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Water Management Crisis Looms as USGS Centers Face Closure Nationwide
Recent developments in geology across the United States reveal concerning disruptions to vital water management systems. The Trump administration has terminated leases for 25 U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Centers nationwide, with 16 centers facing closure by August 31, 2025. These centers provide critical data from stream gauges used for drought measures, flood alerts, river water administration, and Clean Water Act compliance. Staff members at these targeted facilities remain uncertain about future operations as the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, continues this controversial move affecting water resource management nationwide.
Meanwhile, volcanic activity continues to be monitored at Kilauea in Hawaii, where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Episode 20 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended on May 6. Scientists predict Episode 21 will likely begin within the next 2-4 days. All volcanic activity remains contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no significant developments along Kilauea's East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
In other geological news, researchers have discovered that the Wasatch Fault in Utah shows particular vulnerability to earthquakes based on recent rock sample analysis. New hydrological studies also reveal that spring runoff in Western U.S. mountains is actually melted snow from a multi-year underground journey, averaging about 5 years in transit.
Flood risk assessments indicate growing dangers in the Pacific Northwest, where a combination of potential earthquakes and rising sea levels threatens thousands of residents across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Looking ahead, geologists are preparing for several significant events including the GeoHab Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping conference in Key West, Florida, scheduled for May 12-16, and the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology conference in Rome, Italy, planned for May 21-23.
The USGS continues its resource assessment work, recently estimating 35.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas along the Gulf Coast in the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, equivalent to about 14 months of national supply. Additionally, the agency projects that global production capacity for lithium and cobalt will nearly double between 2025 and 2029, while other critical minerals are expected to maintain current production levels.
Meanwhile, volcanic activity continues to be monitored at Kilauea in Hawaii, where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Episode 20 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended on May 6. Scientists predict Episode 21 will likely begin within the next 2-4 days. All volcanic activity remains contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no significant developments along Kilauea's East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
In other geological news, researchers have discovered that the Wasatch Fault in Utah shows particular vulnerability to earthquakes based on recent rock sample analysis. New hydrological studies also reveal that spring runoff in Western U.S. mountains is actually melted snow from a multi-year underground journey, averaging about 5 years in transit.
Flood risk assessments indicate growing dangers in the Pacific Northwest, where a combination of potential earthquakes and rising sea levels threatens thousands of residents across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Looking ahead, geologists are preparing for several significant events including the GeoHab Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping conference in Key West, Florida, scheduled for May 12-16, and the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology conference in Rome, Italy, planned for May 21-23.
The USGS continues its resource assessment work, recently estimating 35.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas along the Gulf Coast in the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, equivalent to about 14 months of national supply. Additionally, the agency projects that global production capacity for lithium and cobalt will nearly double between 2025 and 2029, while other critical minerals are expected to maintain current production levels.
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By Quiet. PleaseRecent developments in geology across the United States reveal concerning disruptions to vital water management systems. The Trump administration has terminated leases for 25 U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Centers nationwide, with 16 centers facing closure by August 31, 2025. These centers provide critical data from stream gauges used for drought measures, flood alerts, river water administration, and Clean Water Act compliance. Staff members at these targeted facilities remain uncertain about future operations as the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, continues this controversial move affecting water resource management nationwide.
Meanwhile, volcanic activity continues to be monitored at Kilauea in Hawaii, where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Episode 20 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended on May 6. Scientists predict Episode 21 will likely begin within the next 2-4 days. All volcanic activity remains contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no significant developments along Kilauea's East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
In other geological news, researchers have discovered that the Wasatch Fault in Utah shows particular vulnerability to earthquakes based on recent rock sample analysis. New hydrological studies also reveal that spring runoff in Western U.S. mountains is actually melted snow from a multi-year underground journey, averaging about 5 years in transit.
Flood risk assessments indicate growing dangers in the Pacific Northwest, where a combination of potential earthquakes and rising sea levels threatens thousands of residents across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Looking ahead, geologists are preparing for several significant events including the GeoHab Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping conference in Key West, Florida, scheduled for May 12-16, and the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology conference in Rome, Italy, planned for May 21-23.
The USGS continues its resource assessment work, recently estimating 35.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas along the Gulf Coast in the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, equivalent to about 14 months of national supply. Additionally, the agency projects that global production capacity for lithium and cobalt will nearly double between 2025 and 2029, while other critical minerals are expected to maintain current production levels.
Meanwhile, volcanic activity continues to be monitored at Kilauea in Hawaii, where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Episode 20 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended on May 6. Scientists predict Episode 21 will likely begin within the next 2-4 days. All volcanic activity remains contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no significant developments along Kilauea's East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
In other geological news, researchers have discovered that the Wasatch Fault in Utah shows particular vulnerability to earthquakes based on recent rock sample analysis. New hydrological studies also reveal that spring runoff in Western U.S. mountains is actually melted snow from a multi-year underground journey, averaging about 5 years in transit.
Flood risk assessments indicate growing dangers in the Pacific Northwest, where a combination of potential earthquakes and rising sea levels threatens thousands of residents across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Looking ahead, geologists are preparing for several significant events including the GeoHab Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping conference in Key West, Florida, scheduled for May 12-16, and the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology conference in Rome, Italy, planned for May 21-23.
The USGS continues its resource assessment work, recently estimating 35.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas along the Gulf Coast in the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, equivalent to about 14 months of national supply. Additionally, the agency projects that global production capacity for lithium and cobalt will nearly double between 2025 and 2029, while other critical minerals are expected to maintain current production levels.