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<dc:rights>Copyright 2007, Gourt.com</dc:rights>
<dc:date>2008-10-13T07:42+35:00
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/413040305/article.asp">
<title>Extreme Coastal Changes and Storm Surge Measurements from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/413040305/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[What: Reporters are invited to attend a special presentation about the impacts of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav on the Texas and Louisiana coast. Compelling before-and-after photographs of the storms will be 






Bolivar Peninsula before and two days after Ike



presented during an earth-science conference in Houston, October 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Extreme storms like Hurricanes Ike and Gustav can change the shape and position of the coast as well as destroy buildings," said U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) oceanographer Abby Sallenger.
Dr. Sallenger's expertise includes quantifying the changes wrought by the recent hurricanes using airborne-laser mapping, known as lidar.
Mike Turco, USGS hydrologist in Houston, will discuss the deployment and success of using high tech, special sensors designed to measure Hurricane Ike's storm surge along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
Who:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Asbury Sallenger
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; USGS Florida Integrated 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Science Center 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; St. Petersburg, Florida&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Michael Turco
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; USGS Texas Water 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Science Center
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Houston, Texas&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
When:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, October 6
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 12:15-1:15pm
&nbsp;
Where:&nbsp; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George R. Brown Convention Center
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General Assembly Theater B 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Houston, Texas 
&nbsp;
Can't make it to Houston? This session will be webcast.&nbsp; Please visit: https://www.acsmeetings.org/programs/events/webcasts/
&nbsp;To arrange an interview, please contact the GSA Newsroom on 1-713-853-8329. 
See images online at: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/index.html
Bolivar Peninsula before and two days after Ike 
    
]]></description>
</item>

<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/412926789/article.asp">
<title>Most Alaskan Glaciers Retreating, Thinning, and Stagnating, Says Major USGS Report</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/412926789/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Editors and Reporters: To interview the author during the Geological Society of America meeting, please contact the GSA Newsroom on 1-713-853-8329. Molnia will be presenting a poster (#76-3) at GSA on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon in Exhibit Hall E.
 
Most glaciers in every mountain range and island group in Alaska are experiencing significant retreat, thinning or stagnation, especially glaciers at lower elevations, according to a new book published by the U.S. Geological Survey. In places, these changes began as early as the middle of the 18th century.
Although more than 99 percent of Alaska's large glaciers are retreating, a handful, surprisingly, are advancing.
The Glaciers of Alaska, authored by USGS research geologist Bruce Molnia, represents a comprehensive overview of the state of the glaciers of Alaska at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century. Richard Williams Jr., an emeritus senior research glaciologist with the USGS, said the 550-page volume will serve as a major reference work for glaciologists studying glaciers in Alaska in the years and decades to come.
The report uses a combination of satellite images, vertical aerial photographs (black-and-white and color-infrared photos taken from airplanes, looking straight down), oblique aerial photographs (color photos taken from the air at an angle, such as most regular photos), and maps, supported by the scientific literature, to document the distribution and behavior of glaciers throughout Alaska.
The author concludes that, because of the vast areas encompassed by the glacierized regions of Alaska, satellite remote sensing provides the only feasible means of monitoring changes in glacier area and in position of termini -- the end of a glacier -- in response to short- and long-term changes in the marine and continental climates of Alaska.&nbsp;
Alaskan glaciers are found in 11 mountain ranges, one large island, one island chain, and one archipelago.&nbsp; Details about the recent behavior of many of Alaska's glaciers are contained in this richly illustrated book, with multiple photographs and satellite images, as well as hundreds of aerial photographs by Molnia, taken during his more than four decades of work in Alaska.
Three other USGS glaciologists authored two sidebar sections of the book: Columbia and Hubbard Tidewater Glaciers, by Robert M. Krimmel; and The 1986 and 2002 Temporary Closures of Russell Fiord by the Hubbard Glacier, by Bruce F. Molnia, Dennis C. Trabant, Rod S. March, and Robert M. Krimmel.&nbsp; A third section, Geospatial Inventory and Analysis of Glaciers: a Case Study for the Eastern Alaska Range, was authored by William F. Manley, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado.
This professional paper (USGS Professional Paper 1386-K) is available in print and online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1386k/. It is the 8th volume to be published in the Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World series; the other seven volumes are available in print and online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3056/ More than 100 glaciologists from the United States and other nations have collaborated with the USGS to produce these 11 volumes.








This August 1941 photograph is of Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska. It shows the lower reaches of Muir Glacier, then a large, tidewater calving valley glacier and its tributary, Riggs Glacier. For nearly two centuries before 1941, Muir Glacier had been retreating. In places, a thickness of more than two-thirds of a mile of ice had been lost. Photo courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Center and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Archive

This August 1950 photo documents the significant changes that occurred during the 9 years between photographs A and B. Muir Glacier has retreated more than 2 miles, exposing Muir Inlet, and thinned 340 feet or more. However, it still is connected with tributary Riggs Glacier. Photo courtesy of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Archive



&nbsp;
&nbsp;


&nbsp;
This August 2004 photo further documents the significant changes that have occurred during the 63 years between photographs A and C, and during the 54 years between photographs B and C. Muir Glacier has retreated out of the field of view and is now nearly 5 miles to the northwest. Riggs Glacier has retreated as much as 2000 ft and thinned by more than 800 feet. Note the dense vegetation that has developed. Also note the correlation between Muir Glacier's 1941 thickness and the nearly horizontal line on the mountainside on the left side of the 2004 photograph. This line that indicates the past height of the glacier is called a trimline. Photo courtesy of Bruce Molnia, USGS).

&nbsp;
This ship-deck-based August 1980 photograph of Muir Glacier and Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, St. Elias Mountains, Alaska, shows the nearly 200-ft-high retreating tidewater end of Muir Glacier with part of its face capped by a few angular pinnacles of ice, called s&eacute;racs. Note the icebergs in the ship's wake in the lower right side of the photograph. The location of Muir's terminus is less than a mile from the landward end of Muir Inlet. Photo courtesy of Bruce Molnia, USGS



&nbsp;
&nbsp;


&nbsp;
This photo was taken in September 2003; in the 23 years between photographs, Muir Glacier has retreated more than a mile and ceased to have a tidewater terminus. Since 1980, Muir Glacier has thinned by more than 600 ft, permitting a view of a mountain with a summit elevation of greater than 4000 ft, located in the center of the photograph. A reexamination of the 1980 photograph shows that the summit of this mountain was visible but that it blended in with adjacent clouds. Photo courtesy of Bruce Molnia, USGS

&nbsp;




&nbsp;
    
]]></description>
</item>

<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/412782054/article.asp">
<title>&#x22;Rock Stars&#x22; to Present Geologic Findings at Houston Conference</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/412782054/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Top scientists from across the world, including 192 earth science experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will be gathering this week to share their latest findings and most innovative research.&nbsp;
The USGS will be a major participant at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Oct. 5-9, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. USGS scientists will present approximately 140 papers and posters on topics ranging from the extreme coastal impacts of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav to the potential effects of moon dust on astronauts.
Ecosystems
"Is Las Vegas Wastewater Threatening Lake Mead Fish Reproduction?"&nbsp; 
Contaminants in Nevada's Lake Mead might be threatening fish reproduction. Reproductive problems in male fish observed at several locations in Lake Mead include altered reproductive hormones, reduced gonadal development, and lower sperm quality-all possibly indicating exposure to contaminants in the water. Treated wastewater from the Las Vegas Metropolitan area flows into Lake Mead through Las Vegas Wash and enters into Las Vegas Bay. Studies were recently conducted to determine the distribution and potential sources of contaminants in Lake Mead and indicate that the main source is Las Vegas Wash.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Presenter: Michael R Rosen, USGS
Monday, Oct. 6, 10:20 a.m., General Assembly Theater Hall C

"Strategic Science Plan for Salton Sea Restoration"
California's largest lake is in jeopardy, but scientists are coming to the rescue. The Salton Sea provides irreplaceable habitat for migratory birds and an important cultural and recreational resource; however, water transferred from agricultural uses in the Imperial Valley to municipal uses in southern California will decrease the amount of irrigation water returned to the lake. If no action is taken, the results will be loss of aquatic and wetland habitat, increased salt content, increased receding of the water level, and degraded air quality.&nbsp; USGS scientists are assisting in restoration planning through science evaluations and oversight and collaboration on a monitoring and assessment plan.&nbsp; The Strategic Science Plan will help link resource managers with the scientific community by addressing issues such as biological sustainability, water and air quality, and socioeconomic values.
Presenter: Doug Barnum, USGS
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 3:20 p.m., General Assembly Theater Hall B

"New USGS Studies on Post-Fire Dryland Soil Stability and Habitat Restoration"
Habitat restoration project results from the eastern Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau confirm the need for managers to evaluate the risks of increasing soil erosion when planning land treatments. Efforts largely funded by federal programs are underway in western North America to restore wildlands that have been degraded by effects of land-use, invasive exotic plants, and altered fire regimes. The goals are to enhance ecosystem resistance and resilience to fire, resistance to invasive exotic plants, native plant diversity, habitat quality for wildlife, and forage production for livestock. USGS scientists highlight the need to address the risks of soil erosion in such plans.
&nbsp;Presenter: Mark Miller, USGS
Sunday, Oct. 5, 11:05 a.m., Room 332AD

Climate
Poster Presentation: "Soil Development and Vegetation Succession in Glacial Fiords of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska"
Soil and plants are replacing many glaciers in Alaska. Glacier melts due to current climate conditions have given way to bays that contain new soils. More than 90% of Little Ice Age glaciers have been retreating since their maximum sizes were reached 100 to 250 years ago. The relationship between soil and vegetation in new bays of Kenai Fjords National Park has been studied. Results show that soil profile development increases as distance from the remaining glaciers increases and as maturity of the vegetation increases.
Co-Presenter: Bruce Molnia, USGS
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Exhibit Hall E

Energy and Minerals
"Potential for Undiscovered Hydrocarbon Accumulations in Southern Louisiana-Insights from the Structural Interpretation and Restoration of 2D Seismic Lines"
Scientists speculate that undiscovered gas might exist in Louisiana. The work being presented is an assessment of undiscovered hydrocarbon resources, gas compounds that are often used for energy, in underground rock layers of the Gulf Coast. Models of the underground geology have been created based on interpretations of seismic lines from southern Louisiana.&nbsp; Results suggest that there are large unexplored structural traps containing hydrocarbon in rock from the Tertiary time period.
&nbsp;Presenter: Ofori N. Pearson, USGS
Monday, October 6, 4:30 p.m., Room 351AD

"Oil and Gas Near Shore in the Gulf of Mexico"
The author will present a recent USGS assessment of the technically recoverable undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and state waters. USGS estimated a mean of 83.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas, a mean of 396 million barrels of undiscovered oil, and a mean of 3.1 billion barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in the assessed Paleogene strata.
Presenter: Peter D. Warwick
Monday, Oct. 6, 3:15 p.m., Room 351AD

Hazards
Special Session: "Extreme Coastal Changes During Hurricanes Ike and Gustav" and "Mapping Hurricane Ike's Inland Storm Surge"
USGS scientist Asbury Sallenger will show compelling before-and-after photographs in this late breaking storm session. Extreme storms can change the shape and position of the coast as well as destroy buildings.&nbsp; The changes wrought to the coast by the recent hurricanes will be illustrated using airborne-laser mapping, known as lidar.&nbsp; Mike Turco (USGS) will discuss the deployment and success of using high tech, special sensors designed to measure Hurricane Ike's storm surge along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
Presenters: Asbury (Abby) Sallenger and Michael Turco, USGS
Monday, Oct. 6, 12:15-1:15 p.m., General Assembly Theater B

Please visit: https://www.acsmeetings.org/programs/events/webcasts/
"Bioaccumulation of Organic Anthropogenic Wastewater Indicators in Earthworms"
Earthworms studied in agricultural fields have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure, indicating that such substances are entering the food chain.&nbsp; Animal manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, often are applied to agricultural crops to provide nutrients for plant growth and to improve the quality of soil. USGS and Colorado State University-Pueblo scientists have found that earthworms studied in agricultural fields where manure and biosolids were applied contain 20 different organic chemicals from household products and manure.
Presenter: Chad A. Kinney, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Monday, Oct. 6, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., General Assembly Theater Hall C

"Geology, Health, and Security in the Global Community"
Earth science is integral to international environmental security.&nbsp; Using case studies from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Zambia, the talk will explain how earth scientists working in collaboration with scientists from many other disciplines can contribute to global environmental security and disaster diplomacy. The session will immediately follow a technical session in the same room (Session T203, "Geology and Health in Texas, Mexico, and Beyond"), with talks examining many international geologic and health issues.
Presenter: Geoff Plumlee, USGS scientist and Outgoing Chair of the Geological Society of America's Geology and Health Division
Sunday, Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., Room 330B 

Poster Session: "A 50-state Inventory of Landslides -A U.S. Geological Survey Pilot Study" 
Two USGS landslide publications that help assess the risk of landslides in the U.S. will be presented. Currently, landslide occurrences in the U.S. are investigated and tracked by each one of the 50 State Geological Surveys, with no uniformity in collection or presentation methods.&nbsp; This lack of uniformity presents a critical challenge for emergency preparedness in landslide-affected regions.&nbsp; The USGS is providing an integrated platform for each state to post its own inventory in one place, with the intent of eventually providing a publicly-accessible one-stop means of finding the landslide history of an area. The publications being presented have used a similar landslide inventory method to assess landslide hazards for two regions, serving as examples of inventory importance.
Chairs:&nbsp; Helen Delano, Pennsylvania Geological Survey and Lynn Highland, USGS Landslide Program
Sunday, Oct. 5, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Exhibits Hall 

"Land-Use and Climate Change Affecting Desert Soil Erosion"
The threat of dust in dryland regions will be heightened by climate change and land use, scientists say.&nbsp; Disturbance of the soil surface in dryland regions from recreation, livestock, mining and energy exploration, military exercises, and fire reduces or eliminates the natural protective cover of the soils, resulting in increased dust production.&nbsp; The effects of future climate changes will also reduce cover of desert soil protectors such as plants.&nbsp;&nbsp; Combined effects, such as surface disturbance occurring during drought periods, can create very large dust events, and these surface disturbances are likely to increase in the future.
Presenter: Jayne Belnap, USGS
Sunday, Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m., Room 332AD

"Delta Dikes in Northwest Washington-to Build or Not to Build?"
The flood protection and agricultural benefits of dikes at river deltas are often tainted by their resulting hazards. Recent surveys of large deltas in northwest Washington show a pattern of diked areas being about a meter lower than neighboring undiked areas. One explanation is that river sediments at deltas are naturally compacted over time; however, natural floods frequently deposit clay and silt sediments that compensate for this loss of land. Diked areas protected from such floods are not subject to sediment build-up and are therefore lower than nearby undiked areas. The results are loss of fishery resources, changes in wildlife habitat, lost carbon sequestration, and the ever increasing hazard of a great flood overtopping a dike.
Presenter: Ralph Haugerud, USGS
Monday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m., Room 352DEF

"The First Line of Defense: Louisiana's Barrier Islands"
Many of the islands that have served as Louisiana's first line of defense from storm surge are severely eroding. Some have retreated more than 20 yards per year. Many are not following the classic model of migrating landward with no change in form; they are diminishing in size and will eventually disappear because of subsidence, low sand supply, and impacts by extreme storms. 
Presenter: Asbury (Abby) Sallenger, USGS
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2:30 p.m., Ballroom C

Human Health
Joint Technical Session: "Developments in Aeolian Research: Bridging the Interface between Soil, Sediment, and Atmosphere II" 
USGS scientists will present on the dangerous effects of dry region dust emissions on human and environmental health. The potential effects of climate change, coupled with increased development of dryland areas such as Las Vegas, highlight the need for further research on the ecological and health effects of dusts from geologic sources such as dry lake beds. The pair of talks, "Dust from playas in the Mojave Desert (USA): Controls on metal contents and emission" and "Bioaccessibility of Toxic Elements In Dusts from Dry Saline Lakes In the Mojave Desert (USA)," will address the geologic and hydrologic processes that result in the presence of potentially toxic heavy metals within dry lake bed dusts, and how the dusts may affect humans and wildlife.
Presenters: Rich Reynolds and Suzette Morman, USGS
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1:30 p.m., General Assembly Theater Hall B

"Living on a Dusty Moon"
While stardust is the stuff of fairytales, moon dust is the stuff of science.&nbsp; The renewed interest in establishing a manned base on the moon demands information on the effects of moon dust on human health. The dust had substantial impacts on space suits and other equipment used in the first lunar missions, and was also well-known as a source of substantial eye, skin, and respiratory irritation to astronauts. USGS scientists will discuss recent research on the potential impacts of lunar dust on equipment and human health, and the development of a lunar soil simulant that can be used to model these impacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Presenters: Doug Stoeser, USGS in collaboration with NASA, and Geoff Plumlee, USGS
Thursday, Oct. 9, 8 a.m., Room 310AD

"New Contributions from the National Groundwater Quality Program"
The USGS National Groundwater Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program is instrumental to public safety because it consistently examines the quality of ground and surface water while encompassing a broader range of scales, contaminants, and environmental settings than any other large-scale sampling program to date. Data on chemical releases, environmental characteristics, and land use have been assembled and combined with sampling results to construct models for predicting contaminant occurrence in groundwater throughout the Nation. NAWQA has also helped to focus national attention on several ground-water contaminants affecting public water supplies, including potential contaminants that had not yet received much national attention such as road salt, ground-water recharge facilities, and atmospheric deposition.
Presenter: Jack Barbash, USGS
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:15 p.m., Room 352DEF

"Health Impacts of Coal-Derived Substances in Drinking Water"
The health effects of coal combustion are well known; however, much less is known about the potential impact of ingesting toxins leached from coal into drinking water.&nbsp; The author will discuss research in the Balkans and high rates of kidney and pelvic cancers found in U.S. states that have low rank coal deposits and rural populations using groundwater.
Presenter: William H. Orem, USGS
Sunday, Oct. 5, 8:45 a.m., Room 330B

Water Census
"Back to the Future-Basic Training"
While training for a return to the moon, astronauts have provided insight on water availability here on Earth.&nbsp; To prepare for future moon exploration, newly recruited astronauts spend a week in northern New Mexico learning basic field techniques in geology and geophysics.&nbsp; Since 2004, USGS has been involved in the instruction of such field methods.&nbsp; As part of their training, astronaut teams have collectively acquired gravity and magnetic data in the Taos Valley.&nbsp; The data collection also helps map buried structures that influence ground-water flow and accumulation.&nbsp; Thus, astronaut candidates learned lunar exploration techniques while at the same time providing insights into the availability of fresh water for residents of this dry area.
Presenter: Patricia Dickerson, University of Texas at Austin
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 10:45 a.m., Room 310D

"Water Quality in Selected United States Aquifers, 1993-2005"
The USGS collected 1,048 samples from wells and springs in 12 aquifer systems across the US including the Basin and Range, Biscayne, Castle Hayne, Edwards-Trinity, Floridan, Ozark Plateaus, Piedmont and Blue Ridge, Prairie du Chien, and Valley and Ridge.&nbsp; Pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and nutrients were among the constituents analyzed. Water quality was highly variable.&nbsp; The author will describe what was detected, and the land use and aquifer characteristics that result in higher contamination.
Presenter: Bruce D. Lindsey, USGS
Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:30 p.m., Room 342BE
    
]]></description>
</item>

<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/410155192/article.asp">
<title>Media Advisory: Join Scientists to See How Major Earthquake Can Devastate Southern California</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/410155192/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Some residents were shaken awake today by the magnitude 4.1 earthquake in the San Bernardino Mountains. But all of Southern California would experience the effects of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas Fault - 500,000 times bigger than today's event - depicted in the "ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario."
The scenario will be used Nov. 13 for The Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history.
Media are invited to be briefed by scientists and see firsthand how the scenario depicts the devastation a major earthquake could cause to Cajon Pass, a narrow area between mountain ranges that is a primary corridor for highway and rail transportation, vital power lines, the California aqueduct, energy pipelines and telecommunications cables that supply millions of homes and businesses in Southern California.
The tour will include great visual and audio material for print and broadcast media.
WHO: USGS earthquake experts Lucy Jones and Ken Hudnut, representatives from the California Geological Survey
WHEN: Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at 12:30 p.m.
WHERE:&nbsp; Media should meet on the east side of the parking lot at the Ontario Airport Marriott, beside Gusti Road. Vans will be provided for transportation to the location in Cajon Pass, approximately 20 minutes away, or media can follow in their own vehicles. Driving directions to the Marriott are available on the Marriot Web site.
Media can also go to the Cajon Pass site directly at 1:00 p.m., near the junction of I-15 and I-215 N following the map instructions provided.
WHY: Take this time to prepare for The Great Southern California Shakeout, which already has more than 3.7 million people, schools and businesses signed up to participate. In the "ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario," the earthquake would kill 1,800 people, injure 50,000, cause $200 billion in damage, and have long-lasting social and economic consequences. This is the most comprehensive analysis ever of what a major Southern California earthquake would mean and is the scientific framework for what will be the largest earthquake preparedness drill in the nation's history.
    
]]></description>
</item>

<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407358231/article.asp">
<title>Hurricane Ike&#x27;s Effects Linger in the Great Lakes</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407358231/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Videos, pictures, and real-time data show damage from Ike along the Lake Michigan shore near Portage, Ind.
Although Hurricane Ike is long gone, its impact lingers more than a thousand miles from where it made landfall.&nbsp; Runoff from tributaries dumped massive amounts of sediment into Lake Michigan, contaminating the water, compromising near-shore navigation and raising E coli bacteria to levels unsafe for swimming.&nbsp;
According to Richard Whitman, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) expert on beach health, "The local effects that Ike had on Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, water depth, and water quality have been profound."
While assessing Ike's impact on the lake, Whitman noted that "The velocity and height of a tributary emptying into Lake Michigan at Portage, Indiana went off the chart.&nbsp; We measured a tremendous amount of sediment accumulation Near Ogden Dunes."
USGS scientists use high tech, state-of-the-art equipment in the lake to measure runoff, the lake's currents, and sediment input during storms. These data are used to forecast whether a beach is unsafe for swimmers. Beaches are subject to high bacteria levels following storms.
Heavy rains from Ike significantly impacted northwestern Indiana and Chicago because the ground was already saturated by a stalled cold front.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407179000/article.asp">
<title>New Geologic Map Provides Details on Past, Present and Future of Western Transverse Ranges</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407179000/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Do you ever wonder what has happened beneath your feet? Curious about what might occur in years to come?
A new tool that can help citizens who live, work and play in the western Transverse  Ranges region is now available online and in print from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The Geologic Map of the Eastern Three-Quarters of the Cuyama 30' x 60' Quadrangle, California. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3002, is available for purchase or free download. A low-resolution image of the map is attached.
Geologic maps serve as the framework for a number of planning and industrial activities because they show the rock types at the earth's surface and help to unravel the history of the earth. They can help inform land-use decisions such as how planners should design buildings, canals, roads, and drainage of farmland, locate earthquake faults, and show where landslides are likely to occur to help plan for safer communities. They can also help predict where resources such as oil, gas, and mineral resources exist for future development.
"Geologic maps are important tools for policy makers, planners and the general public," said Eugene Schweig, USGS geologist and Chief Scientist of the Central Region Earth Surface Processes team.
The newly released USGS map represents part of the Transverse Ranges, east-west trending mountains in southern California that include the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, and Santa Ynez Mountains. The map also includes a large section of the San Andreas fault that ruptured during the major 1859 Ft. Tejon earthquake.&nbsp; It shows surface-level rocks and deposits being formed and deformed today, and others that formed as long as 1.7 billion years ago.
An accompanying pamphlet describes in detail the geologic units of the region, most of which are less than about 50 million year old (Tertiary age) and include both marine and non-marine rocks.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407179001/article.asp">
<title>New Geologic Map Provides Details on Past, Present and Future of the Colorado Front Range</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/407179001/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Do you ever wonder what has happened beneath your feet? Curious about what might occur in years to come?
A new tool that can help citizens who live, work and play in the Colorado Front Range is now available online and in print from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The Geologic Map of the Denver West 30' x 60' Quadrangle, North-Central Colorado, USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3000, is available for purchase or free download. A low-resolution image of the map is attached.
Geologic maps serve as the framework for a number of planning and industrial activities because they show the rock types at the earth's surface and help to unravel the history of the earth. They can help inform land-use decisions such as how planners should design buildings, canals, roads, and drainage of farmland, locate earthquake faults, and show where landslides are likely to occur to help plan for safer communities. They can also help predict where resources such as oil, gas, coal, and mineral resource exist for future development.
"Geologic maps are important tools for policy makers, planners and the general public," said Eugene Schweig, USGS geologist and Chief Scientist of the Central Region Earth Surface Processes team. "They are especially useful in a major urban area like Denver due to the ecological balance this population craves."
The newly released USGS map includes the western part of the Denver metropolitan area and many rapidly growing mountain communities and recreation areas, including a section of the valuable Colorado mineral belt.&nbsp; It shows rocks and deposits being formed at the surface today and others that formed as long as 1.7 billion years ago.
An accompanying pamphlet describes the geologic history of the region and the potential for a number of geologic hazards apparent in the mapping area.
The last USGS geologic map that covered this part of the Front Range was produced in 1981. The new Denver West map includes many previously unmapped areas, including deposits of young surface material such as alluvial gravel and glacial till, and shows previously mapped areas in greater detail.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/406616584/article.asp">
<title>Substantial Power Generation from Domestic Geothermal Resources</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/406616584/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Geothermal power production could significantly add to the electric power generating capacity in the United States.&nbsp;
The U.S. Geological Survey assessment released today is the first national geothermal resource estimate in more than 30 years.
The results of this assessment show that the United States has an estimated 9,057 Megawatts-electric (MWe) of power generation potential from domestic, conventional, identified geothermal systems, 30,033 MWe of power generation potential from conventional, undiscovered geothermal resources, and 517,800 MWe of power generation potential from unconventional (high temperature, low permeability) Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) resources.&nbsp;
The results of this assessment indicate that full development of the conventional, identified systems alone could expand geothermal power production by approximately 6,500 MWe, or about 260% of the currently installed geothermal total of more than 2500 MWe.&nbsp; The resource estimate for unconventional EGS is more than an order of magnitude larger than the combined estimates for both identified and undiscovered conventional geothermal resources and, if successfully developed, could provide an installed geothermal electric power generation capacity equivalent to about half of the currently installed electric power generating capacity in the United States.
"The results of this assessment point to a greater potential for geothermal power production than previous assessments," said Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Secretary of the Interior. "Geothermal energy is not only a renewable resource, but could significantly contribute to our domestic energy resource base."
Results of this USGS assessment indicate that the power generation potential from identified geothermal systems range from 3,675 MWe (95% probability) to 16,457 MWe (5% probability); the power generation potential from undiscovered geothermal systems range from 7,917 MWe (95% probability) to 73,286 MWe (5% probability); and the power generation potential from Enhanced Geothermal Systems range from 345,100 MWe (95% probability) to 727,900 MWe (5% probability).
Geothermal energy is an extremely important but underutilized domestic, renewable energy resource.&nbsp; The nearly 15,000 Gigawatt-hours of geothermal power generated in 2005 constituted 25% of domestic nonhydroelectric renewable electric power generation (a little over 4,055,400 total Gigawatt-hours of electricity were produced in the United States in 2005).&nbsp;
The USGS assessment evaluated 241 identified moderate-temperature (90 to 150oC; 194 to 302oF) and high-temperature (greater than 150oC) geothermal systems located on private and public lands.&nbsp; Geothermal systems located on public lands closed to development, such as national parks, were not included in this assessment.&nbsp; Electric-power generation potential was also determined for several low-temperature (less than 90oC) systems in Alaska for which local conditions make electric power generation feasible.&nbsp; The assessment also included a provisional estimate of the power generation potential from the application of unconventional, EGS technology.
This assessment benefited from cooperation with the Department of Energy, Bureau of Land Management, the University of Nevada - Reno, the University of Utah, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, state and local agencies, and the geothermal industry.
To learn more about USGS National Geothermal Resource efforts and to see results of the assessment, please visit the Energy Resources Web site.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/400987961/article.asp">
<title>Images of Texas Neighborhood Devastated by Hurricane Ike Now Online</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/400987961/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Before-and-after Hurricane Ike photographs showing the near total destruction of a coastal neighborhood in Texas are now accessible online.
On Monday, Sept. 15, a team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists flew the coast impacted by Hurricane Ike and acquired photographs and video. Images of Crystal Beach, Texas, on the Bolivar Peninsula are compared to aerial photographs of the same area taken Sept. 9, several days before Ike's landfall, and are now available from the USGS at http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/photo-comparisons/bolivar.html.
"The Bolivar Peninsula was in or near the right eyewall of Hurricane Ike when the storm made landfall," said USGS scientist Abby Sallenger. "This was the location of the strongest winds and where we observed the greatest impacts to the coast."
Storm surges and waves crested Crystal Beach and swept sand inland, along with the remains of homes. The four sets of before-and-after photographs posted online show these extreme changes to the residential area.
While the maximum impacts of Ike were on the Bolivar Peninsula, vast areas of Louisiana and Texas were flooded by storm surge, Sallenger said. Beaches served as rims that contained the flood waters, and water continues to extend landward in some places for tens of kilometers.
The before-and-after images were taken during airborne surveillances of the Gulf shore from western Louisiana to south of Galveston, Texas. Additional USGS photograph comparisons will be posted on the web site in the coming days to show how Ike's aftermath varies across the entire impact zone.&nbsp; A pair of photographs is attached.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/394693942/article.asp">
<title>New study estimates 765 grizzly bears reside in northwest Montana</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/394693942/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[A new study estimates that 765 grizzly bears make their home in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, a 7.8 million acre area in northwest Montana stretching from north of Missoula, Mont., to the Canadian border.
Initiated in 2003, the five-year study provides a better understanding of the population size, distribution, and genetic health of grizzly bears in northwest Montana. It is the largest non-invasive study of bears to date and is the first ever ecosystem-wide scientific assessment of grizzlies in the 12,187-square-mile Northern Continental Divide area.
The grizzly bear population in northwest Montana, thought to be one of the last strongholds of the grizzly in the lower 48 states, has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1975.
A team of more than 200 researchers and crew members worked on the Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project which was led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with 12 federal, state, and tribal agencies, landowners, universities, and other entities.
Scientists designed a comprehensive study plan that involved non-invasive methods of collecting hair from bear rubs (bears naturally rub against trees and posts) and systematically positioned hair traps that made use of scent lure to attract bears. During the 2004 summer field season, 4,795 bear rubs and 2,558 hair traps were used to collect hair. Approximately 13,000 samples were collected from bear rubs and 21,000 were collected from hair traps, providing researchers with a total of 34,000 bear hair samples.
Through the use of genetic analysis, including DNA fingerprinting, researchers were able to determine the total number of bears sampled and track their detections in time and space.  Genetic analysis of the 34,000 hair samples resulted in the identification of 563 individual grizzly bears. USGS scientists then used statistical models to calculate the number of bears not sampled and incorporate them into an estimate of the total population size, leading to a complete population estimate of 765.
"Based on our field studies and state-of-the-art genetic analysis, we are confident that our estimate of 765 grizzly bears residing in the study area in 2004 is solid," said Kate Kendall, USGS Scientist and lead researcher on the project. "This is two and a half times the number of bears previously estimated to live in the area.&nbsp; The new information will allow us to better evaluate mortality rates."
Researchers were also able to examine the gender, genetic health, and amount of occupied habitat of the grizzly bear population.&nbsp; Based on field studies and genetic analysis, scientists estimate that 470 of the 765 bears are females and data indicates that females are present in all 23 bear management units within the study area. The number and wide distribution of females indicates good reproductive potential.
The study also found that the occupied range of the grizzly bears now extends 2.6 million acres beyond the 1993 recovery zone boundary set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.
"Overall, the genetic health of the population is good," said Kendall. "With diversity in the population approaching levels seen in undisturbed populations in Canada and Alaska, there is no evidence that population size was ever severely reduced or that its connection to Canadian populations was broken. The genetic structure suggests that there has been population growth between 1976 and 2007."
Researchers did detect, however, early signs that human development has begun to inhibit interbreeding between bears in one part of the ecosystem.
As part of the population study, researchers made use of remote camera systems to investigate the efficiency of DNA-based sampling methods. Remote, motion-activated cameras were used to investigate how bears and other wildlife species respond to baited hair traps. The cameras also helped scientists to understand more about bear use of naturally-occurring bear rubs and bear marking behavior. Videos produced from the remote cameras have been made available to the general public.
The baseline data collected from the Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project are aimed at helping federal, state, and tribal wildlife agencies in managing the northwest Montana grizzly population. It will assist the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in conducting grizzly population trend studies and help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with monitoring program efforts and recovery criteria.
Complete results of the Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project will be featured in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management. USGS Scientist Kate Kendall, who led a team of researchers to complete this landmark project, is the principal author.
Read more information about the Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project.
For a video podcast interview with USGS Scientist Kate Kendall about the project, listen to episode 64 of CoreCast, available soon at http://www.usgs.gov/corecast/.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/393287861/article.asp">
<title>USGS to Host Congressional Briefing on Climate Change and Invasive Species</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/393287861/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Invasive cheatgrass is altering historical fire regimes throughout the western United States, exposing native ecosystems not adapted to fire to more frequent and intense fire events. Invasive aquatic species including invertebrates, fish, and the fish disease VHS continue to colonize the Great Lakes at an alarming rate. The increased uncertainties posed by climate change compound the challenges facing resource managers throughout the United States as they grapple with growing populations of invasive species. Come learn how the USGS and its partners are working to provide and apply the science needed by resource managers and policy makers to anticipate and address the impacts of climate change and invasive species on the landscape.
What:
The USGS will host a congressional briefing on how science can be used to anticipate and address the impacts of climate change and invasive species on the landscape.
Who:
Pam Fuller, U.S. Geological SurveyMike Pellant, Bureau of Land ManagementGary Whelan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Where:
2325 Rayburn House  Office BuildingWashington, D.C.
When:
Friday, September 19, 20089:30 a.m.
Hosts:
Congressman Earl BlumenauerCongressman Vernon EhlersCongressman Wayne GilchrestCongressman Jim Moran
Sponsors:
Ecological Society of AmericaClimate Change Science ProgramNortheast-Midwest Institute
For more information about the briefing, visit www.usgs.gov/solutions.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390846014/article.asp">
<title>Before the Dams Come Out: Scientists Measure Elwha River Conditions Now to Help Measure Dam Removal Success Tomorrow</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390846014/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[When the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in Washington State are torn down in 2012, scientists will be able to see&nbsp;&mdash; as never before &mdash; how the removal of large dams affects the restoration of ecosystems, plants, fisheries and other animals.
Experts hope that removing the dams will restore more than 70 miles of spawning and rearing habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, as well as other native fish.
But for effective comparison, they must know what is present now.&nbsp;
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its state, federal, tribal and academic partners in the Elwha Research Consortium have been working to help provide the benchmark information needed for comparison. Their research, documenting the ecological and hydrological state of the river after 96 years of damming, has just been published in 18 articles in a special issue of the journal Northwest Science. 
&nbsp;"The removal of the two dams on the Elwha River is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken to restore prime fish habitat," said Jeff Duda, a research ecologist for the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, and the editor of the articles. "It is vital to learn as much as possible about the effects of dam removal on large wilderness rivers and restoration of salmon populations."
Most of the river flows within Olympic National Park in Washington State. The Elwha River dams have disconnected the upper and lower Elwha watershed, disrupting salmon migration and reducing freshwater salmon habitat by 90 percent. Several historical salmon populations have been lost, and remaining populations are dramatically smaller than before the dams were built.
These studies on the Elwha River are especially important because the number of aging dams nearing their life expectancies in the United States will increase dramatically in the next several decades, said Duda. Information on the ecological effects of dam removal will help decision makers and the public evaluate future dam removal projects, he said.
The results include:

Dam removal will reconnect upstream habitats, which will      increase the number of salmon the river can support, as well as allow the      downstream movement of sediment and wood, leading to long-term aquatic      habitat improvements. 


As sediment levels stabilize following dam removal,      populations of fish that use both rivers and oceans will colonize upstream      reaches of the river again, increasing the availability of nutrients for      freshwater ecosystems after nine decades of absence.


Salmon will respond to the dam removal by establishing      self-sustaining populations above the dams within one to two generations.      Dam removal impacts, however, will likely cause a lag in recolonization      and population rebuilding.


Black bears may alter their late summer and fall movement and      denning patterns to take advantage of energy-rich spawning salmon.


A minimum of 3-11 years and up to 50 years of monitoring will      be required to determine ecosystem responses following dam removal.


A monitoring strategy is needed to assess the effectiveness      of dam removal on the recovery of Elwha River salmon, their aquatic      habitats, and the food webs of which they are an integral part. &nbsp;Three of the articles discuss important      monitoring objectives. 

"These articles provide a wide spectrum of essential baseline information," explained Dr. Dwight Barry, coordinator of the Elwha Research Consortium. "Because no one has ever attempted river restoration on this scale, good baseline information will help scientists and resource managers better understand ecological changes, as well as the potential of dam removal as a river restoration technique."
Background and Additional Information:
After the enactment of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act in 1992, the National Park Service determined that the removal of dams on the Elwha River would best accomplish the intent of, "full restoration of the native anadromous fisheries." The restoration project began in 1994 with development of the first environmental impact statement. Removal of the two dams is scheduled to begin in 2012.
The Elwha Research Consortium is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.&nbsp; Scientists from the USGS, National Park Service, NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Canada, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and 5 universities were co-authors of the papers. Copies of these articles are freely available online.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390868749/article.asp">
<title>Beach Sand Often More Contaminated than Water</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390868749/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Experts to Gather in Porter, Ind.


Recent research has revealed that beach sand contains high concentrations of E. coli and other fecal indicator bacteria, often greatly exceeding the concentration in beach water.&nbsp; Further, there is evidence that beach closings due to elevated fecal indicator bacteria may be linked to these sand populations. Contaminated beach sand, and the complications that it causes for monitoring, are among the leading topics that a group of national experts will discuss in Porter, Indiana at the Great Lakes Beach Association conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 16-17.&nbsp;
"Over the last few years, we've identified an important source of indicator bacteria and how these bacteria may negatively influence recreation, but this is the first time experts have actually met to discuss this issue collectively," said Richard Whitman, Chief of the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, USGS.&nbsp; Whitman was one of the first to describe these high concentrations of E. coli in sands and to link them to high bacteria counts in water.
Beach water is routinely analyzed for E. coli and other fecal indicator bacteria to determine whether human sewage is present.&nbsp; When bacteria concentrations in water exceed a certain threshold, beaches are typically closed to swimming or swimming advisories are posted.&nbsp; Nation-wide, beach closings are a persistent problem, and efforts to minimize closings are often unsuccessful.&nbsp; For most beach closings, the reason for high bacteria concentrations remains unknown.
A potential reason for many of these beach closings, and a complication for monitoring efforts is high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria in beach sand.&nbsp; Bacteria are often present in high concentrations independent of any recent contamination events.&nbsp; Further, bacteria are often re-suspended into the beach water during onshore winds and high waves.&nbsp; The health risk associated with these bacteria is as yet unknown, but preliminary studies are being conducted.


The conference will include experts from federal agencies and universities from California, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Hawaii, and Canada. USGS is hosting this event.&nbsp;
Reporters:&nbsp; If you would like more information on this conference or to participate in a call-in session, please contact Cris Handly on 219-926-8336 ext. 419.

&nbsp;
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390758028/article.asp">
<title>Hurricane Ike: Maps Showing Potential Coastal Change Available Online</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/390758028/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Hurricane Watch 2008

New maps that help forecast possible impacts and damages to coastal communities from Hurricane Ike can be accessed online. http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/ . A Google Earth file is also available. Users can download it to display some of the data used to assess coastal vulnerability.http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/coastal-change/IkeInundationPotential.kmz .&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Five focus regions for pre-storm analysis of coastal change due to Hurricane Ike are shown in the map above.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This map shows an example of one of the five areas overlain by potential coastal change analysis products in Google Earth display.
Hurricane landfall and associated elevated water levels, waves, and currents can lead to severe coastal change through erosion and re-deposition. In order to understand the vulnerability of coasts to storms, USGS scientists monitor U.S. coasts before and after to determine the severity and patterns of erosion and accretion. Depending on storm characteristics and coastal elevations, as well as other factors, impacts can vary. The most extreme coastal change regime is associated with inundation, when storm surge exceeds the elevation of the primary dune or beach berm and the entire beach system is submerged.
In response to Ike, the USGS Hurricane and Extreme Storms Research Group has conducted pre-storm analyses of potential coastal change in five focus areas along the Gulf of Mexico coastlines of Texas and Louisiana. These areas were chosen because they represent different settings that are relevant to ongoing research and coastal zone management questions.
"These maps describe the potential changes that may occur on the coast that threaten communities and critical wildlife habitats." said Abby Sallenger, USGS oceanographer.
    
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<item rdf:about="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/387868236/article.asp">
<title>Silent Streams? Escalating Endangerment for North American Freshwater Fish: Nearly 40 Percent Now At-Risk</title>
<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/UsgsNewsroom/~3/387868236/article.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Editors: Additional information is available at http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/ 
Nearly 40 percent of fish species in North American streams, rivers and lakes are now in jeopardy, according to the most detailed evaluation of the conservation status of freshwater fishes in the last 20 years.
The 700 fishes now listed represent a staggering 92 percent increase over the 364 listed as "imperiled" in the previous 1989 study published by the American Fisheries Society. Researchers classified each of the 700 fishes listed as either vulnerable (230), threatened (190), or endangered (280). In addition, 61 fishes are presumed extinct.
The new report, published in Fisheries, was conducted by a U.S. Geological Survey-led team of scientists from the United States, Canada and Mexico, who examined the status of continental freshwater and diadromous (those that migrate between rivers and oceans) fish.
"Freshwater fish have continued to decline since the late 1970s, with the primary causes being habitat loss, dwindling range and introduction of non-native species," said Mark Myers, director of the USGS. "In addition, climate change may further affect these fish."
Most Vulnerable Groups
The groups of fish most at risk are the highly valuable salmon and trout of the Pacific Coast and western mountain regions; minnows, suckers and catfishes throughout the continent; darters in the Southeastern United States; and pupfish, livebearers, and goodeids, a large, native fish family in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.&nbsp;
Nearly half of the carp and minnow family and the Percidae (family of darters, perches and their relatives) are in jeopardy. Fish families important for sport or commercial fisheries also had many populations at risk. More than 60 percent of the salmon and trout had at least one population or subspecies in trouble, while 22 percent of sunfishes&nbsp;&mdash; which includes the well-known species such as black bass, bluegill and rock bass&nbsp;&mdash; were listed. Even one of the most popular game species in the United States, striped bass, has populations on the list.
Regions with the Most Troubled Fish
Regions with especially notable numbers of troubled fish include the Southeastern United States, the mid-Pacific coast, the lower Rio Grande and basins in Mexico that do not drain to the sea.
Hotspots of regional biodiversity and greatest levels of endangerment are the Tennessee (58 fishes), Mobile (57), and the southeastern Atlantic Slope river systems (34). The Pacific central valley, western Great Basin, Rio Grande and rivers of central Mexico also have high diversity and numbers of fish in peril, according to the report. Many of the troubled fish are restricted to only a single drainage.&nbsp; "Human populations have greatly expanded in many of these watersheds, compounding negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems," noted Howard Jelks, a USGS researcher and the senior author of the paper.
Degree of Trouble
Of fish on the 1989 imperiled list, 89 percent are either still listed with the same conservation status or have become even more at risk. Only 11 percent improved in status or were delisted. The authors emphasized that improved public awareness and proactive management strategies are needed to protect and recover these aquatic treasures.
"Fish are not the only aquatic organisms undergoing precipitous declines," said USGS researcher Noel Burkhead, a lead author on the report and the chair of the AFS Endangered Species Committee. "Freshwater crayfishes, snails and mussels are exhibiting similar or even greater levels of decline and extinction."
The authors noted that the list was based on the best biological information available. "We believe this report will provide national and international resource managers, scientists and the conservation community with reliable information to establish conservation, management and recovery priorities," said Stephen Walsh, another lead author and USGS researcher.
This is the third compilation of imperiled, freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America prepared by the American Fisheries Society's Endangered Species Committee. Additional information is available at http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/



 An endangered holiday darter (Amicalola population). Darters are among the most threatened Southeastern fish; they have been likened to aquatic canaries. Photo by Noel Burkhead, USGS
 A threatened Waccamaw killifish from the Southeastern Atlantic Slope. Photo courtesy of  Fritz Rhode, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources


 A threatened sicklefin redhorse from the Tennessee River. Photo courtesy of Steve Fraley, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
An endangered Alabama sturgeon from the Mobile River.&nbsp; Photo courtesy of Patrick O'Niel, Geological Survey of Alabama.



    
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