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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Barrier island habitat map and vegetation survey—Dauphin Island, Alabama, 2015

Barrier islands are dynamic environments due to their position at the land-sea interface. Storms, waves, tides, currents, and relative sea-level rise are powerful forces that shape barrier island geomorphology and habitats (for example, beach, dune, marsh, and forest). Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deep Water Horizon oil spill in 2010 are two major events that have affected habitats and natural resources on Dauphin Island, Alabama. The latter event prompted a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State of Alabama funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to investigate viable, sustainable restoration options that protect and restore the natural resources of Dauphin Island, Alabama. In order to understand the feasibility and sustainability of various restoration scenarios, it is important to understand current conditions on Dauphin Island. To further this understanding, a detailed 19-class habitat map for Dauphin Island was produced from 1-foot aerial infrared photography collected on December 4, 2015, and lidar data collected in January 2015. We also conducted a ground survey of habitat types, vegetation community structure, and elevations in November and December 2015. These products provide baseline data regarding the ecological and general geomorphological attributes of the area, which can be compared with observations from other dates for tracking changes over time.

Alabama↗

Bathymetric contour maps of lakes surveyed in Iowa in 2005

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, conducted bathymetric surveys on seven lakes in Iowa during 2005 (Arrowhead Pond, Central Park Lake, Lake Keomah, Manteno Park Pond, Lake Miami, Springbrook Lake, and Yellow Smoke Lake). The surveys were conducted to provide the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with information for the development of total maximum daily load limits, particularly for estimating sediment load and deposition rates. The bathymetric surveys provide a baseline for future work on sediment loads and deposition rates for these lakes. All of the lakes surveyed in 2005 are man-made lakes with fixed spillways. Bathymetric data were collected using boat-mounted, differential global positioning system, echo depth-sounding equipment, and computer software. Data were processed with commercial hydrographic software and exported into a geographic information system for mapping and calculating area and volume. Lake volume estimates ranged from 47,784,000 cubic feet (1,100 acre-feet) at Lake Miami to 2,595,000 cubic feet (60 acre-feet) at Manteno Park Pond. Surface area estimates ranged from 5,454,000 square feet (125 acres) at Lake Miami to 558,000 square feet (13 acres) at Springbrook Lake.

Iowa↗

Bathymetric contour maps for lakes surveyed in Iowa in 2003

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), conducted bathymetric surveys on four lakes in Iowa during 2003 (Don Williams Lake, Easter Lake, Lake Macbride, and Lake Meyer). The purpose of the surveys is to provide the IDNR with information for the development of total maximum daily load (TMDL) limits, in particular, for estimating sediment load and deposition rates. The bathymetric surveys can provide a baseline for future work on sediment loads and deposition rates for these lakes. All lakes surveyed in 2003 are man-made lakes with fixed spillways. Bathymetric data were collected using boat-mounted, differential global positioning system (GPS) equipment, echo depth-sounding equipment, and computer software. Data were processed with commercial hydrographic software and exported into a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping and calculation of area and volume. Lake volume estimates ranged from 590,501,000 cubic feet (13,600 acre-feet) at Lake Macbride to 17,831,000 cubic feet (410 acre-feet) at Lake Meyer. Surface area estimates ranged from 38,118,000 square feet (875 acres) at Lake Macbride to 1,373,000 square feet (32 acres) at Lake Meyer.

Iowa↗

Bathymetric contour maps of lakes surveyed in Iowa in 2004

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, conducted bathymetric surveys on six lakes in Iowa during 2004 (Lake Darling, Littlefield Lake, Lake Minnewashta, Nine Eagles Lake, Prairie Rose Lake, and Upper Gar Lake). The surveys were conducted to provide the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with information for the development of total maximum daily load limits, particularly for estimating sediment load and deposition rates. The bathymetric surveys can provide a baseline for future work on sediment loads and deposition rates for these lakes. Two of the lakes surveyed in 2004, Lake Minnewashta and Upper Gar Lake, are natural lakes. The other four lakes are manmade lakes with fixed spillways. Bathymetric data were collected using a boat-mounted, differential global positioning system, echo depth-sounding equipment, and computer software. Data were processed with commercial hydrographic software and exported into a geographic information system for mapping and calculating area and volume. Lake volume estimates ranged from 83,924,000 cubic feet (1,930 acre-feet) at Lake Darling to 5,967,000 cubic feet (140 acre-feet) at Upper Gar Lake. Surface area estimates ranged from 10,660,000 square feet (240 acres) at Lake Darling to 1,557,000 square feet (36 acres) at Upper Gar Lake.

Iowa↗

Bathymetric contour maps for lakes surveyed in Iowa in 2006

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, conducted bathymetric surveys on two lakes in Iowa during 2006 (Little Storm Lake and Silver Lake). The surveys were conducted to provide the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with information for the development of total maximum daily load limits, particularly for estimating sediment load and deposition rates. The bathymetric surveys can provide a baseline for future work on sediment loads and deposition rates for these lakes. Both of the lakes surveyed in 2006 are natural lakes. For Silver Lake, bathymetric data were collected using boat-mounted, differential global positioning system, echo depth-sounding equipment, and computer software. For Little Storm Lake, because of its shallow nature, bathymetric data were collected using manual depth measurements. Data were processed with commercial hydrographic software and exported into a geographic information system for mapping and calculating area and volume. Lake volumes were estimated to be 7,547,000 cubic feet (173 acre-feet) at Little Storm Lake and 126,724,000 cubic feet (2,910 acre-feet) at Silver Lake. Surface areas were estimated to be 4,110,000 square feet (94 acres) at Little Storm Lake and 27,957,000 square feet (640 acres) at Silver Lake.

Iowa↗

The modernization program of the US Geological Survey's National Mapping Division

Discusses the components of the National Digital Cartographic Data Base of the USA, to be completed by the year 2000. Key tasks are; expand the digitising programme; modify data structures; develop digital revision capabilities; develop and adopt standards and implement quality control; support advanced analysis. -after Authors

Cartography and Geographic Information Systems↗

Land-based lidar mapping: a new surveying technique to shed light on rapid topographic change

The rate of natural change in such dynamic environments as rivers and coastlines can sometimes overwhelm the monitoring capacity of conventional surveying methods. In response to this limitation, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are pioneering new applications of light detection and ranging (lidar), a laser-based scanning technology that promises to greatly increase our ability to track rapid topographic changes and manage their impact on affected communities.

Fact Sheet↗

Maps for America: cartographic products of the U.S. Geological Survey and others

"Maps for America" was originally published in 1979 as a Centennial Volume commemorating the Geological Survey's hundred years of service (1879-1979) in the earth sciences. It was an eminently fitting Centennial Year publication, for, since its establishment, the Geological Survey has continuously carried on an extensive program of mapping to provide knowledge of the topography, geology, hydrology, and natural resources of our Nation. This volume contains an organized presentation of information about the maps produced by the Geological Survey and other American organizations, public and private. Such maps are important tools for those in government and in private endeavors who are working to assure the wisest choices in managing the Nation's resources. They are particularly supportive of the Department of the Interior's role as the Nation's principal conservation agency. The second edition of "Maps for America" is intended primarily to replenish the dwindling supply of copies of the book, but it also contains a number of changes to correct or update the text and to provide more suitable illustrations in certain instances.

Report↗

Maps for America: cartographic products of the U.S. Geological Survey and others

"Maps for America" was originally published in 1979 as a Centennial Volume commemorating the Geological Survey's hundred years of service (1879 - 1979) in the earth sciences. It was an eminently fitting Centennial Year publication, for, since its establishment, the Geological Survey has continuously carried on an extensive program of mapping to provide knowledge of the topography, geology, hydrology, and natural resources of our nation. This volume contains an organized presentation of information about the map produced by the Geological Survey and other American organizations, public and private. Such maps are important tools for those in government and in private endeavors who are working to assure the wisest choices in managing the Nation's resources. They are particularly supportive of the Department of the Interior's role as the Nation's principal conservation agency. The third edition of "Maps for America," like the second edition, is intended primarily to replenish the supply of copies of the book, but it also contains a number of changes to correct or update the text.

Report↗

Practical field survey operations for flood insurance rate maps

The U.S. Geological Survey assists the Federal Emergency Management Agency in its mission to identify flood hazards and zones for risk premiums for communities nationwide, by creating flood insurance rate maps through updating hydraulic models that use river geometry data. The data collected consist of elevations of river channels, banks, and structures, such as bridges, dams, and weirs that can affect flow. To account for the model complexity of river structure hydraulics and the fidelity between river channel and structure geometry, two distinct standards for collecting geometry data are presented, both using global navigation satellite system real-time network surveying. This method is adapted from U.S. Geological Survey manuals and is foundational in hydraulic surveying for flood insurance rate maps.

Open-File Report↗

Mineral resources of proposed additions to the Salmon-Trinity Alps Primitive Area, California

A mineral survey of four areas totalling 80 square miles, not included during the 1968-70 examination of the proposed Salmon-Trinity Alps Wilderness, was made by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1973. Geological Survey personnel mapped the geology and collected stream-sediment and rock samples for spectrographic and chemical analysis; Bureau of Mines personnel examined the known placer and lode claims. The areas examined include: (1) the upper drainage of Red Cap Creek in Humboldt County, adjoining the northwest part of the Salmon-Trinity Alps Primitive Area; (2) an area in Trinity County south of the Primitive Area including the drainage of Big French Creek and the canyon of North Fork Trinity River from Hobo Gulch Forest Camp to the junction with East Fork of North Fork; (3) an area, also south of the Primitive Area and in Trinity County, including East Fork of North Fork from Manzanita Flat to Squaw Gulch, and the drainages of Indian Creek, Squaw Gulch, lower East Branch, and lower Yellow Jacket Creek; (4) the drainage of St. Clair Creek in Siskiyou County north of the Primitive Area; and (5) a small area on New River from the junction of Slide and Virgin Creeks downstream to the mouth of Barron Creek that was previously mapped by the Geological Survey (Hotz and others, 1972) but had not been studied by the Bureau of Mines.

California↗