Of Interest...

Commemorating The Past, Anticipating Our Future.

3/18/2013 -- The March 1913 flood remains Ohio’s Greatest Natural Disaster. The flood affected many communities— no river in Ohio or in most of Indiana remained in its banks. In Ohio more than 40,000 homes were flooded, and more than 400 people died. In the flood’s aftermath, Miami River watershed residents were asked to "remember the promises you made in the attic" as they were encouraged to build an expansive flood-control system. Efforts over the past 100 years have led to improvements in floodplain conservation, flood-control projects, flood-warning systems, emergency response, and disaster-recovery programs. The USGS now operates a network of real-time streamflow and stage gages that are used to monitor water level and flow, in part to help minimize or mitigate flood damages (streamgaging podcast). Even so, flooding remains Ohio’s greatest natural threat. National Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 18–22, 2013) aims to highlight some of the ways floods can occur, the hazards associated with floods, and things people can do to save life and property. (Silver Jackets news release; USGS news release)

National Groundwater Awareness Week – March 10-16, 2013.

3/10/2013 -- What can sinkholes and drinking water have in common? Groundwater. In Ohio, about 4.8 million people drink groundwater supplied by public water systems or private wells. Scientists at the USGS Ohio Water Science Center study or monitor groundwater and the paths the water takes in the ground. Groundwater around the United States is susceptible to contamination, but locations differ as to the movement and (or) fate of contaminants and the vulnerability of wells. (examples around the US). Groundwater pumping is one human-induced way that sinkholes form.  Sinkholes  are most common in karst areas of Ohio and many other states where rocks such as evaporites (salt, gypsum, and anhydrite) and carbonates (limestone and dolomite) can be dissolved by the water traveling through them. Drinking water and sinkholes— just two reasons why groundwater awareness is important to you!

USGS Marks 134 years Of Science For America: A Most Unusual Birthday.

3/3/2013 -- For 134 years the USGS has served our Nation by providing reliable scientific information that can be used in many different ways: to describe and understand the Earth; to minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; to manage water, ecosystem, energy, and mineral resources; and to enhance and protect our quality of life. (more)

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