ASHLAND, Wis. — Reporters are invited to an event Tuesday, August 9, showcasing the use of sailboat-like drones, autonomous underwater vehicles, large research vessels and other state-of-art technologies to improve Great Lakes fishery research.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/dignitaries-scientists-celebrate-advanced-technologies-great-lakes-research
MADISON, Wis. — Mexican free-tailed bats can be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus but don’t appear to spread it or become sick, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study published today.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/covid-19-virus-can-infect-mexican-free-tailed-bats
ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District; and the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with others, have released a report regarding the Ecological Status and Trends of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/upper-mississippi-and-illinois-rivers-experiencing-widespread-and-regional
Some important amphibian species are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, than other species, according to a recent study.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/toxicity-forever-chemicals-varies-among-amphibian-species
Note to Editors: In the public interest and in accordance with FAA regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance informing the local communities is appreciated.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-alert-low-flying-helicopter-will-survey-southern-wisconsin-geologic
An annual waterfowl harvest survey is open to duck hunter feedback now through December 31 for the Green Bay and Lake Michigan regions of Wisconsin.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-alert-hunter-survey-available-green-bay-and-lake-michigan
Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, the questionnaire will collect public feedback about waterfowl harvest and regulations for the Wisconsin Open Water Zone that will be effective for the 2021 through 2025 waterfowl hunting seasons. Input from hunters will help natural resource managers develop regulations for the Open Water Zone.
The new Open Water Zone will begin 500 feet offshore and extend to the Wisconsin/Michigan state boundary. Hunters can provide feedback about the season structure of the Open Water Zone, such as the opening date, if the zone should have a split when hunting is not allowed and the preferred number of days the split should last, if desired. The survey will also collect details on where and what species of waterfowl are harvested in these open water environments.
The survey is open for a short period annually through 2024.
The USGS, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Waterfowl Association encourage hunters to complete the 2021 survey online.
For more information on waterfowl research in the Great Lakes region, please visit the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center website.
From 2021 through 2025, the Wisconsin waterfowl hunting zone will have a North, South, and Open Water Zone. The Open Water Zone will be specific to the offshore, open waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The zone starts 500 feet offshore and extends to the Wisconsin/Michigan state boundary. (USGS, Wisconsin DNR)
USGS News: Wisconsin
https://www.usgs.gov/news/media-announcement-hunter-survey-available-green-bay-and-lake-michigan
Here, a Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking tool is deployed in Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado, to track toxin presence. (Credit: Nicki Gibney, NPS)
HABs are a global concern that threaten human and aquatic ecosystem health and can cause severe economic damages. Algal toxins are produced by certain species of algae and microscopic water plants called phytoplankton and can cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and wildlife. Economic damages related to HABs include loss of recreational and fisheries revenues, decreased property values and increased drinking-water treatment costs.
The researchers involved in the project, “Rapid Response Strategy for Potential Toxin Exposures from HABs in Coastal and Shoreline Areas of National Parks,” aim to address critical management needs related to HAB monitoring and response in national parks.
Professional and trained citizen scientists are using innovative techniques to sample and monitor HABs in freshwater and marine environments across 18 U.S. national parks. The new suite of simple, low-cost sampling methods can analyze up to 32 freshwater and 25 marine algal toxins.
“We are very excited about this multi-agency collaborative effort,” said Jennifer Graham, USGS project co-lead. “The end goal is to provide the information necessary for the National Park Service to develop comprehensive guidance on HAB monitoring, toxin testing and rapid response protocols."
“We’re finding HABs in new areas,” said Jamie Kilgo, project co-lead and marine ecologist at the NPS. “We need to monitor areas where they are a known issue and anticipate where we might find them in the future so we can protect visitors, pets, park staff, volunteers and wildlife.”
Scientists selected six marine and 12 freshwater parks with recurring HABs and potential human or wildlife health issues for the program.
Over the summer, the agencies trained NPS technicians and 11 citizen scientists to safely monitor and collect water samples for further analysis so the USGS and partners can efficiently identify the presence of potential HABs.
These groups are using a variety of sampling and monitoring techniques to test their efficacy. These techniques range from citizen scientists viewing phytoplankton species under a microscope to colorful, donut-shaped Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking tools, which track toxin presence over time. Scientists will sample for more than 30 different toxins, some of which are rarely tested but may be present at harmful concentrations.
“It’s important that we cover this wide range for both the toxins and sites in order to fully understand the extent of harmful algal blooms,” said Victoria Christensen, USGS project co-lead. “Therefore, we are also sampling a diverse range of waterbodies, such as rivers, lakes, coastal shorelines and backwater areas, that may harbor different types of blooms and different toxins.”
Collaborators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative, the University of Wisconsin and NOAA’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, will supply equipment and protocols for low-cost HAB monitoring and toxin sampling needed for analyses in selected pilot parks.
Participating parks include: Acadia National Park (Maine), Canaveral National Seashore (Fla.), Fire Island National Seashore (N.Y.), Olympic National Park (Wash.), Padre Island National Shoreline (Texas), Sitka National Historic Park (Alaska), Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wis.), Cape Cod National Seashore (Mass.), Curecanti National Recreation Area (Colo.), Isle Royale National Park (Mich.), Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Nev.), National Mall and Memorial Parks (District of Columbia), Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial (Ohio), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Mich.), Voyageurs National Park (Minn.), Buffalo National River (Ark.), St. Croix National Scenic Waterway (Wis.) and Zion National Park (Utah).
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
https://www.usgs.gov/news/project-underway-identify-algal-toxins-us-national-park-waterways
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service partnered on a first-of-its-kind, nationwide harmful algal bloom, or HAB, field study that began this summer and will continue over the next two years.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/project-underway-identify-algal-toxins-us-national-park-waterways
Scientists detected six types of coronaviruses in numerous mammals sampled on and near mink farms in Utah, according to a U.S. Geological Survey-led study available today.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/multiple-coronaviruses-found-animals-around-utah-mink-farms
This rat snake is a preserved museum specimen with snake fungal disease that was collected in Tennessee in 1973. (Credit: Jeff Lorch, USGS)
Wild snakes are critical to ecosystem health and biodiversity, but snake fungal disease puts some snake populations at risk. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Kentucky examined 524 snake specimens in two museum collections to determine how long snake fungal disease has been in North America. They found evidence of snake fungal disease in specimens dating back to 1945, about 55 years before the disease was first reported in the U.S.
“Our discovery that snake fungal disease was present but undetected for so long suggests that other factors like climate change and environmental conditions may be driving recent outbreaks,” said Jeff Lorch, a USGS scientist and the study’s lead author. “Pinpointing the factors that cause outbreaks can inform management decisions to better protect snake populations.”
Scientists first documented snake fungal disease in wild snakes in North America in 2008. The disease has since been found throughout the eastern U.S. and was detected in Europe. Caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, snake fungal disease can lead to skin lesions, scabs and crusty scales, which can be deadly for some snakes. Affected species include threatened snakes such as the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, eastern indigo snake and Louisiana pinesnake.
“Natural history museum collections can provide valuable historical samples that could not otherwise be obtained,” said Laura Monahan, Curator of Collections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Zoological Museum. “Dr. Lorch’s work highlights the modern research that can be done with very old museum specimens.”
The researchers examined preserved snake specimens from the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum and Morehead State University Museum Collection. They found visual signs of snake fungal disease in 47, or 9%, of the specimens. The scientists further analyzed 12 of those 47 specimens and found microscopic evidence of skin damage in seven samples and DNA from the O. ophidiicola fungus in three samples.
“Our study highlights the importance of examining preserved specimens in museum collections to trace the origin of fungal pathogens like Ophidiomyces ophidiicola,” said Steven Price, an associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
The study is published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. For more information about USGS wildlife disease research, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website.
These images are examples of snake fungal disease on a broad-banded watersnake. (Credit: USGS)
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
https://www.usgs.gov/news/destructive-snake-disease-discovered-museum-specimens
A recent study of museum snake specimens shows that snake fungal disease, a skin infection threatening many important snake populations, existed in the U.S. over 50 years earlier than previously thought.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/destructive-snake-disease-discovered-museum-specimens
These Saildrone Explorers will use acoustic, or sound, technology to gather fish distribution and density data around-the-clock. USGS scientists will use the data to better understand the effects of invasive mussels and nutrient loss in the water. (Credit: Saildrone, Inc.)
The U.S. Geological Survey and Saildrone, Inc., launched the vehicles from Macatawa, Michigan, on July 28. These ocean drones, called Saildrone Explorers, will begin collecting fishery data on Lake Michigan starting August 5, sailing north into Lake Huron through September. Information collected as part of the study will help inform sustainable management of the $7 billion per year Great Lakes fishing industry.
The Saildrones will use acoustic, or sound, technology to gather fish distribution and density data around-the-clock. USGS scientists will use the data to better understand the effects of large vessel engine noise on fish sampling and catchability. This information will be used to sustain important fisheries for states, Tribes and likely the Province of Ontario, Canada.
The 23-foot autonomous vehicles are powered by wind and solar energy and carry no people. The sailboat-like drones have a 15-foot-tall wing sail and weighted keel, and they bear a payload of science sensors and navigational and communications equipment on their hulls.
The acoustic technology used in the study is not hazardous to people or animals and will not interfere with sonar, communications equipment or similar electronics.
For information about USGS research on the Great Lakes, please visit the USGS Great Lakes Science Center website.
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
https://www.usgs.gov/news/media-advisory-sailing-drones-collect-data-great-lakes-fishery-research
On August 5, two uncrewed surface vehicles will begin a 45-day sailing mission through Lakes Michigan and Huron as part of a scientific study.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-advisory-sailing-drones-collect-data-great-lakes-fishery-research
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center will be available on June 3 for in-person interviews and updates on an invasive carp deterrent study that is underway at Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-availability-study-invasive-carp-deterrent-underway-keokuk
Starting in 2000, The Nature Conservancy acquired and restored approximately 25,000 acres at Glacial Ridge, returning nearly all of the land to native wetland and prairie. Scientists with the USGS, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Minnesota, compared the hydrology of the area before and after restoration. They found substantial improvements in groundwater flow, water runoff rates and water quality as a result of land restoration, especially in areas with shallow groundwater or where drained wetlands were restored.
Water well at a restored prairie on Lake Agassiz beach ridge, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
“These restorations will benefit the people and ecosystems of western Minnesota by reducing flooding and improving water quality,” said Tim Cowdery, USGS scientist and lead author of the report.
The study found a number of hydrological improvements at Glacial Ridge due to the restoration:
USGS hydrologist Tim Cowdery works from a mobile water sampling van in the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. (USGS)
The rate of water runoff decreased by 33%. High runoff is undesirable because it can cause flooding and reduces the amount of water entering underground aquifers; The rate of groundwater recharge increased by 14%. Groundwater recharge is the process by which water soaks down from the land surface into an aquifer. Recharge is important because it helps maintain the amount of water stored in aquifers which is used for drinking water and irrigation; Ditch flow decreased by 23%. Reduced ditch flows were beneficial because they resulted in less water leaving the study area, helping to prevent flooding downstream; Concentrations of nitrate, a type of nutrient, decreased by 79% in groundwater and 53% in ditch water. Although nitrate is essential for plant growth, too much can harm or kill aquatic animals like fish, affect the quality of water used for recreation and make the water unfit to drink.“The dramatic increase in wetland and prairie habitat at this location provides tremendous benefits for a diversity of wildlife and plants,” said Gregory Knutsen, manager at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. “Additionally, this restoration has created a wealth of public recreation opportunities, such as hunting and birding. It also helps ensure clean water for residents of Crookston, Minnesota, whose major source of drinking water is aquifers within and around Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge.”
The study also found that the benefits of restoration were not distributed evenly across the study area. Areas that experienced the greatest improvements in hydrology were those where an aquifer exposed at the land surface. Areas where wetlands that had been drained for agricultural purposes were then restored also benefited significantly. These findings can help resource managers focus future restoration efforts on areas with similar landscape features, where maximum restoration benefits will most likely occur.
USGS technician Jody Hulne collects a groundwater nutrient sample at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
“This study shows the value of natural areas and the legacy of Glacial Ridge,” said Peggy Ladner, director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota. “Protecting and restoring prairies and wetlands not only provides wildlife habitat and opportunities for outdoor recreation but it also provides clean drinking water and protection from flooding.”
Ladner noted as the largest prairie-wetland restoration project in U.S. history, Glacial Ridge wouldn’t have been possible without the help of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners.
Funding for this study was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
For more information about water studies in the region, please visit the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center website.
Morning fog over beach ridges at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
Sandhill Crane Pair in flight at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
Prairie Dog, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
Young moose near Benoit, Minnesota, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
Beach-ridge prairie at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Tim Cowdery, USGS)
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
https://www.usgs.gov/news/water-resources-minnesota-significantly-improved-land-restoration
Conversion of agricultural lands to wetland and native prairie greatly enhanced the quality of water resources, increased groundwater recharge and decreased floodwaters in the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippet/water-resources-minnesota-significantly-improved-land-restoration
Scientists, engineers and contractors are scheduled to begin installing a temporary, experimental underwater Acoustic Deterrent System, or uADS, at Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 between Keokuk, Iowa, and Hamilton, Illinois, on Jan. 11. The construction is part of a study to understand how invasive Asian carp respond to acoustic, or sound, signals.
Asian carp, including silver carp, bighead carp, black carp and grass carp, are harmful because they grow quickly and aggressively compete with native fish for food and habitat.
The U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and partners will install the experimental uADS in the lock approach to:
Test, under field conditions, the potential for acoustic signals to deter Asian carp and native fishes from moving upstream and Understand and assess the engineering, maintenance and logistical considerations associated with long-term operations of a uADS in an active navigation channel.If the deterrent is effective at controlling upstream movement of Asian carp with limited effects on native species, this or similar technology could be deployed at other critical locations to help prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp.
Like many fish species, Asian carp use navigation locks to bypass dams and move upstream in rivers for reproduction or to extend their range. Structures like Lock and Dam 19, over which fish cannot pass, force the fish to traverse the lock, making the navigation lock and its approach ideal areas to place control technologies to deter upstream fish movement. Lock 19 is a particularly useful test site because scientists previously studied movements of native fish and Asian carp around and through this lock.
The equipment installation is scheduled concurrent with planned lock maintenance from Jan. 1 to March 15. The Army Corps of Engineers will close the navigation lock during this maintenance period. Construction and installation of the uADS and study equipment will likely last about two months, and then the uADS will operate for up to three years according to a research study plan.
Boaters near the deterrent may hear the signal through the hull of their vessels. The low sound levels in air will not be hazardous to people and will not interfere with high-frequency sonar, communications equipment or similar electronics.
This multi-agency study is led by the USGS in collaboration with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center; the Army Corps of Engineers - Rock Island District, which operates Lock 19, and Chicago District; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; the Iowa DNR; the Minnesota DNR; the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Wisconsin DNR.
For more information on Asian carp research, please visit the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center website.
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
https://www.usgs.gov/news/media-advisory-study-asian-carp-deterrent-begins-january
Reporters: Do you want to interview USGS scientists about the project? Please contact Randy Hines or Marisa Lubeck.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-advisory-study-asian-carp-deterrent-begins-january
A USGS hydrologic technician finishes installation of a rapid-deployment streamgage on the Tittabawassee River in Midland, Michigan. A USGS crew in the distance makes streamflow measurements using a boat-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler.(Credit: Tom Weaver, USGS)
The USGS Tittabawassee River in Midland streamgage measured record water levels, called river stage, at about 35 feet on Wednesday. This level is the highest ever recorded during the streamgage’s 84 years of record, and exceeds the previous highest stage by about two feet. Water levels are beginning to recede as of this morning, and two two-person USGS crews are on site measuring streamflow. They also installed a rapid-deployment gage to provide backup to the permanent streamgage at the Midland site.
Strong storms passed through parts of the Midwest starting last Thursday, causing minor-to-major flooding in some lower Michigan locations. On Tuesday, May 19, two large dams on the Tittabawssee River failed in succession, causing two lakes upstream of Midland to drain. The USGS crews will continue to monitor water levels and streamflow as flooding continues.
Elsewhere in Michigan, the USGS Rifle River streamgage near Sterling crested on Tuesday with a record streamflow of 7,460 cubic feet per second. There are currently four single-person USGS crews measuring streams throughout lower Michigan, not including the Midland-based crews, and they will continue to monitor flooding for at least another day.
Information collected by the USGS during flooding is critical for resource managers and emergency responders to help protect life and property. The USGS coordinates efforts with the National Weather Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and many local and state partners.
There are about 200 streamgages in Michigan that measure water levels, streamflow and rainfall. When flooding occurs, USGS crews make numerous streamflow measurements to verify the data USGS provides to federal, tribal, state and local agencies, as well as to the public.
For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk and for many recreational activities.
Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGS WaterWatch website. Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert. See where floodwaters go by following a stream trace at Streamer. View water data on your mobile device. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-crews-measure-major-flooding-lower-michigan
U.S. Geological Survey field crews are measuring record flooding on the Tittabawassee River in Midland, Michigan, following a heavy rainfall event.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/usgs-crews-measure-major-flooding-lower-michigan
A genetic analysis conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey recently confirmed that larval, or newly hatched, fish collected from the Maumee River during the summer of 2018 are grass carp, one species of invasive Asian carps that threaten the Great Lakes. The Maumee River is a tributary to Lake Erie.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/newly-hatched-invasive-grass-carp-found-maumee-river-ohio
This map shows the water sample locations within the Menomonee River watershed, WIsconsin. LMF is the Little Menomonee River near Freistadt; MMF is the Menomonee River at Menomonee Falls; HCW is the Honey Creek at Wauwatosa; UCW is the Underwood Creek at Wauwatosa; MRW is the Menomonee River at Wauwatosa; and MRM is the Menomonee River at 16th Street at Milwaukee.
(Credit: USGS. Public domain.)
“Leaky infrastructure and overflows from sanitary sewers can contaminate urban waterways, and the detection of human-associated bacteria and viruses indicates the presence of sewage, a potential health hazard,” said Peter Lenaker, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the study. “Results from our study can help Milwaukee-area water managers develop strategies to efficiently remediate or minimize sewage contamination.”
From 2009-2011, scientists with the USGS, U.S. Department of Agriculture and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sampled surface water from six Menomonee River stream locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to measure human sewage contamination in the watershed. The scientists collected samples during periods of high water flow from rain, snowmelt or both, and periods of low water flow. They tested 228 samples for eight types of human viruses and for two types of bacteria that are associated with human waste.
The study found that human viruses were present in up to 38 percent of the samples and human bacteria were present much more frequently in the samples.
The three viruses detected in the study were adenovirus C, D, F, which was the most common and can cause minor respiratory illnesses; adenovirus A; and enterovirus, which can cause symptoms similar to the common cold. The scientists found at least one of these viruses in 20-73 percent of samples during low water flows and in 24-61 percent of samples during high-flow events, depending on sampling location.
The sites with the highest total virus concentration and/or occurrence were the Little Menomonee River near Freistadt in Mequon, Wisconsin, the Menomonee River at Wauwatosa and the Menomonee River at 16th Street in Milwaukee, depending on either low water or high water flows.
The two types of bacteria associated with human waste that were tested were human Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae. Depending on sample location and bacteria type, bacteria were found in 43-94 percent of samples during low-flow periods and in 67-100 percent of samples during high flows. The sites with the highest concentration of bacteria were Honey Creek and the Menomonee River in Wauwatosa, and the Menomonee River at 16th Street in Milwaukee, depending on bacteria type and water flow level.
The bacteria themselves do not pose a health hazard and are common in the human body, but they enter waterways through sewage. The presence of these bacteria in water indicates that sewage is also present, and sewage carries material such as viruses that can cause illness. These indicators of sewage can be influenced by environmental factors, which likely caused bacteria levels to increase while virus levels decreased as they were transported to the lower portion of the watershed.
“These findings showed that human viruses and human bacteria were both present albeit at different occurrence levels, highlighting the strength of analyzing multiple indicators of human sewage for a more complete assessment of contamination in urban streams,” Lenaker said. “The findings also suggest that viruses and bacteria move differently through the watershed.”
The new study is published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
For more information about urban water quality in Wisconsin, please visit the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/human-bacteria-viruses-sewage-found-some-milwaukee-streams
Two types of human-associated bacteria and three types of human viruses were detected in Milwaukee streams within the Menomonee River watershed, according to a recent study led by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/human-bacteria-viruses-sewage-found-some-milwaukee-streams
Minnesota well drillers and landowners will now have new tools to help predict arsenic concentrations in drinking water when building domestic water wells, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Region 3: Great Lakes
http://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/design-private-wells-can-lead-safer-drinking-water-minnesota
The reliability of arsenic testing for drinking water in Minnesota depends on how and when well water samples are collected, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Health study, which highlights ways to improve the accuracy of arsenic tests for private wells.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/not-all-arsenic-tests-are-created-equal
A new water-quality monitoring program, established by the U.S. Geological Survey, can provide scientists and managers with the best available data to help evaluate the health of Great Lakes ecosystems and improve water quality for recreation and commercial fishing.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/water-quality-monitoring-program-aids-restoration-great-lakes
Frogs and salamanders are currently among the most threatened groups of animals on the planet. The two most common frog diseases, chytridiomycosis and ranavirus infection, are linked to frog population declines worldwide. The new study suggests that that SPI is the third most common infectious disease of frogs.
Scientists with the USGS studied 247 frog die-offs in 43 states from 1999 through 2015. The researchers found that SPI caused 21 of the mass mortalities in 10 states spanning from Alaska to Florida, all involving tadpoles. Up to 95 percent of the tadpole populations died during the SPI mortality events.
“Amphibians such as frogs are valuable because they serve as pest control by eating insects like mosquitos, and they are food for larger predators,” said Marcos Isidoro Ayza, a USGS scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison post-doctoral fellow and the lead author of the study. “They’re also exceptional indicators of ecosystem health. Like the proverbial canary in a coal mine, amphibians let us know when something in our environment is going awry.”
This photomicrograph shows a liver of a frog with a severe Perkinsea infection.(USGS. Public domain.)The SPI die-offs occurred in tadpoles of 11 frog species, including the critically endangered dusky gopher frog in its only remaining breeding locations in Mississippi. Most of the SPI events occurred in states bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. However, SPI was also detected in Alaska, Oregon and Minnesota.
“Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and disease are among the factors that contribute to amphibian declines,” said Jonathan Sleeman, director of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. “This study indicates that SPI is an additional disease that can further threaten vulnerable frog populations.”
SPI is caused by a tiny one-celled parasitic organism called a protist. The SPI-causing protist, called Perkinsea, is highly resistant to disinfection agents such as common bleach. As a result, it is difficult to prevent the spread of Perkinsea, and SPI is able to reoccur at known locations.
“SPI in frogs may be under-diagnosed because it is not a disease for which they are typically screened,” Isidoro Ayza said. “Incorporating routine screening of critical habitats for infected frogs is crucial to help understand the distribution of this destructive disease.”
The disease kills tadpoles by causing multi-organ failure, and there is no cure or treatment for SPI at this time. SPI is not known to affect humans or pets.
This study was led by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in collaboration with the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative. For more information about USGS wildlife disease research, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/emerging-disease-further-jeopardizes-north-american-frogs
A deadly amphibian disease called severe Perkinsea infections, or SPI, is the cause of many large-scale frog die-offs in the United States, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/emerging-disease-further-jeopardizes-north-american-frogs
Both precipitation and groundwater withdrawals, among other factors, influence lake-water levels in the northeast Twin Cities metropolitan area, and the extent of these changes vary among lakes, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/groundwater-pumping-precipitation-can-affect-lake-levels-twin-cities
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center scientists and learn about research conducted at the La Crosse, Wisconsin, facility. Fish and wildlife-oriented activities will be available for children, and refreshments, including popcorn and lemonade, will be provided.
The event is an opportunity to learn about science careers and see how learning in STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, builds the knowledge and problem solving skills needed to find creative solutions for society’s challenges.
The USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center has been a member of the La Crosse community since its founding in 1959, and periodically hosts public open house events.
“Our science center enjoys the opportunity to show members of the community what we do, how we partner with other federal and state agencies and how to use USGS information as a resource,” said Randy Hines, a USGS biologist at the center.
WHAT: The La Crosse community is invited to an engaging and educational family event at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, a renowned fish, wildlife and Upper Mississippi River ecology science facility. The event is free and open to the public.
WHO: USGS scientists will answer questions, showcase cutting-edge technology and discuss their latest research on wildlife, biology and ecology, focusing especially on Wisconsin and the surrounding Midwest region.
WHEN: Saturday, September 9, 2017, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WHERE: 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin (map)
Take the French Island exit (exit 2) off of I-90 and head one mile north, just northwest of La Crosse.
DETAILS: For questions related to the event, please contact Randy Hines at 608-781-6398 or rkhines@usgs.gov.
(Public domain.)USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/public-invitation-usgs-la-crosse-science-center-opens-doors-interactive-experience
The public is invited to attend a free, family-friendly open house at a local U.S. Geological Survey center for ecology research on Saturday, September 9.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/public-invitation-usgs-la-crosse-science-center-opens-doors-interactive
Reduced stocking of Chinook salmon, however, would still support a substantial population of this highly desirable recreational salmon species, which is a large contributor to the Great Lakes multi-billion-dollar recreational fishery.
“Findings from our study can help managers determine the most viable ways to enhance valuable recreational fisheries in Lake Michigan, especially when the open waters of the lake are declining in productivity,” said Yu-Chun Kao, an MSU post-doctoral scientist and the lead author of the report.
Managers have reduced Lake Michigan stocking levels of Chinook salmon at least three times over the past decades in response to declining prey fish and the natural reproduction of Chinook salmon. For the new study, scientists investigated the lake’s current and future abilities to support different fish stocking efforts. They found that recent decreases in critical lake nutrients, partly due to increases in invasive species such as quagga mussels, reduce the amount of Chinook salmon that the lake can support.
“Our model showed that stocking Chinook salmon can still help maintain their populations in Lake Michigan,” said Mark Rogers, a USGS Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit scientist and co-author on the study. “When stocking was completely eliminated in the model, the long-term amount of salmon was predicted to decrease considerably. The key is to determine how much stocking is most effective. It’s a balancing act.”
The study also found that lake trout and steelhead may fare better because these two species can switch from eating alewife, which are in decline, to bottom-dwelling round goby, another newly established invasive prey fish that feeds on quagga mussels.
The scientists modeled Lake Michigan’s food web dynamics under 288 scenarios that accounted for various levels of stocking and nutrients, as well as the effects of invasive mussels. These scenarios were developed based on responses to a survey from fishery managers, water-quality managers and researchers.
“Interestingly, reducing stocking by 50 percent in the model resulted in long-term Chinook population numbers that were similar to the numbers when stocking was not reduced,” said David “Bo” Bunnell, a USGS co-author on the study.
Lake Michigan’s open-water food web has changed significantly since the 1970s, becoming less productive as a result of decreased nutrients such as phosphorus, a process called oligotrophication. Nutrients help sustain phytoplankton and zooplankton, the tiny aquatic plants and animals at the base of the food web that support other aquatic life, including prey fishes. In Lake Michigan, oligotrophication occurred partly as a result of invasive mussels, which filter phytoplankton from the water column.
Declines in prey fishes such as alewife were likely due, in part, to decreases in plankton. Because the Chinook salmon diet consists of over 90 percent alewife, the new study predicts a smaller Chinook salmon population if nutrients remain low and invasive mussels remain abundant.
For more information about USGS ecosystems research in the Great Lakes, please visit the USGS Great Lakes Science Center website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/changing-tides-lake-michigan-could-best-support-lake-trout-and-steelhead
Invasive mussels and less nutrients from tributaries have altered the Lake Michigan ecosystem making it more conducive to the stocking of lake trout and steelhead than Chinook salmon, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan State University study.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/changing-tides-lake-michigan-could-best-support-lake-trout-and-steelhead
USGS scientists tested samples collected from bats, the environment and equipment at eight bat hibernation sites in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. They found that bats occupying such sites in summer can harbor the Pd fungus on their skin, and that Pd is more readily detectable in their guano, or feces.
The scientists also detected Pd on clothing and equipment taken inside and near caves and mines used by bats. These detections demonstrate that gear exposed to fungal-infected environments is a potential mechanism for Pd spread, even during summertime when the prevalence of WNS is low. WNS is not known to affect humans, pets, livestock or other wildlife.
“Our findings provide insights into additional means by which Pd may be dispersed and further contribute to the spread of this devastating disease that threatens agriculturally and environmentally valuable bat populations,” said Anne Ballmann, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the report. “This information will further help inform managers working to control the westward movement of WNS in North America.”
Between July 18 and August 22, 2012, Ballmann and her colleagues collected swabs from bat wings, cave walls and equipment used in and near the study sites. They also collected guano from individual bats and floor sediment in underground summer roost sites. Findings include:
Pd was detected on 40 bats and in environmental samples from seven of the eight study sites; Guano accounted for 93 percent of the bat-associated Pd detections; Equipment, including trapping equipment and a backpack, from three WNS-impacted sites in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio tested positive for Pd DNA; and Fungal DNA from Pd was more readily detected in sediment samples than on swab samples from cave walls.No bats showed visible signs of WNS during the course of this study, even though the disease-causing fungus was found. Although exposure to Pd does not result in WNS during summertime, the study showed that the fungus that causes the disease can be transported by bats and people visiting contaminated sites in summer.
First detected in New York State in the winter of 2006-2007, WNS has spread to 31 states and five Canadian provinces. The disease is named for the white fungus that infects the muzzle, ears and wings of hibernating bats. Scientists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center discovered, characterized and named the fungus that causes WNS, and pioneered laboratory techniques for studying effects of the fungus on hibernating bats.
Decontamination guidance for cave visitors to help reduce the risk of human-assisted movement of Pd can be found online.
The USGS is part of an international coordinated response to WNS, which is led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information about USGS wildlife disease research, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/deadly-fungus-affecting-hibernating-bats-could-spread-during-summer
The cold-loving fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd) that causes white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of North American bats during hibernation, could also spread in summer months. Bats and humans visiting contaminated caves and mines can inadvertently contribute to the spread of the fungus, according to a recently published study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/deadly-fungus-affecting-hibernating-bats-could-spread-during-summer
The diseased bat was found in Shelby County, Alabama, at Lake Purdy Corkscrew Cave, by surveyors from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Nongame Program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Alabama Ecological Services Field Office; Ecological Solutions, Inc.; and the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc.
The cave is owned by the Birmingham Water Works and managed by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to cave acquisition, conservation and management.
WNS in the southeastern bat was confirmed in the laboratory by the U.S. Geological Survey.
A fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd, causes WNS, which affects many, but not all bat species that come into contact with it. Of those affected, bat populations have declined by more than 90 percent.
“We are disappointed to find white-nose syndrome in another species, but hopeful that the southeastern bat may fare better than many of its more northern cousins based on how long it took to be diagnosed with the disease,” said Jeremy Coleman, national WNS coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This discovery, along with the continued spread of Pd this year, reinforces the need for our continued vigilance in the face of white-nose syndrome.”
First detected in New York in 2007, WNS is now in 31 states and five Canadian provinces.
Other species confirmed with WNS include little brown, northern long-eared, Indiana, Eastern small-footed, gray, tricolored, big brown and Yuma myotis. All the affected species eat insects and hibernate during the winter. The northern long-eared bat was designated as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2015 primarily due to the threat of WNS.
Bats are an important part of our nation’s ecosystems, and provide significant pest control services to American farmers. Insectivorous bats likely save the United States agricultural industry at least $3 billion each year, or approximately $74 per acre for the average farmer. Alabama is home to 15 species of bats, including northern long-eared bats and federally endangered gray and Indiana bats.
Each winter the Alabama Bat Working Group (ABWG) surveys areas to inventory bat populations, discover important bat hibernation areas and document the advance of WNS. This year biologists from the ABWG surveyed 50 sites in 14 counties and found that numbers of tricolored bats and endangered Indiana bats had substantially declined.
Nick Sharp, a member of the ABWG and nongame biologist with the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, says the decline of tricolored bats has experts concerned. “Tricolored bats were once common in Alabama, but now seem to be disappearing due to WNS. We are troubled by the potential loss of the important ecosystem function this species provides in Alabama,” he said.
“Ongoing surveillance for the P. destructans fungus and white-nose syndrome provides critical information to resource managers about the occurrence of this disease in North American bats,” said David Blehert, a scientist with the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. “This information is essential to inform future response efforts.”
WNS was first documented in Alabama in 2012 in Jackson County, and since has been confirmed in bats in Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Marshall, Morgan and, now, Shelby counties. In addition to finding the diseased southeastern bat this season, the ABWG swabbed more than 100 bats statewide, adding Blount, Bibb and Madison to the list of counties where WNS fungus has been documented. Calhoun, Colbert and Lauderdale tested Pd-positive in previous years.
For additional information on WNS, please visit www.whitenosesyndrome.org.
This photo shows a colony of southeastern bats, or Myotis austroriparius. As of 2017, the species joins eight other hibernating bat species in North America that are afflicted with the deadly bat fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome.(Credit: Pete Pattavina, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Public domain.)USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/alabama-survey-finds-first-southeastern-bat-white-nose-syndrome
Biologists have confirmed white-nose syndrome in the southeastern bat, or Myotis austroriparius, for the first time. The species joins eight other hibernating bat species in North America that are afflicted with the deadly bat fungal disease.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/alabama-survey-finds-first-southeastern-bat-white-nose-syndrome
Scientists with the USGS and partners developed a novel scientific model to forecast the growth and spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, in white-tailed deer in southwestern Wisconsin. The model showed that CWD prevalence increased rapidly during the latter portion of the 2002-2014 study period, particularly among older male animals, and that the trend will likely continue throughout affected areas.
The scientists also found that the model outperformed traditional prediction methods, can be applied to many other diseases throughout the country and can help forecast the spread of invasive species.
This map shows the distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America as of March 2017.“This tool is valuable because, by predicting where threats might emerge and how areas are affected, it can help wildlife managers apply proactive strategies before the threats arrive and develop effective control programs if they establish,” said Daniel Walsh, a USGS scientist and an author of the study. “Such strategies can help protect critical resources and save money that would be needed for mitigation.”
CWD is a fatal nervous system disease affecting elk, moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer throughout the United States and Canada. It’s costly to manage, but is not known to affect humans or livestock.
Landscape features such as rivers, forests and human development influence deer movements and CWD expansion. Using the model, scientists found that CWD could spread nearly two times faster within the Wisconsin River corridor when compared to an area outside of the corridor, and will likely grow faster in highly forested areas than in areas of low forest cover.
The tool can help scientists and managers forecast the spread of other dangerous diseases, including human diseases. It can also be used to better understand and manage the dispersal of invasive species, which scientists estimate cost over $120 billion in damages annually to the U.S. economy.
The USGS partnered with Kansas State University, Colorado State University and Utah State University on the new study.
For more information about USGS wildlife disease research, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website.
Cervids, such as this healthy, male white-tailed deer, are susceptible to chronic wasting disease. (Scott Bauer, USDA)USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/deadly-deer-disease-expected-grow-rapidly-and-spread-wisconsin
A new tool, which predicted the recent, rapid growth and continued spread of chronic wasting disease in deer, can help forecast and manage other costly biological threats to humans, animals and the environment, according to a recently published U.S. Geological Survey study.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/deadly-deer-disease-expected-grow-rapidly-and-spread-wisconsin
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey have released the results of a three-year project to develop a groundwater flow model for an area around the Little Plover River in Wisconsin’s Central Sands agricultural region. The model is a state-of-the-art scientific tool that can be used to help make informed decisions about high-capacity well placement and pumping, as well as land use in the region, which stretches from southern Adams County to north of Stevens Point.
The project was carried out jointly by the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center. In addition to the groundwater flow model, researchers developed a report (Bulletin 111) and a user’s guide to the model.
The groundwater flow model was commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with the goal of demonstrating the scientific relationships among groundwater, lakes and streams and high-capacity well withdrawals. The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association also contributed funding and information for the project.
“This model is a tool for testing and evaluating different ways to manage the groundwater in the Central Sands region,” said Ken Bradbury, state geologist and one of the authors of the report.
The model includes all high-capacity wells in the region installed before 2013, when modeling began, and simulates seasonal variations in groundwater recharge, irrigation needs and well pumping.
“The techniques and data combined in this project illustrate how groundwater modeling can be used for resource management in other similar areas of Wisconsin and the nation in the future,” said Michael Fienen, a USGS hydrologist and one of the report authors.
The Little Plover basin covers only a small portion of the Central Sands region, but was selected for the model because a great deal of background data was available there. The study concludes that the techniques used for the Little Plover area are readily transferrable to building a model for the rest of the Central Sands region.
The completed model serves as a powerful tool for testing and demonstrating alternative water-management scenarios. For example, it can simulate how the cumulative impacts of pumping and land-use changes have affected flow in the Little Plover River. It can also be used to predict which wells and well locations would have the greatest impact on nearby lakes and streams.
The new model is a sophisticated tool intended for use by environmental professionals such as DNR staff, consultants and academic groups. It provides a uniform, unbiased starting point for investigations of different water management alternatives.
The report and model are available on the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/wells-affect-water-flows-central-sands-region
Both irrigation wells and municipal wells affect flows in the Little Plover River near Plover, Wisconsin, stretches of which ran dry in past years, according to a new scientific report.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/wells-affect-water-flows-central-sands-region
Scientists with the USGS and U.S. Department of Agriculture tested 290 water samples from eight rivers in the Great Lakes Basin from February 2011 to June 2013. The two most frequently detected pathogens were human adenovirus C, D and F in nine percent of samples, which can cause minor respiratory illnesses in people, and bovine polyomavirus in 11 percent of samples.
“Fecal contamination by human pathogens is a potential human health hazard when present in recreational or drinking water, and bovine pathogens can be a health hazard for dairy operations,” said Peter Lenaker, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the study. “Results from our study can help managers develop effective water-quality management strategies to minimize pathogen exposure risks.”
Human viruses were present in 16 percent of the total number of water samples. They occurred most often and at highest concentrations in the River Rouge in Michigan, followed by the Clinton River in Michigan and the Milwaukee River in Wisconsin. Samples from these three locations had greater than 25 percent urban influence and more than 2,900 people per square kilometer (km2).
Bovine viruses were most common in the Manitowoc and Milwaukee Rivers in Wisconsin. These two sampling locations had greater than 40 percent agricultural land influence and cattle densities greater than 50 cattle per km2. Overall, viruses from cattle occurred in 14 percent of the samples collected.
Human viruses can come from a variety of sources, including wastewater treatment run-off, failing wastewater infrastructure, malfunctioning sanitary sewers and septic systems. Bovine viruses can have sources that include direct cattle access to streams, and runoff flow from barnyards, pastures and manure application.
“Gastrointestinal viruses tend to be very specific to the animal they infect,” said Dr. Mark Borchardt, head of the USDA Agricultural Research Service laboratory that tested the samples. “When we find these viruses in the environment we know the exact source of the fecal pollution.”
The scientists also found that:
Human and bovine viruses occurred more frequently in spring and winter seasons than during the fall and summer; Precipitation, snowmelt and low-flow water conditions all contributed to the delivery of human and bovine viruses to streams; Other human viruses that were found in at least one water sample were adenovirus A, GI and GII norovirus and enterovirus; and Other cattle viruses detected were bovine rotavirus A, enterovirus and bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2.For more information about water quality in the Great Lakes Basin, please visit the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center website.
Human and bovine, or cattle, viruses were detected in a small percentage of some Great Lakes Basin streams, with human viruses more prevalent in urban streams and bovine viruses more common in streams in agricultural areas. (Credit: Ben Siebers, USGS. Public domain.)USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/human-cattle-viruses-detected-some-great-lakes-tributaries
Human and bovine, or cattle, viruses were detected in a small percentage of some Great Lakes Basin streams, with human viruses more prevalent in urban streams and bovine viruses more common in streams in agricultural areas, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey-led study.
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/human-cattle-viruses-detected-some-great-lakes-tributaries
Runoff from pavement with coal-tar-based sealant is the primary source of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to streambed sediments in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to a U.S. Geological Survey and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District study published today.
Pavement sealant is a black, shiny liquid sprayed or painted on asphalt parking lots, driveways and playgrounds to improve appearance and protect the underlying asphalt. Pavement sealants that contain coal tar, a known human carcinogen, have extremely high levels of PAHs. Some PAHs are toxic to fish and other aquatic life and several are probable human carcinogens.
Scientists with the USGS collected sediment samples from 40 streambed sites and dust samples from six parking lot sites in the Milwaukee area to determine the likely sources and toxicity of PAHs in streams. They found that dust from coal-tar-sealant contributed about 42 to 94 percent of the PAHs to the samples, with the remainder of PAHs coming from sources such as coal combustion and vehicle emissions.
Seventy-eight percent of the sediment samples collected had PAH levels that could adversely affect aquatic organisms like aquatic insects. Among the most toxic samples collected were those from sections of Lincoln Creek, Underwood Creek and the West Milwaukee Ditch.
“This study shows that PAHs pose a very real threat to aquatic organisms at the base of the food chain,” said Austin Baldwin, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the study. “In terms of toxicity to these organisms, PAHs are probably the most important contaminants in Milwaukee-area streams.”
Potential adverse effects of these PAHs on aquatic organisms include fin erosion, liver abnormalities, cataracts and immune system impairments.
“Our study did not test the human health effects of coal-tar-sealant or PAHs in the Milwaukee area,” Baldwin said. “PAHs do not easily accumulate within the food chain, so possible human-health risks associated with consumption of fish are low.”
However, Baldwin noted that previous studies have demonstrated risks associated with tracking coal-tar-sealant dust from driveways into homes. Exposure to children playing on sealed pavement could be another route.
Coal-tar sealants have significantly higher levels of PAHs and related compounds compared to asphalt-based pavement sealants and other urban sources, including vehicle emissions, used motor oil and tire particles. Stormwater runoff, wind and tires can disseminate PAH particles throughout the urban landscape.
The new USGS study is published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
For more information about water-quality research in Wisconsin, please visit the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center website. For more information about pavement sealants and PAHs, please visit the webpage about USGS research on PAHs and sealcoat.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/coal-tar-sealant-a-major-source-pah-contamination-milwaukee-streams
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/coal-tar-sealant-major-source-pah-contamination-milwaukee-streams
A tufted puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. (Credit: Sarah Schoen, USGS)
A beach littered with bird carcasses is a sobering sight. Since mid-October, hundreds of dead seabirds have washed ashore the north and east sides of St. Paul Island, Alaska, an otherwise serene volcanic island landscape in the Bering Sea.
Most of the carcasses being found are tufted puffins, a charismatic species of seabird with striking, silky tassels of feathers positioned like ponytails behind their white-masked eyes. However, horned puffins, murres and crested auklets have washed ashore as well, according to biologists from the Aleut Community of the St. Paul Island Tribal Government Ecosystem Conservation Office (ACSPI ECO).
“Seabirds, including puffins, are important to local residents for their cultural and subsistence uses, and are appreciated by bird watchers from around the world,” said John Pearce, a scientist with the USGS Alaska Science Center. “Seabirds can also provide important signals about local conditions in the marine environment, such as the abundance and availability of forage fish.”
The ACSPI ECO and Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that as of November 17, the encounter rate of puffin carcasses over a three-week period was hundreds of times greater than normal compared to past surveys at St. Paul. In total, nearly 300 carcasses of a variety of beached seabird species have been counted since mid-October.
Only a fraction of birds that die at sea become beached, and of those, only a small portion are observed by people before they are removed by scavengers. As a result, many more birds may be affected by the die-off than has been recorded.
A horned puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska.(Credit: Sarah Schoen, USGS)
USGS Die-Off Detectives
To determine cause of death, eight puffin carcasses – six tufted puffins and two horned puffins – were collected by ASCPI ECO biologists and sent to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, where scientists conducted necropsies, or animal autopsies, on the birds. The USGS found that these fish-eating puffins were severely emaciated and likely died of starvation. The animals showed no sign of disease.
Starvation of the birds could be related to a lack of prey or changes in prey distribution as a result of abnormal sea temperatures. Unusually high sea surface temperatures were recorded in October for the Bering, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Coupled with record low levels of sea ice, these temperatures could affect populations of forage fish and squid upon which seabirds like puffins depend.
In 2015-2016, the USGS and USFWS investigated and documented a large-scale die-off of common murres in the Gulf of Alaska with similar findings of starvation.
A Continuous, Coordinated Effort
The USGS is working with the USFWS, COASST, ACSPI ECO, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to determine the full extent of the St. Paul seabird die-off. Together, these partners will continue to investigate the seabird mortality event.
The public can help, too. According to the USFWS, people can report sick or dead birds to 1-866-527-3358 or AK_MBM@fws.gov. Please include the following information:
Time & Date Exact location (latitude/longitude, length of beach) Type of bird (species name or group e.g., murre, puffin, etc.) Estimated number of birds PhotosThe USFWS warns that people should not touch or collect any sick or dead birds. Please leave the birds where they are when documenting a mortality event.
For more information about wildlife die-offs, please visit the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website. To learn more about seabirds and wildlife disease in Alaska, visit the USGS Alaska Science Center website.
February 2019 update: More information about the effects of harmful algal blooms on Alaska's seabirds is available at a 2018 USGS Fact Sheet.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/a-marine-mystery-what-s-causing-seabird-die-offs-alaska
The timely removal of leaf litter can reduce harmful phosphorus concentrations in stormwater by over 80 percent in Madison, Wisconsin, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Autumn leaf litter contributes a significant amount of phosphorus to urban stormwater, which then runs off into waterways and lakes. Excessive amounts of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen can cause eutrophication, or the depletion of oxygen in water, resulting in death of aquatic animals like fish. The USGS-led study found that without removal, leaf litter and other organic debris in the fall contributed 56 percent of the annual total phosphorus load in urban stormwater compared to only 16 percent when streets were cleared of leaves prior to a rain event.
“Our study found that leaf removal is one of the few treatment options available to environmental managers for reducing the amount of dissolved nutrients in stormwater,” said Bill Selbig, a USGS scientist and the author of the report. “These findings are applicable to any city that is required to reduce phosphorus loads from urban areas.”
The city of Madison used municipal leaf collection, street cleaning and leaf blowers to remove leaf litter from residential areas, and asked residents to pile their leaves adjacent to the street to limit excess debris. (USGS)During April through November of 2013 through 2015, scientists compared concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen in stormwater from two residential catchments in western Madison that had similar tree cover. The city applied a leaf litter removal program from late September through mid-November at one site but not the other. The researchers found significantly lower amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen at the site where leaves were removed.
The study also found that stormwater nutrient levels were highest during the fall months when the amount of organic debris on streets was at its peak. This finding suggests that leaf removal programs are most effective during fall in Madison, and that sources other than leaves, such as street dirt and grass clippings, were likely the primary contributors of phosphorus and other nutrients during spring and summer.
“The efficiency, frequency and timing of leaf removal and street cleaning are the primary factors to consider when developing a leaf management program,” Selbig said.
During the study period, the city of Madison used municipal leaf collection, street cleaning and leaf blowers to remove leaf litter from residential areas, and asked residents to pile their leaves adjacent to the street to limit excess debris. Leaf collection and street cleaning occurred about every seven days from late September through mid-November.
The USGS collaborated with the City of Madison, the Fund for Lake Michigan and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on the study.
For more information about Wisconsin water research, please visit the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center website.
USGS.gov
https://www.usgs.gov/news/removal-fallen-leaves-can-improve-urban-water-quality
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/removal-fallen-leaves-can-improve-urban-water-quality
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
http://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/water-level-changes-northeast-twin-cities-lakes-vary-landscape-setting
