Downstream areas of the Blue River and Little Blue River basins are highly affected by urban development, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study that compares the aquatic-life status of streams in the Kansas City, Mo. metropolitan area using macroinvertebrate populations as an indicator of stream health.

This study increases our understanding of aquatic life and water quality in urban streams. The differences in aquatic-life status of the Blue River and Little Blue River indicate how stormwater, wastewater discharges, and upstream reservoirs affect urban streams.

Macroinvertebrates, or animals without a backbone that are visible to the unaided eye, were collected in the Blue River basin in Kansas City, Mo., and the Little Blue River and Rock Creek basins in Independence, Mo., as part of two urban water-quality studies to assess the aquatic-life status of urban streams. Aquatic macroinvertebrates, which include insects, worms, mussels, and crayfish, are at the base of the food chain in aquatic environments. They are the main food source for many other animals such as fish and ducks, so scientists commonly use them to study the ability of a stream to support aquatic life.

"None of the samples collected from the Blue River had characteristics considered to be fully able to support aquatic life," said USGS co-author Heather Krempa. "However, about one out of ten spring samples and about four out of ten fall samples from the Little Blue River did have characteristics considered to be fully supporting of aquatic life."

Macroinvertebrate samples were collected from streams and analyzed several ways, including counting the total number and types of macroinvertebrates collected, grouping them based on feeding methods, and calculating the tolerance of the macroinvertebrates to pollution and environmental stress. Samples were scored to provide information about the stream at the sample location and were compared among sites.  The aquatic-life status scores for the Little Blue River and its tributaries were higher, indicating more optimal conditions, than for the Blue River and its tributar­ies.

A Stream Condition Index that combines several different measures of macroinvertebrate populations was used to describe and assign three categories to the stream sites: non-, partially, and fully biologically supporting.

Wastewater-treatment plant discharges during low flows and combined sewer overflows into the Blue River lower aquatic-life scores and likely reduce water quality. Separate stormwater sewer system and reservoir releases to the Little Blue River may raise water quality and aquatic-life scores.

The study, "Assessment of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Adjacent Urban Stream Basins, Kansas City, Missouri, Metropolitan Area, 2007 through 2011," has been released as USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5284 and is available online.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of Connecticut.

Assistance for the State, Tribal and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Connecticut  to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8 - 11, 2013.

Public Open Houses Set for March 25-27 in St. Charles, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes

DENTON, Texas –Homeowners, renters and business owners in the Greater New Orleans area who did not get a chance to visit flood map open houses March 18-20 now have a virtual option to get information about preliminary flood maps.

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have released the first images from the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) satellite, which was launched Feb. 11. 

The natural-color images show the intersection of the United States Great Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming and Colorado. In the images, green coniferous forests in the mountains stretch down to the brown plains with Denver and other cities strung south to north. 

LDCM acquired the images at about 1:40 p.m. EDT March 18. The satellite's Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) instruments observed the scene simultaneously. The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., processed the data. 

"We are very excited about this first collection of simultaneous imagery," said Jim Irons, LDCM project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "These images confirm we have two healthy, functioning sensors that survived the rigors of launch and insertion into Earth orbit." 

Since launch, LDCM has been going through on-orbit testing. The mission operations team has completed its review of all major spacecraft and instrument subsystems, and performed multiple spacecraft attitude maneuvers to verify the ability to accurately point the instruments. 

The two LDCM sensors collect data simultaneously over the same ground path. OLI collects light reflected off the surface of Earth in nine different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including bands of visible light and near-infrared and short-wave-infrared bands, which are beyond human vision. TIRS collects data at two longer wavelength thermal infrared bands that measure heat emitted from the surface.

By looking at different band combinations, scientists can distinguish features on the land surface. These features include forests and how they respond to natural and human-caused disturbances, and the health of agricultural crops and how much water they use. Data from LDCM will extend a continuous, 40-year-long data record of Earth's surface from previous Landsat satellites, an unmatched, impartial perspective that allows scientists to study how landscapes all across the world change through time.

"These first scenes from the new Landsat satellite continue the remarkable output from the Landsat program with better, more useful imagery and information," said Matthew C. Larsen, associate director for climate and land use change at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va. "We are gratified that this productive partnership between USGS and NASA has maintained the continuity and utility of this essential satellite tool, providing the foundation for land and water management around the globe."

As planned, LDCM currently is flying in an orbit slightly lower than its operational orbit of 438 miles (705 kilometers) above Earth's surface. As the spacecraft's thrusters raise its orbit, the NASA-USGS team will take the opportunity to collect imagery while LDCM is flying under Landsat 7, also operating in orbit. Measurements collected simultaneously from both satellites will allow the team to cross-calibrate the LDCM sensors with Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic Mapper-Plus instrument.

"So far, our checkout activities have gone extremely well," said Ken Schwer, LDCM project manager at Goddard. "The mission operations team has done a tremendous job getting us to the point of imaging Earth." During the next few weeks, this team will calibrate the instruments and verify they meet performance specifications. 

After its checkout and commissioning phase is complete, LDCM will begin its normal operations in May. At that time, NASA will hand over control of the satellite to the USGS, which will operate it throughout its planned five-year mission life. The satellite will be renamed Landsat 8. USGS will process data from OLI and TIRS and add it to the Landsat Data Archive at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, where it will be distributed for free via the Internet. 

Visit LDCM First Images to view the images. 

For further information about LDCM, visit LDCM Mission.

For status and technical information about all Landsat satellites, visit Landsat Missions.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flooding strikes countless unprepared Americans each year.  Unlike fire, wind, hail, or most other perils, flood damage is not covered by a homeowner’s policy.  An uninsured flood loss can undo a lifetime’s worth of work and create a mountain of bills.  Fortunately, a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy provides defense against such losses and can ensure that a flood doesn’t bring financial ruin.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flooding strikes countless unprepared Americans each year.  Unlike fire, wind, hail, or most other perils, flood damage is not covered by a homeowner’s policy.  An uninsured flood loss can undo a lifetime’s worth of work and create a mountain of bills.  Fortunately, a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy provides defense against such losses and can ensure that a flood doesn’t bring financial ruin.

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the State of New York, has approved a 21-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels.

The new checkout date for those in the TSA program is April 14, 2013. FEMA is calling applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the new checkout date.

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey renters who had losses during Hurricane Sandy may be eligible to receive federal disaster assistance to replace damaged contents.

Renters can receive up to $40,000 in low-interest disaster home loans from the Small Business Administration for personal property losses. Loan applications are due no later than Monday, April 1.

No one is required to accept a loan offer. Renters may be referred for Federal Emergency Management Agency grants if they are not approved for an SBA disaster home loan.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Disaster assistance to New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy by the numbers as of March 18:

TRENTON, N.J. -- Hurricane Sandy survivors who had storm-related damages in New Jersey have just two weeks left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Federal disaster assistance applications are due by Monday, April 1.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Disaster recovery officials urge recipients of federal grants to use the money wisely.

Upon releasing the funds by direct deposit or check, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent every recipient a letter providing important information about the grant and outlining how the money can be spent.

Disaster-related grants are for repairs, temporary housing and other approved disaster-related costs. New Jerseyans who have questions about their grants should call FEMA’s Helpline at  800-621-FEMA (3362).

Housing funds may be used for:

TRENTON, N.J. -- Here is some helpful information New Jerseyans should know as they continue their recoveries from Hurricane Sandy.

PURVIS, Miss. – Federal disaster assistance may cover damages that your insurance does not. That is why people affected by the recent tornadoes and flooding are urged by FEMA and MEMA to apply for assistance even if they have insurance.

DENVER – There’s a hidden threat that strikes countless unprepared Americans each year – flooding.  Unlike fire, wind, hail or most other perils, flood damage is not covered by a homeowners policy. An uninsured flood loss can undo a lifetime’s worth of effort and create a mountain of bills. Fortunately, a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy provides the defense against such losses and can ensure that a flood doesn’t bring financial ruin.

Mitigation funds cover first phase of project, determine eligibility for future assistance

DENVER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $2 million to the City of Minot for the first phase of a project to protect the Minot water treatment plant.  The funding accounts for 75 percent of the total project cost and comes from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of New Hampshire.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of New Hampshire to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8 - 10, 2013.

DENTON, Texas – More than $1 million was recently awarded to the state of New Mexico by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for debris removal in Lincoln County in the aftermath of last summer’s flooding.

The FEMA funding covers the hauling away of debris and the clearing of roads in order to allow for public access, the safety of the population and the protection of property, as well as direct administrative costs.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.  Recently there have been more frequent severe weather events, like Hurricane Sandy that ravaged the East Coast.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which provides flood insurance policies that give millions of Americans a defense against flooding.  But flood insurance policies are only one component of the program and just part of the protection that the NFIP provides to individuals and the American public.