Water Resources of Alaska

AK Monitoring Networks

The USGS Alaska Science Center Water Resources Office continuously monitors surface water, ground water, and water quality parameters across the state. Monitoring sites are operated in cooperation with various local, State, or Federal agencies.

Bridge Scour

The USGS Alaska Science Center is researching streambed scour at bridges through scour monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and data collection during high flows.

Surface Water

Alaska provides real-time water-stage, streamflow and precipitation data at 152 sites across the state.

Ground Water

Fourteen ground-water wells are monitored by the USGS in Alaska. These wells record data on hourly intervals.

Water Quality

Water-quality conditions are continuously monitored by the USGS at 42 sites across the state of Alaska

Featured Project

Matanuska River Bank Erosion

Bank erosion along the Matanuska River, a large braided river in southcentral Alaska, has periodically damaged or destroyed properties and structures for decades. Continued rapid population growth in one of the fastest growing areas in Alaska, coupled with the expense of erosion control measures, has elevated the issue for land managers and property owners. Understanding channel processes and variations in bank erodibility is needed to effectively manage areas near such active rivers.