Publications
This list of Upper Midwest Water Science Center publications spans from 1899 to present. It includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. To access the full, searchable catalog of USGS publications, please visit the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 2314
Wetlands, groundwater and seasonality influence the spatial distribution of stream chemistry in a low-relief catchment Wetlands, groundwater and seasonality influence the spatial distribution of stream chemistry in a low-relief catchment
Evaluating stream water chemistry patterns provides insight into catchment ecosystem and hydrologic processes. Spatially distributed patterns and controls of stream solutes are well-established for high-relief catchments where solute flow paths align with surface topography. However, the controls on solute patterns are poorly constrained for low-relief catchments where hydrogeologic...
Authors
Caroline R. Weidner, Jay P. Zarnestke, Anthony D. Kendall, Sherry Lynn Martin, Samuel Nesheim, Arial J. Shogren
Hydroclimatic and land-use factors affecting peak streamflow in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin Hydroclimatic and land-use factors affecting peak streamflow in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Flood-frequency analysis provides the basis for flood risk estimates used by water-resource managers in land-use planning, and it informs the design of essential infrastructure such as bridges and culverts. Federal guidelines for flood-frequency analysis do not offer guidance on addressing changing climate and land-use conditions when estimating floods. However, failing to consider...
Authors
Karen Ryberg, Mackenzie Marti, Nancy Barth, Thomas Over, Sara B. Levin, Hannah Podzorski, Steven Sando, Tara Williams-Sether, Padraic O’Shea, Katherine Chase
Beach nourishment response and recent morphological evolution of Minnesota Point, Lake Superior Beach nourishment response and recent morphological evolution of Minnesota Point, Lake Superior
Beach nourishments are a popular nature-based alternative to armoring for shoreline erosion mitigation, but nourishments have been criticized due to their environmental impacts and uncertain sustainability. Monitoring is often nonexistent or insufficient to constrain nourishment longevity and inform the renourishment interval required to maintain shoreline protection. This study uses a...
Authors
Collin Joseph Roland, Joel Groten, J. William Lund, Jenny Hanson
Preparation and analysis methods for fish tissue collected from Lake Koocanusa, Montana Preparation and analysis methods for fish tissue collected from Lake Koocanusa, Montana
Lake Koocanusa, a reservoir, receives mine wastes from metallurgical coal mines in the Elk River Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Selenium and other elements discharged by the mines into the waters of the United States can pose unknown risks to aquatic life. The U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center can collaborate with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and other...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, Ashley Bussell, Molly A. Moloney, James L. Dunnigan, Trevor M. Selch, Jessica Brandt, Craig Stricker, A. Stewart, Veronika A. Kocen, Danielle Cleveland, Vicki S. Blazer, Sarah E. Janssen, Jacob Ogorek, Meghan Dunn, Theresa L. McBride, Katie B. Adams, Benjamin P. Colman, Matt Young, Jennie Christensen
Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Revealing organofluorine contamination in effluents and surface waters with complementary analytical approaches: Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Fluorinated organic contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and fluorinated pesticides and pharmaceuticals (FPPs), pose a persistent threat to environmental health. Widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods fail to capture large fractions of total organofluorine in environmental samples, confounding the assessment of...
Authors
K.A. Faber, W.C.K Pomerantz, James L. Gray, Laura Hubbard, Dana W. Kolpin, W.A. Arnold
U.S. Geological Survey science strategy to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and its effects on wildlife health 2025–29 U.S. Geological Survey science strategy to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and its effects on wildlife health 2025–29
Executive SummaryHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an ecologically and economically important animal disease that can also directly affect humans (a “zoonotic” disease). HPAI was once limited almost exclusively to domestic poultry but has rapidly adapted to diverse animal hosts. Viruses causing HPAI now appear to be maintained and dispersed by wild birds largely independent of...
Authors
Andrew Ramey, Diann Prosser, Laura Hubbard, Guelaguetza Vazquez-Meves, Amy George, M. Hopkins
Water quality-based risk assessment for zebra mussel establishment: A case study of single- and multiple-factor methods in northern temperate lakes Water quality-based risk assessment for zebra mussel establishment: A case study of single- and multiple-factor methods in northern temperate lakes
Most previous research has used an individual water quality parameter, such as calcium, to predict likelihood of zebra mussel establishment in lakes; we employed two multiple-factor methods, our own susceptibility index for zebra mussels in lakes (SIZL) and aragonite saturation state, to evaluate the risk of mussel establishment. Thirty sites in Voyageurs National Park (VNP) were sampled...
Authors
Victoria Christensen, Leon Katona, Hailey Elizabeth Trompeter, Ryan P. Maki, James C. Smith, Daniel E. Sandborn
Ecological factors decouple Great Lakes fish mercury concentrations trends decadal declines in mercury emissions Ecological factors decouple Great Lakes fish mercury concentrations trends decadal declines in mercury emissions
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition has been declining in North America but remains the dominant delivery mechanism to the Great Lakes. The Lakes are highly efficient at bioaccumulating methylmercury, making the fish excellent sentinels for tracking shifts in atmospheric Hg deposition. Invasive mussels have altered biogeochemical processes, prey populations and fish dietary strategies...
Authors
Ryan F. Lepak, Joel Hoffman, Sarah E. Janssen, Michael T. Tate, Morgann B Gordon, Michael Mahon, Samantha Rumschlag, Christopher Yarnes, Brian A. Lennel, David Krabbenhoft, Jacob Ogorek, James P. Hurley
Evaluating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) prevalence and potential for biological effects in Lake Superior tributaries Evaluating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) prevalence and potential for biological effects in Lake Superior tributaries
Several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are Great Lakes binational chemicals of mutual concern. Although known to be persistent, data gaps regarding PFAS prevalence and biological effects exist, especially within Lake Superior’s watershed. In this 2022 study of 27 United States tributaries to Lake Superior, water samples were collected during spring runoff, summer baseflow...
Authors
Matthew Pronschinske, Steven R. Corsi, Sarah Elliott, Martin M. Shafer, Kristen Hannon, Kaitlyn Gruber, Christina Remucal
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water and sediment in Great Lakes tributaries and relations with watershed attributes Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water and sediment in Great Lakes tributaries and relations with watershed attributes
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals of emerging concern that potentially pose risks to human and environmental health. In May–Oct 2018, sediment and passively collected surface water samples were collected from 62 tributary sites of the Laurentian Great Lakes with site catchments spanning various land cover types. Discrete samples of sediment collected manually and...
Authors
Luke Loken, Steven R. Corsi, David Alvarez, Matthew Pronschinske, Peter Lenaker, Michelle Nott, Chen Zhang, Erin Mani, Gerald T. Ankley
Climate-driven sulfate export in alpine watersheds may stimulate methylmercury production Climate-driven sulfate export in alpine watersheds may stimulate methylmercury production
Climate change is increasing sulfate export and changing wetland extent in mountain regions. These changes may increase microbially mediated production of the neurotoxic substance methylmercury due to enhanced sulfate metabolism in mountain environments. Here, we assess methylmercury concentrations and formation rates across high-elevation wetlands in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We...
Authors
Hannah R. Miller, Charles Driscoll, Sarah E. Janssen, Eve-Lyn Hinckley
One-hundred fundamental, open questions to integrate methodological approaches in lake ice research One-hundred fundamental, open questions to integrate methodological approaches in lake ice research
The rate of technological innovation within aquatic sciences outpaces the collective ability of individual scientists within the field to make appropriate use of those technologies. The process of in situ lake sampling remains the primary choice to comprehensively understand an aquatic ecosystem at local scales; however, the impact of climate change on lakes necessitates the rapid...
Authors
Joshua Culpepper, Sapna Sharma, Grant Gunn, Madeline Magee, Michael Meyer, Eric Anderson, Christoper Arp, Sarah Cooley, Wayana Dolan, Hilary Dugan, Claude Duguay, Benjamin Jones, Georgiy Kirillin, Robert Ladwig, Matti Lepparanta, Di Long, John Magnuson, Tamlin Pavelsky, Sebastiano Piccolroaz, Dale M. Robertson, Bethel Steele, Manu Tom, Gesa Weyhenmeyer, R. Iesytn Woolway, Marguerite A. Xenopoulos, Xiao Yang
Sources and risk factors for nitrate, pathogens, and fecal contamination of private wells in rural southwestern Wisconsin, USA Sources and risk factors for nitrate, pathogens, and fecal contamination of private wells in rural southwestern Wisconsin, USA
Household well water can be degraded by contaminants from the land's surface, but private well owners lack means to protect the source water from neighboring disturbances. Rural residents of southwestern Wisconsin, USA, rely on private well water, and the combination of land use and fractured carbonate bedrock makes groundwater vulnerable to contamination. To identify the extent, sources...
Authors
Joel Stokdyk, Aaron Firnstahl, Kenneth Bradbury, Maureen Muldoon, Burney Kieke Jr., Mark Borchardt
Nonstationary flood frequency analysis using regression in the north-central United States Nonstationary flood frequency analysis using regression in the north-central United States
Traditional flood frequency methods assume that the statistical properties of peak streamflow do not change with time and may not be appropriate for many areas in the north-central United States. This study examines a nonstationary flood frequency analysis method that uses ordinary least squares linear regression to estimate flood magnitudes at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages that...
Authors
Sara B. Levin
Groundwater budget for the surficial aquifer surrounding Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota Groundwater budget for the surficial aquifer surrounding Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota
During prolonged periods of above-average precipitation, rising groundwater levels have the potential to cause damage to and interfere with underground infrastructure and building foundations. To understand the relations between precipitation and groundwater in the vicinity of Lake Nokomis, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, quantified five...
Authors
Colin T. Livdahl