Landscape projects
(Earth Surface Dynamics, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping, and
Coastal and Marine Geology)
Arctic-Alaska climate monitoring (Cryospheric Studies) - (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- USGS
conducts Arctic-Alaska climate monitoring through the Global Terrestrial
Network-Permafrost (GTN-P), which is part of the Global Climate Observing
System (GCOS)GTN-P is a cooperative with the USFWS,
NSF, and BLM. USGS is the lead agency in this effort. The data are used to:-Detect
contemporary climate changes in the Arctic -Document the sensitivity
of permafrost to climate change -Provide data critical for testing
climate and cryosphere models -Improve the reliability of impact assessments
based on these models USFWS benefits directly without payment.
Gary Clow, clow@usgs.gov, Denver, CO
Western lake - catchment systems (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Idaho: Water
resources in the Bear Lake region are being depleted by climate dynamics
and human activity. USGS scientists are working to determine climate
variability in the past and the affect of human activity on sediment
deposition, chemistry and fauna. Scientists are focusing efforts on
understanding the effects of diversion of the Bear River through Bear
Lake National Wildlife Refuge wetlands into Bear Lake; the diversion
is thought to be threatening wetlands in the refuge. USFWS provides
in-kind services.
Joseph Rosenbaum, jrosenbaum@usgs.gov, Denver, CO
Holocene climate of the Pacific coasts - Chinese mitten crab study (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- The invasive Chinese mitten crab is causing bank
instability problems in the San Francisco Bay area. USFWS has partly
funded a USGS study of burrowing impacts by mitten crabs in San Francisquito
creek.
John Barron, jbarron@usgs.gov, Menlo Park, CA
Eolian history of North America (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- The objectives of this study are to: (1) test
hypotheses about the role of dust in climate change, (2) investigate
records of natural climate variability in loess (dust) deposits, (3)
understand the processes responsible for sand dune activity in the
U.S., and (4) assess the potential for reactivation of stabilized
sand dunes in the U.S. under changing conditions of climate and land
use. USGS scientists have just begun to study the origin and age of
stabilized sand dunes that occupy the northernmost part of the Tetlin
National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Alaska. Many of the wetlands in
this wildlife refuge are the result of interdune depressions or creation
of small lakes as a result of dune dams. This study has important implications for management of the refuge, because reactivation of the dunes could alter the existing wetlands, which are critical for wildlife. USFWS benefits directly without payment.
Daniel Muhs, dmuhs@usgs.gov, Denver, CO
Alaska Quaternary climate history (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- Project is aimed at improving understanding of
the links between climate change and ecosystem changes in Alaska,
using geological evidence from the late Quaternary as a means of examining
past climate changes and ecosystem responses to those changes. One
objective of the project is to apply new knowledge of ecosystem history
and ecosystem responses to climate change to problems of land-use
management, archeology, vertebrate paleontology and climate modeling. USFWS (Kenai National Wildlife Refuge) provides in-kind services.
Thomas Ager, tager@usgs.gov, Denver, CO
Global dust (Earth Surface Dynamics)
- Project scientists are studying how African and
Asian global dust systems affect downstream ecosystems, particularly
coral reefs, and human health. Discussions are underway with the USFWS Region 1 to use Midway Island as a sampling site. USFWS provides in-kind
services.
Virginia Garrison (BRD) ginger_garrison@usgs.gov, St. Petersburg, FL
Atlantic estuaries (includes Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge study) -- (National Cooperative Geologic Mapping, Earth Surface Dynamics, Coastal and Marine Geology, Integrated Science)
- Eastern U.S. estuaries have common environmental
problems: degraded water quality, loss of wetlands and riparian zones,
sea-level rise, sedimentation, coastal erosion, declining fish and
wildlife populations, loss of sub-aquatic vegetation, and increased
algal blooms. Population growth, urban sprawl, intensified agriculture,
and climate change exacerbate these problems. Mitigation of estuarine
issues requires understanding the ecological, physical, and chemical
changes due to climate variability and anthropogenic factors; the
influence of regional geological framework; and the impacts of land-use
changes in watersheds and coastal zones. Project scientists will provide
a scientific basis for resource managers and other policy-makers to
address these issues. Study of sea-level rise in the Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge is a component of this project. In fy
04, scientists will compile data from cores, bridge borings,
seismic profiles, new R/V Marion Dufresne cores, earlier maps, and
historical maps of coastlines and swamps to develop a DEM base map
as a preliminary geologic framework for the Blackwater region. USFWS benefits directly without payment.
Debra Willard, dwillard@usgs.gov, Reston, VA
Karst applied research studies through geologic mapping (National Cooperative Geologic Mapping)
- This project is producing a karst map of the United
States. USFWS is interested in habitat changes in karst lands across
the country. USFWS will benefit directly without payment.
David Weary, dweary@usgs.gov, Reston, VA
Geologic studies of coral reefs (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- The project addresses the geological aspects of
DOI's "Protecting
America's Coral Reefs" report. Work is focused in three areas:
- Thematic mapping: Mapping activities include identifying innovative mapping methodologies and conducting scientific mapping of critical coral reef environments.
- Reef health: Applying expertise and knowledge to learn more about the conditions and processes which transport sediment, pollutants, and nutrients to the reefs, and about the impact of changes in calcification rates on reef growth and sustainability.
- Deep corals: Learning more about conditions that allow corals to thrive in previously unsuspected environments.
Michael Field, mfield@usgs.gov, Menlo Park, CA
North Carolina regional coastal erosion studies (Coastal and Marine Geology; Earth Surface Dynamics)
- Project members are mapping the regional coastal
sedimentary system of northern North Carolina in order to understand
the Quaternary evolution of the coastal system, especially coastal
erosion. The study area includes Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge,
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Coastal erosion along the Outer Banks of North Carolina has received
much engineering, scientific, and political attention during the past
30 years because the study area attracts significant tourism to its
parks and beaches, contains a number of coastal communities, and the
coastal ocean supports a local fishing industry; all of which are
impacted by coastal change. Important issues being addressed include:
coastal and estuarine shoreline erosion (controls on erosion rates,
sediment transport, response of beaches and wetlands to sea level
rise); sand resources (location, quality, and quantity of offshore,
estuarine, or onshore sand); storm impacts (barrier island/inlet migration,
estuarine water movement, relative stability of barrier island segments);
sea-level change (history and potential impacts); water resources
(surface and groundwater); habitat (ability to sustain uses, trends,
identify threats). The project is providing a strong science foundation
for management of the North Carolina coastal zone and has assisted
USFWS. USFWS benefits directly without payment.
Robert Thieler, rthieler@usgs.gov, Woods Hole, MA
Coastal habitats in Puget Sound (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- This new project will provide the science needed
for restoration planning for the Puget Sound estuary. The project
will support the work of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration
(PSNER ) partnership (which consists of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
State natural resource agencies; Federal agencies, including USFWS;
tribes; the commercial sector; NGOs ; universities; and local governments). PSNER was formed to restore and preserve the nearshore habitat, rehabilitate
the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem, and prevent additional damage
resulting from increased human population in the region.
Guy Gelfenbaum, ggelfenbaum@usgs.gov, Menlo Park, CA
Atlantic coastal ground water systems (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- Project goals are to improve understanding of
the geological framework, pathways, and role of ground-water discharge
in coastal bays along the Atlantic continental margin. This information
is needed for issues related to water supply, wastewater disposal,
and ecosystem health. In particular, information is needed to resolve
mode of entry of nitrogen nutrients into estuaries (diffuse vs. focused)
and to provide data needed for improved hydrologic models. Investigations
are designed to quantify the relative role of ground water in the
water and nutrient budgets of several coastal areas. In fy04 the project
will expand efforts from the Delmarva Peninsula to new study sites
in Pamlico Sound, NC. Special emphasis will be placed on management
needs of Federal DOI partners including NPS
and USFWS. Project welcomes more interaction with USFWS.
John Bratton, jbratton@usgs.gov, Woods Hole, MA
Advanced methods for coastal science applications of temporal waveform-resolving airborne lidar (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- Temporal waveform-resolving lidar has the potential
to provide fundamental information for studies of coastal erosion
and change, modeling or assessment of extreme storm and tsunami impacts,
and the fine scale, vertically resolved discrimination of subaerial
and shallow submarine benthic habitats. The objectives of the project
are to develop and test methods to incorporate NASA
Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL) into subaerial
and shallow submarine studies. Application of
EAARL data to rugosity measurements may prove to be extremely
useful in quantitatively describing reef viability. There is no current
method to estimate rugosity on an appropriate scale. Application of
remote sensing techniques to this long-standing problem will help
ecologists and resource mangers. Federal agencies (USFWS, NPS, State
and Territory governments are very concerned about habitat degradation,
specifically coral reef decline. A model resulting from linking lidar data with data comprehensively describing the benthos will be a huge
step toward the meaningful application of the new lidar technology
to tracking habitat condition. Project welcomes more interaction with
USFWS.
John Brock, jbrock@usgs.gov, St. Petersburg, FL
National benthic habitat studies: Atlantic (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- Project scientists will conduct:
- Habitat classification and process studies of New England benthic habitats·
- Geologic and biologic studies of Georges Bank, New England Shelf, and New Jersey Shelf benthic habitats·
- Geologic studies of shelf-edge habitats of the northern Gulf of Mexico
- Shelf-edge micropaleontological framework studies of the Gulf Coast, and will produce
- Seafloor geologic maps of the Gulf of Maine
These regions have been identified as high priority through discussions with DOI agencies (USFWS, MMS, NPS); NOAA agencies (NMFS, NMSS, NOS, NURP); the nation's regional Fishery Management Councils; and, in regions of common interest, the Geological Survey of Canada and Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada
Page Valentine, pvalentine@usgs.gov, Woods Hole, MA
National benthic habitat studies: Pacific (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- USGS scientists address habitat issues in high-priority
areas identified through discussions with DOI (MMS, USFWS, NPS), NOAA (NMFS, NMS), and the nation's regional Fishery Management Councils.
Project scientists are producing habitat maps that are useful for
fisheries science and management. They utilize traditional data collected
by the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program including sampling,
bottom video, sidescan sonar, and multibeam sonar data, to produce
interpretive maps showing the distribution of seabed materials, seabed
dynamics, and biologic habitats. Partnerships are with NOAA, NPS,
EPA, DOE
, DOD ,
and other Federal and State agencies. In addition to habitat mapping
on the Pacific coast, habitat mapping in Northern Lake Michigan, related
to trout fisheries, will be of interest to USFWS.
Guy Cochrane, gcochrane@usgs.gov, Menlo Park, CA
Coastal watershed restoration (Coastal and Marine Geology)
- This project has two objectives:
- Advise managers on specific watershed issues related to human activities such as impact of dams or dam removal on downstream river and marine environments and habitats.
- Use dams, artificial floods, and other human activities to conduct large-scale sediment transport experiments to better predict sediment transport within river systems and downstream marine settings.
David Rubin, drubin@usgs.gov, Menlo Park, CA
