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The “sediment shadow” in Chesapeake Bay’s tidal freshwater rivers has important implications for restoration

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Evaluating the Effects of Stream-Restoration Practices in an Impaired Agricultural System

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500 Years of Extreme Potomac Floods at Washington D.C.

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Remotely mapping stormwater facility footprints and storage volumes

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Evaluating the Risks of Tire-Derived Compounds to Fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

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Using monitoring data to measure conditions over time in Chesapeake Bay streams

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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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39 Years of Stream Conditions - Widespread Biological Changes

In a forest, USGS scientist Zach Clifton stands in a stream and assesses a streambank.

USGS scientists predicted stream biological conditions across the Chesapeake Bay watershed from 1985 through 2023, revealing widespread changes but only a ~1% increase in stream length classified as improved. These predicted improvements fell short of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s goal of improving the health of 10% of streams by 2025.

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Increased Early Life Growth Rates of Smallmouth Bass

Closeup photo of adolescent bass in the palm of a hand

In this study of smallmouth bass in Pennsylvania rivers, USGS scientists found that warmer temperatures were associated with increased early‑life growth rates, and that growth rates increased following a disease outbreak.

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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

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center Estuary Science Highlights

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center Estuary Science Highlights

New Research Shows a Troubling Trend for Chesapeake Bay Osprey

New Research Shows a Troubling Trend for Chesapeake Bay Osprey

Research shows Chesapeake Bay streams are getting saltier

Research shows Chesapeake Bay streams are getting saltier

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Publications

U.S. Geological Survey science supports a thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed economy U.S. Geological Survey science supports a thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed economy

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science supports the Chesapeake Bay watershed economy by linking natural resources to key economic sectors. The roles of USGS monitoring, data, and analysis inform land-use and resource-management decisions for Department of Interior leadership and other stakeholders.
Authors
Anthony J. Good, James S. Webber, Emily Pindilli, Shonte Jenkins
By
Science and Decisions Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

The effect of temperature, flow, density and disease on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) early life growth rate The effect of temperature, flow, density and disease on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) early life growth rate

Individual growth rates of fish are influenced by gradually changing environmental conditions and rapid-onset events. However, there is a paucity of information on drivers of spatiotemporal variability in growth rates of fishes across large spatial extents. Using a 36-year dataset of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) length-at-age data across 10 river reaches in Pennsylvania, USA (n...
Authors
Rebecca S.M O'Brien, Megan K. Schall, Geoffrey Smith, Kelly L. Smalling, Tyler Wagner
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center

Long-term predictive modeling of stream condition suggests wide-spread changes within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA Long-term predictive modeling of stream condition suggests wide-spread changes within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA

Stream ecosystems worldwide face ongoing degradation, underscoring the urgent need for conservation and restoration. Regional analyses of stream condition have been limited by sparse spatial and temporal data, particularly at long time scales. To address this gap, we used observed data to predict annual biological condition for 360,893 small, nontidal stream reaches in the Chesapeake Bay...
Authors
Kelly O. Maloney, Benjamin P. Gressler, Lindsey J. Boyle, Alexander H. Kiser
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Science

Nasturtiums hang down over a graffiti-decorated culvert conveying Sausal Creek

Northeast Region Urban Landscapes Capability Team

Learn about the Northeast Region Urban Landscapes Capabilities Team.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Northeast Region Urban Landscapes Capability Team

Northeast Region Urban Landscapes Capability Team

Learn about the Northeast Region Urban Landscapes Capabilities Team.
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Closeup photo of adolescent bass in the palm of a hand

Warmer Temperatures and Disease-Driven Population Declines Can Increase Early Life Growth Rates of Smallmouth Bass

Understanding the factors that affect growth rates of commercially and recreationally important fish species can help fisheries managers make informed stock‑assessment and fishing‑regulation decisions. In this study of smallmouth bass in Pennsylvania rivers, USGS scientists found that warmer temperatures were associated with increased early‑life growth rates, and that growth rates increased...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities
Warmer Temperatures and Disease-Driven Population Declines Can Increase Early Life Growth Rates of Smallmouth Bass

Warmer Temperatures and Disease-Driven Population Declines Can Increase Early Life Growth Rates of Smallmouth Bass

Understanding the factors that affect growth rates of commercially and recreationally important fish species can help fisheries managers make informed stock‑assessment and fishing‑regulation decisions. In this study of smallmouth bass in Pennsylvania rivers, USGS scientists found that warmer temperatures were associated with increased early‑life growth rates, and that growth rates increased...
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French Creek near Phoenixville, PA, river in the foreground and trees with green, yellow, and red leaves in the background.

39 Years of Stream Conditions Show Widespread Biological Changes Across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS scientists predicted stream biological conditions across the Chesapeake Bay watershed from 1985 through 2023, revealing widespread changes but only a ~1% increase in stream length classified as improved. These predicted improvements fell short of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s goal of improving the health of 10% of streams by 2025.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
39 Years of Stream Conditions Show Widespread Biological Changes Across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

39 Years of Stream Conditions Show Widespread Biological Changes Across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS scientists predicted stream biological conditions across the Chesapeake Bay watershed from 1985 through 2023, revealing widespread changes but only a ~1% increase in stream length classified as improved. These predicted improvements fell short of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s goal of improving the health of 10% of streams by 2025.
Learn More
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