Welcome to the USGS Retirees’ Organization!
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Nation’s long-standing premier natural science agency. The mission of the USGS Retirees’ Organization’s is to help USGS retirees stay in touch with one another and the USGS. All retirees, including scientists, technicians, administration and human resource personnel, or information technology, all are welcome!
We also (re-) introduce retirees to prospective friends from across the Nation and across the generations- all of whom are part of the USGS family, all of whom share an ethos of science in the public service, and all of whom celebrate what you did through your career with the USGS for yourself, your family, your community, and the Nation. Join Us!
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The National Water Science Workshop planning committee invites you to two virtual plenary sessions featuring keynote speakers, scientist spotlights, and merit award ceremonies.
Click on these links to join
Day 1 - Wednesday May 7, Join the Meeting!
Day 2 - Thursday May 8, Join the meeting!
Schedule of events
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time 1:00 EDT
Advancing Integration and Innovation in USGS Water Science
Opening Remarks: Bill Werkheiser, Associate Director, USGS Water Resources Mission Area
1:10 EDT
2024 PECASE Awardee: Identifying geochemical inputs to the San Juan River, Four Corners Region, USA- Johanna Blake, USGS New Mexico Water Science Center
1:30 EDT
Workshop Integration Award: The Rivervoir: Physical controls on Selenium Concentrations in the Transboundary Reservoir, Lake Koocanusa- Meryl Storb, USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center;coauthors - Seth Siefken, Madison Foster, Johanna Blake, and Travis Schmidt
1:45 EDT
Workshop Innovation Award: On-site analysis of dissolved gases for advancing understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange - Connor Newman, USGS Colorado Water Science Center;coauthor Eric Humphrey
2:00 EDT
KEYNOTE Speaker: Evaluation of the Lithium Resource in the Smackover Formation Brines of Southern Arkansas Using Machine Learning - Katherine (Kathy) Knierim, USGS Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center;coauthors - Andrew Masterson, Philip Freeman, Amanda Herzberg, Aaron Jubb, Bonnie McDevitt, Colin Doolan, and Jessica Chenault
2:40 EDT-Adjourn Plenary
Thursday May 8, 2025
Time 1:00 EDT
Exploring New and Historic Themes in USGS Water Science
Virtual/ In-person in Reston Room 1B215
Early-Career Scientist Spotlight: Exploring opportunities for scenario-based water resources assessments - Jared Smith, USGS Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division and Trevor Partridge, USGS Earth Systems Processes Division
1:20 EDT
Workshop Collaboration Award: Insights from Imagery: The USGS Flow Photo Explorer- Phillip Goodling, USGS Earth Systems Processes Division;coauthors - Ben Letcher, Jennifer Fair, and Jeffrey Walker
1:35 EDT
KEYNOTE Speaker: Historical Perspective on USGS Innovation in Water Sciences - Robert Hirsch, USGS Emeritus
2:15 - Adjourn Plenary
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The recent turmoil surrounding the firing and now rehiring of USGS probationary employees and plans for initiating a major reduction in force (RIF) have greatly disheartened the members of the USGS Retirees Organization. Some of our retired friends formerly from the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Center have prepared a well-organized document that provides practical information about employee rights and next steps.
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SSA Announces March 2025 Retroactive Payments and New/Higher Monthly Benefits for Millions of Federal Retirees
Two big changes:
1. Many federal retirees, especially those under the CSRS system that also have Social Security Benefits from non federal work, will see both increases in their monthly benefit and a catchup payment covering 1-1-24 to Feb. 2025 The catchup payments mostly came out in early march, but often the explanation of benefits letter did not come until later in March. If you do not see it and are a CSRS retiree with >=40 quarters of SS covered work, contact your local SSA office.
and 2. If you never applied for Social Security because you knew WEP/GPO would erase any earnings [say based on your spouses benefits], then you must apply for SS benefits. This is important because the later you apply, the later your benefits start. Even though the repeal includes pay retroactively to January 2024, it is unclear whether this applies to those who never applied.
See The Social Security Fairness Act of 2024 ends WEP and GPO
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Current Events
Mount St Helens, Spirit Lake Reflection. May 19, 1982, All USGS Disciplines