Publications
Access selected publications from the USGS Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center. To access the full, searchable catalog of USGS publications, please visit the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 378
Sources, fate, and transport of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: An empirical model Sources, fate, and transport of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: An empirical model
Spatially Referenced Regression on Watershed Attributes (SPARROW) was used to provide empirical estimates of the sources, fate, and transport of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the mean annual TN and TP flux to the bay and in each of 80,579 nontidal tributary stream reaches. Restoration efforts in recent decades have been insufficient to...
Authors
Scott W. Ator, John W. Brakebill, Joel D. Blomquist
The water-quality monitoring program for the Baltimore reservoir system, 1981-2007—Description, review and evaluation, and framework integration for enhanced monitoring The water-quality monitoring program for the Baltimore reservoir system, 1981-2007—Description, review and evaluation, and framework integration for enhanced monitoring
The City of Baltimore, Maryland, and parts of five surrounding counties obtain their water from Loch Raven and Liberty Reservoirs. A third reservoir, Prettyboy, is used to resupply Loch Raven Reservoir. Management of the watershed conditions for each reservoir is a shared responsibility by agreement among City, County, and State jurisdictions. The most recent (2005) Baltimore Reservoir...
Authors
Michael T. Koterba, Marcus C. Waldron, Tamara E.C. Kraus
Digital hydrologic networks supporting applications related to spatially referenced regression modeling Digital hydrologic networks supporting applications related to spatially referenced regression modeling
Digital hydrologic networks depicting surface-water pathways and their associated drainage catchments provide a key component to hydrologic analysis and modeling. Collectively, they form common spatial units that can be used to frame the descriptions of aquatic and watershed processes. In addition, they provide the ability to simulate and route the movement of water and associated...
Authors
John W. Brakebill, David M. Wolock, Silvia Terziotti
Anthropocene streams and base-level controls from historic dams in the unglaciated mid-Atlantic region, USA Anthropocene streams and base-level controls from historic dams in the unglaciated mid-Atlantic region, USA
Recently, widespread valley-bottom damming for water power was identified as a primary control on valley sedimentation in the mid-Atlantic US during the late seventeenth to early twentieth century. The timing of damming coincided with that of accelerated upland erosion during post-European settlement land-use change. In this paper, we examine the impact of local drops in base level on...
Authors
Dorothy Merritts, Robert Walter, Michael Rahnis, Jeff Hartranft, Scott Cox, Allen Gellis, Noel Potter, William Hilgartner, Michael J. Langland, Lauren Manion, Caitlin Lippincott, Sauleh Siddiqui, Zain Rehman, Chris Scheid, Laura Kratz, Andrea Shilling, Matthew Jenschke, Katherine Datin, Elizabeth Cranmer, Austin Reed, Derek Matuszewski, Mark Voli, Erik Ohlson, Ali Neugebauer, Aakash Ahamed, Conor Neal, Allison Winter, Steven Becker
Geology, Hydrology, and Water Quality of the Little Blackwater River Watershed, Dorchester County, Maryland, 2006-09 Geology, Hydrology, and Water Quality of the Little Blackwater River Watershed, Dorchester County, Maryland, 2006-09
The Little Blackwater River watershed is a low-lying tidal watershed in Dorchester County, Maryland. The potential exists for increased residential development in a mostly agricultural watershed that drains into the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Groundwater and surface-water levels were collected along with water-quality samples to document hydrologic and geochemical conditions...
Authors
Brandon J. Fleming, Benjamin D. DeJong, Daniel J. Phelan
Pathogenic bacteria and microbial-source tracking markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009-10 Pathogenic bacteria and microbial-source tracking markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009-10
The City of Wilmington, Delaware, is in the downstream part of the Brandywine Creek Basin, on the main stem of Brandywine Creek. Wilmington uses this stream, which drains a mixed-land-use area upstream, for its main drinking-water supply. Because the stream is used for drinking water, Wilmington is in need of information about the occurrence and distribution of specific fecally derived...
Authors
Joseph W. Duris, Andrew G. Reif, Leif E. Olson, Heather E. Johnson
Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States
We compared the results of 12 recently calibrated regional SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models covering most of the continental United States to evaluate the consistency and regional differences in factors affecting stream nutrient loads. The models – 6 for total nitrogen and 6 for total phosphorus – all provide similar levels of prediction accuracy...
Authors
Stephen D. Preston, Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Charles G. Crawford
Potentiometric surface of the Upper Patapsco aquifer in southern Maryland, September 2009 Potentiometric surface of the Upper Patapsco aquifer in southern Maryland, September 2009
This report presents a map showing the potentiometric surface of the upper Patapsco aquifer in the Patapsco Formation of Early Cretaceous age in Southern Maryland during September 2009. The map is based on water-level measurements in 65 wells. The highest measured water level was 118 feet above sea level near the northern boundary and outcrop area of the aquifer in northern Anne Arundel...
Authors
Stephen E. Curtin, David C. Andreasen, Andrew W. Staley
Potentiometric Surface of the Magothy Aquifer in Southern Maryland, September 2009 Potentiometric Surface of the Magothy Aquifer in Southern Maryland, September 2009
This report presents a map showing the potentiometric surface of the Magothy aquifer in the Magothy Formation of Late Cretaceous age in Southern Maryland during September 2009. The map is based on water-level measurements in 66 wells. The highest measured water level was 85 feet above sea level near the northern boundary and outcrop area of the aquifer in the north-central part of Anne...
Authors
Stephen E. Curtin, David C. Andreasen, Andrew W. Staley
Hydrologic Data for Deep Creek Lake and Selected Tributaries, Garrett County, Maryland, 2007-08 Hydrologic Data for Deep Creek Lake and Selected Tributaries, Garrett County, Maryland, 2007-08
Introduction Recent and ongoing efforts to develop the land in the area around Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County, Maryland, are expected to change the volume of sediment moving toward and into the lake, as well as impact the water quality of the lake and its many tributaries. With increased development, there is an associated increased demand for groundwater and surface-water withdrawals...
Authors
William S.L. Banks, William J. Davies, Allen C. Gellis, Andrew E. LaMotte, Wendy S. McPherson, Daniel J. Soeder
The Difference Between the Potentiometric Surfaces of the Aquia Aquifer in Southern Maryland, September 1982 and September 2009 The Difference Between the Potentiometric Surfaces of the Aquia Aquifer in Southern Maryland, September 1982 and September 2009
This report presents a map showing the change in the potentiometric surface of the Aquia aquifer in the Aquia Formation of Paleocene age in Southern Maryland between September 1982 and September 2009. The map, based on water level differences obtained from 49 wells, shows that the potentiometric surface during the 27-year period declined from zero in the northernmost part of the study...
Authors
Stephen E. Curtin, David C. Andreasen, Andrew W. Staley
The difference between the potentiometric surfaces of the Upper Patapsco aquifer in southern Maryland, September 1990 and September 2009 The difference between the potentiometric surfaces of the Upper Patapsco aquifer in southern Maryland, September 1990 and September 2009
This report presents a map showing the change in the potentiometric surface of the upper Patapsco aquifer in the Patapsco Formation of Early Cretaceous age in Southern Maryland between September 1990 and September 2009. The map, based on water level differences obtained from 33 wells, shows that during the 19-year period, the change in the potentiometric surface ranged from zero at the...
Authors
Stephen E. Curtin, David C. Andreasen, Andrew W. Staley