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: 376
Potentiometric surface maps of selected confined aquifers in southern Maryland and Maryland's eastern shore, 2019 Potentiometric surface maps of selected confined aquifers in southern Maryland and Maryland's eastern shore, 2019
This report presents potentiometric-surface maps of the Aquia and Magothy aquifers and the Upper Patapsco, Lower Patapsco, and Patuxent aquifer systems using water levels measured during the fall season of 2019. The potentiometric surface maps show water levels ranging from 56 feet above sea level to 163 feet below sea level in the Aquia aquifer, from 87 feet above sea level to 119 feet...
Authors
Andrew W. Staley, David C. Andreasen, Elizabeth H. Marchand
Potomac tributary report: A summary of trends in tidal water quality and associated factors Potomac tributary report: A summary of trends in tidal water quality and associated factors
The Potomac Tributary Report summarizes change over time in a suite of monitored tidal water quality parameters and associated potential drivers of those trends for the time period 1985 – 2018, and provides a brief description of the current state of knowledge explaining these observed changes. Water quality parameters described include surface total nitrogen (TN), surface total...
Authors
Jennifer L. Keisman, Rebecca Murphy, Olivia H. Devereux, J. Harcum, R. Karrh, M. Lane, E. Perry, James S. Webber, Zhaoying Wei, Qian Zhang, Meghan Nicole Petenbrink
Spatial patterns and drivers of nonperennial flow regimes in the contiguous United States Spatial patterns and drivers of nonperennial flow regimes in the contiguous United States
Over half of global rivers and streams lack perennial flow, and understanding the distribution and drivers of their flow regimes is critical for understanding their hydrologic, biogeochemical, and ecological functions. We analyzed nonperennial flow regimes using 540 U.S. Geological Survey watersheds across the contiguous United States from 1979 to 2018. Multivariate analyses revealed...
Authors
John C. Hammond, Margaret Zimmer, Margaret Shanafield, Kendra E. Kaiser, Sarah E Godsey, Meryl C. Mims, Samuel Zipper, Ryan Burrow, Stephanie K. Kampf, Walter Dodds, C. Nathan Jones, Corey Krabbenhoft, Kate Boersma, Thibault Datry, Julian D. Olden, George H. Allen, Adam N. Price, Katie H. Costigan, Rebecca Hale, Adam S Ward, Daniel Allen
High-frequency data reveal deicing salts drive elevated specific conductance and chloride along with pervasive and frequent exceedances of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aquatic life criteria for chloride in urban streams High-frequency data reveal deicing salts drive elevated specific conductance and chloride along with pervasive and frequent exceedances of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aquatic life criteria for chloride in urban streams
Increasing specific conductance (SC) and chloride concentrations [Cl] negatively affect many stream ecosystems. We characterized spatial variability in SC, [Cl], and exceedances of Environmental Protection Agency [Cl] criteria using nearly 30 million high-frequency observations (2–15 min intervals) for SC and modeled [Cl] from 93 sites across three regions in the eastern United States...
Authors
Joel Moore, Rosemary M. Fanelli, Andrew J. Sekellick
Meeting the challenge: U.S. Geological Survey North Atlantic and Appalachian Region fiscal year 2020 in review Meeting the challenge: U.S. Geological Survey North Atlantic and Appalachian Region fiscal year 2020 in review
The utilization, preservation, and conservation of the Nation’s resources requires well-informed management decisions. The North Atlantic and Appalachian Region (NAAR) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) supports science-based decision making for Federal, State, and local policymakers to meet the challenges of today and into the future. The science centers in the NAAR have well-deserved
Authors
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, National Minerals Information Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Office of Tribal Relations
Spatial and temporal patterns of low streamflow and precipitation changes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Spatial and temporal patterns of low streamflow and precipitation changes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Spatial and temporal patterns in low streamflows were investigated for 183 streamgages located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the period 1939–2013. Metrics that represent different aspects of the frequency and magnitude of low streamflows were examined for trends: (1) the annual time series of seven‐day average minimum streamflow, (2) the scaled average deficit at or below the 2%...
Authors
Brandon J. Fleming, Stacey A. Archfield, Robert M. Hirsch, Julie E. Kiang, David M. Wolock
Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay: Development of an empirical approach for water-quality management Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay: Development of an empirical approach for water-quality management
Understanding the temporal and spatial roles of nutrient limitation on phytoplankton growth is necessary for developing successful management strategies. Chesapeake Bay has well-documented seasonal and spatial variations in nutrient limitation, but it remains unknown whether these patterns of nutrient limitation have changed in response to nutrient management efforts. We analyzed...
Authors
Qian Zhang, Thomas R. Fisher, Emily M. Trentacoste, Claire Buchanan, Anne B. Gustafson, Renee Karrh, Rebecca R. Murphy, Jennifer L. Keisman, Cuiyin Wu, Richard Tian, Jeremy M. Testa, Peter J. Tango
Mapping stream and floodplain geomorphic characteristics with the Floodplain and Channel Evaluation Tool (FACET) in the Mid-Atlantic Region, United States Mapping stream and floodplain geomorphic characteristics with the Floodplain and Channel Evaluation Tool (FACET) in the Mid-Atlantic Region, United States
Quantifying channel and floodplain geomorphic characteristics is essential for understanding and modeling sediment and nutrient dynamics in fluvial systems. The increased availability of high-resolution elevation data from light detection and ranging (lidar) has helped improve methods for extracting these metrics at a greater accuracy across regional scales. The Floodplain and Channel...
Authors
Marina J. Metes, Kristina G. Hopkins, Labeeb Ahmed, Samuel Lamont, Peter R. Claggett, Gregory E. Noe
Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management
Natural resource managers are coping with rapid changes in both environmental conditions and ecosystems. Enabled by recent advances in data collection and assimilation, short-term ecological forecasting may be a powerful tool to help resource managers anticipate impending near-term changes in ecosystem conditions or dynamics. Managers may use the information in forecasts to minimize the...
Authors
John B. Bradford, Jake Weltzin, Molly L. McCormick, Jill Baron, Zack Bowen, Sky Bristol, Daren Carlisle, Theresa Crimmins, Paul C. Cross, Joe DeVivo, Mike Dietze, Mary Freeman, Jason Goldberg, Mevin Hooten, Leslie Hsu, Karen Jenni, Jennifer L. Keisman, Jonathan G. Kennen, Kathy Lee, David P. Lesmes, Keith A. Loftin, Brian W. Miller, Peter S. Murdoch, Jana Newman, Karen L. Prentice, Imtiaz Rangwala, Jordan Read, Jennifer Sieracki, Helen Sofaer, Steve Thur, Gordon Toevs, Francisco Werner, C. LeAnn White, Timothy White, Mark T. Wiltermuth
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Central Plains Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Black Creek, a headwater to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie, is an agricultural basin with a mix of cropland (66%), pasture (19%), and forest (7%) linked by a road network to the rural community. Suspended sediment was collected monthly during the 2018 water year for the main stem and two sub-basins using in-situ, passive samplers that integrated a range of streamflow conditions...
Authors
Tanja N. Williamson, Edward G. Dobrowolski, Allen C. Gellis, Timur Sabitov, Lillian E. Gorman Sanisaca
Making ‘chemical cocktails’ – Evolution of urban geochemical processes across the periodic table of elements Making ‘chemical cocktails’ – Evolution of urban geochemical processes across the periodic table of elements
Urbanization contributes to the formation of novel elemental combinations and signatures in terrestrial and aquatic watersheds, also known as ‘chemical cocktails.’ The composition of chemical cocktails evolves across space and time due to: (1) elevated concentrations from anthropogenic sources, (2) accelerated weathering and corrosion of the built environment, (3) increased drainage...
Authors
Sujay S. Kaushal, Kelsey L. Wood, Joseph G. Galella, Austin M. Gion, Shahan Haq, Phillip J. Goodling, Katherine Haviland, Jenna E. Reimer, Carol J. Morel, Barret Wessel, William Nguyen, John W. Hollingsworth, Kevin Mei, Julian Leal, Jacob Widmer, Rahat Sharif, Paul M. Mayer, Tamara A. Newcomer Johnson, Katie D. Newcomb, Evan Smith, Kenneth T. Belt
Factors driving nutrient trends in streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed Factors driving nutrient trends in streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Despite decades of effort toward reducing nitrogen and phosphorus flux to Chesapeake Bay, water-quality and ecological responses in surface waters have been mixed. Recent research, however, provides useful insight into multiple factors complicating the understanding of nutrient trends in bay tributaries, which we review in this paper, as we approach a 2025 total maximum daily load (TMDL)
Authors
Scott Ator, Joel Blomquist, James S. Webber, Jeffrey G. Chanat