The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) mission is to provide reliable scientific information about the Nation's natural resources. An integral part of that mission is to provide consistent, long-term water-resources data to customers, cooperators, and the public. To accomplish our mission, we operate a widespread surface and ground-water data collection network as well as research a wide range of scientific issues throughout Iowa.

Follow the USGS Iowa on Twitter @USGS_IA and Facebook USGS Science in Iowa for the latest news on natural resources, flooding, new scientific reports, and much more.

Methods for Estimating Selected Spring and Fall Low-Flow Frequency Statistics for Ungaged Stream Sites in Iowa, Based on Data through June 2014

The report presents regional regression equations for estimating six low-flow frequency statistics that include spring (April through June) and fall (October through December) 1-, 7-, and 30-day mean low flows for a recurrence interval of 10 years.

[9/20/16]

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Swine Manure Application as a Source of Hepatitis E Virus and other Livestock-Related Pathogens

The presence of indicator bacteria, hepatitis E virus (HEV), and numerous bacterial pathogen genes increased following precipitation-induced runoff events in streams draining adjacent land surfaces in Iowa where swine manure was recently applied.

[9/6/16]

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Recovery of Stream and Adjacent Groundwater After Wastewater Treatment Facility Closure

The hydrology and chemistry of a wastewater-impacted stream and adjacent groundwater responded rapidly (e.g. had fewer chemicals at lower concentrations) following wastewater treatment facility shutdown. However, the adjacent shallow groundwater remained a continuing source of some wastewater-derived contaminants such a pharmaceuticals to the stream at least 1 year post-shutdown.

[8/31/16]

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Learn About the Land: RAGBRAI 2016 Brochures

The 2016 version of Learn About the Land trip logs are now available. Each year the U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Geological Survey & Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research, Iowa DNR, and the Iowa Limestone Producers coordinate to provide these brochures that describe interesting landscape, geologic, and other natural resources alaong the RAGBRAI route. Historical features are highlighted in a separate publication produced by the Office of the State Archaeologist. Look for volunteers as they distribute these brochures along the route and in the RAGBRAI campgrounds, or stop by the University of Iowa's Mobile Museum.

Date	Brochure
July 24	Glenwood to Shenandoah
July 25	Shenandoah to Creston
July 26	Creston to Leon
July 27	Leon to Centerville
July 28	Centerville to Ottumwa
July 29	Ottumwa to Washington
July 30	Washington to Muscatine

[7/19/16]

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Phosphorus in sediment in the Kent Park Lake watershed, Johnson County, Iowa, 2014-15

The report describes the methods used to collect bed sediment samples from Kent Park Lake watershed. Data on phosphorus concentrations both spatially in the lake and with depth in the lake sediements are described.

[7/20/16]

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Effect of variable annual precipitation and nutrient input on nitrogen and phosphorus transport from two Midwestern agricultural watersheds

The report documents differences in the amount and timing of nutrient transport over a ten-year period from geologically similar watersheds in Minnesota and Iowa with small differences in annual rainfall and major differences in agricultural intensity.

[4/7/16]

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Statistical Summaries of Selected Iowa Streamflow Data Through September 2013

Two sets of statistical summaries are presented for each streamgage, which include (1) long-term statistics for the entire period of streamflow record and (2) recent-term statistics for or during the 30-year period of record from 1984 to 2013.

[1/4/16]

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Landfill leachate as a mirror of today's disposable society: Pharmaceut icals and other contaminants of emerging concern in final leachate from landfills in the conterminous United States

New scientific research from the U.S. Geological Survey details how landfill leachate, disposed from landfills to environmental pathways, is host to numerous contaminants of emerging concern. A summarization of this study and links to more information can be found here

[11/13/15]

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Complex mixtures, complex responses: Assessing pharmaceutical mixtures using field and laboratory approaches

The deleterious effects (for example, alteration of fish behavior, etc.) observed in this study confirm that effluents containing pharmaceuticals can adversely affect fish in ways that are central to sustaining populations. A summary of the results can be obtained here.

[11/13/15]

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Landfill leachate as a mirror of today's disposable society: Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in final leachate from landfills in the conterminous United States

New scientific research from the U.S. Geological Survey details how landfill leachate, disposed from landfills to environmental pathways, is host to numerous contaminants of emerging concern. A summarization of this study and links to more information can be found here

[11/13/15]

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Simulation of daily streamflow for nine river basins in eastern Iowa using the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System

A method of using computer streamflow models for nine eastern Iowa streams to estimate streamflow at any location in the stream network.

[11/3/15]

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Predicting Pesticides in Streams and Rivers: Where is Water Quality at Risk?

A new interactive mapping tool provides predicted concentrations for 108 pesticides in streams and rivers across the Nation and identifies which streams are most likely to exceed water-quality guidelines for human health or aquatic life.

[9/22/15]

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Evaluation of Statistical and Rainfall-Runoff Models for Predicting Historical Daily Streamflow Time Series in the Des Moines and Iowa River Watersheds

Statistical tools and rainfall-runoff methods are evaluated for estimating historical daily streamflow for ungaged watersheds in the Des Moines and Iowa River Basins.

[8/24/15]

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First national-scale reconnaissance of neonicotinoid insecticides in streams across the USA

This study represents the first national-scale study of the presence of neonicotinoids in urban and agricultural land use settings across the Nation and was completed as part of ongoing USGS investigations of pesticide levels in streams. A summer of this study and links to more information can be found at: http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html

[8/18/15]

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Modeling groundwater nitrate concentrations in private wells in Iowa

The Virginia Commonwealth University, USGS, Westat, and the National Cancer Institute have collaborated to develop a model for predicting nitrate concentrations in private wells in Iowa.

[7/31/15]

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2013 Survey of Iowa groundwater and evaluation of public well vulnerability classifications for contaminants of emerging concern: Iowa Geological and Water Survey Technical Information Series 57.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State Hygienic Laboratory, and the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination collaborated on the first ever comprehensive study of contaminants of emerging concern in Iowa's groundwater.

[7/22/15]

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Chemical Mixtures and Environmental Effects: A Pilot Study to Assess Ecological Exposure and Effects in Streams

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on a field-based study of chemical mixture composition and environmental effects in stream waters affected by a wide range of human activities and contaminant sources.

More information and report can be found here.

[7/1/15]

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Comparisons of estimates of annual exceedance-probability discharges for small drainage basins in Iowa, based on data through water year 2013

New USGS comparison study identifies best flood-frequency estimation methods for small drainage basins in Iowa. Comparisons included 80 streamgages and 5 different flood-estimation methods.

[5/26/15]

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