Skip to main content

Welcome to the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center

Consider this site your source for water-related information, collected and interpreted by the USGS in MD, DE, and Washington, DC

WE ARE WATER SCIENCE

MD-DE-DC WSC Capabilities Sites

A new series of microsites featuring in-depth assessments of our center's abilities

SEE OUR CAPABILITIES

MD-DE-DC Seminar Series

Seminars presented by great scientific minds, hosted by the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center

SEE OUR SEMINARS...

MD-DE-DC Stream Gaging Network

The USGS operates thousands of stream gages throughout the US. See how our science center does our part!

EXPLORE OUR NETWORKS

Social Media

Digital media connects people with science

SOCIAL//SCIENCE

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Welcome to our Water Science Center! Water resources of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia consist of numerous streams, springs, lakes, and aquifer systems. Streamflow, groundwater levels, and water-quality data are collected at numerous locations, and water-use data are collected throughout the area in cooperation with other federal, state and local agencies, universities, and resea

See our video: Working with the USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center

Explore Our Capabilities

Chesapeake Bay at Edgewater, MD

We’ve created a series of websites thematically named to characterize our work as “Capabilities”. Our highly skilled staff work with a diverse array of cooperative partners to produce the high-quality output for which the USGS is world-renown.

SEE OUR CAPABILITIES

Local Water Conditions

MD Surface Water Conditions Screenshot

Explore real-time streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data for MD, DE, and DC with our new interactive map application. This application offers data displays on multiple device platforms with various basemap options.

MD Surface Water

QUICK LINKS

Featured below are some popular features on the MD-DE-DC Water Science site. To better navigate our pages, please use the vertical header listing to the left side of this window.

OUR NEW NWIS-MAPPER

News

link

USGS Crews Work Fast to Capture Critical Flooding Measurements in the Mid-Atlantic

link

Newly Installed Super Gauge Helps USGS Monitor Water Quality, Bacteria Levels in Lower Anacostia River

link

USGS Studies Low-Flow Changes in the Delaware River Basin

View All

Publications

Using fish community and population indicators to assess the biological condition of streams and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA

The development of indicators to assess relative freshwater condition is critical for management and conservation. Predictive modeling can enhance the utility of indicators by providing estimates of condition for unsurveyed locations. Such approaches grant understanding of where “good” and “poor” conditions occur and provide insight into landscape contexts supporting such conditions. However, as a
By
Water Resources, Ecosystems, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050

ForewordSustaining the quality of the Nation’s water resources and the health of our diverse ecosystems depends on the availability of sound water-resources data and information to develop effective, science-based policies. Effective management of water resources also brings more certainty and efficiency to important economic sectors. Taken together, these actions lead to immediate and long-term e
By
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Utah Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

New-generation pesticides are prevalent in California's Central Coast streams

Pesticides are widely recognized as important biological stressors in streams, especially in heavily developed urban and agricultural areas like the Central California Coast region. We assessed occurrence and potential toxicity of pesticides in small streams in the region using two analytical methods: a broad-spectrum (223 compounds) method in use since 2012 and a newly developed method for 30 add
By
Water Resources, California Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
View All

Science

link
Chesapeake Bay at Edgewater, MD

Summarizing Scientific Findings for Common Stakeholder Questions to Inform Nutrient and Sediment Management Activities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership is striving to improve water-quality conditions in the Bay by using a variety of management strategies to reduce nutrient and sediment loads. The partnership uses monitoring results and modeling tools to implement management strategies, relying on the scientific community to synthesize existing information and direct new research to address...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
link

Summarizing Scientific Findings for Common Stakeholder Questions to Inform Nutrient and Sediment Management Activities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership is striving to improve water-quality conditions in the Bay by using a variety of management strategies to reduce nutrient and sediment loads. The partnership uses monitoring results and modeling tools to implement management strategies, relying on the scientific community to synthesize existing information and direct new research to address...
Learn More
link
md.de.dc water dashboard

North Atlantic-Appalachian AI/ML Capabilities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) includes a broad suite of flexible data-driven empirical approaches to perform tasks that are difficult to implement using conventional methods. AI and ML harness the power of computing resources to evaluate the underlying patterns and relationships within a dataset without explicit instructions. The North Atlantic-Appalachian AI/ML Capability...
By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
link

North Atlantic-Appalachian AI/ML Capabilities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) includes a broad suite of flexible data-driven empirical approaches to perform tasks that are difficult to implement using conventional methods. AI and ML harness the power of computing resources to evaluate the underlying patterns and relationships within a dataset without explicit instructions. The North Atlantic-Appalachian AI/ML Capability...
Learn More
link
MD Real-Time Water Quality

Water Quality Watch for Maryland

Maryland's Water Quality Watch provides access to real time water-quality data collected in surface waters throughout the United States as part of the USGS mission to describe water resources. Measurements include streamflow (through WaterWatch) water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and nitrate.
By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
link

Water Quality Watch for Maryland

Maryland's Water Quality Watch provides access to real time water-quality data collected in surface waters throughout the United States as part of the USGS mission to describe water resources. Measurements include streamflow (through WaterWatch) water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and nitrate.
Learn More
View All