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Rocky Mountain Region

USGS Region 7 Staff support and advise USGS Science Centers that provide numerous stakeholders with vital information about spatial distribution and temporal trends in critical minerals, energy resources, geology, water resources, native plants and wildlife, and hazards posed by earthquakes and landslides in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and beyond.

News

USGS releases assessment of undiscovered oil and gas in Southwest Wyoming, Northwest Colorado

New research highlights opportunities for enhacing amphibian occupancy in Rocky Mountain National Park

Media Alert: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over Wyoming and Colorado

Publications

Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2024 Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2024

 Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean continuous resources of 703 million barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Niobrara Formation in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado.
Authors
Kira K. Timm, Christopher J. Schenk, Jane S. Hearon, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah E. Gelman, Cheryl A. Woodall, Tracey J. Mercier, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Phuong A. Le, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Scott S. Young

Application of mercury stable isotopes to examine sources and hydrologic factors impacting mercury bioaccumulation and cycling in invertebrates of a model saline lake Application of mercury stable isotopes to examine sources and hydrologic factors impacting mercury bioaccumulation and cycling in invertebrates of a model saline lake

Invertebrates, such as brine shrimp and brine flies, are key prey items for millions of resident and migratory birds that utilize saline lakes such as Great Salt Lake (GSL). Elevated methylmercury (MeHg) in invertebrate and waterfowl species of GSL has been assumed to be linked to elevated MeHg in GSL’s anoxic Deep Brine Layer (DBL) where aqueous concentrations can exceed 30 ng/L. Here...
Authors
Samuel Francisco Lopez, Sarah E. Janssen, Michael T. Tate, Frank J. Black, Hannah Erin McIlwain, Laura Elizabeth Flucke, Jacob M. Ogorek, William P. Johnson

"Snow to Flow" postcard "Snow to Flow" postcard

The U.S. Geological Survey has ongoing snowpack monitoring initiatives to help improve water availability estimates and predictions of streamflow.
Authors
Andrea L. Creighton

Science

Developing structured science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decision making in the Bureau of Land Management

Science information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with land management agencies to develop a new type of science product— structured science syntheses—for facilitating the use of science information in public lands decisions.
Developing structured science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decision making in the Bureau of Land Management

Developing structured science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decision making in the Bureau of Land Management

Science information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with land management agencies to develop a new type of science product— structured science syntheses—for facilitating the use of science information in public lands decisions.
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The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team

Wildfires cost billions of dollars to suppress annually, yet they still devastate lives, communities, and ecosystems. While wildfire is a natural phenomenon, learning to live with wildfire is a social issue – so we need a social solution.
The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team

The Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team

Wildfires cost billions of dollars to suppress annually, yet they still devastate lives, communities, and ecosystems. While wildfire is a natural phenomenon, learning to live with wildfire is a social issue – so we need a social solution.
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Fostering greater use of habitat models for managing rare and invasive plants on public lands

Habitat models can provide critical information on the current and potential distribution of plant species, as well as help target and support conservation efforts. Despite their potential utility in public land management, model use may be constrained by a variety of factors including staff access to and trust in models. In this project, we seek to bring together model users and model developers...
Fostering greater use of habitat models for managing rare and invasive plants on public lands

Fostering greater use of habitat models for managing rare and invasive plants on public lands

Habitat models can provide critical information on the current and potential distribution of plant species, as well as help target and support conservation efforts. Despite their potential utility in public land management, model use may be constrained by a variety of factors including staff access to and trust in models. In this project, we seek to bring together model users and model developers...
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