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Resource managers are working to improve water-quality in the Chesapeake to benefit the people who live in the region and the birds, fish, and other animals who rely on clean water in the watershed and the Bay. The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) supports resource managers and other Chesapeake stakeholders by providing science that informs restoration and conservation in the Chesapeake region. The USGS SIMPLE team works with resource managers to address their priority questions to help inform nutrient- and sediment-reducing management activities.
This page is where you can learn more about the USGS SIMPLE team. Specifically, what the team has learned, who the team works with, and how to get involved.
The SIMPLE team works to identify and address priority stakeholder questions about water-quality conditions in the Chesapeake. These questions differ across the watershed and change over time, but there are some common questions that the SIMPLE team is focused on. Click below to learn more about the current priority resource questions.
This narrated presentation provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
SIMPLE stands for Science to Inform Management Priorities, from Loads to Endpoints.
The SIMPLE team is a group of USGS researchers who are working to provide scientific insights that can help inform water-quality management activities in the Chesapeake. The goal of the SIMPLE team is to identify, address, and share scientific information with Chesapeake stakeholders to inform nutrient and sediment management activities. The team meets this goal by:
The Chesapeake Bay is a large and complex ecosystem. The SIMPLE team works to connect managers with research experts, decision-making tools, and high-quality data.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment are essential components of healthy aquatic ecosystems. However, excessive amounts of sediment or nutrients can cause negative effects on human health, aquatic life, and ecological conditions. Human activities have contributed to excess amounts of nutrients and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Therefore, restoration of the Chesapeake Bay relies on reducing nutrients and sediment in watershed rivers and streams that flow into the Bay.
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus degrade aquatic ecosystems. Excess nutrients can produce large amounts of algae in a process called eutrophication. Algae can decrease recreational opportunities, impair drinking water, harm aquatic life, and, in some cases, release harmful toxins that are hazardous to human health.
Nitrogen from the air (atmospheric deposition) and phosphorus from the soil (mineral weathering) contribute natural amounts of nutrients to rivers and streams. However, additional nutrients from human activities often exceed natural inputs. In agricultural watersheds, nutrients from fertilizer and manure can seep into the groundwater or be washed overland into local streams. In urban watersheds, nutrients from fertilizer, wastewater, and pet waste can also reach nearby streams. Emissions from vehicles and power plants increase the amount of nitrogen in the air. Nutrients from these nonpoint sources may be stored in the landscape or undergo numerous biogeochemical processes before ever reaching the nearest stream, while point source discharges from wastewater treatment facilities in densely populated areas reach streams directly. Many factors, such as land use, geologic setting, and climatic conditions, affect the movement of nutrients from the landscape to the streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Watch the below video for a long-term perspective (1950-2050) on the historical, present, and future drivers of nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Read this USGS report for more information.
Suspended sediments are small particles of sand, silt, and clay that are picked up by moving water and become suspended in the water column. Sediment naturally weathers from the landscape into streams, but human activities can increase the amount of sediment that reaches streams. Larger amounts of sediment are typically in agricultural or urban streams than forested streams. Sediment can reach streams after running off the landscape or eroding from streambanks. Once in streams, sediment can be redeposited in the floodplain, stay the streambed, or be delivered further downstream. Streamflow can strongly affect the amount of suspended sediment in streams, with more sediment moved during storm events when streamflow is high. Legacy sediment from historical human activities also affects the amount of sediment in streams.
Sediment can carry nutrients and other pollutants to streams and cause increased stream turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity. Higher amounts of sediment and turbidity reduce light penetration, which can limit recreational opportunities, harm aquatic life, and increase water treatment costs.
Now that you know the basics, explore this website and get in touch with the SIMPLE team to learn more about ongoing science to inform management priorities.
Learn more about the science the USGS is carrying out which supports Chesapeake Bay management priorities.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.
Resource managers are working to improve water-quality in the Chesapeake to benefit the people who live in the region and the birds, fish, and other animals who rely on clean water in the watershed and the Bay. The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) supports resource managers and other Chesapeake stakeholders by providing science that informs restoration and conservation in the Chesapeake region. The USGS SIMPLE team works with resource managers to address their priority questions to help inform nutrient- and sediment-reducing management activities.
This page is where you can learn more about the USGS SIMPLE team. Specifically, what the team has learned, who the team works with, and how to get involved.
The SIMPLE team works to identify and address priority stakeholder questions about water-quality conditions in the Chesapeake. These questions differ across the watershed and change over time, but there are some common questions that the SIMPLE team is focused on. Click below to learn more about the current priority resource questions.
This narrated presentation provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
SIMPLE stands for Science to Inform Management Priorities, from Loads to Endpoints.
The SIMPLE team is a group of USGS researchers who are working to provide scientific insights that can help inform water-quality management activities in the Chesapeake. The goal of the SIMPLE team is to identify, address, and share scientific information with Chesapeake stakeholders to inform nutrient and sediment management activities. The team meets this goal by:
The Chesapeake Bay is a large and complex ecosystem. The SIMPLE team works to connect managers with research experts, decision-making tools, and high-quality data.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment are essential components of healthy aquatic ecosystems. However, excessive amounts of sediment or nutrients can cause negative effects on human health, aquatic life, and ecological conditions. Human activities have contributed to excess amounts of nutrients and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Therefore, restoration of the Chesapeake Bay relies on reducing nutrients and sediment in watershed rivers and streams that flow into the Bay.
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus degrade aquatic ecosystems. Excess nutrients can produce large amounts of algae in a process called eutrophication. Algae can decrease recreational opportunities, impair drinking water, harm aquatic life, and, in some cases, release harmful toxins that are hazardous to human health.
Nitrogen from the air (atmospheric deposition) and phosphorus from the soil (mineral weathering) contribute natural amounts of nutrients to rivers and streams. However, additional nutrients from human activities often exceed natural inputs. In agricultural watersheds, nutrients from fertilizer and manure can seep into the groundwater or be washed overland into local streams. In urban watersheds, nutrients from fertilizer, wastewater, and pet waste can also reach nearby streams. Emissions from vehicles and power plants increase the amount of nitrogen in the air. Nutrients from these nonpoint sources may be stored in the landscape or undergo numerous biogeochemical processes before ever reaching the nearest stream, while point source discharges from wastewater treatment facilities in densely populated areas reach streams directly. Many factors, such as land use, geologic setting, and climatic conditions, affect the movement of nutrients from the landscape to the streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Watch the below video for a long-term perspective (1950-2050) on the historical, present, and future drivers of nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Read this USGS report for more information.
Suspended sediments are small particles of sand, silt, and clay that are picked up by moving water and become suspended in the water column. Sediment naturally weathers from the landscape into streams, but human activities can increase the amount of sediment that reaches streams. Larger amounts of sediment are typically in agricultural or urban streams than forested streams. Sediment can reach streams after running off the landscape or eroding from streambanks. Once in streams, sediment can be redeposited in the floodplain, stay the streambed, or be delivered further downstream. Streamflow can strongly affect the amount of suspended sediment in streams, with more sediment moved during storm events when streamflow is high. Legacy sediment from historical human activities also affects the amount of sediment in streams.
Sediment can carry nutrients and other pollutants to streams and cause increased stream turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity. Higher amounts of sediment and turbidity reduce light penetration, which can limit recreational opportunities, harm aquatic life, and increase water treatment costs.
Now that you know the basics, explore this website and get in touch with the SIMPLE team to learn more about ongoing science to inform management priorities.
Learn more about the science the USGS is carrying out which supports Chesapeake Bay management priorities.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique synthesis of the story of nutrient water quality in the Susquehanna watershed.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.
Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.