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Washington Water Science Center

The USGS Washington Water Science Center provides water resource information. You’ll find information about Washington’s rivers and streams, as well as groundwater, water quality, and cutting-edge water research. We welcome you to explore our data and scientific research.

News

U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region

U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region

USGS Firelight: PHIRE Edition - Vol. 2 | Issue 2

Uncrewed Aviation Systems (UAS) Training Interest Survey

Uncrewed Aviation Systems (UAS) Training Interest Survey

Publications

Advancing the science of headwater streamflow for global water protection

The protection of headwater streams faces increasing challenges, exemplified by limited global recognition of headwater contributions to watershed resiliency and a recent US Supreme Court decision limiting federal safeguards. Despite accounting for ~77% of global river networks, the lack of adequate headwaters protections is caused, in part, by limited information on their extent and...
Authors
Heather E. Golden, Jay Christiensen, Hilary McMillan, Christa A. Kelleher, Charles R. Lane, Admin Husic, Li Li, Adam S. Ward, John C. Hammond, Erin C. Seybold, Kristin Jaeger, Margaret Ann Zimmer, Roy Sando, C. Nathan Jones, Catalina Segura, D. Tyler Mahoney, Adam N. Price, Frederick Chang

Quantifying fine sediment infiltration in spawning gravel used by Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Sauk River Basin, Washington, 2018–21

Fine sediment can infiltrate into river substrate that salmonid fish species (Oncorhynchus spp.) use to spawn. High levels of sediment infiltration can increase egg-to-fry mortality, which corresponds to the period when salmonids are still residing in the subsurface gravels. This study quantifies fine sediment infiltration of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawning habitat...
Authors
Kristin L. Jaeger, Scott W. Anderson, Anya C. Leach, Scott T. Morris

Groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Lower Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, Washington

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), conducted a study to describe the current understanding of the regional groundwater system of the lower Duwamish River valley and groundwater and surface-water interactions in the lower Duwamish Waterway. The lower Duwamish Waterway is the final 5-mile (mi) reach of the Duwamish...
Authors
Jackson N. Mitchell, Kathleen E. Conn

Science

Tolt River Temperature Modeling

The Issue: The Tolt River and its tributaries, including the South Fork Tolt River, have recently experienced high water temperatures above water-quality standards. Water managers can regulate flows to influence the temperature regime of the South Fork Tolt River downstream of the dam. More information is needed to determine how far downstream water temperature strategies are effective. How USGS...
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Tolt River Temperature Modeling

The Issue: The Tolt River and its tributaries, including the South Fork Tolt River, have recently experienced high water temperatures above water-quality standards. Water managers can regulate flows to influence the temperature regime of the South Fork Tolt River downstream of the dam. More information is needed to determine how far downstream water temperature strategies are effective. How USGS...
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Integration of Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Modeling Water Quality Patterns in Small Urban Streams

The Issue: Stormwater can quickly run off impervious surfaces delivering potentially polluted water to streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region. Runoff from impervious surfaces can either be directly connected to streams through stormwater pipes or indirectly connected if runoff is routed to some other surface such as grass or a feature like a stormwater management structure. It is currently...
link

Integration of Urban Stormwater Infrastructure in Modeling Water Quality Patterns in Small Urban Streams

The Issue: Stormwater can quickly run off impervious surfaces delivering potentially polluted water to streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region. Runoff from impervious surfaces can either be directly connected to streams through stormwater pipes or indirectly connected if runoff is routed to some other surface such as grass or a feature like a stormwater management structure. It is currently...
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Preliminary Research Sheds Light on Proper Analysis and Sample Handling for the Tire-Derived Contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone

Tire and road wear particles have been shown to cause acute effects to sensitive aquatic animals and degrade their habitats. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists developed methods to accurately identify aquatic compounds, such as 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone, that can cause acute mortality events in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
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Preliminary Research Sheds Light on Proper Analysis and Sample Handling for the Tire-Derived Contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone

Tire and road wear particles have been shown to cause acute effects to sensitive aquatic animals and degrade their habitats. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists developed methods to accurately identify aquatic compounds, such as 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone, that can cause acute mortality events in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
Learn More
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