting Future ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 43 Linking Science and Society: The USGS Science Impact Program ………………………………………………………………………………… 43 New, Emerging, and Resurging Diseases …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 43 Tracking Emerging Contaminants …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 45 Water Availability …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46 Energy and Minerals for the Future ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 47 Making Wise Use of New Technologies ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48 Earthquake Predictability …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 50 Remote Sensing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51 Mapping the Nation in the 21st Century: The National Map ………………………………………………………………………………………… 52 Geographic Research for Tomorrow ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 52 Serving USGS Information to the Nation …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 53 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 53 For More Information, Figure Information, and Acknowledgments ………………………………………………………………………………………… 54 vi Sidebars
John Wesley Powell ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Spencer F. Baird ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 C. Hart Merriam ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Florence Bascom …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Henry Gannett ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Grove Karl Gilbert …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Frederick Haynes Newell …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Luna Leopold ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 David A. Johnston …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 Lucille Stickel ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Denver Federal Center ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Oscar E. Meinzer …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 The USGS Library …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Menlo Park Center …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 William Thomas Pecora ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 Eugene M. Shoemaker ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17 James R. Balsley …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18 Jayne Belnap ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 National Wildlife Health Center ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21 Timothy L. King ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22 L. David Mech ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 Cooperative Research Units ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 Jean Parcher ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25 Web Accessibility …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26 Thomas Loveland …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27 David J. Wald ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28 National Ice Core Laboratory ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 29 Robert I. Tilling ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 29 Thomas S. Ahlbrandt ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 National Wetlands Research Center ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31 Roger L. Payne ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32 Arlen W. Harbaugh ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33 Flagstaff Science Center …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34 June M. Thormodsgard ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35 Mary Lou Zoback …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36 Robert H. Meade ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 37 Samuel N. Luoma …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 38 Thomas C. Winter …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39 Alaska Volcano Observatory ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40 Woods Hole Science Center ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 41 Employees of the Future ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 44 Diversity ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 45 EROS Data Center …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46 Mobile Computing …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 47 Keeping USGS Information Secure and Accessible ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 49 Patents and Inventions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51 Introduction and parts of the Bureau of ress in science and technology In addition, 1879 saw the series continues to this day. Mines and the National Biologi- to the American public. start of comprehensive stud- Studies of gold and coal in The USGS has been cal Service have been incor- ies of three important mining Alaska began in 1895; more dedicated to providing cred- porated into the USGS. The districts—Leadville in Colorado than a century later, the USGS ible, impartial science to inform addition of biological research A Proud History of and Comstock and Eureka in is still involved in assessing the critical decisions since its to geology, hydrology, and Nevada. In 1882, the USGS resources of that vast region. In establishment by the Organic geography has strengthened the Service created a new division of min- the late 19th century, develop- Act in 1879. Throughout its USGS by enabling an integrated ing statistics and technology ing industries in the United history, its functions have approach to multidisciplinary to study the mineral resources States were making growing science programs. The resulting of the United States. Studies demands on the Nation’s natural been expanded and altered Resource Information for in response to Congressional synergy improves our ability to focused on iron ore, coal, build- resources, and assessments and Executive direction. The understand complex processes a Strong Economy ing stone, and petroleum—com- were increasingly needed. By earliest activities of the USGS and systems and increases the modities that are still of interest 1900, geologists were begin- One of the most criti- were geologic mapping and value and applicability of USGS today. Annual volumes describ- ning to develop models for how cal needs recognized by the economic geology. Under John science. ing the mineral resources of the ores were formed. Organic Act of March 3, 1879, Wesley Powell, the second This Circular presents United States were published Interest in non-metal was for an understanding of the Director, topographic mapping the history of a wide range of beginning in 1882, and the resources, including fossil fuels, Nation’s mineral and energy and monitoring of the Nation’s scientific investigations in sup- resources, as the economy water resources became part of port of the Nation and shows moved from an agricultural to the USGS mandate. how science has informed vital an industrial basis. The Federal Over the next century, decisions about public health, Government began collecting parts of the USGS were incor- public safety, public prosper- and analyzing data and provid- porated into separate bureaus, ity, and the use and conserva- ing economic evaluation of including the Bureau of Recla- tion of natural resources. The mineral commodities in 1866. mation, the Bureau of Mines, topics highlighted here provide This effort was continued by the the Bureau of Land Manage- a glimpse of the rich legacy of newly established USGS, which ment, and the Minerals Man- research, current science efforts, collected mineral statistics agement Service. In the past and exciting opportunities for the future that will continue to throughout the United States. decade, this trend has reversed, Corbis Images provide solid dividends of prog-
1849 1879–1881 On March 3, Congress Clarence King is the 1st Director establishes the Department of 1879 of the USGS. the Interior (DOI). The Organic Act of March 3 establishes the U.S. Geological Survey to classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain. Library of Congress 2 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
increased during the early 20th USGS and the U.S. Bureau of John Wesley Powell century; by the mid-1920s, Mines were asked to assess the so much oil and gas had been mineral resources in each area In the spring of 1869, a 35-year-old, one-armed, Civil War veteran led an expedition down the located in the Gulf Coast, mid- of the proposed or established Colorado River into a great, unknown, uncharted territory. Ninety-nine days later, after one of the continent, and California that wilderness by the end of 1983, there was a gas surplus. The after which time no new mining most daring journeys in American history, John Wesley Powell emerged from the Grand Canyon to two World Wars and the Korean claims would be allowed. The become a contemporary American hero. War focused USGS and national amount of land to be assessed attention on strategic minerals kept growing, finally reaching Powell was born in 1834 at Mount Morris in New York. He sporadically attended Wheaton and such as tin, nickel, platinum, 45 million acres that included Oberlin Colleges but never earned a degree. Interested in botany and geology at an early age, he nitrates, and potash that were Bureau of Land Management began his scientific investigations with a series of self-directed field trips, including a rowboat needed for the war effort; and other Federal lands in addi- voyage that covered the length of the Mississippi River. In 1861, Powell enlisted in the Union Army the search for new resources tion to the national forest areas. and was commissioned as captain. He lost his right arm at the elbow expanded to Central and South To complete the assessments in the Battle of Shiloh but returned to active duty and was promoted America. After World War II, by the due date of 1983, USGS to the rank of major. exploration for fossil fuels and scientists developed tools and uranium increased dramatically; techniques that combined geol- Powell led geological and ethnological explorations in Arizona and an area of particular interest ogy, geochemistry, geophys- Utah under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. His efforts was the 23 million acres of ics, and computer modeling toward reorganizing early surveys in the West helped establish the Alaska’s North Slope in Naval to produce estimates of the Petroleum Reserve No. 4—now potential for undiscovered min- USGS in 1879. In March 1881, Powell became Director of the USGS better known as the National eral resources on the wilderness when the first Director, Clarence King, resigned. Powell championed Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. lands. These tools and tech- a nationwide program of topographic mapping, promoted systematic In 1964, Congress passed niques continue to be refined by studies and data collection in hydrography, and advocated the Wilderness Act setting scientists working with Federal conservation and careful planning in the use of Western lands. His more than 9 million acres of partners such as the Forest cautionary views regarding settlement in the West antagonized national forest lands aside from Service and other DOI bureaus influential Western politicians, and Powell resigned from the USGS permanent roads, buildings, to provide science for informed in 1894. and commercial activities. The decisions.
Powell was widely recognized as one of the leading scientists of his age. He was a founder and president of the Cosmos Club in Washington, a founder and president of the Anthropological Society of Washington, one of the earliest members of the Biological Society of Washington, and an organizer of the Geological Society of Washington. He helped establish the National Geographic Society and the Geological Society of 1879 America. In 1888, he was elected president of the American Association for the Advancement of The first USGS National Center is established at 803 G St., NW., in Science, then considered the highest honor for an American scientist, and he received honorary DOI-rented space in the Patent Office Building. King establishes degrees from several universities at home and abroad. Throughout his career, in combination with regional centers in Denver, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. King his work in geology, geography, and botany, Powell studied the West’s Native Americans and their also establishes the Mining and General Geology Divisions. languages. He founded and, in 1879, was named the first director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Bureau of Ethnology, a position he held until his death in 1902. A Proud History of Service 3 Smithsonian Institution
Spencer F. Baird C. Hart Merriam While many of us are talented collectors and enthusiastic pack rats, it’s doubtful that any of us will rival the 89,000 pounds of Like many naturalists, C. Hart Merriam began his studies as a natural history specimens that Spencer F. Baird brought with boy exploring the woods around his home. He joined the Hayden him to the Smithsonian in 1850—that takes a special kind of commitment. Baird was a naturalist Survey at age 16 and traveled to Yellowstone and the Western who demonstrated extraordinary dedication and initiative from an early age. His enthusiasm Territories. At 18, he published a 50-page scientific report of his for biological research would lead him to positions regardless of whether he was paid for the studies. Though he spent several years practicing medicine, work, and his contributions to the Nation’s understanding of its biological resources would Merriam returned to his biological and ecological roots, where be tremendous. At age 16, he began a daily journal, recording his expeditions and the natural his work was controversial, influential, and essential to the specimens he collected. At 17, the same year Baird graduated from Dickinson College, he humbly foundation of what is now the USGS Biological Resources contacted John James Audubon concerning two species of birds that he couldn’t identify. The discipline. birds proved to be new to Audubon and to science. Baird’s discoveries sparked a collaboration and friendship with Audubon, with Audubon even naming a new-found sparrow after Baird. At He was a charter member of the 19, Baird was elected to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1845, he received an American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU), unpaid position as professor of natural history and other science at Dickinson College. Though where he served as chairman of the he became a popular and salaried professor, Baird moved on in 1850 to become the Assistant Committee on the Migration of Birds. In Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at age 27. He put his extensive natural-history collection 1885, he was appointed to head what on boxcars and brought it with him to Washington, D.C., thereby forming the nucleus of the was then the Section of Economic current National Museum of Natural History. Ornithology with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Merriam’s wide interests While serving at the Smithsonian, Baird undertook fish studies at Woods Hole, Mass. In 1870, led to the section’s expansion into the the coastal fisheries in southern New England were declining, and there was concern over the Division of Economic Ornithology and dwindling food source. Baird saw this as the perfect opportunity to serve the Nation by tackling Mammalogy, which was later renamed the problem with science. In 1871, he persuaded Congress to create the U.S. Commission of Fish the Division of Biological Survey. and Fisheries, where he served as Commissioner without additional pay until his death in 1887. Merriam’s scientific work has had
long-lasting effects. Research on bird Library of Congress, Ruthven Deane Collection 1879 distribution and migration that he started The mining geology program begins with (1) the collection at AOU continued at the Biological Survey and developed into of mineral statistics in both the Eastern and Western States a network of volunteer observers spanning the United States. and (2) comprehensive The program served as the foundation for modern surveys that studies of the geology and 1880 support national and international bird conservation efforts. technology of three great The first chemistry laboratory Perhaps Merriam’s most noted work is his delineation of life mining districts—Leadville is established in the USGS, zones for North America. These life zones, originally drawn in Colorado and Comstock and the first geophysical work on USGS base maps, furthered ecological understanding and and Eureka in Nevada. begins as part of the study of the Comstock mining district. continue to influence biologists and ecologists even today. 4 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
The analytical techniques energy resource assessments, the Civil War that the Federal Florence Bascom and deposit models that were providing essential information Government established agen- developed for assessing wil- for sound energy policy, envi- cies with responsibility for sci- Florence Bascom collected many “firsts” in derness lands enabled USGS ronmental decisions, and land entific research and exploration. her geological career: she was the first scientists to conduct a national and resource management. Naturalists Spencer F. Baird mineral assessment in 1998 esti- and Clinton Hart Merriam were woman to receive a Ph.D. from Johns mating that the United States pioneers who laid the founda- Hopkins University (sitting behind a still had as much undiscovered Biological tions for research that continues screen so the male students wouldn’t gold, silver, copper, lead, and Reconnaissance in the USGS today. While serv- know she was there), the first woman zinc as had already been identi- and Research ing as Assistant Secretary of geologist hired by the USGS, the first fied to date; a national oil and the Smithsonian, Baird became woman to present a scientific paper at gas assessment in 1995 and a In the early years of the concerned about declining the Geological Society of Washington, world petroleum assessment in Nation, little was known about fisheries in New England and and the first woman officer of the 2000 showed that more undis- the species of plants and ani- persuaded Congress to create Geological Society of America. covered energy resources were mals that occurred in the United the U.S. Commission of Fish left than had been used to date. States and their distributions and Fisheries in 1871; Baird Bascom was born in 1862 in Williamstown, The techniques, analytical pro- across the landscape. The Lewis was selected to lead the com- Mass., and died in Northampton 83 years cedures, and models that have and Clark expedition in 1804– mission. In 1886, the Division later. Her father, president first of Williams been developed, and the result- 1806 made exceptional break- of Economic Ornithology and ing assessments of national and throughs, but it was not Mammalogy was established in College and later of the University of Wisconsin, encouraged global resources, are valued until after the Department of Agriculture, her interest in geology, and she earned bachelor’s and master’s by domestic and international with Merriam appointed as degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin in the 1880s. customers and stakeholders. its first Chief. Much of Her professors at Wisconsin, Roland Irving and Charles Van Hise, USGS scientists lead the Division’s were also employed by the USGS, as was her professor at Johns the world in the Hopkins, George Williams. After receiving her Ph.D. in 1893, she ability to began teaching geology at Bryn Mawr College in 1895, but she conduct combined her teaching career with active field and laboratory mineral work for the USGS. Bascom retired from teaching in 1928 but and continued to work for the USGS until 1936. USFWS
She was an authority on the rocks of the Piedmont and published maps and folios; she also studied water resources of the Philadelphia region. Her writing was vigorous and incisive; her 1881 1881–1894 conversation was forceful and clear, if sometimes caustic. She The second USGS National John Wesley Powell is the 2d Director developed the geology curriculum at Bryn Mawr from a single Center is established in the of the USGS. Powell looks on geology course to a full major and then a graduate program, which National Museum Building and topography as independent, trained most American women geologists during the first third (now the Arts and Industries although closely related, parts of the of the 20th century. At least three of her students later joined Building of the Smithsonian greater field of geography and makes the USGS: Eleanora Bliss Knopf, Anna Jonas Stose, and Julia Institution). the topographic work of the USGS Gardner. independent of geologic studies. Smithsonian Institution A Proud History of Service 5 early work focused on study- and is maintained today with resources and earth history, and ing the value of birds to control the reassignment of these in providing place-based infor- Henry Gannett agricultural pests and defining programs to the USGS in 1996. mation required for Government the geographical distribution of Much of the research on the administration, water issues, If you have ever used a topographic map animals and plants throughout occurrence, population dynam- mining, transportation, agricul- to find your way around some remote the country. ics, ecosystem functioning, and ture, and forestry. As the Nation part of the United States, or even been By 1906, this Division remote sensing of biological grew westward, many national confused by place names of populated was transformed into the U.S. resources currently undertaken leaders recognized that accurate Bureau of Biological Survey. by USGS, especially on Depart- maps of the landscape and the areas, you’ll appreciate the pioneering Much of the discovery of new ment of the Interior lands, is a rocks beneath the surface were work of Henry Gannett, an early species of terrestrial wildlife continuation of the early days essential building blocks for American geographer often considered and mapping of basic vegetation of biological survey and recon- economic development. When to be the father of American topographic types in the United States at the naissance of the U.S. frontier the USGS was established in mapping. turn of the century was accom- lands. The USGS still has 1879, it was assigned the task of plished by this group, particu- responsibility for curating the “…classification of the public He began his career in topographic larly in the West. The Commis- North American mammal, bird, lands and examination of the mapping with the Hayden Survey in 1871 sion of Fish and Fisheries was reptile, and amphibian collec- geological structure, mineral and recognized early on the importance combined with the Bureau of tions at the Smithsonian, includ- resources and products of the of geography as the cornerstone for Biological Survey in 1940 to ing nearly 5,000 specimens national domain…” (Organic other sciences. He worked zealously to form the Fish and Wildlife Ser- donated by Baird in 1850. Act of the U.S. Geological present geographic knowledge so that it could be widely utilized vice (FWS) in the Department Survey, U.S. Statues at Large, by diverse audiences. Many enduring methods and standards of of the Interior, institutionalizing v. 20, p. 394). The Organic Act the relationship that Baird and Geologic and of 1879 specifically mentions USGS mapmaking were developed under his leadership. Merriam had begun as fellow Topographic Mapping geologic and economic maps as naturalists 60 years earlier. among the expected products of The USGS Geography Program was established under his Research on the biogeog- Maps play a fundamental these investigations. In 1882, at direction, and he served as Chief Geographer from 1882 to raphy, taxonomy, and ecological role in conveying the breadth of the instigation of Director J.W. 1914. Under his command, the program’s first topographic map relationships of fish, wildlife, our national domain, in build- Powell, the USGS established a sheets were produced and the program became the Division of and plants continued in FWS ing our understanding of natural national program for systematic Geography.
Through his work as geographer of the U.S. censuses of 1880, 1890, and 1900 and the Philippine, Cuban, and Puerto Rican censuses, he became interested in place names. His efforts to 1882 1884 resolve difficulties caused by the confusion of names contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in The USGS Library, authorized in The third USGS National Center 1879, is formally established with is established at 1330 F St., NW. 1890. He served as the Board’s chairman from 1894 until 1910. a collection of 1,400 books and Gannett was also one of the founders of the National Geographic Charles C. Darwin as Librarian. Society (president, 1910–14), the Geological Society of America, and the Association of American Geographers. 6 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Grove Karl Gilbert topographic mapping that has first step was the establishment Grove Karl Gilbert, the first Chief Geologist of the USGS, was one of the founders of modern provided a sound foundation of the Geologic Atlas of the geomorphology, the study of landforms. He recognized that landforms reflect a state of balance of accurate, widely available United States, to consist of a between the processes that act upon them and their structure and composition. Before the USGS geographic information for series of folios in a standard officials at all levels of govern- format, each containing topo- was established, Gilbert worked in Utah under George Wheeler, ment, as well as for scholars, graphic, geologic, and other who led a survey to map the United States west of the 100th students, and the public. Powell maps and illustrations and text meridian, during 1871–73, and John Wesley Powell. In 1900, Gilbert spoke passionately of his vision describing the geology of a won the Wollaston Medal, the Geological Society of London’s most for comprehensive topographic particular quadrangle. The first prestigious award. He was only the third American to be honored maps for the Nation in testi- of these folios was published with the award. mony before Congress in 1884, in 1894; in the next decade, “A Government cannot do any 106 were published. The series His last great geological contribution came in 1905, when he was scientific work of more value came to an end when it became sent to California in connection with hydraulic gold mining. He to the people at large, than clear that folios were too gener- studied the fluvial character of the Sacramento River and the by causing the construction alized, and attention shifted to impact of mining debris, conducted the first major quantitative of proper topographic maps more focused geologic mapping modeling of streamflow in large flumes, and observed the effects of the country” (Sundry Civil to address issues such as the of the great 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. His reports on Expenses Act, August 7, 1882, petroleum potential of the North 22 Stat.L., p. 329). Slope of Alaska or uranium hydraulic mining were masterpieces of engineering geology. Also in 1882, Congress resources of the Colorado authorized the USGS to Plateau. Gilbert is considered one of the most distinguished American continue preparation of the The Geologic Mapping geologists and was described as a “great engine of research” by geological map of the United Act of 1992 recognized the author Stephen J. Pyne. He made significant contributions to the States, which Powell interpreted importance of geologic map- fields of tectonics, hydrology, glaciology, earthquake studies, and as authorizing extension of the ping for the utilization of geological methods. Survey’s geologic mapping mineral resources, effective throughout the Nation. The stewardship of the environment,
1885 1889 The Division of Economic Powell assigns Frederick Haynes Newell to lead a team to Ornithology and Mammalogy develop and standardize is established in the 1889 technology for measuring Department of Agriculture The USDA Division of Economic streamflow in rivers. The (USDA) with C. Hart 1886 Ornithology begins the North work takes place at a Merriman as the first Chief. Charleston, S. C., American Fauna series and camp on the Rio Grande earthquake—magnitude 7.3. publishes Merriam’s concept of River near Embudo, N. life zones of North America. Mex., and is the location of the USGS’s first streamgage. A Proud History of Service 7 safe disposal of domestic and Powell’s vision for com- industrial waste, and mitigation plete topographic coverage of Frederick Haynes Newell of natural hazards. It estab- the Nation persisted. The pres- lished a program under the ent 7.5-minute series of USGS “He carried water from a mountain wilderness to turn the waste places of leadership of the USGS, with topographic maps, mostly at the desert into homes for freemen.” This is the inscription on the Cullum advice and contributions from 1:24,000 scale, was begun Geographical Medal that F.H. Newell received in 1918 for his contributions other Federal and State agen- in the 1930s and completed to the reclamation of the arid West. Newell was the second Commissioner cies, academia, and the private in 1991 for all of the United sector, to help meet these States except Alaska, which of what would become the Bureau of Reclamation; his legacy is important needs. Currently, much USGS is largely mapped at 1:63,360 not only to the irrigation of the West but also to the creation of the Nation’s geologic mapping focuses on scale. Thirty-three million streamflow monitoring network. studies of immediate practical person hours and $1.6 billion concern such as the distribu- were invested in the complex Newell began his work as an assistant hydraulic engineer for Major John tion of active faults that pose endeavor to depict the physical Wesley Powell, second Director of the USGS. Powell foresaw the value of earthquake threats to population and cultural nature of our land irrigation to the future economy of the Western United States, but in 1888 the centers or critical installations, as a resource to all Americans. techniques and instruments needed to measure streamflow had not been materials that are particularly Portrayed on 55,000 separate developed. Newell created a training camp at Embudo, New Mex., to develop subject to landslides or slope map sheets, the 7.5-minute standard methods of measuring streamflow and to train the people to do it. Bureau of Reclamation failure, or volcanic deposits that series of large-scale USGS help delineate areas at risk from topographic maps remains the USGS now has more than 7,000 streamgages nationwide, and the techniques Newell developed have volcanic eruptions; studies of most comprehensive coverage been used to measure and monitor streamflow in the United States for more than a century. These the movement of water, petro- of the Nation’s landscape and gages record the highs and lows of an essential resource, mark disastrous floods, and provide the leum, natural gas, and waste its critical infrastructure. (including radioactive waste) Mapping is alive and well accurate and objective information needed to manage water and protect communities. through the Earth; and studies in the USGS. Today’s maps rely of surficial deposits that record on satellite imagery, aerial pho- President Theodore Roosevelt cited him as an advisor and counselor in the development of his climatic changes over time. tography, Global Positioning strategy for irrigation and referred in his autobiography to Newell’s devotion to the establishment of All of these can be addressed System (GPS) technology, and the Bureau of Reclamation and his leadership, high character, and “constructive imagination.” through use of geologic maps. geographic information system
1894 A small appropriation is obtained for the purpose of “gauging the 1894–1907 streams and determining the water supply of the United States.” Charles Doolittle Walcott is the 3d Director of the USGS. Walcott abolishes all organizational units within the Geologic Branch and 1895 assumes direct control of the work. Mining geology studies are Basic science is an integral part of the Geologic Branch program. resumed and extended into the Eastern States, and a study of gold Fundamental studies are made in the genesis of ore deposits, deposits, including exploration for new sources, is begun. The deposits in paleontology and stratigraphy, in glacial geology, and in at Cripple Creek, Colo., and at Mercur, Utah, are usable through petrography. The geologic time scale is revised, and new definitions development of the cyanidation process. for rock classes are developed. 8 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
(GIS)-based cartography. In the measure the flow of rivers and Luna Leopold end, however, geologic map- streams and to define standard ping comes down to a geologist streamgaging procedures As During his 10 years as USGS Chief Hydrologist, Luna B. Leopold walking the ground with com- soon as methods were devel- transformed the USGS Water Resources Division into the pass, pick, notebook, and hand oped at Embudo, USGS scien- lens, just as in Powell’s day. tists and engineers were sent Nation’s premier agency for water research. From the outset, his throughout the West to collect work was creative, pioneering, and multidisciplinary. streamflow data. Measuring the Nation’s By 1891, the first stream- Leopold’s greatest impact on the earth sciences began with the Streamflow flow measurement in the East 1953 publication of USGS Professional Paper 252, “The Hydraulic was made on the Potomac irrigation. As concerns grew Geometry of Stream Channels,” a paper that provided a basis Information to define, use, River at Chain Bridge, near about floods, droughts, and for observing rivers throughout the world. and manage water resources Washington, D.C. In 1895, the increased use of water for With this paper, Leopold initiated a new was critical to the settling of the first Cooperative Program in irrigation and hydroelectric era in the study of rivers, one that involved West, and water continues to be the Nation began in Kansas, power, the USGS streamgag- ing program expanded to fill quantitative approaches that spread to a major issue for the Nation and through an agreement with the world. In 1889, John Wesley the Nation’s needs. Congress the broader field of geomorphology, the the newly established Kansas Powell assigned Frederick passed legislation in 1929 that study of the evolution and configuration of Board of Irrigation Survey and Haynes Newell to lead a group officially recognized the Coop- landforms. His research consistently related Experiment (now the Divi- of recent engineering graduates sion of Water Resources of erative Program, in which costs meteorology and climatology to landscape and other young men to develop the Kansas Department of are shared with State and local process, a concept that has become a and standardize a technology Agriculture). This agreement agencies, and in the ensuing central feature of geomorphology. for measuring streamflow in provided for measurement of years, cooperative streamgaging rivers. The men established the streamflow at seven sites to programs were established with A son of Aldo Leopold, one of the early first streamgaging station oper- ascertain water-supply poten- many State and local agencies. leaders of the movement to preserve the ated in the United States by the tial. By 1900, only 163 stations Today, more than 90 percent of American wilderness, Luna Leopold was USGS on the Rio Grande near were in operation. Most of the USGS streamgages are operated a pioneer in making ecological foresight Embudo, N. Mex., as part of stations were in the West and in partnership with other Fed- a part of hydrological studies and of the the effort to train individuals to were used to satisfy needs for eral, State, and local agencies. information provided for those making water-resource policies. In USGS Circular 620, published in 1969, Leopold coined the term “environmental impact.” He helped create a framework for 1896 1904 environmental impact statements, giving direction to the growing Benchmarks In 1904, the USGS celebrates its 25th anniversary, having come trend for decisionmakers to consider environmental impact and map sales from an organization of 38 employees at the end of its first before starting a project. are authorized. year to one of 491 employees (and another 187 in the adjunct Reclamation Service). Its appropriation Fortunately for future generations, Leopold’s enthusiasm for 1898 is $1.4 million. It is the leading geologic The U.S. Senate calls for a Division rivers has proved contagious. He has mentored many prominent institution in the United States in the view of Mines and Mining in the USGS scientists and shared his creative intellect and passionate of the publication “American Men of to gather statistics on mineral Science,” and many of the 100 geologists commitment to science and society, inspiring generations of resources and mineral production whose work is considered most significant colleagues and students to use their talents both to the pursuit and to make investigations related by their peers, including the first five ranked of science and to its application to society. to mines and mining. numerically, are associated with the USGS.
A Proud History of Service 9 USDA, U.S. Forest Service Severe drought in the Natural Hazards 250 miles of the San Andreas early 1930s and the floods in fault from northwest of San David A. Johnston 1936–37 in the Ohio and the Floods, volcanic erup- Juan Bautista to Cape Men- Potomac River basins increased tions, earthquakes, landslides, docino, Calif., the earthquake David Johnston was a 30-year-old volcanologist with the USGS the awareness among Federal, drought—these natural hazards confounded contemporary when he was swept away by the catastrophic eruption of Mount State, and local agencies that geologists. have reshaped the landscape for St. Helens on the morning of May 18, 1980. managing the Nation’s water millions of years and have been The significance of the resources requires compre- the focus of USGS research fault and recognition of its large Johnston came to the USGS in 1978 to work on volcanic gases. hensive, reliable streamflow since its beginnings. The USGS cumulative offset would not be He expanded the program for monitoring volcanic emissions in data. By 1950, more than 6,000 has Federal responsibility for fully understood until the emer- streamgages were in use across issuing warnings on geologic gence of plate tectonic theory Alaska and the Cascade Range, with the goal of determining the landscape. The data col- hazards—to get people out more than half a century later. whether or not changes in gas lected at these gages are used of harm’s way—as well as Developments in plate tectonics geochemistry might provide warning for forecasting floods, schedul- providing information on how during the 1960s gave scientists of impending eruptive activity. It ing hydropower production, to live and build safely—to a revolutionary new way of was therefore natural that Johnston characterizing water quality, keep people and property out of understanding the Earth and its was one of the first geologists on and even helping a family harm’s way. processes. Basic research by the volcano when Mount St. Helens decide whether it’s a good Early reports by USGS USGS scientists at Menlo Park, reawakened in March 1980. time to go fishing or boating. scientists described Hawai- Calif., on the Earth’s magnetic Although the USGS cur- ian volcanoes and the great field provided essential sup- As one of the first members of the rently uses many new techni- porting information for the Charleston, S.C., earthquake of USGS monitoring team to arrive at cal advancements to measure 1886. The San Francisco earth- Mount St. Helens and the scientist streamflow and operate gaging quake of 1906 was one of the in charge of volcanic-gas studies, Johnston spent long hours stations, procedures developed most significant earthquakes of by Newell and his colleagues at all time—not just because of its working on and close to the mountain. From his experience Embudo still form the basis for devastating impact on the city with active Alaskan volcanoes, Johnston understood better the nationwide streamgaging but also because of the wealth than most the hazards of explosive volcanism. At the same program carried out to this day of scientific knowledge derived time, he repeatedly voiced the conviction that adequate hazard by the USGS. from it. Rupturing more than assessments require accepting the dangers of onsite monitoring of active volcanic processes. The volcano-monitoring effort that Johnston was a part of helped persuade the authorities first to 1905 1907 limit access to the area around the volcano and then to resist The USDA Division The Reclamation Service becomes heavy pressure to reopen it, thereby holding the May 18 death of Biological Survey an independent agency. F.H. Newell toll to a few tens instead of thousands. becomes the Bureau of leaves the USGS to become the Biological Survey. Service’s Director. Johnston was an exemplary scientist, and his approach to his work was a model for all: dedicated and hard-working, with 1907–1930 meticulous organization and observation followed by careful 1906 evaluation and interpretation. At the same time, Johnston was San Francisco, George Otis Smith is the 4th Director of clearly genuine, with an infectious curiosity and enthusiasm. But Calif., earthquake— the USGS. Smith believes that the work of perhaps his most essential quality was the ability to look for, see, magnitude 7.8. the USGS should be primarily “practical.” and encourage the best in everyone. 10 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
new theory, which explains years. The Cascade Range in Protecting Lucille Stickel the causes and distribution of the Pacific Northwest produces Biodiversity—Research earthquake and volcanic zones fewer eruptions, an average of on Endangered Species In 1946, when Lucille Stickel published her first contaminant around the world. For the past 1 to 2 per century, but threatens 25 years, USGS scientists have more residents than the vol- paper, a study of the new pesticide DDT, virtually nothing was By the late 1800s, the been leading the research effort canoes of Alaska and Hawaii known about the harmful effects of pesticides on wildlife. The wide-scale clearing of land for to understand the causes and combined. The devastating impact of her pioneering research would be significant and agriculture and intensive hunt- effects of earthquakes and to landslide and eruption of Mount ing of wildlife for commercial far reaching, as Rachel Carson used Stickel’s research as the apply that knowledge to reduce St. Helens, Wash., on May 18, markets had taken their toll on basis for much of her book, Silent earthquake risk across the 1980, was the impetus for cre- many native species. Of the mil- Spring. The book created a public Nation. USGS national seismic ation of the David A. Johnston lions of bison that had roamed understanding of the importance hazard maps form the founda- Cascades Volcano Observatory, the North American plains, of preserving the Earth’s tion for national building codes which bears the name of the fewer than 1,000 remained. Pas- resources and ushered in a new and are making billions of dol- USGS geologist who died in the senger pigeons, whose immense age of environmental awareness. lars of new construction safer eruption at a forward observa- flocks had once darkened the from earthquakes each year. tion post on what is now called skies, were nearing extinction. The United States has Johnston Ridge. The Mount St. Stickel began her career as a Populations of snowy egret and more than 50 historically active Helens eruption was a turning Junior Biologist in 1943 at the other colonial-nesting wading volcanoes within its borders, point for modern volcanology Patuxent Wildlife Center. She birds had been reduced to a more than any other country that led to numerous discoveries became one of the early pioneers small fraction of their histori- except for Indonesia and Japan. and improved eruption predic- in the fledgling field of wildlife cal size. Alarmed by the rapid The Aleutian volcanic arc in tion techniques. loss of our natural heritage, toxicology and is responsible Alaska produces an average of 1 President Theodore Roosevelt for many historic findings and to 2 eruptions per year. Hawaii’s created the first Federal Bird techniques. From 1973 to 1981, most active volcano, Kilauea, Reservation on Pelican Island, she served as Director of the has been erupting almost con- Fla., in 1903. Congress passed Center, making her the first tinuously since January 1983, several laws in the early part woman to head a major Fish making the current eruption of the 20th century to protect and Wildlife Service laboratory. its longest in more than 600 In 1989, the Chemistry Building at the Patuxent Center was renamed Stickel Laboratory in appreciation of the decades of dedicated service by Stickel and her husband Bill, her lifelong 1910 1912 research partner and collaborator. The Bureau of Mines is founded. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is established. Under the The USGS Technologic Branch directorship of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Stickel’s commitment to the preservation of wildlife and is transferred to the Bureau of Thomas A. Jaggar (1912-1940), HVO scientists conduct pioneering natural resources was recognized in 1998 when the Society of Mines, and structural materials studies of volcanic processes. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry honored her with its testing is transferred first to the prestigious Rachel Carson Award. She also received the DOI’s Bureau of Mines, then to the Bureau of Standards. Joseph Distinguished Service Award and the Aldo Leopold Award of A. Holmes, head of the USGS’s the Wildlife Society. Technologic Branch, is the first Director of the Bureau. A Proud History of Service 11 USFWS wildlife populations, the most California condor, and Missis- notable being the Migratory sippi sandhill crane) are on the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Bird Treaty Act (1918), which road to recovery. Research on established Federal jurisdic- species such as the gray wolf The establishment and evolution of the Patuxent Wildlife tion in the hunting of migratory and American alligator has Research Center mark important events not only in the history birds. enabled their populations to of the USGS but in the changing attitudes and policies of the The Patuxent Wildlife recover or stabilize. Nation. They signify a broadening of concern from wildlife’s Research Center (then part of Over the past 30 years, impact on people to an equal emphasis on people’s impact on the U.S. Department of Agri- already underway, including research on endangered species wildlife. culture), in Patuxent, Md., work on black-footed ferrets, has expanded to include a wide began research on migratory wolves, Puerto Rican parrots, range of investigations at nearly waterfowl in the mid-1930s. California condors, and several every USGS Science Center In the early part of the century, most wildlife research focused The whooping crane was one of Hawaiian birds. The approach and Cooperative Research on the negative effects of wildlife on agriculture. The Dust Bowl the first species studied, and the was two-pronged: (1) to study Unit across the United States. era in the 1930s created a public desire effort to conserve this majestic species in their native habitat to USGS scientists are examining to help restore wildlife populations, and bird later came to epitomize identify factors affecting distri- endangered species’ life history the Patuxent Research Refuge was the endangered species move- bution and abundance and (2) characteristics, habitat require- established in 1936 as the Nation’s first ment. World War II interrupted to conduct research on species ments, population dynamics, wildlife experiment station. the research, but after the war in captivity to develop captive migration patterns, and genetic scientific efforts at Patuxent breeding techniques for releas- relationships. They are evaluat- The successes of the Center have been began anew, focusing on trum- ing the success of conserva- ing individuals to the wild to numerous. The captive propagation peter swans and later on rapidly tion actions, advising recovery bolster wild populations. Of the program attained international promi- declining bald eagle popula- nine captive populations studied teams, and working side by side nence by helping to increase the tions. at Patuxent, two (the Aleutian with natural resource managers wild populations of bald eagles, whooping cranes, and other By the time the Endan- Canada goose and the bald in the Fish and Wildlife Service, gered Species Act was passed eagle) have been removed from National Park Service, Bureau species throughout North America; urban wildlife research in 1973, a considerable amount the endangered species list, and of Land Management, and other established development-planning techniques used throughout of research associated with pro- five more (the whooping crane, DOI bureaus. the country; and advice on backyard bird feeding is used by tecting imperiled species was timber wolf, masked bobwhite, millions of homeowners every year. Perhaps the Center’s best known success came in 1969, when researchers linked eggshell thinning with DDT. This discovery and testimony of Patuxent 1916 1917 1917 researchers before Congress resulted in the nationwide banning The USGS reorients its work to The United States enters World The fourth USGS National Center of DDT and other organochlorine pesticides in 1972. aid the search for both metals War I in April, and the USGS is established in the Interior and fuels, extending the search forms a Division of Military Building on 18th & E Sts., NW. Today, research at Patuxent continues to address national to Central and South America Surveys. The strategic minerals wildlife concerns and to maintain partnerships with State and and the West Indies. concept is born. During these 1922 municipal governments concerning local wildlife research years, the USGS is the main The USGS becomes involved issues. The continuation of this long relationship with our source of information on in energy policy. A Coal partners, including FWS and the National Park Service, will help mineral production. Commission is established, and ensure that USGS science informs decisionmakers charged with USGS resource data provide protecting and managing our Nation’s living resources. a basis for the Commission’s report. 12 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
The Endangered Species kills to pesticides, but it was research and management Denver Federal Center Act now protects 1,265 species unclear how, or if, bird popula- action to determine the cause of in the United States, including tions were being affected at population declines and reverse For 58 years, the USGS 519 species of animals and 746 regional or national levels. them before it’s too late. Data has worked in a center species of plants. Hundreds In 1963, responding to this are used by the U.S. Fish and more are listed as candidate concern, Chandler Robbins Wildlife Service, Canadian that was once a Federal species. The need for scientific and colleagues at the Patuxent Wildlife Service, Partners in munitions plant. In tools to protect such a diverse Wildlife Research Center began Flight, and State agencies to December 1940, Denver, group of organisms and their developing the North American monitor bird species, determine Colo., was selected as habitats is immense. However Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to which species might be declin- the site of one of several challenging the task, USGS sci- monitor bird populations over ing, and develop conservation plants that would be part entists are hard at work devel- large geographic areas. The goals. of future U.S. war efforts. oping practical solutions to the BBS, jointly coordinated by the Skilled volunteer birders The Denver Ordnance many problems that confront USGS and the Canadian Wild- spend one or two mornings a Plant, consisting of more America’s endangered species. life Service, is the foundation year at the height of the avian than 200 buildings, was of modern non-game, land-bird breeding season to collect conservation in North America. population data along roadside dedicated on October 25, North American 1941. In support of the war, it produced .30-caliber ammunition, BBS data can be used to esti- survey routes. The collection mate trends in bird populations; protocols are carefully estab- heavy artillery shells, and 8-inch and 144-millimeter shells. Breeding Bird Survey declining numbers send an early lished to ensure that data can In the mid-20th cen- warning signal that be reliably compared year by After Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, the plant’s tury, the success of DDT as a galvanizes year. There are more than 4,100 production days were numbered. By October, the Denver pesticide ushered in a new era BBS routes scattered across Ordnance Plant had been declared surplus property. It was of synthetic chemical pest the United States and Canada, turned over to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and the control. As pesticide use of which about 3,000 are decision was made to use the site to implement a 1938 plan to grew, concerns about the sampled annually. More than develop a Federal presence in Denver. The Denver Ordnance effects on wildlife began 2,200 birders participate each Plant became the Denver Federal Center (DFC) and is now home to emerge. Local stud- year; more than 8,400 people to 21 agencies and about 8,500 people. ies had attributed some bird have participated during the
The USGS began its occupancy of the DFC in July 1946 in Building 25. It wasn’t long before Buildings 5, 21, 82, and 1925 1929 parts of 51 and 20 were also occupied by USGS, as the DFC DOI delegates the The USGS is 50 years old. Its appropriation is $2 million, with became home to the Topographic, Geologic, Water Resources, responsibility for total funds of $3.4 million. There are 998 permanent employees Conservation, Publications, and Administrative Divisions. supervising mineral who conduct mapping and research investigations in 45 States, lease operations on the Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. In 1976, a fire destroyed about 22,000 square feet of laboratories, public lands to the USGS. Nearly 44 percent of the continental United States but that didn’t prevent the USGS from expanding its presence This mandate requires (excluding Alaska) has been topographically on the premises. Today, there are nearly 1,400 USGS personnel, a large force of mining mapped. Streamflow is being measured at 2,238 and petroleum engineers, gaging stations, and the income from mineral contractors, and emeriti working on the DFC, where the USGS increasing USGS staff to leases, licenses, and prospecting permits on uses just over 1.4 million square feet of space in 18 buildings. more than 1,000 employees, the public lands under USGS supervision is $4.1 only 126 of whom are million. geologists. A Proud History of Service 13 nearly 40-year life of the pro- less is known about the quan- gram, which is now part of the tity and quality of our ground Oscar E. Meinzer Status and Trends of Biologi- water than about surface water. cal Resources Program at the In 1900, there were only three In 1906, when Oscar E. Meinzer was first employed by the USGS, USGS. ground-water scientists in the the science of ground water was a little-recognized field. His Information collected USGS. Throughout the 20th persistence and diligence over the 41 years of his career would through the BBS led to research century, that number increased change that. Meinzer’s sincere dedication had so great an and management actions to help as awareness of the importance neotropical migratory songbirds of this essential component influence on the scientific community that he has become known as the father of ground-water hydrology, and the period of 1910
in the late 1980s and grassland of our Nation’s water endow- Resources California Department of Water species in the 1990s. Since ment grew. Studies in the early to 1940 has been labeled the Meinzer Era. 1991, grassland birds have had 1900s on regional ground-water ation that led to many innova- fewer species with increasing systems throughout the Nation, tions in modeling these systems. Meinzer began his career as a Junior Geologist and advanced population trends than any other such as those undertaken in USGS contributions to develop- quickly to be the third USGS Ground- bird group examined in North the central Great Plains, the ing quantitative models have Water Division Chief. Under his America. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles region, and Long been critical to understanding leadership, a systematic scientific decline of most grassland bird Island, laid the foundation for such technical topics as well approach was applied to the populations continues today, as O.E. Meinzer’s first assessment hydraulics—how water flows to problems of hydrogeology, and the shown by declines of 77 percent of the ground-water resources wells—and systems analysis— underlying principles were defined. for grasshopper sparrows and of the entire United States in studying the sources of water His personal scientific efforts, insight, 66 percent for eastern meadow- 1923. to an aquifer on a systemwide and leadership greatly influenced larks between 1966 and 2003. State-by-State summaries basis rather than at single wells. the direction and development of the in midcentury provided more The use of computer models information, and a series of has greatly enhanced the ability science of hydrogeology, both inside Ground Water—The publications beginning in the of scientists to understand and and outside the USGS; by the time Invisible Resource late 1970s evaluated 25 of predict movement of water of his death in 1948, Meinzer had the Nation’s most important underground, and the MOD- achieved international recognition Today, 130 million people regional ground-water systems FLOW model developed by as being preeminent in ground-water drink ground water, but much by using a quantitative evalu- USGS scientists in the 1980s science.
Advancing the field of hydrogeology was not always an easy 1930–1943 1939 path. Meinzer once said that much of his work had been done Walter Curran Mendenhall is the 5th The Bureau of Fisheries (from almost surreptitiously because of a lack of funds and government Director of the USGS. President Hoover the Department of Commerce), interest. He worked around many roadblocks with firm principles appoints Mendenhall to succeed Smith and the Bureau of Biological and a strong belief that hydrology was a vital public service. as Director of the USGS, honoring his Survey are moved to DOI. In his introduction to the 1942 volume “Hydrology,” which he commitment to appoint the heads of edited, Meinzer sums up his viewpoint saying, “The science of scientific agencies from within the civil 1940 hydrology is thus intimately connected with the development of service. Mendenhall had made notable DOI combines the Bureau of human society. In each project, advance in hydrology has come contributions to the geology of Alaska, Fisheries and the Bureau of in response to the needs of the people, and each advance in the and his study of ground-water hydrology Biological Survey to form the science has made possible more effective service.” established it as a field of scientific U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endeavor. (USFWS). 14 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
is considered by many to be Understanding and and sediment removal. As this The USGS Library the most used tool worldwide Classifying Wetlands understanding has grown and for quantifying ground-water wetlands policy has changed, The U.S. Geological Survey Library is the largest library for flow systems. MODFLOW Historically, wetlands have resource managers are finding earth sciences in the world. Since its establishment in 1879, it has continued to evolve as new been regarded as swampy lands that classifications or defini- understanding is gained and as tions of different wetland types has acquired more than that bred disease, impeded our Nation increasingly relies are useful for making decisions one million books and agriculture and development, on ground water for drinking and restricted overland travel. with respect to wetland regula- journals, one million maps, water and other uses. Today, tion and protection, understand- 370,000 microforms, 270,000 The wetland policy of the U.S. roughly 500 USGS ground- Government beginning in 1849 ing restoration processes in pamphlets, and 250,000 water hydrologists across the was elimination. It has been wetland types, and identifying photographs. It has been Nation are studying this essen- estimated that more than half of the types of wetlands that are a catalyst for cooperation, tial resource. A growing aware- the naturally occurring wetlands more valuable or more threat- understanding, and new ness of the interdependence of in the lower 48 States have been ened in a given region. discoveries, as scientists surface water and ground water lost since the 1700s. Not until Early wetland classifica- around the world share and is leading to new insights that the last quarter of a century did tion systems in the United study the results of past scientific investigations, current trends will help ensure the Nation has society begin to understand the States were motivated by and techniques, and new research directions. the water it needs for a grow- value of wetlands for wild- interest in converting wetlands ing economy and a growing life habitat, flood attenuation, to croplands and by the need population. to differentiate wetlands from The USGS library system is managed by the Geospatial water-quality improvements, other land-cover types for Information Office (GIO) and includes libraries in Reston, Va.; regional and national planning Denver, Colo.; Menlo Park, Calif.; and Flagstaff, Ariz. There are purposes. Scientists from the also libraries associated with science centers and field offices Fish and Wildlife Service, led across the country holding specialized collections related to the by Lewis Cowardin, worked research of their local scientists. Information describing library with wetland scientists and activities can be found at
effective, precise, and rapid William Thomas Pecora mapping of coastal topography and nearshore bathymetry. William T. Pecora, Director of the USGS from 1965 to 1971, is USGS coastal scientists are largely responsible for two major contributions to public health, using this technique to assess post-storm coastal damage public safety, and public prosperity: the creation of a national and change from hurricanes. earthquake research center at the USGS facility in Menlo Park, The USGS responded to the Calif., and the Landsat series of Earth-observing satellites. impact of Hurricane Isabel in morphology and features in the such as multibeam and sidescan North Carolina in September Pecora joined the USGS in 1939. For several deep ocean, and its value has sonar. To compile interpretive 2003 through a series of meet- years, he investigated strategic-mineral been recognized by the entire maps showing seabed envi- ings with managers from the deposits in the United States and Latin marine community. Results ronments and habitats, USGS Federal Emergency Manage- America and then engaged in a long-range from the GLORIA program scientists developed a sea-floor ment Agency (FEMA) and study of rare mineral deposits in Montana. opened the door to explora- classification system that is the North Carolina State emergency tion for the mineral and energy basis for comparing, managing, agencies. USGS data allowed Named Chief Geologist in 1964, Pecora resources found on and under and researching characteristic the agencies to design appropri- the sea floor. collaborated with NASA, enabling the areas of the seabed. Seabed ate responses to the emergency; More recent work has maps of the sanctuaries are USGS to accelerate its remote-sensing for example, the Department focused on habitat and sea-floor being used for management and research in analyzing the potential of Transportation used the data maps of National Marine Sanc- research decisions that affect to help design and rebuild the values of surveying the Earth from space. tuaries to serve as a basis for commercial and recreational road infrastructure that was lost Pecora carried a broad vision and deep managing sanctuary resources fishing, habitat disturbance, during Hurricane Isabel. As appreciation of the use of satellite system and for conducting research. engineering projects, tourism, population concentrates along programs for continuous inventory and Mapping of seabed habitats and cultural resources. the coastlines, understanding management of our national resources. is a developing field that has The USGS has embraced and characterizing issues of He was a motivating force behind the required the integration of geo- airborne laser mapping coastal erosion and wetland establishment of Earth remote sensing from logic and biologic studies and (LIDAR) for probing the sea- loss will become increasingly space, and it was under his leadership that the Landsat series of the use of imaging techniques floor; this tool enables cost- important. Earth-observing satellites became a reality.
In response to the great Alaska earthquake of 1964, he obtained approval to establish the National Earthquake Research Center in Menlo Park. The Center provided a focus for research on the 1956–1965 1958 Thomas Brennan Nolan is the 7th David Varnes develops a causes and effects of earthquakes and on methods to predict the Director of the USGS. Nolan leads vocabulary of terms to describe time and location of destructive earthquakes. the USGS to a broadened and landslides, thus giving landslide intensified commitment to basic experts a common language. In 1965 Pecora was elected to the National Academy of Sciences research, to the advancement of This system of naming and appointed Director of the USGS. In April 1971, he left the geology in the public service, and landslides first by their material USGS to become Under Secretary of the Interior and served until to the prompt publication of USGS then by the type of movement is his death in 1972, just a few days before the launch of the first results. adopted throughout the world. Landsat satellite. A Proud History of Service 17
Geographic Tools for the Nation Eugene M. Shoemaker
As the Nation grew and Born in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1928, Gene Shoemaker was a visionary geologist. In his early career, he believed geologic changed, the earlier empha- studies would be extended into space and dreamed of being the first geologist to map the Moon. Though he never sis on mapping for resource actually got to the Moon, he created the Branch of Astrogeology within the USGS, established the USGS Field Center in development broadened to Flagstaff, Ariz., and led research teams investigating the Moon. include resource protection and conservation. Through the Shoemaker, known as the “Father of Planetary Geology,” influenced the geosciences in numerous ways. He provided mid-20th century, the USGS the definitive work on basic impact cratering and discovered a number of new craters on Earth. With the help of his focused on providing detailed wife Carolyn (a planetary astronomer) and David Levy, a decade-long survey for Earth-crossing asteroids and comets coverage of the Nation’s topog- led to the discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy, giving science new insight into raphy through a series of maps at 1:24,000 scale, but there both the dynamics of comets and the planetary science of Jupiter. In much of were also increasing demands his asteroid and comet work, Shoemaker collaborated closely with his wife. They considered for other kinds of geographic their work a mom-and-pop operation and together initiated the Palomar Planet-Crossing Asteroid and cartographic informa- Survey in 1973 and the Palomar Asteroid and Comet Survey in 1983. tion. Changes in public policy, customer usage, and technology He once said he considered himself a scientific historian whose mission in life was to relate spurred the development of new geologic and planetary events in a perspective manner—a modest statement from a man who products of broad geographic almost single-handedly created planetary science as a discipline distinct from astronomy. information and reference such His work resulted in more than three decades of discoveries about the planets and asteroids as digital terrain maps, aerial of the solar system. He helped train the Apollo astronauts and sat beside Walter Cronkite photography, and satellite imag- providing commentary during the moon walks. His moon studies culminated in 1994 with Project ery. The acclaimed “National Clementine, for which he was the science team leader. Among numerous awards, he received Atlas of the United States,” pub- the National Medal of Science, the highest scientific honor bestowed by the President of the lished in 1970, was the Nation’s first official atlas. It included United States. more than 700 printed maps
1961 1962 1963 1963 1964 Eugene Shoemaker The USGS begins a program The USGS, in The USGS Mission in Saudi Arabia is For the first time, the founds the of marine studies to identify cooperation with formally established, 19 years after the appropriations and Astrogeology and evaluate potential mineral NASA, begins to first USGS geologist arrived to advise on total funds available Research Program resources on or beneath train astronauts the natural resources of the Kingdom. for the fiscal year and becomes its the sea floor and to aid in in geology and to beginning July 1 first Chief Scientist. solving the problems caused investigate and exceed $100 million. He establishes the by rapid population growth, evaluate methods This is more than Flagstaff Field Center urbanization, and industrial and equipment for double the amount of in 1963. expansion in coastal areas. exploration of just a decade earlier. the Moon. 18 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
James R. Balsley
James R. Balsley, Jr., was one of those rare individuals who is both a first-rate scientist and an exceptional manager. He is fondly remembered for his abiding concern for the welfare of the people showing the physical, histori- EROS Data Center in Sioux doing the science, as well as for the science itself. During his career, he contributed much to the cal, economic, and sociocultural Falls, S. Dak., houses millions field of geology and the long-term scientific health of the USGS. landscape of the Nation. of images of the Earth and rep- A national program for resents a priceless resource for Balsley started at the USGS in 1939, mapping geology in Washington State’s consistent, multiuse aerial science and research for years Olympic Peninsula. During World War II, he began to specialize in geomagnetism photography was established to come. as he worked on geophysical investigations for Federal civilian and military in 1987. The National Aerial The Geographic Names organizations. This work led to aeromagnetic surveys of Antarctica and Alaska in Photography Program is an Information System (GNIS), the late 1940s. He developed new geophysical techniques to improve mapping of interagency Federal effort coor- developed by the USGS in deep geologic structures and to detect hidden ore bodies. In the 1950s, as Chief dinated by the USGS, covering cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, con- of the Branch of Geophysics, Balsley established the Rock Magnetism Project, a the lower 48 States and Hawaii. tains information for almost 2 project that led to key discoveries supporting the theory of plate tectonics. Photographs are acquired from airplanes flying at an altitude of million physical and cultural 20,000 feet. The program was geographic features in the Balsley was a strong proponent for applying USGS science to societal problems. He established the originally developed to assist United States. The Federally Land Information and Analysis Office, where staff worked directly with land-planning organizations, in updating USGS topographic recognized name of each fea- Federal and State hazard coordinators, and other groups to translate and apply USGS science to maps, but other Federal and ture described in the database their needs. This activity led to a new role in environmental studies for the USGS that continues State agencies have found these is identified, and references are today. As Assistant Director, Balsley successfully coordinated USGS research programs with those photos useful for their needs as made to a feature’s location by of most other agencies in the Federal Government. well. USGS has provided lead- State, county, and geographic ership for over 30 years in the coordinates. The GNIS is our Balsley left a legacy of outstanding scientific imagination and exceptional managerial creativity. His Landsat program of land remote Nation’s official repository of strong emphasis on applying the results of USGS science to societal issues remains a fundamental sensing. The USGS archive domestic geographic names operating principle of the USGS today. of remote-sensing data at the information.
1964 1964 1965 1965–1971 The Prince William Sound, Congress passes the Wilderness Scientists at the Patuxent William Thomas Pecora is Alaska, earthquake of magnitude Act, setting more than 9 million Wildlife Research Center the 8th Director of the USGS. 9.2 results in massive destruction acres of national forest lands aside play a role in crafting Pecora leaves the USGS in 1971 in Anchorage. USGS geologists from permanent roads, buildings, the Endangered Species to become the Under Secretary are assigned to the Task Force and commercial activities. The Preservation Act, and of the Interior. of the Federal Reconstruction USGS and the U.S. Bureau of research on endangered and Development Planning Mines are asked to assess the species begins as an Commission to select sites for U.S. Army mineral resources in each area effort to recover the rebuilding. The establishment of the USGS’s Center for Earthquake of the proposed or established whooping crane from near Research in Menlo Park, Calif., follows. wilderness by the end of 1983. extinction. Challenges and Opportunities Today 19 Jupiter Images shaking triggered by an earth- ellites to map the Nation’s land major river basins and aquifer sustain the health of aquatic quake—are not constrained use and land cover, the biophys- systems across the Nation—the ecosystems through improved Challenges and by political boundaries. The ical pattern of natural vegetation source for more than 60 percent stream protection and restora- Opportunities Today USGS has the unique ability and agriculture, and wilderness of the Nation’s drinking water tion management, and other and duty to conduct large-scale and urban areas. The USGS and water for irrigation and tasks. regional and national assess- leads a nationwide effort to map industry. Each assessment Determining the sta- ments that provide an accurate land cover, working through a follows a nationally consistent tus (abundance, distribution, National Assessments— portrait of different aspects of consortium of Federal partners. study design and methodology, productivity, and health) and Looking at the Land our land. For example, in the New technologies applied to thereby providing informa- trends (how they are chang- early 1970s, visionary USGS remote-sensing data, including tion about local water-quality ing over time) of our Nation’s Natural processes—the scientists like William Pecora computer modeling and GPS, conditions that can be compared living natural resources is flow of rivers, the migration and James Anderson established give land-cover analysts power- regionally and nationally to critical to facilitate research, of birds, the ground the capabilities to routinely use ful tools to deliver consistent, provide insight on where and enable resource management instruments on orbiting sat- current nationwide data when water quality varies and and stewardship, and promote that address a wide on the influence of human and public understanding and appre- variety of issues, from natural factors on water quality. ciation of our living resources. planning and develop- Water-quality professionals at The USGS Status and Trends ment to natural hazards and local, State, Tribal, and national of Biological Resources the environment. levels use this information to Program responds to these The USGS conducts develop strategies for manag- needs through inventory and nationwide water-quality ing, protecting, and monitoring monitoring efforts at multiple assessments designed to answer, water resources in many dif- biological, spatial, and temporal in a scientifically defensible ferent hydrologic and land-use scales. For example, to support way, the question, “What is the settings across the Nation. This recovery efforts of threatened quality of the Nation’s water?” information can help identify and endangered species such as The National Water-Quality key causes of nonpoint-source the grizzly bear, hair samples Assessment Program assesses pollution in agricultural and are collected and analyzed for the quality of streams and urban areas, contribute to State their genetic makeup and then ground water in more than 50 assessments and planning, used to estimate the size of the
1966 1966 1970s The North DOI establishes the Earth Resources Observation Systems The National Wetlands American (EROS) Program in Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Research Center is the first Breeding Bird to document the unique and Survey, a program tremendous wetland loss in coordinated Jupiter Images 1970 Louisiana. jointly between the The National Atlas of the United States of America, the USGS and the Canadian Wildlife Service, begins as a long-term, Nation’s first official atlas, is published. It describes the Nation large-scale, international avian monitoring program to track the extensively, with more than 700 physical, historical, economic, status and trends of North American bird populations. sociocultural, and administrative maps. 20 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
grizzly bear population. To Jayne Belnap satisfy international agreements and treaties, guide the establish- Jayne Belnap leads the sort of interesting, accomplished, ment of fishing limits, inform and well-traveled life many of us dream about. She studies management, and facilitate our understanding of fish communi- how different land uses—including some of our favorite ties and their interaction within recreational activities, such as hiking and biking, and activities the Great Lakes, annual fish that support our society, such as livestock grazing and energy trawl surveys in all five Great exploration—affect the fertility and stability of desert soils. Lakes are conducted. The Status Applying that knowledge, she then and Trends program periodi- studies the factors that make some cally assembles the information desert communities susceptible from these and other efforts to to invasion by exotic plants, while then publish comprehensive others remain uninvaded, despite reports that synthesize our similar use patterns. Using repeat understanding of the Nation’s ical ecosystems and to analyze Flyway. Unfortunately, the photography, she has also examined biological and ecological resources. the effectiveness of restoration commercial, economic, and rec- how plant communities in the West activities. The Chesapeake Bay, reational value of the bay and have changed over the past 100 the San Francisco Bay, and the its watershed has been degraded years. Ecosystem Assessment Platte River Valley are among by poor water quality, loss of and Restoration the ecosystems under study. habitat, and overharvesting of Her studies have taken her to a The Chesapeake Bay, the living resources. The restoration number of exotic places, including Working with other Fed- Nation’s largest estuary, has of the bay and its watershed is South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, eral partners, States, and local historically supported one of the overseen by the Chesapeake Mongolia, China, Siberia, Australia, governments, the USGS is help- most productive fisheries in the Bay Program, which is a and Iceland, where she advises ing to provide data and scien- world, and the bay’s watershed partnership among States, the scientists and managers on how to tific understanding to assess the provides vital habitat for migra- District of Columbia, Federal maintain soil fertility and stability water and habitat quality of crit- tory birds using the Atlantic agencies, and the Chesapeake while still using the land. She also travels extensively within the United States, interacting with and training Federal, State, and private land managers on 1970s 1970s how to best manage dryland ecosystems. The Cooperative Park USGS scientist Russell Campbell develops Study Units, a university- the concept for documenting rainfall Belnap has been a scientist with the Department of the based program of duration and intensity as it is associated Interior since 1987 and is currently with the USGS in Moab, scientific studies on the with shallow landslides. The concept Utah. She is the past Chair for the Soil Ecology section of ecological, environmental, will later be refined by Susan Cannon, the Ecological Society of America, is President-Elect of the and sociological aspects Stephenson Ellen, Gerald Wieczorek, and of park and wildland others and will be essential for the near- international Soil Ecology Society, is a subject editor for the management, begin, real-time landslide warning systems that the journal Ecological Applications, and participates in a number benefiting both the parks USGS will operate in cooperation with State of other professional functions. and the universities. and local governments. Challenges and Opportunities Today 21
Francisco Bay will evaluate the success of marsh restora- tion and study how climate is National Wildlife Health Center linked to watershed processes and freshwater flow, providing Occasional reports of large-scale wildlife disease events numerical models of the system surfaced in the early 1900s. By the early 1970s, there were still to State and Federal water only a few laboratories where wildlife disease was the subject managers. of serious scientific inquiry. In January Bay Commission. Since the late few commercial fisheries in the The unique land and water 1973, however, a die-off of 40,000 mallards 1970s, the USGS has provided system, several of the remain- resources of the central Platte at the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge unbiased scientific information ing native fish are endangered River Valley created a natural in South Dakota brought wildlife disease that is used to help formulate, or threatened, the contamina- “highway” for people and wild- implement, and assess the effec- tion of recreationally important life in Nebraska, along which into the national spotlight. Two years tiveness of restoration goals to sport fishes is sufficient to limit half a million sandhill cranes later, the National Wildlife Health Center reduce nutrient and sediment to consumption by people, and and several million other water- (NWHC) was established in Madison, Wis., the bay and improve habitats for the need for more freshwater fowl migrate each year. The launching a nationwide wildlife health fish and migratory birds in the is a critical component of the valley also provides living space program. The laboratory’s first director, bay and its watershed. political landscape of California for nine endangered species, Milton Friend, is internationally recognized for Since 1849, the San and other Western States. The including the whooping crane, his accomplishments in the fields of wildlife health and wildlife Francisco Bay area has been USGS is a founding member piping plover, and interior least disease ecology; his leadership of the wildlife health program set altered to meet demands for of the Interagency Ecological tern. Changes in water manage- a standard for excellence that has been consistently maintained. agricultural and urban land, Program for the San Francisco ment, sediment levels in the Wildlife health touches a broad range of issues including freshwater, and the riches sup- Bay and freshwater delta, a river, and land use have changed public health and domestic animal health; the focus on wildlife plied by gold deposits in the group of 10 members including the river channel and nearby as a function of ecosystem health is a specialty of the NWHC. watershed. Tidal marshes have State, Federal, and nongovern- wet meadows, reducing their been filled, freshwater has been ment organizations. USGS ability to support migratory and Understanding the role of disease agents in ecosystems is diverted, and many nonnative studies have focused on water resident birds and other plants critical to managing natural resources and preserving ecosystem species have been imported and quality and on how tidal waters and animals. USGS scientists function under ever-increasing demands on our planet’s natural released, whether intentionally and freshwater flow through the are continuously monitoring resources. NWHC research on zoonotic diseases (those that or by accident. Today, there are system. New projects in San Platte River streamflow and can be transferred between animals and humans) concentrates on improving our understanding of the ecological relationships among free-ranging wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. The Center works closely with other Federal and State agencies 1971–1978 and Native communities to provide dedicated field support and Vincent Ellis McKelvey is the 9th Director. McKelvey, a former Chief exceptional diagnostic and research capabilities that can be Geologist and career USGS scientist, heads an organization that has an applied to manage and prevent disease outbreaks. operating budget of $173 million and 9,200 employees. General-purpose topographic maps are available for 84 percent of the total area of the Through its commitment to scientific excellence, the NWHC has 50 States and territories, streamflow data are collected at more than become the most comprehensive facility in the world dealing 11,000 gaging stations, and mineral production from lands supervised specifically with wildlife health and disease. It has achieved by the USGS is valued at more than $3 billion. McKelvey’s term is a national and international reputation, emerging as a leader marked by an increase in multidisciplinary studies and in the complexity in wildlife health through preeminent science, innovative of USGS operations. technology, and responsive service. 22 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
water temperature and transmit- as for a growing number of the presence of environmental Timothy L. King ting the data to publicly acces- malformed individuals, are toxins that are easily absorbed sible World Wide Web pages; poorly understood. In 2000, through the skin. To most of us, a salmon is a salmon, but to Tim King, a using satellite tracking to follow the USGS began the Amphib- Understanding how these Research Fishery Biologist with the USGS, there are individual cranes throughout ian Research and Monitoring unique characteristics relate to their intercontinental migra- Initiative (ARMI) to monitor population declines requires considerable and important differences between the tion routes; and partnering with trends in amphibian populations a multidisciplinary approach. salmon of different areas. King conducts molecular the National Aeronautics and and learn more about the causes Biologists study life cycles, genetics research on threatened and endangered Space Administration (NASA) of their declines. Amphibians habitat interactions, and popula- species, and his job is to understand diversity to develop remote-sensing have many unique or unusual tion trends. Hydrologists and in the smallest of groupings. He focuses on the techniques that provide quick development characteristics. geographers investigate surface development of DNA markers that allow assessment and accurate data to researchers For example, most amphib- water and the landforms that of population genetic structure, phylogeography, assessing changes in chan- ians spend part of their lives influence the size, flow, and and phylogenetics. His goal is to provide natural nel shape and determining the in aquatic habitats; others can distribution of water bodies. resource managers with the guidance they need to effects of riverbank changes on breathe through their skin. Cartographers bring an under- identify appropriate units of conservation. King headed a group ecological communities. These characteristics make standing of spatial relationships. of researchers who established the existence of distinct genetic them more susceptible to envi- Chemists and toxicologists differences between North American and European Atlantic ronmental changes, study the effects of contami- America’s Amphibians: such as the loss nants on individual animals and salmon and between Maine and Canadian salmon. Considerable Vanishing from the of aquatic populations. Many pos- differentiation was also identified among salmon inhabiting Landscape? habitat and sible causes of amphibian streams of coastal Maine. King’s Atlantic salmon research was decline have been pro- reviewed and unequivocally supported by a Congressionally Amphibian populations posed recently. Declines mandated National Academy of Sciences panel of geneticists. In throughout the world, includ- in some amphibian case you think there’s something fishy about his research area, ing frogs and salamanders populations may be the King has also made significant contributions to the understanding in the United States, have of the biology and population structure of Atlantic sturgeon, brook declined markedly over the trout, spotted salamanders, wood frogs, bog turtles, horseshoe past 20 years, but the reasons crabs, and black bears. for these declines, as well
1972 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency bans DDT after Patuxent Wildlife Research Center scientists discover that DDT, 1973–1974 In 1973, the USGS moves its National Headquarters to a new in addition to causing bird deaths, can cause other reproductive building in Reston, Va. The building, the John Wesley Powell failures. Building, is formally dedicated on March 3, 1974, as the fifth National Center. The USGS takes on the responsibility for 1972 operational research in seismology and geomagnetism by A cooperative program involving the USGS, NASA, and agreement with NOAA, and part of NOAA is transferred to the universities to systematically map the geology of Mars results in USGS. a shaded-relief map of Mars. Challenges and Opportunities Today 23 result of natural fluctuations, Tracking Down organizations, academia, private but some of the declines are Biological Information industry, and international insti- L. David Mech likely the result of the introduc- tutions. The NBII links diverse, tion of a contaminant or altera- Information on local, high-quality biological data- Dave Mech wasn’t raised by wolves, tion of a habitat. Regional phe- regional, State, and global biol- bases, information products, but after reviewing his career, you might nomena like changes in climate, and analytical tools maintained ogy is available from thou- think so. He has studied wolves and their introduction of nonnative com- by NBII partners and other sands of databases across the prey in northeastern Minnesota since petitive species, or exposure to landscape. Making this wealth contributors. NBII partners and pathogens may also play a part. collaborators also work on new 1968; in Yellowstone since 1995; and in of existing information acces- Denali National Park, Alaska, from 1986 to Many herpetologists believe sible is the challenge that led to standards, tools, and technolo- 1995—not to mention that each summer that a combination of stresses the creation of the NBII—the gies that make it easier to find, from 1986 to 1996 he lived with a pack of is being placed on amphibian National Biological Informa- integrate, and apply biological populations and that the com- tion Infrastructure. NBII is a resources information. wolves in Canada’s High Arctic, studying bination of stresses puts some broad, collaborative program to their behavioral interactions and their Jerry Sanders species at risk more than others. provide increased access to data predation on musk oxen and arctic hares. Rigorous long-term studies of and information on the Nation’s He continues to study wolves and their prey there each summer. amphibians are needed to assess biological resources. Resource the magnitude and direction of managers, scientists, educa- Mech is a Senior Research Scientist with the Northern Prairie changes in amphibian popula- tors, and the general public Wildlife Research Center and an Adjunct Professor at the tions. Interagency partnership use the NBII to answer a wide University of Minnesota in St. Paul. He began working for the is a critical component of the range of questions related to the Department of the Interior as a Wildlife Research Biologist for ARMI program. The USGS management, use, or conserva- the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1968. is partnering with Federal and tion of this Nation’s biological State agencies, herpetological resources. It is an information He has chaired the Wolf Specialist Group of the World societies, conservation advo- pipeline coordinated by the Conservation Union (IUCN) since 1978 and is the founder and cacy organizations, and edu- USGS, whose contents are vice chair of the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minn. Mech cational institutions to find the supplied by partners in Federal, causes and the solutions for our State, and local government has been involved with many international projects, including disappearing amphibians. work on wolves in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia; leopards
agencies, nongovernmental USFWS and lions in Kenya and Tanzania; and tigers, elephants, lions, and other species in India. His many awards include The Wildlife 1976 1977 1978 Society’s Aldo Leopold Award for Distinguished Service to The USGS Library closes the Congress directs the USGS The Conterminous U.S. Minerals Wildlife Conservation. traditional card catalog and to establish a national water- Assessment Program is created. establishes a digital catalog. use information program. It For those of us who would like to know more about wolves and becomes part of the Federal- other wildlife but aren’t quite ready to spend our summers living 1977 State cooperative program. 1978 with them, Mech has published 10 books and more than 300 Congress passes the USGS joins the Advanced scientific and popular articles. His latest book, a comprehensive Earthquake Hazards Reduction 1978 Research Projects Agency reference work, titled “Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Act of 1977, to reduce the loss The National Seismic Network Network (ARPANet), a Conservation,” was published in September 2003 and is now in of life and property from future is established. forerunner of the internet. its second printing. earthquakes. 24 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey Bureau of Land Management USDA, Forest Service The NBII is organized in The Gap Analysis Program ods to extend coverage to fish, Cooperative Research Units nodes. The California Informa- (GAP) was created to provide mussels, crayfish, snails, and tion Node, for example, pro- clear, geographically explicit other species and will expand to Every year, USGS scientists advise and mentor more than vides data discovery, exchange, information on the distribu- more species as knowledge and 670 graduate students as part of USGS participation in the and interoperability for tion of native vertebrates, their resources allow. GAP projects resources critical to the study habitat preferences, and their rely on the participation of Cooperative Research Units program. The program was of California’s diverse ecosys- management status, informa- nearly 500 cooperating State established in 1935 to train personnel in the rapidly growing field tems, with an initial emphasis tion needed to complement and Federal agencies, academic of wildlife management, and later fisheries, and to provide better on invasive species issues. The species-by-species management and nonprofit institutions, and technical information for professional wildlife and fisheries Southern Appalachian Informa- in the context of large-scale private industry. managers. It has become one of the USGS’s tion Node focuses on providing loss of habitat. The program strongest links to Federal and State land and access to data and information goal is to develop predictive natural-resource management agencies. that will facilitate tracking, information that can be used to Monitoring at Many understanding, and predict- manage the Nation’s biodiver- Levels The program is a unique model of ing changes in biodiversity in sity so that ordinary plant and cooperative partnerships among Federal Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, animal species will not become Remotely sensed data are fundamental tools for study- and State Governments, academia, and the and Mississippi, with a par- threatened with extinction. GAP ing the Earth’s land surface, Bill Pine Wildlife Management Institute. Today, there ticular interest in measuring promotes the conservation of including coastal and nearshore are 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units located and mitigating human impacts biodiversity by developing and through technology and educa- sharing information on where environments. The USGS has on university campuses in 38 States. By pooling resources, tion. The Fisheries and Aquatic species and natural communi- been a leader for decades in everyone benefits: the USGS provides Federal research Resources Node provides an ties occur and how they are providing remotely sensed data scientists; the universities provide office space, administrative extensive array of data on being managed for long-term to the national and international support, and access to university facilities; the State game and managed fish strains, popula- survival. It is an important communities. Stemming from fish agencies provide base funding and logistical support for tions, and broodstocks located part of the NBII. GAP began its historical topographic map- research activities; and the Wildlife Management Institute helps throughout the United States, by mapping distributions of ping mission, the USGS has to coordinate the program at a national level. as well as watershed-based data amphibian, bird, mammal, and archived and distributed aerial and extensive State-by-State reptile species. The program photography of the United Unit scientists and their students conduct applied research on fishing resources. is currently developing meth- States for more than half a cen- current fish and wildlife issues to address the needs of State and Federal cooperators and partners. Their projects range in scale from microscopic to landscape and cover a wide range 1978–1981 1979 of topics on game and nongame animals and their habitats. Unit H. William Menard is the 10th Menard’s first year in office includes studies address State and Federal agency information needs on Director of the USGS. the centennial of the USGS. The biodiversity and conservation biology, migratory birds, inland appropriation is about $640 million, and fisheries, anadromous fish, habitat assessment, population total funds available are $765 million. estimation and modeling, and numerous other topics. Scientists The USGS staff numbers more than and students provide technical assistance to State and Federal 12,000 (including contractors). The USGS is one of only a few Federal agencies, helping them to apply the research findings to their agencies to survive for 100 years specific needs in areas as diverse as Everglades National Park with its original name and mission in Florida and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. unchanged. Challenges and Opportunities Today 25 tury. Since 1972, the USGS has ence community to evaluate System, and the North Ameri- acquired, processed, archived, manmade and natural changes can Breeding Bird Survey. Jean Parcher and distributed Landsat and to the surface features of the The Earth and its processes other satellite and airborne planet. USGS scientists and are always more complex than Jean Parcher can trace her interest in geography to her remotely sensed data products engineers are investigating new we can imagine. As a result, grandfather, a worldwide shipping merchant. He inspired to users worldwide. Today, the types of satellite systems and long-term, geographically a wanderlust that has taken her on many journeys through USGS operates and manages sensors, studying promising diverse data sets reveal much Central and South America, including a 3-year tour of duty with the Landsat 5 and 7 satellite new data sources, developing more than expected and are missions and cooperates with new data acquisition programs essential tools for protecting the Peace Corps, where she volunteered in rural community NASA to define and implement and sources, and assessing the lives and property; manag- development for the Costa Rica Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her future satellite missions that potential for new data applica- ing water, energy, mineral, experiences there provided her with an excellent foundation to will continue and expand the tions. In addition, the USGS and biological resources; and succeed in her role of coordinating the acquisition of geospatial collection of moderate resolu- is seeking new ways to make enhancing the quality of life. mapping data in Texas. The cost of generating quality sources tion remotely sensed data. remotely sensed data products New monitoring—whether of mapping data is expensive unless the burden is shared by Remotely sensed data are more accessible to users, as space-based, airborne, or on the many partners and the data made publicly available. Parcher critical sources of information well as ways to expand and ground—leads to advances in coordinates partnerships by bringing together various State, for studying sources for energy enhance overall use of remotely our understanding of the Earth Federal, and Mexican agencies and minerals, coastal environ- sensed data and remote-sensing and its processes. with similar geospatial data mental surveys, assessments of technology. mapping needs, such as economic natural hazards (earthquakes, Remotely sensed data are development planning, homeland volcanoes, and landslides), complemented by a wide range Real-Time Data— biological surveys and investi- of on-the-ground measuring Critical for Many Users security planning, natural hazards gations, water resources status and monitoring systems that analysis, agricultural production, and and trends analyses and studies, provide a higher level of detail In the past 25 years, monitoring urban growth changes to and geographic and carto- and accuracy. Many of these technological advances have the environment. graphic applications such as systems are described else- dramatically improved our abil- wildfire detection and tracking. where in this book, including ity to communicate informa- To better understand the needs of The archive of remotely sensed the streamgaging network, the tion quickly and accurately to her partners, Parcher wanted to data is used by the global sci- Advanced National Seismic an extremely diverse group of broaden her knowledge in science issues. Through the USGS graduate program, she found the opportunity to return to her studies. 1980 1980s Her research on comparing land use and flood hazards for two Mount St. Helens erupts on May Instream Flow Incremental cities along the U.S./Mexico border was selected as one of the 18. In 1978, USGS geologists had Methodology (IFIM) is best theses at the University of Texas in 2003. Currently, she is forecast that a violent eruption developed to provide a working with the three other USGS disciplines to develop a bi- was probable. On March 27, it is mechanism for managers national geographic information database along the U.S./Mexico determined that the possibility of to determine the effects of border to analyze environmental affects on human health issues. eruption is great enough to issue their decisions on riverine Her ability to conduct meetings in Spanish and to cross cultural a hazard warning. The eruption systems. This integrates several barriers, honed during her Peace Corps days, greatly enhances on May 18 results in 57 deaths scientific disciplines into a and flooding on the Toutle and single comprehensive habitat- her work and contributes to the success of the project. lower Cowlitz Rivers. analysis tool. 26 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
users. From real-time stream- than 800 other Federal, State, informed decisions about evacu- Web Accessibility flow monitoring to mapping and local partners who use the ation and protection of personal wildfire perimeters, providing information for planning and property. Anything from a game show question to a flood or earthquake earthquake information minutes management of water resources; In much of the West, fire can cause hits on the USGS Web site to jump significantly. after an event, and enabling design of bridges, dams, and is a primary concern. Dur- access to more than 100 years treatment facilities; research ing the 2000 fire season, over Whether it’s idle curiosity about minerals, an unquenchable thirst of published books and maps, on changes in land and water 79,000 wildfires burned nearly for knowledge about water, or an urgent need for information the World Wide Web is a use; and safe recreation and 7 million acres of land along about a hazard—the USGS is working to make the information powerful tool for tapping into enjoyment on rivers, lakes, with hundreds of structures and available to anyone who may want or need it. The USGS ensures the wealth of USGS informa- and streams. The data from the valuable natural resources. In that all breaking news published on the Web is accessible to tion. The USGS is committed to streamgages are transmitted by response, the USGS partnered adaptive technology. Its top 20 Web sites all comply with the ensuring that all electronic and satellite and radio to a distrib- with other Federal land man- requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Amendments information technology devel- uted system of mirrored servers. of 1998, Section 508. Procedures are in place on all USGS Web oped, procured, maintained, or In Louisiana, which leads the pages to provide alternative access for applications that are used by the USGS is accessible Nation in property damage inherently not accessible to adaptive technology. The USGS has to people with disabilities, caused by floods, an innova- collaborated with other Federal agencies and industry on how including both employees and tive interactive flood-tracking to provide alternate access to its maps. In the early 1970s, the the customers we serve. chart for the Amite River basin The USGS operates a is helping to protect lives and USGS was one of the first Federal agencies to produce Braille nationwide network of nearly property. People in the Amite and textile maps. Many USGS maps are so complex that no 7,000 real-time streamgages River basin can click on a map technology is currently available to make them accessible to and more than 1,000 real- of the basin and place the cursor people who are visually impaired. To address their needs, USGS time water-quality monitoring over any of the nine highlighted has adopted several strategies, including links to descriptive stations that provide critical gages to see a chart showing text for the less complicated maps and contact information hydrologic information in time current river level, the National on all USGS Web pages so that people can call or e-mail their for effective decisionmaking Weather Service flood stage, questions and ask for assistance in finding information. The about flooding, drought, and and the highest recorded river USGS is firmly committed to ensuring that its scientific research water supply. The network is levels at that location. Using results, in all formats, are fully accessible to everyone. funded by the USGS and more this information, they can make
1981–1993 1982 1983 Dallas Lynn Peck is the 11th Part of the USGS staff and President Reagan proclaims an Director of the USGS. operating budget is split Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 1980s off to become the Minerals which extends jurisdiction of Research at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Management Service. The the United States for a distance Md., and the National Wildlife Health Center, Wis., leads to the Conservation Division and of 200 nautical miles seaward eventual banning in 1991 of lead shot for waterfowl hunting and part of the marine geology of the Nation’s shorelines. the acceptance of non-toxic alternatives. USGS scientists also program, about 23 percent of Geological Long-Range Inclined document toxic effects of selenium on birds and other biota at the personnel and 29 percent Asdic (GLORIA) imagery is the the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge and study many other sites in the of the operating budget of the first systematic mapping of sea- Western United States that received irrigation drainwater. USGS, are reassigned to the floor morphology and features new agency. in the deep ocean. Challenges and Opportunities Today 27 agement agencies to create an online resource for fire manag- Thomas Loveland ers. This Web-based mapping tool allows fire personnel and As a South Dakota native, Tom Loveland has never had to the public to access online venture far to know what’s going on around the world. He views maps of multiacre blazes. Fire the Earth from a vantage point in the farmland of eastern South locations, weather data, and Dakota, the USGS EROS Data Center, where images of the world near-real-time satellite data are integrated with shaded relief, stream in from Earth-orbiting satellites. For nearly 25 years, 15 roads, cities, and other informa- of which have been with the USGS, Loveland has used remote tion. Fire perimeter data are and reporting on earthquake usage, peaking between 3 and sensing to study the Earth’s changes. updated daily with input from activity across the United States 30 minutes after the event. incident intelligence sources, and internationally, and this To accommodate this surge Loveland, a USGS research geographer, uses images of the GPS data, and infrared imagery activity increasingly takes place in traffic, USGS contracted Earth to study the changing patterns of land use and land cover. from airplanes and satellites. through theWeb. The media, with Akamai Technologies to He’s learned that changes in the land can lead to The GeoMAC (Geospatial emergency responders, public provide Web content delivery unexpected changes in the weather, water quality, Multi-Agency Coordination) officials, and other individuals that is geographically distrib- and wildlife habitat and can play an important around the world now depend Web site allows users anywhere uted around the world and spans role in stimulating local economies. He led a on USGS Web-based earth- a large number of networks, in the world to manipulate map team that created the first detailed and validated information displays, zoom in quake reports as the primary thus avoiding the possibility global map of land use and land cover. Working and out to display fire informa- source for real-time information of a single or regional point with geographers from USGS facilities across the tion at various scales and detail, about destructive earthquakes. of failure, as well as offering and download and print mate- Accordingly, Web servers that enhanced performance to a dis- country (both in the field and with satellite images rial for use in fire information provide earthquake informa- tributed base of USGS custom- in laboratories), Loveland is striving to provide the and media briefings, dispatch tion see tremendous surges in ers. With this service, USGS most detailed documentation ever assembled on offices, and coordination cen- traffic after an earthquake. The can guarantee rapid delivery of the rates and causes of land-use and land-cover ters. typical pattern shows an abrupt the information that emergency change in the United States. The USGS has Federal increase in the rate of hits to managers and the public need responsibility for monitoring as much as 1,000 times normal after a significant earthquake. Over the years, the scale of Loveland’s investigations has shifted from global to national to regional. He has been involved in design studies for monitoring landscape conditions in more than 1984 1986 25 countries, including such remote corners of the world as The first National Water The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) pilot program Somalia, Uganda, and Chad. He has also studied land-use and Summary is published, begins. land-cover characteristics in settings from Alaska to Florida and describing hydrologic events most places in between. and water conditions for the 1986 water year. Also, the first The National Loveland is active in the development of national and Geographic Names six studies of major regional international land-cover science initiatives and has held many Database is created. aquifer systems studies are leadership roles. He has been honored with career achievement published. awards from the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the Association of American Geographers. 28 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Earthquake Monitoring ground and in buildings in 26 and the private sector, helping David J. Wald for a Safer America urban areas across the United to guide the response and speed States that face significant the economic recovery. One key Before 1999, the only information available in the minutes To collect the essential risk from earthquakes. These ANSS product is ShakeMap, following a damaging earthquake was the location and earthquake information that digital instruments record how an online map of the extent different types of ground and of ground shaking that can be magnitude of the event, which simply was not enough to help people need and to address the structures shake during a strong posted on the Web within 5 to emergency responders determine where their help was needed sharply increasing cost of earth- quakes in the past two decades, earthquake, enabling engineers 10 minutes of an earthquake. most. Dave Wald, a research seismologist at to greatly improve the current First developed in Southern the USGS, revolutionized earthquake response the USGS is developing the Advanced National Seismic design standards for buildings, California as part of TriNet, with much-needed, real-time seismology tools System (ANSS), a nationwide lifelines, and other structures ShakeMap is a valuable tool for that use the speed and accessibility of the Web network of at least 6,000 state- and to identify critical weak- emergency response, loss esti- to deliver post-earthquake information when of-the-art earthquake sen- nesses of current structures. mation, and public information. it’s needed most—right after an earthquake. sors, or seismometers, on the ANSS is based on the Earthquake monitoring One such tool is ShakeMap. ShakeMap uses success of TriNet, a 5-year col- instruments are also being shaking levels recorded by a dense network laborative project between the installed in a dense network of seismic stations in the Advanced National USGS, the California Institute around and underneath the town Seismic System to map the distribution of of Technology, and the Cali- of Parkfield in central Cali- fornia Geological Survey, with fornia. Moderate earthquakes shaking, pointing to areas most likely to have experienced funding from FEMA. That part- have occurred on the Parkfield damage. These maps, available online within 5 to 10 minutes nership began in 1997 with the section of the San Andreas fault after an earthquake, provide the basis for emergency response goal of creating a better real- at fairly regular intervals for coordination, estimation of damage and losses, and information time earthquake information the past 150 years. The USGS for the public and the media. ShakeMap minimizes business system for Southern California. and the California Geological disruption, reduces the economic impact of an earthquake, and Although still under construc- Survey began closely moni- enables a more timely and prioritized response that helps save tion, ANSS is already providing toring the area in 1985. The lives. ShakeMap is now running in five metropolitan areas across detailed information about the latest step is a project, the San the United States, and implementation efforts are underway in a severity of earthquakes to emer- Andreas Fault Observatory at number of other urban centers. gency responders in government Depth, funded primarily by the
Another Walk contribution, the Community Internet Intensity or “Did You Feel It” maps, uses citizens’ observations to collect 1988 1988 information about ground shaking. Immediately after shaking The Alaska Volcano In cooperation with the Bureau of Census, subsides, Web users can log onto a Web site and record what Observatory begins the USGS completes a 1:100,000-scale they felt and observed during an earthquake. “Did You Feel It” as a joint program digital database of the transportation and has become a popular tool for the public, with more than 350,000 of the USGS, the hydrology features of the conterminous individual entries collected for earthquakes nationwide. Wald’s Geophysical Institute United States. of the University of maps take advantage of the vast numbers of Web users to Alaska Fairbanks, and 1988 provide a more complete and rapid description of what people the Alaska Division The USGS joins the commercial Internet at experienced, the effects of the earthquake, and the extent of of Geological and metropolitan area exchanges (MAEs) on damage than was possible with traditional ways of gathering Geophysical Surveys. the East and West Coasts. information. Challenges and Opportunities Today 29
National Ice Core Laboratory Robert I. Tilling
Locked away in tiny bubbles, trapped beneath layer upon layer of Bob Tilling is no stranger to the hazards of our restless ice, are the secrets of the climate and atmosphere of the ancient planet. He worked as a USGS volcanologist for more Earth. By extracting samples of ice from glaciers, scientists at the USGS National Ice Core Laboratory than 30 years and has served as Scientist-in-Charge at (NICL) in Denver, Colo., are learning what the Earth was like hundreds of thousands of years ago. They the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, as Chief of are gathering information on temperature, precipitation rates, chemistry and gas compositions of the the Office of Geochemistry and Geophysics during the lower atmosphere, volcanic eruptions, solar variability, sea-surface productivity, and other climate and catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens, and as Chief atmospheric indicators. An area of increasing interest is the biological history that may be discovered in Scientist of the USGS Volcano Hazards Team. ice cores, including microbes, DNA, pollen, and the exciting possibility of life in subglacial Antarctic lakes. One of Tilling’s greatest contributions has been his Ice comes to the laboratory in the form of “cores”—cylinders drilled from the polar ice sheets with drills dedication to communicating his knowledge to others. that are like large hollow screws. The cores are transported from Antarctica and Greenland to the lab Over the years, Tilling’s publications in Denver, where the staff assists scientists from around the world in uncovering the information locked have been some of the most popular inside. Safely transporting the cores to Denver requires the cooperation of many organizations, including in USGS history. He took the lead in the National Science Foundation, polar logistics contractors, and the New York Air National Guard. Once communicating scientific goals and the cores have arrived at the lab, the precious collection (valued at perhaps $100 million) is preserved at a applications to the public before constant –36° C in the main storage area. concepts like “outreach” and “public service” became widely The outreach efforts of the lab are extensive. More than 1,500 members of the scientifically interested recognized as critical to USGS public visit each year, media representatives tour the lab and have made documentary films about the missions. work conducted there, and a rapidly growing database about the ice core holdings is available on the NICL Web site
National Science Foundation Partnerships for Thomas S. Ahlbrandt (NSF) and jointly led by USGS Collecting Geographic and Stanford University scien- Data These days, oil and gas resources are a very hot topic. Thomas tists, to drill a deep hole through the San Andreas fault. A pilot S. Ahlbrandt’s in-depth knowledge and diverse experience have Geographic data are vital hole more than a mile deep was made him highly sought after for scientific committees and for homeland security, response drilled next to the deep drill- technical review panels. He is frequently invited to share his to natural disasters, efficient hole site in 2002. Monitoring delivery of government services national mapping has changed expertise with the news media, instruments will be installed (such as the decennial census of dramatically from that of a domestic and foreign government in the pilot hole and the deep population), scientific investi- first-line producer of data and agencies, academic institutions, drill hole to directly reveal, for gations, and effective land and maps to that of a community and industry. the first time, the physical and resource management. In early organizer, partnership facilita- chemical processes controlling 2001, the USGS announced tor, standards coordinator, and Ahlbrandt has conducted and earthquake generation on an a new vision for providing data integrator. State and local directed research investigations active fault. This drilling project geospatial information for the governments have extensive on the origin, distribution, is just one component of NSF’s Nation. This new vision, called mapping capabilities and EarthScope program. The other quantity, and quality of oil and gas The National Map
As Chief of the World Energy project, Ahlbrandt led efforts to conduct collaborative, impartial, and integrated geologic studies 1991 1991 that provided an understanding of the occurrence, quantity, and The National Oil Shale 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles are quality of world energy resources. Database is created. completed for the conterminous United States: More than 33 million person hours Ahlbrandt’s research in the field of eolian (wind-deposited) 1991 and $1.6 billion were invested for this 7.5- The Southern California sediments has also brought him worldwide recognition. He minute series of USGS topographic maps Earthquake Center is that began in the 1930s. developed the eolian sand-movement chronology for the Great established in Pasadena, Plains for the past 10,000 years. This landmark study is of great Calif., with funding from importance for assessing the role of the greenhouse effect on the National Science 1992 the present climate of the Great Plains. Foundation and USGS. The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program is established. Challenges and Opportunities Today 31
pal services (school bus routing, traffic analysis, sanitation National Wetlands Research Center demonstrates how maps made For example, the USGS devel- systems, and so on) and rapid to user specifications can be oped the revolutionary concep- response to natural disasters, Take some coastal storms and occasional hurricanes, mix in a derived from these data. This tual framework that came to industrial accidents, and home- dash of sinking wetlands and rising sea level, add decades of site, at
A GIS is more than just Roger L. Payne “computer mapping.” Through GIS, databases can be linked The United States is one of the largest countries in the world— to maps to create dynamic keeping track of all of its geographic names is a very large task. displays. More importantly, GIS provides tools to analyze and For more than 30 years, Roger L. Payne has been involved with understand these databases in all aspects of the research and standardization of geographic ways not possible with tradi- names. Along the way, he has made quite a name for himself, as tional tabular presentations, well. The Earth’s climate, natural tion sciences, which includes such as spreadsheets. GIS and hazards, population, geology, geographic information systems associated technologies are Payne is the Executive Secretary of the U.S. Board on Geographic vegetation, soils, land use, and as well as the disciplines of essential to the USGS both Names, an interdepartmental body other themes can be analyzed geography (examining the pat- in performing our scientific that standardizes geographic in a GIS by using computer- terns of the Earth’s people and investigations and in delivering ized maps, aerial photographs, physical environment), cartog- name usage throughout the the results of our science to our satellite images, databases, and raphy (mapmaking), geodesy Federal Government. He directs customers and partners. graphs. By analyzing themes (the science of measuring both the Federal and USGS Since the early 1980s, the about the Earth’s hydrosphere, and surveying the Earth), and USGS has been using some geographic names programs. He is lithosphere, atmosphere, and remote sensing (studying the the architect of the Nation’s official form of GIS technology to col- biosphere, a GIS helps people Earth from space). A GIS not lect and analyze geospatially automated geographic names understand patterns, linkages, only manages location-based referenced data. In 1983, USGS repository, the Geographic Names and trends about our planet. information, it also provides scientist Charles Robinove and Information System (GNIS). He Over the past 30 years, tools to visualize, query, and his colleagues published the designed the extensive collection GIS has quietly transformed overlay spatial information in first scientific analysis using phase to populate the database decisionmaking in universi- ways not possible with tradi- GIS, for the Fox-Wolf River and created an automated program to enlist Federal, State, and ties, government, and industry tional methods – whether the basin in Wisconsin. The USGS local participation to help maintain it. He gave the GNIS its Web by bringing digital spatial data subject is characteristics of will increasingly be asked to sets and geographic analysis to a watershed, bird population presence
Among his many distinguished positions, Payne has represented 1994 the Nation, the names board, and the USGS in all matters of The USGS joins the World Wide toponymy (the study of geographic names) at the United Nations Web. since 1987, and he has been head of the U.S. delegation since 1994 1993. He’s participated in exchange programs with Antarctica, A Presidential Executive Order calls for the establishment of China, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The Federal program. He was instrumental in the design of the Pan American Geographic Data Committee launches the NSDI Cooperative Institute of Geography and History’s (PAIGH) toponymic Agreements Program, a major grant program to stimulate NSDI program and has served as adjunct faculty at three universities. http:// activities nationally. Throughout his career, Payne has been dedicated to helping people better understand what’s in a name. Challenges and Opportunities Today 33 these problems will require a Understanding change that have significant broad and integrated research Landscape Change impact on people, the economy, program that is capable of and resource availability. Arlen W. Harbaugh developing highly complex sys- The Earth’s surface Improved understanding and Arlen W. Harbaugh is one of the most sought-after men tem models, using geospatially is changing rapidly and at information about the conse- in science. His advice and counsel are sought by a wide referenced data. an increasing rate, at local, quences of landscape change To meet these challenges, regional, national, and even are needed to help decision- range of people, from the newest USGS employees to the the USGS will continue to global scales. Some of these makers in land-use planning, most experienced quantitative develop a more integrated changes have natural causes, land management, and natural hydrologists. He is not only one bureauwide “Enterprise GIS” such as landslides or drought; resource conservation. One of the world’s most renowned capability that can support more others, such as resource extrac- example where USGS land- ground-water hydrologists; his effective collection, applica- tion, urban growth, and water- scape-change science is making outstanding ability to understand tion, sharing, and reuse of GIS a difference is the study of resource development, are complex hydrologic problems analysis tools and GIS data urban growth and land-use examples of human-induced is combined with an unselfish across the entire organization. New GIS tools for data sharing, Sacramento 1973 Minneapolis-St. Paul 1973 Orlando 1973 attitude toward helping others. data merging, data revision, data analysis, and data visual- Harbaugh began his career in ization will also be developed. Long Island, where he pioneered One key example is mobile an innovative hybrid approach computing—using hand-held, to ground-water modeling. It was a computerized data wireless devices for GIS work acquisition system for one of the largest three-dimensional
(including GIS data collection Sacramento 1992 Minneapolis-St. Paul 1992 Orlando 1992 electric-analog ground-water models in existence and led and analysis in real time right in to one of the first digital three-dimensional ground-water- the field). This technology can flow models. substantially reduce the time it takes for scientists to collect While in New Jersey in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and interpret data to inform Harbaugh worked with Michael McDonald to develop decisionmaking. MODFLOW, a numerical ground-water flow model. MODFLOW has proved to be an outstanding contribution to the field of hydrology and has influenced ground-water 1994 1995 studies worldwide. It is now the standard tool used by Northridge, Calif., earthquake— The National Biological Survey changes its name to the National governmental agencies and the private sector to help magnitude 6.7. Biological Service. protect and manage ground water and has become the 1996 most widely used ground-water flow model in the world. In Congressional appropriations process, the National Biological Service is merged with the USGS to create a single DOI science Harbaugh’s achievements have earned him a special agency, and the USGS Biological Resources Division is established. recognition award from the National Ground Water Association, the USGS Meritorious Service Award, and the 1996 James R. Balsley Award for Technology Excellence. The Bureau of Mines is abolished, and the minerals information team and other programs are transferred to the USGS. 34 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
change. By comparing remotely continue to grow significantly, Flagstaff Science Center sensed images of the same while others have reached cer- region taken in the 1970s, tain physical limits of geogra- The Flagstaff Field Center was established in 1963 to map the Moon and help train astronauts 1980s, and 1990s, decisionmak- phy that restrict their growth. destined for its surface. A wide variety of people, including scientists, cartographers, computer ers gain insight into both the For example, the Los Angeles causes and the consequences scientists, administrative staff, students, contractors, and volunteers, work there in support of efforts basin and San Francisco Bay of urbanization and anticipate regions have little remaining to explore our solar system. Throughout the years, the program has helped process and analyze likely future patterns of urban land available for development. data from missions to different planetary bodies, determine potential landing sites for exploration growth. As a consequence, development vehicles, map our neighboring planets and their moons, and conduct research to better understand Suburbanization has been there is spilling out into the the origins, evolutions, and geologic processes operating on these bodies. an increasing trend since World Mojave Desert beyond the San War II. By the end of the 1960s, Gabriel Mountains or down into The first group of USGS scientists to find a home in Flagstaff was not the astrogeologists, but rather suburbs were no longer simply valleys in Contra Costa, Alam- hydrologists. For 55 years, USGS has been installing, monitoring, and maintaining streamgages in bedroom communities for com- eda, and Santa Clara Counties. northern Arizona, and scientists at Flagstaff continue to work with the cities, counties, and Tribal muting city workers but were The dynamics of American communities of the region to study the availability and sustainability of surface- and ground-water emerging as focal points for cities have not stopped; only resources. More recently, the mission of the Flagstaff Science Center has expanded to include the retail and service sectors of their future evolution is yet to research on biological issues facing the Southwest. Biologists at the Southwest Biological Science the urban economy. The paired be determined. USGS scientists Center at Flagstaff study issues such as how ancient vegetation on the Colorado Plateau has images show that suburbs often will continue to provide infor- developed along main highways responded to climate change and how water released from Glen Canyon Dam affects ecosystems mation on the status and trends in a linear fashion, linking pre- in our changing landscape to and habitats along the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam through the Grand Canyon to Lake existing outlying communities inform regional and national Mead. with the main city. Some cities decisions. Arizona is a long way from Hawaii, but geographers at Flagstaff are using remotely sensed images to map coral reefs off the island of Molokai and to determine how land-use patterns affect erosion, which can dump damaging amounts of sediment onto coral reefs. Closer to home, researchers are developing methods to forecast dust emissions in the Southwestern United States and to evaluate the possibility of disease outbreaks caused by wind-blown dust.
1997 1997 USGS adopts a new identifier and the motto “science for a The Johnston changing world.” Ridge Observatory is dedicated in memory of the USGS scientist 1997 who died on The second National Mount St. Helens. Atlas (electronic version) begins. USDA, Forest Service Challenges and Opportunities Today 35
America’s Least Wanted: Invasive Species June M. Thormodsgard
The introduction of non- There is a subtle yet important difference between being a native species into the United good leader and being a good manager. June M. Thormodsgard States is increasing rapidly. is good at both. As a leader in the scientific field of remote Some, such as pets and orna- sensing, she has been involved in the strategic planning and mental plants, are introduced implementation of a number of critical programs in the USGS. intentionally. Others arrive as As a manager, she has promoted a productive, collegial work hitchhikers associated with environment for scientists, engineers, and operational staff. She global travel and trade. Based has motivated and inspired teams of scientists who are, in their on past experience, 10 to 15 percent of these nonnative spe- own right, national leaders in scientific research. The spread of invasive cies can be expected to establish systems. Some significantly species is considered one of free-living populations, and alter ecosystems, resulting in Thormodsgard has led teams of multidisciplinary researchers the most serious ecological about 1 percent can be expected costly damages due to increases whose mission is to help earth scientists and resource problems facing our Nation to become invasive and cause in fire, flooding, and erosion. A managers use satellite images. These teams serve as a bridge in the 21st century, second significant negative impacts to few are vectors, or carriers, of between academia, government, private research institutions, only to habitat destruction. ecosystems, native species, eco- human diseases. Unfortunately, and practical programs involved in the mapping, monitoring, The invaders include plants, nomic productivity, or human invaders often go unnoticed animals, and microbes that modeling, and management of earth resources. Together, she health. Notorious examples until they have spread to many have been introduced into an and her staff help modern society use include West Nile virus; exotic locations, making eradication environment where they did satellite data to deal with environmental and plants like tamarisk, cheatgrass, difficult. Early detection and not evolve and often have no resource inventory challenges. and kudzu; and animals such as rapid response to invasions are natural enemies to limit their zebra mussels, fire ants, and the essential if we are to prevent reproduction and spread. Many She has served as the DOI Coordinator brown tree snake—all of which major damage to the health of invaders cause huge losses in for LANDFIRE, a joint project with the have inflicted costly damage our ecosystems and economy— agriculture, livestock, fisheries, across the continental United an ounce of prevention is truly U.S. Forest Service to map fire fuels with and other resource production States and the Pacific Islands. worth a pound of cure. satellite imagery and biophysical data. For this project, 32 separate organizations and projects related to fire science and 1998–Present 1999 1999 management were contacted to promote Charles G. Groat is the 13th Landsat 7 is launched. The National Park Service collaboration and reduce overlap. Director of the USGS. begins its Natural Resource Challenge Program. Over time, Thormodsgard has worked to personally mentor the next 1999 it will greatly increase attention generation of leaders, by forming and leading a Women Helping West Nile virus is detected in to biology in terms of inventory, Women group. The group meets regularly to assist women in the United States in New York monitoring, vegetation mapping, State. their efforts to improve their education, advance in their jobs, removal of exotic plants, and and handle the unique pressures associated with balancing support for partners to conduct work and home responsibilities. research in parks. 36 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Invasive species are a tive, and its nonregulatory role Mary Lou Zoback growing threat to the Depart- enable the USGS to provide ment of the Interior’s steward- information and understand- ship of the Nation’s natural ing that are policy relevant but As a geologist and geophysicist for the USGS, Mary Lou Zoback To help address the chal- resources. Invasive plants are policy neutral. That indepen- works to figure out what on Earth—or rather, what in the lenge, the USGS has established currently estimated to infest dence from policy and regula- Earth—causes earthquakes. Specifically, she is interested in the Institute of Invasive Species more than 2.6 million acres in tion has been essential to enable the origin of stresses in the Earth’s crust and their relationship to Science, a consortium of part- the National Park System. By the USGS to provide the unbi- ners including USGS research earthquakes, both along plate boundaries like the San Andreas various estimates, these inva- ased science needed to make centers, NASA, other govern- fault and within plate interiors. Working with her husband and sive species contribute to the informed resource management ment agencies, nongovernmen- colleague Mark Zoback, of the Geophysics Department at decline of 35 to 46 percent of decisions. In the last few years, tal organizations, and universi- Stanford University, she developed methods for determining U.S. endangered and threat- the USGS has set in place a ties. The vision of the institute the present-day distribution of ened species. In some regions, number of mechanisms to better is to provide national leadership forces acting on the Earth’s thin entire ecosystems are being coordinate with the other DOI in invasive species science and transformed. In the Intermoun- bureaus and has dedicated outermost layer, or crust, from a to work with others to dissemi- tain West, invasive plants such funds to address specific depart- variety of data and observations. nate and synthesize current and as cheatgrass are increasing mental science needs. The goal accurate data and research from the frequency and intensity is to enhance science support to From 1986 to 1992, Zoback led many sources to predict and of fire, replacing native spe- meet priority needs for bureaus the World Stress Map project, reduce the effects of harmful cies, and damaging rangeland whose responsibilities include an international collaboration nonnative plants, animals, and values on our public lands. the management of the Nation’s of 40 scientists from 30 different diseases in natural areas and Aquatic invaders, such as the land and natural resources. throughout the Nation. countries, which compiled and zebra mussel, Asian carp, giant Particular emphasis has been interpreted a global database salvinia, and purple loosestrife, placed on restoring degraded on present-day stresses in are transforming our wetlands Science: the Foundation habitats, wildlife issues, the Earth’s crust. This work and inland waters and reducing for Sound Decisions hydrologic and biologic issues demonstrated that broad regions their value for recreation and related to energy development, in the interior of most tectonic wildlife. The scientific mission of and ground-water availability plates are subjected to relatively the USGS, its national perspec- studies. Long-range planning uniform stresses that result from the same forces that cause plate motion. 1999 1999 2000 The Geographic Information Hurricane Floyd causes major The USGS determines how the Zoback has received numerous awards and served on national Office (GIO) is established. floods along the East Coast. genetic makeup of Atlantic and international scientific review and advisory panels. She was salmon differs across their one of 17 scientific experts selected by the National Research 1999 North Atlantic range. The Council to evaluate the potential for ground water to rise to the The USGS implements an discovery is instrumental level of the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository enterprise dial-in remote in providing protection and access, connecting employees management strategies for proposed for Yucca Mountain, Nev., and currently serves on the from multiple locations, the recovery of this fish in its Board on Radioactive Waste Management. She is a member of including their homes. spawning rivers in Maine. the National Academy of Sciences. NOAA Challenges and Opportunities Today 37
Robert H. Meade
Bob Meade’s career with the USGS spans more than 50 years; his work has given society a better understanding of how sediment moves through rivers and estuaries, thereby reshaping the landscape. His contributions have withstood the test NPS NPS NPS of time and become accepted concepts in textbooks and priority setting occur at bay and coral reef health are focus on integrated issues in throughout the world. Meade has extended our DOI headquarters, but the critical issues for both the Fish key areas of Alaska, the Great knowledge of land subsidence; proposed and more significant interactions of and Wildlife Service and the Basin, the arid West, and the substantiated the concept that estuaries are ephemeral features USGS scientists and DOI land National Park Service. Pacific Islands. Projects on the and resource managers occur at The USGS Central Region North Slope of Alaska focus that are constantly being filled with sediment from both land and the local level, managed in the has placed a high priority on on energy development-related marine sources; and developed special sampling methods to regional structure of both the invasive species in riparian and physical and biological issues to measure big rivers and understand the movement and storage of USGS and the other bureaus. aquatic habitats; restoration provide science information for sediment through these river systems throughout the world. In the USGS Eastern ecology to assist other bureaus sound management decisions. Region, science activities in developing interdisciplinary In the Great Basin, ecosystem Perhaps the secret to Meade’s success is his interaction with focus on environmental and strategies to restore habitats sustainability depends on results others. His interests range from art and theatre to the earth human impacts on ecosystems. affected by fire, abandoned of interactions of wildfire and sciences, and his passion for observing the natural world flows Impacts of sea-level rise on mines, or energy extraction; invasive species, as well as on over into the way he shares it with others. He has a talent for low-elevation coastal habitats, coal-bed methane production impacts of geothermal devel- painting pictures with words and communicating scientific effects of urban dynamics on on public lands; and assessment opment. Water continues to images, ideas, and concepts to the public. the sustainability of inner city and modeling of ground-water be a critical issue in the arid public lands, and ecosystem resources at regional scales. West, where there is a need to Meade’s career resembles a great river, linking, benefiting sustainability studies on impacts In the USGS Western develop a clearer understanding from, and influencing the lives and ideas of many distant and of altered freshwater flow on Region, science activities of instream needs for aquatic different scientists. He has mentored many young scientists and worked with scientists from the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Brazil, 2000 2000 Canada, Venezuela, The Great Lakes Science Center The USGS publishes the World Petroleum Assessment and elsewhere. He assembles more than 30 years of survey 2000, providing estimates of undiscovered oil and gas once remarked, “I was data on prey fish and fish populations resources of all lands exclusive of the United States. lucky, over the years, to to sustain the top predators in the Great work with exceptional Lakes. 2000 colleagues. Looking The USGS begins a large-scale transformation of its back, perhaps the 2000 traditional topographic mapping efforts. The National The USGS publishes the Global Seismic Map is a partnership-based effort led by the USGS to greatest joy was being Hazard Map, a cooperative research effort build America’s infrastructure of geographic knowledge able to interact with so among hundreds of scientists from all over and ensure access to current, nationally consistent, many quick and fertile the world. complete, and accurate information. minds.” 38 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
life and improved ability to animals and plants of environ- in response to observed needs. Samuel N. Luoma forecast possible scenarios. The mental, economic, or subsis- USGS employees also assist Hawaiian Islands face invasions tence importance to Native American Indians and Alaska Many people shy away from complexities. USGS hydrologist of exotic species and decline Americans; natural hazards; and Natives by participating in orga- Sam Luoma is not one of them. His work has had a profound of coral reefs. Other DOI geologic resources. The USGS nizations to promote interest in bureaus are working together recognizes the need to learn science among Native peoples impact because he challenges accepted paradigms and tackles with the USGS to develop and from and share knowledge with and to help build and support the complexities of environmental processes. While Luoma has coordinate long-term science Native peoples. USGS works communication networks. made substantial scientific contributions to a variety of areas, strategies. The result will be the with Tribes, Tribal organiza- The USGS encourages he has had particular influence with his studies on the effects incorporation of DOI science tions, Native professional American Indians and Alaska of pollutants, especially metals, in aquatic environments. He priorities into USGS 5-year societies, and the Bureau of Natives to pursue careers in has helped improve the design and function of strategic plans and annual Indian Affairs (BIA) to ascer- science and seeks ways to national programs related to water quality in the operational plans for major tain specific needs and develop facilitate the hiring of quali- United States and Canada. This work includes scientific programs and for all responses that fall within the fied students. For example, service as the first Lead Scientist for the USGS disciplines—biology, mission of the USGS. An the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, CALFED Bay-Delta program, helping to provide geography, geology, and hydrol- American Indian/Alaska Native Sinte Gleska University, and the science to manage the San Francisco Bay ogy. Coordinating Team has been the USGS have been working and the Clark Fork River. His belief in the value established to develop policy together for several years to and to coordinate USGS activi- enhance science education for of long-term datasets for ecological studies USGS and Native ties with Native peoples. Native American students. Dur- led him to play a major role in the conception, Americans—We Are All Within the context of the
Sean Richards design, and implementation of the successful Related Department of the Interior’s USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program. scientific priorities, the USGS The USGS cooperates provides information to the Luoma gives his time and expertise generously, participating with American Indian and BIA to benefit American Indian in many national and international committees, panels, and Alaska Native governments to and Alaska Native peoples and scientific societies. He is passionate about mentoring early- conduct impartial research or their lands. Other projects grow career scientists and has put special emphasis on enhancing provide technical expertise on out of initiatives designed and diversity. water and mineral resources; conducted by USGS employees
An exemplar of communicating science, Luoma has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications; written a textbook 2001 on environmental issues; and served as editor of professional September 11 terrorist attacks. journals and publication series. Under a Fulbright Fellowship, he USGS conducts studies of dust is currently collaborating with colleagues at the Natural History particles in the aftermath of Museum in London to write a book on environmental toxicology; the collapse of the World Trade this book is directed at helping managers, policymakers, Center. and students to effectively link science and policy. Luoma’s boundless energy, enthusiasm, creativity, insight, and eloquence in articulating the significance of science have made him an extraordinarily effective scientist and an outstanding public servant. Challenges and Opportunities Today 39
these decisions can benefit from Thomas C. Winter USGS data and analyses. The USGS recognizes the need to Thirty years ago, little was known about how lakes and wetlands make its information available interact with ground water. Today, largely due to the research to Tribal Governments and to of Tom Winter, we have a better understanding of the different work with those governments processes controlling lake and wetland water levels and how and other institutions to advance these change over time in response to natural variation between
David E. Click. data management capabilities. wetter and drier conditions. This information is available ing 2002, a group of Tribal and ing Systems, brought field data through printed reports, digital Winter started with numerical simulation of the interaction of university professionals from into a GIS, analyzed base spa- technologies, maps, workshops, lakes and wetlands with ground water, designing mathematical water resources, land records, and personal interactions with tial data from theWeb, analyzed models of physical processes to represent a variety of real-world cultural resources, biology, and natural hazards and demogra- USGS employees. The USGS settings, but fieldwork was essential to discover how closely other fields gathered for 3 days phy in the region and on the also recognizes that Tribal the models matched reality. Collaborative research at several of GIS training at Sinte Gleska Tribal lands, and engaged in institutions have varying needs, University (SGU) on the Rose- other activities. The goals were interests, and capacities and sites over the past decades has enabled Winter to demonstrate bud Sioux lands in Mission, to bring different departments strives to be sensitive to the several important findings. These include the importance of S. Dak. James Rattling Leaf, and organizations in the Tribal unique circumstances of each of evaporation in the dynamics of from the SGU Sicangu Policy Government together to work these institutions. Native peo- these waters, as well as the role Institute, and USGS geographer on joint projects, and to help ples have unique understand- of ground-water interaction with Joseph Kerski conducted the Tribal professionals make wise ings of nature, the landscape, lakes and wetlands in determining workshop, which emphasized decisions about the Earth and and change in what is now water-level changes and the the use of digital spatial data, its people. the United States. The USGS length of time needed for water including computer maps, satel- Native self-sufficiency, wants to share its knowledge and solutes to move into and out lite imagery, and aerial photo- as well as to learn from Native economic development, and of these aquatic systems. graphs. Participants collected conservation are nurtured perspectives that can further our field data with Global Position- through Native decisions, and scientific understanding. Winter’s studies of evaporation and ground-water flow at the various study sites over 2001 2001 many years have provided the The Yellowstone Volcano USGS research finds that contaminants play an important role in the foundation for a new conceptual Observatory opens. decline of amphibians in California ponds and streams. Pesticides from framework for relating the the Central Valley are transported to the Sierra Nevada on prevailing hydrological characteristics of summer winds and may be absorbed by frogs, suppressing an enzyme lakes and wetlands to the living things that inhabit them. Today, 2001 that is essential to their nervous system. Winter’s work not only serves as a guide to how hydrological The NASA/USGS Extreme process research about lakes and wetlands should be conducted Storm Hazards Map is 2001 but also provides lake and wetland managers with the scientific published. The new, online National Water Information System (NWISWeb) foundation for decisions they need to make about these aquatic allows users to access more than 100 years of real-time and historical USGS water information with the click of a mouse. systems. 40 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Science Around the response to as technical Alaska Volcano Observatory World a request advisors to from the King the newly Since 1760, more than 260 eruptions have been reported from International work has for a foreign created Saudi the 41 historically active volcanoes in Alaska. In 1988, the USGS, been an integral part of the technical expert, Geological not affiliated Survey. Over the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and USGS for 122 years. The first with an oil com- the years, USGS the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys international study by a USGS scientist was in 1882, when pany, to advise him on the employees helped to train came together to form the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a Kingdom’s natural resources and mentor many Saudis in a cooperative effort to minimize the impact of volcanic eruptions. Clarence Dutton studied volca- noes in the Kingdom of Hawaii. (particularly water). Early work wide range of jobs, contributed Cooperative work on U.S./ included some of the first geo- significantly to the geologic Two powerful tools help the AVO keep tabs on volcanoes: Canada border areas with the logic traverses of western and knowledge base, identified seismic monitoring networks and satellite data monitoring. By Geological Survey of Canada central Arabia, by truck, camel, numerous mineral discoveries, carefully watching for changes, these systems can provide began 2 years later. USGS donkey, and on foot. The USGS and helped in the creation of the warnings of potential eruptions, deliver important information international activities assumed had a presence in the Kingdom Saudi Geological Survey. during volcanic activity, and help build the growing scientific greater prominence in 1897, until 2003, and scientific activi- Today, the USGS is understanding of volcanoes and volcanic processes. when a USGS geologist and a ties included studying the geol- involved in a wide range of hydrographer were detailed to ogy, water resources, mineral international work that engages Recent explosive eruptions and periods of unrest at some of the the Nicaraguan Canal Commis- resources, and seismicity all of its scientific active volcanoes have significantly affected air traffic over the sion to study the proposed canal of the Arabian disciplines. These Peninsula. The include efforts North Pacific; Alaska’s local communities; and oil, power, and route between the Atlantic and USGS involve- to control the fishing industries. These Pacific Oceans, and in 1898, when USGS geologists were ment evolved spread of impacts have prompted from plan- invasive spe- significant expansion of sent to investigate the mineral resources of Cuba and the ning, manag- cies, provide the observatory’s volcano- Philippines. ing, and global data- monitoring capabilities. In 1944, the first USGS conducting sets via the The number of volcanoes employee arrived in the the scientific Landsat satel- monitored by seismic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in work to acting lite system, cre- networks has increased NASA from 4 in 1995 to 27 in early 2004. The AVO has also 2002 increased its capabilities to The Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), acquire, store, and analyze and associated products like ShakeMap and data for tracking volcanic the National Seismic Hazard Map, brings the activity. With each new seismic network, volcano-hazard capability to rapidly deliver useful information assessment, eruption, and period of volcano unrest, scientists to emergency managers in real time. ANSS is increase their ability to provide the aviation industry and the installed in several cities—Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Memphis, and general public with timely warnings and crucial information to Anchorage—that are identified as high risk. deal with Alaska’s active volcanoes. Challenges and Opportunities Today 41 ate tools to manage ground and surface water resources, and Woods Hole Science Center develop assessments of global energy and mineral resources. The underwater areas off our Nation’s Some recent international shores may seem like a different world, efforts are described below. but our relationship with coastal and The USGS developed the marine environments affects both the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) after the health of the land we live on and that deadly eruption of Colombia’s teams, VDAP conducts training of the oceans. Getting to know the Nevado del Ruiz in 1984, which exercises and workshops in vol- scientific links among the land, coastal killed 23,000 people. This cano-hazards response for for- zone, and the oceans is the first step to program, a partnership between eign scientists and emergency a good relationship. Since 1962, USGS the USGS and the Office of management officials. VDAP scientists at the Woods Hole Science Foreign Disaster Assistance of has proven to be a highly effec- Center have explored the coastal- the U.S. Agency for Interna- tive international effort and, as marine environment, from the coasts tional Development (USAID), an example, is credited with NOAA (including beaches, estuaries, rivers, wetlands, and large lakes), has formed the world’s only saving many lives and hundreds to the shallower slopes that surround the continent and the deep standing volcano-crisis response of millions of dollars worth of USAID, the USGS responded ocean floor. Results of USGS studies are providing information team, a group that is able to U.S. equipment by providing with a coordinated effort that so that Federal, State, and local agencies and the public can quickly mobilize to assess and evacuation warnings during the integrated its diverse capabili- monitor hazards at volcanoes 1991 eruption of Mount Pina- ties. These included installation make informed decisions about resource management, hazards threatening to erupt. The VDAP tubo in the Philippines. of telemetered streamgages to mitigation, human health, and environmental quality. This team works with local scientists In 1998, flooding and land- provide early flood warnings, research addresses both natural geologic processes and human and technicians to help them slides associated with Hurricane hazard mapping to delineate influences to improve our understanding of the Nation’s coastal provide timely information and Mitch devastated large parts of areas at risk for landslides, and marine regions, to provide a comprehensive scientific geospatial coverages (topo- analysis to emergency managers Central America (Nicaragua, knowledge bank of that understanding, and to develop the ability graphic, aerial, and satellite) and public officials. In addition Honduras, El Salvador, and to predict coastal and marine geologic processes. to deploying crisis-response Guatemala). With the support of and installation of local GIS Of the many accomplishments of USGS scientists at Woods Hole, one of the best known is the partnership with the Massachusetts 2002 2002 2003 Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and other agencies during The National Petroleum Scientists at the USGS Work pioneered by USGS in the court-mandated cleanup of Boston Harbor, once declared the Reserve–Alaska (NPRA) oil and report that pharmaceuticals, developing improved online most polluted harbor in the Nation. In 1989, the USGS joined with gas assessment is released, as hormones, and other organic data search techniques for MWRA to address more than 300 years of metropolitan waste is the oil and gas assessment waste-water-related chemicals scientific data is applied in disposal. Together, they have worked to understand and predict of the basins in the Rocky have been detected at very Science.gov. the fate of contaminants introduced to Massachusetts’ coastal Mountain region. low concentrations in streams waters. USGS work helped MWRA locate its offshore sewage across the Nation. outfall discharge, documents the continuing improvement of the harbor environment, and monitors the harbor cleanup. 42 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey systems, and biological studies Because the geologic of the hurricane’s impact on faults in Turkey are very similar coral reefs, mangroves, and to those in California, many aquaculture. aspects of this work could be In 1998, areas just to the directly applied to the evalua- east of Istanbul, Turkey, were tion of earthquake risks in the devastated by powerful earth- United States, a transfer that quakes that took the lives of illustrates how USGS interna- more than 20,000 persons. The tional efforts complement its USGS responded with a variety domestic work. of cooperative efforts with A number of USGS inter- Turkish colleagues that included national activities have involved • Geological evaluation of the a mixture of the scientific and structures that controlled the the diplomatic. The best exam- earthquakes and an assess- ples are provided by USGS ment of the probability of efforts with regards to water future devastating earth- and earthquakes in the Middle East. In a region long troubled Serkan Bozkurt quakes, of developing better strategies by political differences, the importance for the USGS. For currently doing in its support to mitigate shared earthquake • Evaluation of specific build- USGS has led regional projects example, scientific and techni- of the Famine Early Warning hazards. Over many years, both ings to determine how they focused on developing com- cal information will be needed System. In addressing these efforts have proven effective in responded to the earthquakes mon ground-water data sets that to support the U.S. commitment and other international issues, fostering regional cooperation, and their future viability, and are essential for the manage- to increasing the availability of the USGS will be able to build elevating the region’s techni- ment of shared ground-water clean water to the developing on its domestically developed cal capacity, and promoting • Mapping of critical urban resources. Similarly, the USGS world. As the world population core capabilities of integrated interactions among the region’s areas that showed anticipated has led efforts in the Middle continues to increase, there will science involving the biologi- technical agencies. damage resulting from subse- East to foster the sharing of be increased need for monitor- cal, geographic, hydrologic, In the future, interna- quent earthquakes. seismological data with the goal ing man’s interaction with the and geologic disciplines.Jerry tional activities will increase in land, an activity the USGS is Sanders
2003 2003 2004 The USGS leads the Expanded Electronic The Geospatial One-Stop portal The USGS celebrates Government initiative, a departmentwide is launched. its 125th anniversary. GIS enterprise system to provide benefits and cost efficiencies in delivering To mark the geospatial data and analysis tools to 2004 anniversary, this internal and external customers. The USGS provides access Circular highlights to publications through the 125 years of science Publications Warehouse. for America. An Exciting Future 43
demand accessible, timely, and • Tool and Product Develop- integrated science products that ment includes collaborating An Exciting Future objectively address policy- with public, academic, and relevant issues. As the world private partners to develop changes, USGS must increase integrated multidisciplinary Linking Science and and strengthen efforts to make tools, products, models, and its research and information as processes that describe the Society: The USGS useful as possible. The Science physical, economic, and Science Impact Program Impact program is a focused social implications of alterna- effort to improve and expand tive decisions. USGS science is used the use of USGS science infor- every day by people throughout mation to support decisionmak- • Science Impact Education the United States and around ing at DOI; at other Federal, and Training relates to train- Dept. of Pathology, UTMB Dept. of Pathology, the world to address a broad State, and local government ing activities designed to spectrum of environmental, organizations; and by the pub- improve the interface among natural-resource, and hazards- scientists, decisionmakers, lic. Science Impact will build Visualization and Delivery, New, Emerging, and related issues. In recent years, on the good work that USGS is and citizens and to facilitate Prescott College technology, decisionmaking currently doing to link science informed and effective use of Resurging Diseases processes, and data accessibil- USGS science information, • Indigenous Knowledge with societal decisions and will USGS is recognized as ity have changed dramatically. focus its research efforts on tools, models, and products. Center for Education and Decisions are increasingly Science Impact, Sinte Gleska a leader in topics related to designing and improving inno- Science Impact draws human health, such as toxic decentralized, analytical vative methods and processes upon skills that extend beyond University capabilities are expanding, and substances in water and in to increase the effective use of the traditional USGS disci- • MIT–USGS Science Impact geologic materials, vector- data accessibility is growing. science information. Science plines. To gain expertise and Decisionmakers and citizens Collaborative, Massachusetts borne diseases, and zoonotic Impact focuses on three princi- capacity, the USGS is establish- Institute of Technology diseases—animal diseases that pal activities: ing Science Impact Partnerships can be transmitted to people. with external organizations that Through innovative • Science Synthesis encom- integrated natural and social This research, conducted in passes identifying, develop- have demonstrated capabilities collaboration with many of in these areas. Five Science science research, the develop- ing, and evaluating needs ment of university partnerships, the Nation’s leading health and opportunities for science Impact Partnerships have been research organizations, includ- established initially: and collaboration with scien- to support decision-making. tists, decisionmakers, and other ing the National Institutes of Societal issues, disputes, and • Science Impact Laboratory stakeholders, USGS scientists Health and the Centers for problems are linked with for Policy and Economics, are maintaining and enhanc- Disease Control and Preven- current and future science University of New Mexico ing the commitment to its core tion, attempts to understand capabilities to determine the how exposure to chemical • Science Impact Laboratory values of science excellence, context in which science can science leadership, and science contaminants and pathogens in support decisions, resulting for Urban Systems, Univer- soils, water, and air affects the sity of Pennsylvania impact to provide the infor- in the identification of sci- mation needed for informed health of people throughout the ence questions and informa- • Science Impact Center for decisions now and for the next world. For example, research tion needs. 125 years. by USGS scientists on a dev- Corbis Images 44 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
astating degenerative kidney Employees of the Future disease and associated cancers affecting thousands of people From today’s perspective, the USGS employees of the future will need to be proficient in many in the Balkans has shown that different areas. With the knowledge, tools, and technologies of today’s employees to build upon, the problem may be caused by drinking well water that has the bar is set high for future employees. With so much to know, the ability to work as a team on been in contact with lignite, multifaceted projects is a must. a form of coal. Applying this observation to the United States Game and Fish Department Wyoming Future USGS scientists will improve understanding about human health issues, work on the has revealed a possible link (such as the deer tick respon- increasingly urgent issues of water quality and quantity, provide foundational research on invasive between well water in contact sible for transmitting Lyme dis- species, determine disease vectors and potential impact, continue to focus on hazards mitigation, with lignite and a high inci- ease to humans). Many of these provide a greater understanding of complex Earth systems and Earth system dynamics, research dence of certain cancers. diseases also afflict wildlife and nontraditional sources of energy, and address the impact, cost, and environmental impact of There is also increasing domestic animals. The USGS is alternative fuel sources. They will use long-term data to develop predictive models. Because concern about the emergence of charged with addressing health they will understand the political, societal, and even global impacts of their science, they will new infectious diseases afflict- issues and diseases of free-rang- translate their work for a wide variety of audiences, including other scientists, students, teachers, ing humans and the resurgence ing wildlife across the Nation. government agencies, decisionmakers, and everyday people around the world. of previously conquered dis- The 1999 emergence of West eases. Within the United States, Nile virus in the Western Hemi- The way they conduct their work will be revolutionized, crossing borders and boundaries among the assault on humans includes sphere marked the first time that invasion by exotic diseases such agencies, organizations, countries, and continents in a virtual environment that promotes public, agriculture, and wildlife as AIDS, West Nile virus, and health scientists joined forces collaboration, partnership, and knowledge sharing as never before. Wherever they are, they will monkeypox; the appearance to tackle and control a common have access to their work and all the information they could ask for on their area of research. of novel diseases from indig- enemy. USGS scientists quickly Business and communications skills will be second nature to ensure the success of current enous sources such as Legion- collaborated with public health and future science. The employees of the future will come from a wide variety of cultures and naires disease and hantavirus agencies to track this mosquito- perspectives, fostering creative solutions for both old and new problems. Because they will utilize infections; the resurgence of borne virus of birds as it began integrated approaches and develop relationships in other offices, agencies, and political and social diseases once thought be “con- spreading across North America realms, they will find solutions more quickly and deliver information to millions of people in real quered,” such as tuberculosis killing many wild birds, horses, time. and malaria; and geographic and humans. changes in the distribution of USGS investigations The USGS has been providing science for a changing world for 125 years, matching the abilities historic diseases such as syl- have detected a number of and knowledge of its employees to the progress vatic plague and tularemia. novel wildlife diseases that of science and technology. The dedication and It is increasingly clear that have resulted in management studying the human aspects of skill that make the USGS today a valued source actions to prevent human disease is only one part of the exposures when zoonoses such of information for sound decisions will continue solution—we must also under- as tularemia, chlamydiosis, and as we enter our next 125 years. The future of stand how wildlife populations erysipelas have been found. the global community provides unprecedented can serve as reservoirs for As new disease threats such as opportunities for the people of the USGS to disease and how insect vec- West Nile virus, chronic wast- contribute credible, impartial, excellent science tors affect disease transmission ing disease, and monkeypox for the betterment of the Nation and the world. An Exciting Future 45 hemera.com emerge, and old ones such as dants, insecticides, and anti- Diversity avian influenza, foot-and-mouth oxidants. The presence of these disease, and plague resurface, chemicals raises several issues the collaborative work of many for which science can provide The USGS owes 125 years of success to the creative discoveries of its people. As we head agencies is needed to grapple answers: These chemicals are into the next 125 years, a diverse workforce will play an ever-increasing role in maintaining an with these complex diseases. not routinely monitored in our atmosphere of creativity and bringing new discoveries to the world. Timely and accurate diagnosis water resources; many have of wildlife illness and mortality known or suspected ecologi- Increased numbers of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and people from a wide range is critical to achieving effective cal or human health effects; of backgrounds and beliefs will result in greater learning, enhanced creativity, improved products, disease control and preven- and drinking water standards and increased responsibility to the customers that the USGS serves. As technology continues to tion. USGS will continue to have not been developed for erase borders, a variety of cultures and perspectives will be increasingly important to daily life expand our understanding of them. The USGS is develop- at the USGS. Research will often be a global effort, providing people with greater resources and wildlife disease dynamics and ing new laboratory methods to a broader understanding of each other and our planet. USGS employees will not only have the risk analysis through research, measure minute quantities of ability to inform and cooperate with many different types of people, they will also represent and surveillance, and effective these chemicals; defining the reflect the demographic variety of the Nation. sampling. By increasing our environmental occurrence of understanding of the complex these compounds; developing The Nation’s changing demographics require that the USGS continually evolve to meet the interactions among wildlife, knowledge of the biological and humans, geologic materials, chemical processes that affect country’s needs. The USGS must develop science products that are responsive to the needs of and ecosystems, the USGS will contaminant movement, trans- constituents and that are relevant to users. continue to provide information formation, and persistence in Science requires a global perspective and and analysis to keep people and the environment; and assessing an appreciation and understanding of many ecosystems healthy and thriving the effects these contaminants cultures.The snakehead fish, for example, into the next century. have on organisms and biologi- is part of the diet in some cultures but is an cal communities within aquatic invasive species in the United States. ecosystems. For example, a Tracking Emerging group of commonly used flame Over the last 10 years, progress toward Contaminants retardants appears to be rapidly a more diverse USGS has been made. increasing in concentration The number of women advancing at the Chemicals used every day in the environment. Recent USGS is on the rise, but there is still work in homes, industry, and agri- evidence from European and to be done. Minorities and people with culture can enter the environ- U.S. investigators has shown ment through our wastewater that concentrations of these disabilities still lag behind in terms of and other mechanisms. These chemicals are doubling in representation and advancement in the chemicals include human and human breast milk at the rate workforce. The USGS will continue to veterinary pharmaceuticals of every 2–5 years. Information show commitment and investment in the (for example, antibiotics and about the environmental fate future through participating in educational synthetic hormones), deter- and effects of these compounds partnerships, fostering mentoring gents, disinfectants, fragrances, is critically needed so that programs, and providing role models to lotions, plasticizers, fire retar- scientists can determine at what students. 46 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
Water Availability EROS Data Center Water availability is a topic The EROS Data Center (EDC) is a world leader in the exploration of increasing concern in virtu- of our changing planet. In this 600-person office in Sioux Falls, ally all parts of the Nation for S. Dak., remotely sensed images of the Earth are collected, a variety of reasons, including recent and ongoing droughts stored, and analyzed. The work done at EDC enhances our and the competition for water understanding of the Earth, how it changes over time, and among jurisdictions and among the implications of those changes for people and ecosystems ecological, urban, agricultural, worldwide. EDC maintains one of the largest collections of and industrial uses. A number remotely sensed images of the Earth’s land surface, including of recent changes exacerbate images from Landsat, NOAA weather satellites, NASA satellites, the problem. Population growth and USGS aerial mapping photography. The aerial and satellite nationally, and particularly in data archive now contains more than 38.5 million images and the more arid Southwest and is growing by close to 10 million images each year. EDC staff coastal parts of the Nation, pres- members control satellites, distribute land information products, ents major challenges for State, and develop techniques for providing scientists, policymakers, regional, and local authori- and educators around the world with access to the ever-growing ties who must find reliable, high-quality water supplies to collections of data. Representatives from almost every science deliver to their communities. discipline work with foresters, satellite engineers, and data Public values regarding the processing specialists to handle the data, analyze features, and environment, coupled with the develop new systems for observing changes in the Earth. They Endangered Species Act, have study changes such as urban sprawl and respond to disasters point the compounds will reach deform embryos, or impair led to the need for reallocation such as wildfires, floods, concentrations that are toxic to reproduction or neurological of water between traditional off- tornadoes, and hurricanes. humans and biotic resources. functioning. USGS research is stream uses (irrigation, thermo- For all of these potentially They sometimes work providing methods and guid- electric power, public supply, toxic substances, USGS scien- ance for future monitoring and globally, for instance and industry) and instream tists are working to develop the assessment of these types of studying the loss of needs of the biological com- scientific basis for assessment, environmental contaminants munity. Ecosystem restoration wetland in Southern Iraq or restoration, and monitoring of and establishing the needed the deforestation of tropical is a growing national interest, habitats that are contaminated foundation for setting priorities and, in many cases, reallocation rainforest in Bolivia. As by mining, agriculture, for- for further study of sources, and changes in the storage of EDC observes our ever- estry, wastewater, industry, and pathways and effects. The data water and timing of releases are changing planet, it looks to chemical control agents. Scien- and information provided by central to ecosystem restoration the future, encouraging and tists are using laboratory test to USGS are valued by both scien- plans. educating students through investigate substances that are tists and policymakers working In addition, although a variety of student mentoring and classroom demonstrations, lethal to plants and animals or to keep our environment healthy agricultural water use is fairly higher education consortiums, collaborative research projects, that suppress immune function, for all. stable when averaged across the disrupt the endocrine system, and visiting scientists and internships. Nation, new demands for water An Exciting Future 47 for irrigation, animal feeding climate warming is leading to Energy and Minerals Geologists in the USGS Assessments of world operations, and aquaculture are changes in the type of precipita- for the Future have been working for many and national energy resources having a significant impact on tion in some parts of the Nation, years to understand how differ- are changing as the needs and the water budget in many humid generally less snow and more All nations continually ent ore deposits were formed, the information available have areas such as the Mississippi rain, and to earlier melt of face decisions involving the with the goal of aiding in the changed and as new types of Delta and Atlantic Coastal winter snows. As a result, the supply and utilization of raw recognition of undiscovered energy resources are recog- Plain, putting stress on regional amount of natural storage of materials, substitution of one resources, in the efficient nized. Over the past few years, water supplies. The pumping water in snowpacks is decreas- resource for another, compet- extraction of the resource, and basic geologic understanding of of ground water is an increas- ing. These changes, along with ing land and resource uses, in the ability to assess undis- coal-bed methane occurrence, ing factor in the Nation’s water other potential shifts in hydro- and the environmental conse- covered resources. The work characterization, and forma- supply, and its use is leading climatic conditions, could result quences of resource develop- of identifying mineral deposit tion has provided the informa- to impacts that may result in in fundamental changes in the ment. Global use of mineral and models has been going on for tion needed to help make this the need to slow the growth overall amount of the resource energy resources will continue many years, and now more than once-unconventional resource or even decrease the rate of that is readily available for vari- to increase for the foreseeable 100 models have been defined. a viable contributor to today’s use of ground water in some ous offstream and ecological future because of the continuing Research continues to develop energy mix; coal-bed methane areas. The impacts of increased uses. increase in global population new deposit models, to clarify is now 8 percent of all natural ground-water development USGS science will be and the efforts to improve living existing models, and to refine gas production in the United can include increased costs key to resolving these issues, standards worldwide. In today’s our ability to conduct mineral States. due to the need to drill new providing the science needed global economy, a nation’s resource assessments that are Although conventional wells, intrusion of saline water to ensure that water is available economic security depends accurate and cost effective. accumulations of oil and gas (from the ocean or from deeper to support human and ecologi- on access to adequate energy units), depletion of base flow cal communities in the years and mineral resource supplies in streams, increased summer ahead. Good planning in the from a variety of domestic and temperatures in small streams public or private sector depends international sources. Today, Mobile Computing due to decreased ground-water on good information that moves more than 70 chemical elements inflows, and land subsidence. knowledge forward but always and dozens of minerals are Operating systems that run on compact In areas including parts of stays mindful of the remaining mined and produced from more hand-held devices such as Personal Digital the High Plains, Mississippi uncertainties. Disagreement than 100 different deposit types Delta, Chicago/Milwaukee and misinformation about water Assistants and “Palmtop” or “Pocket” and geologic environments. personal computers (PCs) have the potential to area, Southwestern basins have created decision gridlocks USGS researchers are currently replace paper forms in many USGS field data (such as Las Vegas, Middle over water and water-related focused on assessing global collection activities. Currently, many USGS Rio Grande, Tucson, Phoenix, ecosystem restoration projects undiscovered resources of cop- Mojave Desert), and parts of the that can harm both the environ- per (important in the electron- offices use such devices to communicate with Atlantic Coastal Plain, the rates ment and the economy. The ics industry), platinum-group data loggers and data collection platforms of pumping are not sustainable. USGS is ideally poised to help metals (critical as catalysts in (DCPs) and to log field data on digital (virtual) New solutions must be sought the Nation break these gridlocks the automobile, chemical, and forms. Software programs used on these mini- in terms of either new supplies through improved understand- petroleum industries), and pot- PCs enable communication with a variety of or decreases in use. ing and communication of the ash (one of three indispensable field instruments that collect surface-water, Finally, there are begin- principles and facts that all the fertilizer minerals required for ground-water, water-quality, and biologic ning to be clear indications that parties need. food production). data. The benefits of this new technology include improved productivity and data quality. 48 Celebrating 125 Years of the U.S. Geological Survey
realizing them as a resource are used to collect field data and to chemical analysis eliminates cals in wells or streams, as substantial. Additional research provide greater accessibility to costs and potential errors asso- well as graph the concentration is required to understand and our data and information. ciated with sample processing, range for hundreds of chemicals develop new techniques to shipping, and storage. across dozens of basins in the quantify their distribution in The USGS has also lever- country. With this Web-based nature. The USGS has devel- New Water-Quality aged new technology to collect interactive system, more than oped a state-of-the-art geo- Sensors field data and to make scientific 10,000 graphs can be speci- technical laboratory capability data and reports easily acces- fied and created. New data are to determine the pressure and To provide real-time sible to the public. The USGS aggregated frequently and auto- temperature conditions nec- answers for water-quality National Water Quality Assess- matically from about 50 servers essary to induce gas hydrate management decisions, includ- ment Program (NAWQA) across the country by using formation and test hydrate ing early-warning monitoring
Genetics research is on a fast the Bureau of Reclamation, and cast the hazards associated with and several elements of the it remains unclear whether track, and new uses of genetics the Bureau of Land Manage- damaging earthquakes. Many National Science Foundation’s useful intermediate- and and molecular biology promise ment—and other State and of these advances have their EarthScope project. In addition, short-term earthquake predic- additional important applica- Federal agencies. The ques- roots in laboratory and theoreti- satellite-based remote-sensing tions are feasible. However, tions. Genomics—the study of tions that managers pose often cal developments at the USGS, systems are providing excit- reputable research teams are the entire genetic makeup of a lead scientists down intrigu- which, along with targeted seis- ing new tools for conducting taking advantage of improved species—is now being proposed ing paths, such as whether the mic and geodetic monitoring, global-scale observations of data sets and are developing as a means for determining the extinct blue pike was a separate have focused on understanding surface deformation, electro- schemes for predicting earth- functions (or expression) of species (our data indicate it the basic physical processes magnetic fields, and other criti- quakes based on, for example, individual genes or genes acting was not), whether two invasive associated with earthquakes. cal geophysical observations. patterns of small earthquakes, in concert to produce enzymes carp species in the Midwest can This research provides much Paleoseismological work on patterns of surface strain, and and other protein products. Sci- successfully mate and hybrid- of the scientific underpinnings key faults, aided by new high- electromagnetic field varia- entists seek with new genom- ize (they can), or whether black of the USGS’s important and precision dating techniques, is tions. The number, scope, and ics technologies to understand bear population numbers can widely used products, includ- producing detailed earthquake boldness of these efforts are the basis for disease or disease be estimated from hair samples ing national and regional histories that extend back thou- accelerating. The USGS has resistance, how pollutants they leave on barbed wire (yes, seismic hazard maps, regional sands of years. This quantum mandated responsibility to damage DNA, or under what and the bears can be tracked in earthquake probability reports, leap in the quality and variety provide scientific and public environmental conditions genes the wild by this means as well). short-term foreshock and after- of geological and geophysical leadership in this rapidly shift- are turned “on” or “off” in their As exciting and satisfying as shock forecasts, and building data can be used to improve the ing field, evaluating earthquake functioning. USGS scientists these genetics discoveries are, code recommendations. The precision of earthquake hazards prediction methods, providing also propose genetic means USGS scientists are just begin- USGS is at a critical juncture in assessments and to broaden the guidance to the government on for applying tools of microbial ning to reveal the potential for the field of earthquake studies. suite of earthquake information appropriate public policy, and biotransformation and bioreme- the use of genetics and molecu- New dense arrays of seismic products available to emergency managing public expectations diation to explore means to use lar biology in conservation. As and geodetic instrumentation managers. when earthquake predictions microbes in habitat restoration technology develops, scientists are being deployed across the Remarkably, this flood arise. and recovery. The techniques can only guess at the ways they United States and around the of new data also provides the While working toward of genetics biotechnology work can apply their research to solv- world, including the Advanced opportunity to test the predict- the elusive goal of reliable, on anything containing DNA or ing natural resource problems. National Seismic System, the ability of earthquake occur- specific earthquake predic- RNA (ribonucleic acid). Unique Global Seismographic Network, rence. Despite earlier optimism, tion, the USGS is developing genetic markers are discovered a number of products that will weekly and are added to inter- Earthquake further improve public safety. national computer databases Predictability Examples include daily earth- for sharing with researchers quake hazard maps showing the worldwide. In the 25 years since the chance of earthquake shaking USGS genetics research USGS Earthquake Hazard Pro- in the next 24 hours, which is undertaken at the request of gram was authorized by Con- rely on the quantifiable ability primary clients in DOI—the gress, important advances have of one earthquake to trigger Fish and Wildlife Service, the been made in the ability to iden- another, and earthquake early National Park Service, the tify regions where earthquakes warning systems that would use Minerals Management Service, are likely to occur and to fore- ANSS data to determine that an earthquake is underway and An Exciting Future 51 transmit that information before will be a major contribu- hyperspectral data sensors will the shaking arrives at more tor in ensuring the scientific provide high- to moderate-reso- Patents and Inventions distant sites. integrity of remotely sensed lution data in broad spectral data for analysis. Further, ranges, offering greater insight Scientists sometimes find that they need a product that isn’t applications of remote-sensing on conditions across the planet. on the market, or they suspect that a process nowhere used or Remote Sensing technologies are advancing at The USGS looks forward to a taught will provide the results an ever-increasing rate as new leadership role in defining and The USGS has a proud they need. In other cases, their sensor platforms come online, making available data from history of acquiring, archiving, user awareness of the systems’ those systems. interests and concerns, rather distributing, and using remotely capabilities increases, and the Not all of the new data than their needs, lead them sensed data. From aerial pho- costs associated with processing sources will be Federal civil- toward a new process or product. tography flown 50 years ago to capacity continue to decrease. ian programs. Partnerships If the idea turns out to be novel, more than 30 years of Landsat New data sources and with the commercial sector and non-obvious, and useful enough, it coverage, the USGS has estab- systems are certain to evolve international organizations will may result in a patent. lished an important technology in the near future. The science be important to remote sensing that is valued by users. In the community both in government in the future. For example, the future, land remote sensing USGS has nearly 50 current and in the private sector has USGS commercial remote- will require new data sources, or pending patents, including come to depend on continuous, sensing data contract program advanced approaches to analy- Infrasound Hazard-Warning reliable data from key satel- establishes a venue to con- sis, and imaginative cooperation Device for Night-Migrating Birds, lite data platforms, including solidate access, processing, and among Federal, international, Deep Aquifer Remediation System, Landsat, GOES, Terra, and distribution of remotely sensed and commercial data providers and Mud Walking Shoe. Other Aqua; virtually all of them data from a myriad of sensors that will supply a massive range will need replacement within and systems available from examples are devices to control of information in real time the next few years. A Landsat government, industry, and inter- aquatic invasive species or remove toxic metals from water, and about climate, hazards, ecosys- follow-on mission, an inter- national sources. The increased the hovercraft, for drilling core samples in wetlands and other tems, national security—even ferometric synthetic aperture cooperation, development of environmentally sensitive regions. traffic conditions. The USGS radar mission, LIDAR, and new techniques, and expanded The technology transfer program at the USGS
Serving USGS when, where, and how they cipline report citations, primar- geography, geology, and hydrol- and ultimately solving these Information to the Nation need it. The goal is an inte- ily historical research reports, ogy to include the assessment health issues. grated network of physical are included. These citations and monitoring of our Nation’s When the USGS was The mission of the USGS and virtual information offices include reports released by the biological resources. Today, the established in the late 19th is to conduct science and to that will enhance our ability to Fish and Wildlife Service and USGS brings these capabilities century, the Nation’s natural make available the resulting make our data, information, and the National Biological Ser- together to address complex resources of water, miner- knowledge and information. knowledge available to anyone, vice prior to the creation of the issues in a comprehensive way als, energy, and living things The USGS has a long history of anywhere at any time. By work- Biological Resources Division that serves a myriad of custom- appeared limitless. The extinc- providing high-quality service ing toward this desired future of the USGS in 1995. Plans ers and partners. tion of the passenger pigeon, through dissemination of scien- state, the USGS will continue are underway to add geospatial Technological capabilities drastic reductions in some tific information to its custom- to serve as the Nation’s primary search tools, provide links to have improved significantly animal and plant populations, ers. Traditionally, this dis- integrated natural science and all online USGS series, and during the past 125 years. For energy shortages, and new semination has been scattered information agency. include citations and links to example, the ability to measure, concerns about the availability throughout the organization, For example, scientific all publications with USGS monitor, and model the pro- of clean water have brought often making it very difficult for publishing has been a key authors. Eventually full text cesses that lead to natural disas- a broader realization that customers to locate the data and aspect of USGS science since for all USGS reports will be ters has increased dramatically, resources are finite. However, information that they need. The its earliest days, but locating available through the Publica- as has the ability to communi- human ingenuity, unlike other USGS will continue to use cur- a specific USGS report can tions Warehouse site. A single, cate information about hazards natural resources, is limitless, rent dissemination mechanisms be difficult. To allow a single comprehensive site facilitates to those whose lives may be and USGS scientists are focus- such as face-to-face visits, source for searching, viewing, access, assures reliability affected. These innovations in ing their creative intelligence on phone, fax, e-mail, and the Web and ordering USGS publica- through multiple servers, and tracking and communicating the providing the science needed to to help us put information in the tions, in January 2004, the Pub- provides certification of USGS changes in our dynamic planet, live fully yet lightly on the land. hands of the customer. How- lications Warehouse Web site report content by serving from a supported by a deeper under- After 125 years, the USGS ever, new tools and approaches was launched. Building on an single official, secure site. standing of Earth processes, continues to make a difference are needed. The USGS is internal database begun in mid- enable the USGS to expand its in the quality of life in America undertaking a new approach to 2000, the USGS Publications predictive capabilities and point and abroad. The taxpayers’ providing more efficient access Warehouse
LaRoe, E.T., Farris, G.S., U.S. Geological Survey, 1904, p. 2. City, river, and drilling rigs. Artist: p. 11. Gray wolf. David Mech, USGS. For More John M. Evans, USGS. Puckett, C.E., Doran, P.D., The United States Geological p. 11. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Information and Mac, M. J., eds., 1995, Survey—Its origin, devel- p. 3. Leadville, Colo., mining district, Md. USGS. Our living resources; a report opment, organization, and subject of an early mining geology study, 1879. USGS. p. 12. Denver Federal Center, Colo. Alley, W.M., Reilly, T.E., and to the Nation on the distribu- operations: U.S. Geological USGS. tion, abundance, and health Survey Bulletin 227, 121 p. p. 4. Alabama shad. Artist: Duane Raver. Franke, O.L., 1999, Sus- p. 12. Yellow warbler. Chandler Robbins, tainability of ground-water of U.S. plants, animals, and Illustration courtesy of U.S. Fish and Vigil, J.F., Pike, R.J., and How- Wildlife Service. USGS. resources: U.S. Geological ecosystems: Washington, ell, D.G., 2000, A tapestry p. 12. Mallard ducks. Milton Friend, Survey Circular 1186, 79 p. D.C., National Biological p. 4. Major John Wesley Powell at Service, 530 p. of time and terrain: U.S. his desk in the Adams Building on F USGS. Bohlen, S.R., Halley, R.B., Geological Survey Geologic Street, NW., Washington, D.C., ca. 1896. p. 12. Wildlife at the Salton Sea. Milton Hickman, S.H., Johnson, Mac, M.J., Opler, P.A., Puckett Investigations Series Map Photograph courtesy of Smithsonian Friend, USGS. Hacker, C.E., and Doran, I–2720, scale 1:3,500,000, Institution. S.Y., Lowenstern, J.B., p. 13. Pumping ground water to support Muhs, D.R., Plumlee, G.S., P.D., eds., 1998, Status 24-p. text. p. 6. First streamgaging camp, Embudo, the San Joaquin Valley agricultural and trends of the Nation’s N. Mex., 1888. USGS. region. Photograph courtesy of Thompson, G.A., Trauger, Winter, T.C., Harvey, J.W., D.L., and Zoback, M.L., biological resources: Reston, p. 8. A scientist measures streamflow California Department of Water Franke, O.L., and Alley, Resources. 1998, Geology for a chang- Va., U.S. Geological Survey, near Clayton, N.J. USGS. 2 vols., 964 p. W.M., 1998, Ground water ing world; a science strategy p. 9. Oblique aerial view of Mount St. p. 14. A USGS librarian holds an and surface water; a single extremely rare 19th century book on for the Geologic Division of Rabbitt, M.C., 1989, The resource: U.S. Geological Helens, Wash., before the May 18, 1980, eruption, as seen from Bear Cove, Spirit gems and precious stones from India. the U.S. Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey Circular 1139, 79 p. USGS. 2000–2010: U.S. Geological Lake. Photograph courtesy of USDA, Survey—1879–1989: U.S. Forest Service. p. 14. Sawgrass marsh. USGS. Survey Circular 1172, 59 p. Geological Survey Circular