Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania Active
Sediment Core
USGS studies sediment deposition in reservoirs and streams
Removal of Legacy Sediments Effects Nutrient Loads in Streamflow
Effects of Legacy Sediment Removal on Nutrients and Sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of suspended sediment in streams, which can be used for managing water quality and drinking-water withdrawals.
USGS collects data and conducts studies related to the production of sediment in Pennsylvania watersheds, transport processes controlling the rate of erosion, both in and out of the stream, and subsequent deposition in streams and reserviors. Many water quality constituents are partly bound to sediments, and sediment suspended in the water column has a major impact on aquatic life. Erosion of streambanks, scour at bridges, and deposition of sediments in reservoirs are some of the topics of USGS studies related to Pennsylvania's infrastructure.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sediment Sources and Deposition in the Estuary
Below are data associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of legacy sediment removal and effects on nutrients and sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Scour at bridges, what's it all about? Stream stability and scour-assessment at bridges in Pennsylvania
Evaluation of agricultural best-management practices in the Conestoga River headwaters, Pennsylvania: Effects of pipe-outlet terracing on quantity and quality of surface runoff and ground water in a small carbonate-rock basin near Churchtown, Pennsylvania
Metals, pesticides, and semivolatile organic compounds in sediment in Valley Forge National Historical Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Water-quality assessment of the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland: sources, characteristics, analysis and limitations of nutrient and suspended-sediment data, 1975-90
Loads and yields of nutrients and suspended sediment in the Susquehanna River basin, 1985-89
Changes in bottom-surface elevations in three reservoirs on the lower Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania and Maryland, following the January 1996 flood — Implications for nutrient and sediment loads to Chesapeake Bay
Sediment deposition in Lake Clarke, Lake Aldred, and Conowingo Reservoir, Pennsylvania and Maryland, 1910-93
Evaluation of agricultural best-management practices in the Conestoga River headwaters, Pennsylvania: A summary report, 1982-90
January 1996 floods deliver large loads of nutrients and sediment to the Chesapeake Bay
Study design and preliminary data analysis for a streambank fencing project in the Mill Creek Basin, Pennsylvania
Simulation of streamflow and sediment transport in two surface-coal-mined basins in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Deposition and simulation of sediment transport in the Lower Susquehanna River reservoir system
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- Overview
Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of suspended sediment in streams, which can be used for managing water quality and drinking-water withdrawals.
USGS collects data and conducts studies related to the production of sediment in Pennsylvania watersheds, transport processes controlling the rate of erosion, both in and out of the stream, and subsequent deposition in streams and reserviors. Many water quality constituents are partly bound to sediments, and sediment suspended in the water column has a major impact on aquatic life. Erosion of streambanks, scour at bridges, and deposition of sediments in reservoirs are some of the topics of USGS studies related to Pennsylvania's infrastructure.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sediment Sources and Deposition in the Estuary
During the past 10 years, integrated studies of sediment in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have been carried out by a team of USGS scientists, in collaboration with researchers from several universities, the Maryland Geological Survey, the U.S. Naval Research laboratory, the USEPA, and other institutions. The USGS worked with these investigators to prepare a comprehensive review of sediment... - Data
Below are data associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of legacy sediment removal and effects on nutrients and sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Big Spring Run is a 1.68-square mile watershed underlain by mostly carbonate rock in a mixed land-use setting (part agricultural and part developed) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Big Spring Run is a subwatershed of Mill Creek, a tributary to the Conestoga River. These watersheds are known contributors of nutrient and sediment loads to the Chesapeake Bay and several stream reaches are on the PAuthorsMichael J. Langland, Joseph W. Duris, Tammy M. Zimmerman, Jeffrey J. ChaplinFilter Total Items: 81Scour at bridges, what's it all about? Stream stability and scour-assessment at bridges in Pennsylvania
Scour is the removal of sediment (soil and rocks) from streambeds and streambanks caused by movingwater. Although scour may occur at any time, it is usually more significant during high flows, when the water is swift and deep. Swiftly movingwater has more energy (turbulence and velocity) to lift and transport sediment than slowly moving water.AuthorsM. V. Truhlar, P. A. TelisEvaluation of agricultural best-management practices in the Conestoga River headwaters, Pennsylvania: Effects of pipe-outlet terracing on quantity and quality of surface runoff and ground water in a small carbonate-rock basin near Churchtown, Pennsylvania
Terracing effects on surface-runoff and ground- water quantity and quality were investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, during 1983-89 at a 23.1-acre agricultural site in Lancaster County, Pa., as part of the 1982 Rural Clean Water Program. The site, underlain by carbonate rock, was primarily corn and alfalfa fields;AuthorsP. L. Lietman, L. C. Gustafson-Minnich, D. W. HallMetals, pesticides, and semivolatile organic compounds in sediment in Valley Forge National Historical Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
The Schuylkill River flows through Valley Forge National Historical Park in Lower Providence and West Norriton Townships in Montgomery County, Pa. The concentration of selected metals, pesticides, semivolatile organic compounds, and total carbon in stream-bottom sediments from Valley Forge National Historical Park were determined for samples collected once at 12 sites in and around the SchuylkillAuthorsAndrew G. Reif, Ronald A. SlotoWater-quality assessment of the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland: sources, characteristics, analysis and limitations of nutrient and suspended-sediment data, 1975-90
This report describes analyses of available information on nutrients and suspended sediment collected in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin during water years 1975-90. Most of the analyses were applied to data collected during water years 1980-89. The report describes the spatial and temporal availability of nutrient and suspended-sediment data and presents a preliminary concept of the spatial andAuthorsR. A. Hainly, C. A. LoperLoads and yields of nutrients and suspended sediment in the Susquehanna River basin, 1985-89
No abstract available.AuthorsL.A. Reed, C.S. Takita, G. J. BartonChanges in bottom-surface elevations in three reservoirs on the lower Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania and Maryland, following the January 1996 flood — Implications for nutrient and sediment loads to Chesapeake Bay
The Susquehanna River drains about 27,510 square miles in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, contributes nearly 50 percent of the freshwater discharge to the Chesapeake Bay, and contributes nearly 66 percent of the annual nitrogen load, 40 percent of the phosphorus load, and 25 percent of the suspended-sediment load from non-tidal parts of the Bay during a year of average streamflow. A reservoiAuthorsMichael J. Langland, Robert A. HainlySediment deposition in Lake Clarke, Lake Aldred, and Conowingo Reservoir, Pennsylvania and Maryland, 1910-93
The Susquehanna River carries a significant amount of the sediment and the nutrient load transported to the Chesapeake Bay. Three large hydroelectric dams are located near the mouth of the Susquehanna River. The three dams and associated reservoirs are Safe Harbor (Lake Clarke) and Holtwood (Lake Aldred) in southern Pennsylvania and Conowingo (Conowingo Reservoir) in northern Maryland. Two of thesAuthorsLloyd A. Reed, Scott A. HoffmanEvaluation of agricultural best-management practices in the Conestoga River headwaters, Pennsylvania: A summary report, 1982-90
Pipe-outlet terracing was effective in reducing sediment losses from a field site, but total nitrogen and phosphorus losses with runoff were not significantly different before and after terracing. Median concentrations of dissolved nitrate in several ground-water sampling locations increased after terrace installation. Dissolved nitrate concentrations in ground water decreased significantly afterAuthorsPatricia L. LietmanJanuary 1996 floods deliver large loads of nutrients and sediment to the Chesapeake Bay
The Blizzard of 1996 struck the Mid-Atlantic region in January, depositing a record amount of snowfall. Within two weeks of the paralyzing blizzard, warm and extremely humid air entered the region, followed by a major rainstorm. The combination of warm, humid air and heavy rainfall melted the snow at an unprecedented rate. In just over one day, two to five inches of water from snowmelt combined wiAuthorsLinda D. Zynjuk, Brenda Feit MajediStudy design and preliminary data analysis for a streambank fencing project in the Mill Creek Basin, Pennsylvania
The Pequea Creek and Mill Creek Basins within Lancaster and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania have been identified as areas needing control of nonpoint-source (NFS) pollution to improve water quality. The two basins are a total of approximately 200 square miles and are primarily underlain by carbonate bedrock. Land use is predominantly agriculture. The most common agricultural NFS pollution-controlAuthorsDaniel G. Galeone, Edward H. KoerkleSimulation of streamflow and sediment transport in two surface-coal-mined basins in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
The Hydrological Simulation Program - Fortran (HSPF) was used to simulate streamflow and sediment transport in two surface-mined basins of Fayette County, Pa. Hydrologic data from the Stony Fork Basin (0.93 square miles) was used to calibrate HSPF parameters. The calibrated parameters were applied to an HSPF model of the Poplar Run Basin (8.83 square miles) to evaluate the transfer value of modelAuthorsJ. I. Sams, E. C. WittDeposition and simulation of sediment transport in the Lower Susquehanna River reservoir system
The Susquehanna River drains 27,510 square miles in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland and is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. Three large hydroelectric dams are located on the river, Safe Harbor (Lake Clarke) and Holtwood (Lake Aldred) in southern Pennsylvania, and Conowingo (Conowingo Reservoir) in northern Maryland. About 259 million tons of sediment have been deposited in the thrAuthorsR. A. Hainly, L.A. Reed, H.N. Flippo, G. J. Barton - Web Tools
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