“Precipice of Survival: The Southern Sea Otter” traces the history of California’s sea otters from the onset of the Pacific maritime fur trade to the present and focuses in depth on the broad collaborative research effort to better understand these charismatic creatures of the coastal oceans. This 48-minute program, USGS General Information Product 3, was shot in high definition video and produced by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center and Western Region Office of Communications; produced and directed by Stephen Wessells.

More info: (520) 670-5596 gloria_maender@usgs.gov http://online.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/otter/index.html

“Sonoran Desert: Fragile Land of Extremes” shows how biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey work with other scientists in an effort to better understand native plants and animals such as desert tortoises, saguaro cacti, and Gila monsters. Much of the program was shot in and around Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. Genetic detective work, using DNA, focuses on understanding the lives of tortoises. Studies of saguaros over many decades clarify how these amazing plants reproduce and thrive in the desert. Threats from fire, diseases in tortoises, and a growing human population motivate the scientists. Their work to identify how these organisms live and survive is a crucial step for the sound management of biological resources on public lands. This 28-minute program, USGS Open-File Report 03-305, was shot entirely in high definition video and produced by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center and Southwest Biological Science Center; produced and directed by Stephen Wessells, Western Region Office of Communications

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1923 Grand Canyon Expedition
By DOI/USGS    1923    Running Time 0:30

Video Theatre show time:    June 4th 2:30 PM

In 1869, John Wesley Powell, who later became the second Director of the USGS, led the first expedition down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In the fifty years that followed, very few people dared to repeat Powell's trip. In the summer of 1923, the USGS organized a new expedition to travel through the Grand Canyon, which was the last stretch of the Colorado River that had not been accurately surveyed. This expedition, led by USGS Chief Topographer Claude Birdseye, was charged with making an unbroken level survey line through Marble and Grand canyons. In addition, the party was to survey possible dam sites under the direction of USGS Chief Hydrologist E.C. LaRue. The expedition also included USGS topographer Roland Burchard, Univeristy of Kansas geologist Dr. Raymond Moore, five boatmen, a cook, and four wooden boats. It took the group 79 days to travel 251 miles down the Colorado River. This black and white silent film, shot primarily by E.C. LaRue, was recently "rediscovered" by the USGS. It is possibly the oldest film footage ever made by the USGS.

For more information:
http://online.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/grandcanyon/

Talk to USGS Scientists about: • Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslides, floods, hurricanes • Our Bay Area Home: The dynamic physical environment of the San Francisco Bay Region • Special exhibits about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake • Environment: Climate change, biological-resource monitoring, surface and ground water pollution • Resources: Oil and gas, minerals • Landscape: Geologic mapping, coastal and marine science • Technology: New initiatives to provide geospatial data and science information for the Nation, real-time digital data on the Internet And much more!		Interactive Displays • Gold panning • Dress like a Marine Scientist • Music • Food • Meet the Authors • Map sales • Gift sales Related Links • USGS 50 Years in Menlo Park • Self-guided campus tour • Rock and Garden campus tour • A History of USGS Menlo Park Open Houses
Contact USGS Natural Science Network for more information: (650) 329-4390 wmcesic@usgs.gov