Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Fish Passage Technologies

Explore our Science

Decision Science and Quantitative Methods

Explore our Science

Bird and Terrestrial Species Conservation

Explore our science

Fish and Aquatic Species Conservation

Explore our science

Pollinator Conservation

Explore our science

Fish and Wildlife Disease Investigation and Surveillance

Explore our science

Freshwater and Coastal Ecology

Explore our science

Eastern Ecological Science Center

The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) strives to provide world-class science to inform natural resource decisions that preserve and enhance our quality of life. 

The land and water we live on and around shapes our lives. We share responsibility for the healthy fish, wildlife and landscapes that are assets to current and future generations.

EESC works directly with managers of our shared natural resources to provide the unbiased scientific tools, research and innovations needed to make informed decisions in today’s complex and rapidly changing conditions.

EESC’s broad expertise spans from mountain streams to deep oceans and the lands in between, supporting stewardship of a wide range of species and habitats.

Unique facilities in Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia help EESC deliver the reliable, actionable science that partners need to effectively conserve our treasured natural resources.

Key Values of a Century of EESC Science

EESC Makes an Impact

Greater Scaup floating on the water in Northern Alaska

Learn how EESC science is applied to today's biggest issues.

Read Impact Stories

Connect with Us

Woman wearing overalls and carrying a net in a flower field

Find locations, staff profiles and contact information for our team. 

Meet the EESC Team

EESC Quick Links

Follow Us on Facebook!

News

A Celebration of Information for Recreation – National Hunting and Fishing Day

A Celebration of Information for Recreation – National Hunting and Fishing Day

Fall 2026 Highlights from EESC’s Disease Decision Analysis and Research Group

Fall 2026 Highlights from EESC’s Disease Decision Analysis and Research Group

EESC in the News: Sturgeon Genetics

EESC in the News: Sturgeon Genetics

View All

Publications

Advancing outreach effectiveness to improve conservation practice adoption Advancing outreach effectiveness to improve conservation practice adoption

Agricultural conservation practices are central to achieving Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration goals, yet long-term adoption remains challenging even when practices are technically effective and financial assistance is available. Adoption is not a single decision, but a staged and context-dependent process. Awareness and willingness to commitment, implementation, and persistence, are...
Authors
Kathy Boomer, Amy K. Jacobs, Christine Conn, Rochelle Krusemark, Jake Reilly, Michael C. Runge, Collin Weigel, Robyn S. Wilson, Paul Wolfe, Linda S Prokopy, Cordelia Hiers
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Cotton farming pesticides affect ileal microbiota activity expressions of virulome but not resistome or metabolic pathways in a sedentary wild passerine Cotton farming pesticides affect ileal microbiota activity expressions of virulome but not resistome or metabolic pathways in a sedentary wild passerine

The increased use of agrochemicals to enhance crop production has had detrimental environmental effects including implication in the sharp decline of North American farmland-breeding birds. Here, using a combination of deep shotgun metatranscriptomics and pesticide exposure data, we sought to assess whether exposure to cotton (Gossypium spp.) production had a differential effect on ileum...
Authors
Sergei V. Drovetski, Michelle L. Hladik, Carolina F. Ferreira, Dana W. Kolpin, Gary Voelker
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Decision analysis of long-term research and monitoring investments for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program Decision analysis of long-term research and monitoring investments for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program

Congressional authorization of the Water Resource Development Act of 2020 increased funding for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program and its Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element. With adequate resources there is an opportunity for LTRM to expand its understanding of the Upper Mississippi River System, address unmet partner information needs, and better inform...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Jeffrey N. Houser, David R. Smith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
View All

Science

Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey - Traditional and Eastern Survey Areas

Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

USGS and partners are revising the design of a key waterfowl survey to increase management efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and inform annual harvest regulations in the U.S. and Canada.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

USGS and partners are revising the design of a key waterfowl survey to increase management efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and inform annual harvest regulations in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn More
USFWS Plane

Evaluating the Design of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) is a primary source of waterfowl population status and trend information for management of ducks in North America. The survey has not been reviewed in several decades, and since the last review new analysis approaches and information needs have created a need to reassess the design, scope of inference, and analysis of the survey to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Evaluating the Design of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

Evaluating the Design of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) is a primary source of waterfowl population status and trend information for management of ducks in North America. The survey has not been reviewed in several decades, and since the last review new analysis approaches and information needs have created a need to reassess the design, scope of inference, and analysis of the survey to...
Learn More
Scientist reaches into stream

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
View All
Was this page helpful?