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U.S. Department of the Interior . U.S. Geological Survey The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has served as the Nation's principal collector, repository, and interpreter of earth science data for more than a century. In this capacity, the USGS in Colorado works in partnership with more than 90 local, State, and Federal agencies. Cooperative activities include water-resources data collection, interpretive water-availability and water-quality studies, mineral-resource assessments, and mapping. In activities with local and State agencies, USGS and non-Federal funds are typically matched equally. The USGS also is involved with several community outreach activities, which include educational presentations at schools and information booths at community events. The USGS also supports the Colorado Water Resource Research Institute, which conducts research, education, and informa- tion and technology-transfer programs. This Fact Sheet describes some of the current USGS activities in Colorado. Geologic Mapping Along 1-70 Rapid growth along the 1-70 corridor in the western part of the State between the Utah border and the Frisco-Dillon area has prompted the USGS and the Colorado Geo- logical Survey to form cooperative geologic mapping teams. At least 36 detailed geologic maps of the corridor are planned over about a 5-year period. Many geologic hazards, such as landslides, debris flows, and sinkholes, can be avoided if the information on detailed geo- logic maps is used to make land-use deci- sions. People in Mesa, Garfield, Eagle, and Summit Counties and city, State, and Federal agencies can use these maps to make deci- sions intended to mitigate or avoid geologic hazards, and, therefore, potentially save lives, money, and property. Landslide Hazards Huge, ancient landslides cover mountain sides throughout western Colorado; many of these slides are near towns, recreational facil- ities, railroads, and major highways. If any of these landslides were reactivated by human activities, earthquakes, or climate change, then nearby towns or facilities could be destroyed. USGS scientists in Lake City and Grand Mesa are studying large, ancient and modern landslides. Through these studies, the USGS can document many of the conditions that caused the landslides and formulate models to predict where and when landslides can occur or be reactivated by changing climate or earthquakes. Oil-Resource Assessments Working with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the State of Colorado, the USGS assessed the petroleum-resource potential of the White River National Forest. This assess- ment provided these agencies information to formulate development plans that consider natural ecosystem preservation. The USGS, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), recently com- pleted an assessment of the petroleum poten- tial of two Naval Oil Shale Reserves in Colorado. National Water-Quality Assessment Program The long-term goals of the National Water- Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large, representative part of the Nation's surface- and ground-water resources and to identify the natural and human factors that affect their quality. The NAWQA Program produces water-quality information that is useful to policymakers and water managers at the local, State, and national levels. NA WQA Program studies of three river basins in Colorado-the South Platte, the _!:!"I:lRer Colorado, and the Rio Grande-are underway; another, the upper Arkansas, is planned (fig. I). Communication pnd coordi- nation among the USGS and the water- management and other water-resource agen- cies are essential to the NAWQA studies in the State. As results become available, the findings are distributed in technical and public information reports to local, State, and Federal agencies. Coal-Bed Methane Resources In less than 10 years, the San 1 uan Basin of New Mexico and Colorado has become the Earth Science in the Public Servico ...to.. ~.~op ~ .c:> '-Index of SUbj~ts Geologic mapping Along 1-70 Landslide Hazards Oil-Resource Assessments National Water-Quality Assessment Program Coal-Bed Methane Resources Stu!dies of Contamination at U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense Sites Studies of Stream Contamination From Mine Waste Environmental Assessments of Abandoned Mine Lands R~flearch on Biological Systems Irrigation Water Qualityhh! Topographic Mapping Digital Raster Graphics Watershed-Modeling Systems Initiative in the San Juan River Basin Drought History and Climatic Change in Eastern Colorado!" Effects of Acid Precipitation on Rocky Mountain Lakes and Streams Information Centers Change Over Time Collection of Hydrologic Data largest coal-bed methane field in production in the world. Total coal-bed methane resources for the Basin have been estimated to be 50 trillion cubic feet of gas, and as much as one-half of that amount is considered to be recoverable. For the first time, the amount of gas produced in 1994 from coal beds of the Fruitland Formation surpassed the production of gas from the Basin's conventional sand- stone reservoirs. The rapid development of the coal-gas resources was made possible by detailed studies of the Fruitland coal beds published by the USGS and the Colorado Geological Survey in the 1970's. Figure 1. National Water-Quality Assessment Program study units in Colorado shown with topography.