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Fish, Streams, and Water Quality

The Chesapeake Bay watershed supports important recreational and commercial fisheries, but many are declining due to poor water quality, loss of quality habitat and increased invasive species. The USGS science activities are improving the understanding of how restoration and conservation efforts, along with land-use and climate change, are affecting conditions for fish, wildlife, and people.

Filter Total Items: 121
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“Who Done it”? Environmental DNA (eDNA) for Determining Fecal Contamination Source

By Kay Briggs and Vivian Nolan
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Information to Help Design Better Fishways and Overcome Fish Migration Barriers

By Vivian Nolan
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USGS science informs revised water-quality restoration plans for the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed

Science Summary
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Sediment

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Sediment
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Sediment

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Sediment
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Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay
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Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay
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Intersex Fish

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Intersex Fish
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Intersex Fish

Chesapeake Bay Program video on Intersex Fish
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Conowingo Dam

Chesapeake Bay Program video on the Conowingo Dam
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Conowingo Dam

Chesapeake Bay Program video on the Conowingo Dam
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Freshwater Flow into Chesapeake Bay

Explore resources here describing estimates of freshwater flow entering Chesapeake Bay . The health of the Chesapeake Bay is greatly affected by freshwater flow from rivers draining its watershed. The amount of freshwater flow (also called streamflow) will: • Change salinity levels in the Bay, which affect oysters, crabs, and finfish. • Influence the amounts of nutrients, sediment, and...
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Freshwater Flow into Chesapeake Bay

Explore resources here describing estimates of freshwater flow entering Chesapeake Bay . The health of the Chesapeake Bay is greatly affected by freshwater flow from rivers draining its watershed. The amount of freshwater flow (also called streamflow) will: • Change salinity levels in the Bay, which affect oysters, crabs, and finfish. • Influence the amounts of nutrients, sediment, and...
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Assessing stream health and fish habitat in streams of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Streams and rivers provide habitat for a diverse array of aquatic and semi-aquatic species. However, human alteration to landscapes and riverscapes has affected this habitat resulting in its degradation and thus loss of habitat and associated sensitive aquatic species. While this relationship has been known for many years, only recently has the availability of data and analytical capabilities...
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Assessing stream health and fish habitat in streams of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Streams and rivers provide habitat for a diverse array of aquatic and semi-aquatic species. However, human alteration to landscapes and riverscapes has affected this habitat resulting in its degradation and thus loss of habitat and associated sensitive aquatic species. While this relationship has been known for many years, only recently has the availability of data and analytical capabilities...
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The Effects of Florence and High River Flow During Summer 2018 on the Chesapeake Bay

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey and Chesapeake Bay Program, Updated September 17, 2018.
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The Effects of Florence and High River Flow During Summer 2018 on the Chesapeake Bay

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey and Chesapeake Bay Program, Updated September 17, 2018.
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USGS and Partner Efforts to Monitor High River Flow During Summer, 2018 and Potential Effects of Hurricane Florence on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Prepared by Scott Phillips and Peter Tango, USGS and Chesapeake Scientific, Technical Analysis, and Reporting (STAR) team, September 12, 2018
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USGS and Partner Efforts to Monitor High River Flow During Summer, 2018 and Potential Effects of Hurricane Florence on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Prepared by Scott Phillips and Peter Tango, USGS and Chesapeake Scientific, Technical Analysis, and Reporting (STAR) team, September 12, 2018
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Record Amounts of Rainwater Flow off the Land into Chesapeake Bay

As the Mid-Atlantic states' super-soaker summer draws to a close, record amounts of rainwater have flowed off the land and into Chesapeake Bay, with potential consequences for the nation's largest estuary. USGS measurements show freshwater flows into the bay in August 2018 were the highest ever recorded for that month by a wide margin. River flows into the bay have been unusually high since May.
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Record Amounts of Rainwater Flow off the Land into Chesapeake Bay

As the Mid-Atlantic states' super-soaker summer draws to a close, record amounts of rainwater have flowed off the land and into Chesapeake Bay, with potential consequences for the nation's largest estuary. USGS measurements show freshwater flows into the bay in August 2018 were the highest ever recorded for that month by a wide margin. River flows into the bay have been unusually high since May.
Learn More