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Connecting Conservation Practices to Local Stream Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Open Fact Sheet 2024–3030

Susquehanna River Story

What does the science say about water quality?

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Impact of Current and Historic Land Use on Stream Incision in Maryland Piedmont Headwaters

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Phosphorus in the Susquehanna River

May be Tied to Legacy Sediment and Changing pH

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New Insights for Reducing Nutrient and Sediment Loads

In Agricultural Watersheds Prioritized for Management Activities

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Wastewater reuse may be detrimental to smallmouth bass abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed

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Chesapeake Publication Receives National Award for Outstanding Technology Paper

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Newsletter: April-June 2024

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Publications

Discover Chesapeake related science in reports and journal articles authored by USGS scientists

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Chesapeake Bay Activities

The Chesapeake Bay is our Nation’s largest estuary and provides over $100 billion in annual economic value. The USGS works with Federal, State, local, and academic partners to provide research and monitoring and to communicate results to inform management for the Chesapeake and other important landscapes across the Nation.

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Role of wastewater and landscape sources contributing to pesticide contamination

The view of Potomac River.

POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED—Wastewater treatment plant discharges can be a source of organic contaminants, including pesticides, to rivers. Pesticide concentrations were predicted based on wastewater percentages in stream water using a modeling tool, and verified with measured concentrations to identify other potential landscape sources.

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PFAS found in Smallmouth Bass throughout the mid-Atlantic United States

Scientist inserting a needle with a syringe in the caudal vein (located below the spine) of a smallmouth bass

PFAS are a large group of chemicals that have been recognized as concerns for both human and ecosystem health. There is a need to understand the effects of PFAS on fish health and populations.

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Quick Links

Learn more about USGS science activities in the Bay from our Science Strategy. Additional summaries of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities are available in the science topics section.

News

Chesapeake Bay sees slight improvement in water quality

Chesapeake Bay sees slight improvement in water quality

Invasive flathead catfish impacting Susquehanna’s food chain, researchers find

Invasive flathead catfish impacting Susquehanna’s food chain, researchers find

Scientists document osprey nest failures across the Chesapeake, tie it to lack of menhaden for food

Scientists document osprey nest failures across the Chesapeake, tie it to lack of menhaden for food

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Publications

The state of the science and practice of stream restoration in the Chesapeake: Lessons learned to inform better implementation, assessment and outcomes

The Chesapeake Bay Program’s (CBP) Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) organized and led a workshop on the science and practice of stream restoration in order to summarize the state of knowledge in order to identify ways to improve stream restoration outcomes. The workshop identified a general framework for explaining the main factors leading to stream restoration outcomes: stream degr
Authors
Gregory Noe, Neely Law, Joel Berger, Solange Filoso, Sadie Drescher, L. Fraley-McNeal, Ben Hayes, Paul Mayer, Chris Ruck, Bill Stack, Rich Starr, Scott Stranko, Tess Thompson
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center

Predictive modeling reveals elevated conductivity relative to background levels in freshwater tributaries within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA

Elevated conductivity (i.e., specific conductance or SC) causes osmotic stress in freshwater aquatic organisms and may increase the toxicity of some contaminants. Indices of benthic macroinvertebrate integrity have declined in urban areas across the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW), and more information is needed about whether these declines may be due to elevated conductivity. A predictive SC model
Authors
R. Fanelli, Joel Moore, Charles C. Stillwell, Andrew Sekellick, Richard Walker
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Tissue distribution and temporal and spatial assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the mid-Atlantic United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become an environmental issue worldwide. A first step to assessing potential adverse effects on fish populations is to determine if concentrations of concern are present in a region and if so, in which watersheds. Hence, plasma from adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu collected at 10 sites within 4 river systems in the mid-Atlantic region of t
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Heather L. Walsh, Cheyenne R. Smith, Stephanie Gordon, Brandon J. Keplinger, Timothy Wertz
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Science

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Infographic with watershed map and triangle diagram

New study highlights the role of wastewater and landscape sources contributing to pesticide contamination in the Potomac River watershed

Wastewater treatment plant discharges can be a source of organic contaminants, including pesticides, to rivers. Pesticide concentrations were predicted based on wastewater percentages in stream water using a modeling tool, and verified with measured concentrations to identify other potential landscape sources.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
link

New study highlights the role of wastewater and landscape sources contributing to pesticide contamination in the Potomac River watershed

Wastewater treatment plant discharges can be a source of organic contaminants, including pesticides, to rivers. Pesticide concentrations were predicted based on wastewater percentages in stream water using a modeling tool, and verified with measured concentrations to identify other potential landscape sources.
Learn More
link
Scientist inserting a needle with a syringe in the caudal vein (located below the spine) of a smallmouth bass

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) found in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) throughout the mid-Atlantic United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals that have been recognized as concerns for both human and ecosystem health. There is a need to understand the effects of PFAS on fish health and populations.
By
Environmental Health Program, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) found in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) throughout the mid-Atlantic United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals that have been recognized as concerns for both human and ecosystem health. There is a need to understand the effects of PFAS on fish health and populations.
Learn More
link
Scientist inserting a needle with a syringe in the caudal vein (located below the spine) of a smallmouth bass

New study highlights linkages among land use, water chemistry, and the health of Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River watershed

Contaminants associated with agricultural and developed land uses may negatively affect SMB health and disease resistance in the Susquehanna River watershed.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

New study highlights linkages among land use, water chemistry, and the health of Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River watershed

Contaminants associated with agricultural and developed land uses may negatively affect SMB health and disease resistance in the Susquehanna River watershed.
Learn More
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