In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin, in cooperation with regional and local agencies and stakeholders, and with other USGS Water Science Centers and national programs.
Recently, crews from the Pennsylvania Water Science Center New Cumberland office undertook a project to remove a set of concrete stairs leading down an embankment to streamgaging station Susquehanna River at Harrisburg (01570500) located on Harrisburg’s City Island. City Island offers many popular recreational activities resulting in high pedestrian traffic. The stairs removal will improve public safety and the aesthetics of the surrounding area. Aging streamgages are routinely upgraded to improve safety and enhance data collection quality. USGS has been collecting streamflow data at this location since 1890, which makes it one of the oldest stations in the Pennsylvania streamgaging network.

Also see Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for science related to the effects of the Susquehanna River and other Pennsylvania streams on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
USGS national programs in the Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania have included the National Water Quality Program and Chesapeake Bay Activities.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Flux of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Suspended Sediment from the Susquehanna River Basin to the Chesapeake Bay During Tropical Storm Lee, September 2011, as in Indicator of the Effects of Reservoir Sedimentation on Water Quality
Below are related data.
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network 1985 - 2018: Daily High-Flow and Low-Flow Concentration and Load Estimates
Susquehanna River Basin freshwater mussel surveys: 2008-2015
Annual winter-spring nitrogen loads for the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers, 1985 to 2018
Hydrograph-separation results for 225 streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed derived by using PART, HYSEP (Fixed, Local minimum, Slide), BFI, and a Recursive Digital Filter with streamflow data ranging from 1913 through 2016
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050
An assessment of the thiamine status of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Susquehanna River watershed
Spatial and temporal patterns of low streamflow and precipitation changes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Estimating streamflow and base flow within the nontidal Chesapeake Bay riverine system
The mighty Susquehanna—extreme floods in Eastern North America during the past two millennia
Surface-water quality in the Lycoming Creek watershed, north-central Pennsylvania, August 1–3, 2011
A detailed risk assessment of shale gas development on headwater streams in the Pennsylvania portion of the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, U.S.A.
Optimal hydrograph separation using a recursive digital filter constrained by chemical mass balance, with application to selected Chesapeake Bay watersheds
Evaluation of the streamgage network for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged sites in Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania and New York
Water-quality trends in the nation’s rivers and streams, 1972–2012—Data preparation, statistical methods, and trend results
Decadal-scale export of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from the Susquehanna River basin, USA: Analysis and synthesis of temporal and spatial patterns
Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of selected headwater streams along the Allegheny Front, Blair County, Pennsylvania, July 2011–September 2013
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In Pennsylvania, the USGS's water-resources roots date back to the late 1800's, with the initiation of streamflow gaging on the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers and assessments of groundwater resources near Philadelphia. The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center continues to provide scientific information about the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin, in cooperation with regional and local agencies and stakeholders, and with other USGS Water Science Centers and national programs.
Recently, crews from the Pennsylvania Water Science Center New Cumberland office undertook a project to remove a set of concrete stairs leading down an embankment to streamgaging station Susquehanna River at Harrisburg (01570500) located on Harrisburg’s City Island. City Island offers many popular recreational activities resulting in high pedestrian traffic. The stairs removal will improve public safety and the aesthetics of the surrounding area. Aging streamgages are routinely upgraded to improve safety and enhance data collection quality. USGS has been collecting streamflow data at this location since 1890, which makes it one of the oldest stations in the Pennsylvania streamgaging network.
Backhoe grading for Susquehanna River at Harrisburg streamgage. Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.Visiting Susquehanna River at Harrisburg Streamgage during a improvement project to demolish a staircase and improve site grading. Historic flood stages are marked on the side of the gage structure. Also see Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for science related to the effects of the Susquehanna River and other Pennsylvania streams on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
USGS national programs in the Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania have included the National Water Quality Program and Chesapeake Bay Activities.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna and other rivers, and their tributaries, and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research focuses on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the watershed and estuary.Flux of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Suspended Sediment from the Susquehanna River Basin to the Chesapeake Bay During Tropical Storm Lee, September 2011, as in Indicator of the Effects of Reservoir Sedimentation on Water Quality
Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment are measured at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage at Conowingo Dam at the downstream end of the Susquehanna River Basin in Maryland, where the river flows into the Chesapeake Bay. During the period September 7–15, 2011, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Lee, concentrations of these three constituents were among the highest ever... - Data
Below are related data.
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network 1985 - 2018: Daily High-Flow and Low-Flow Concentration and Load Estimates
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loads, and changes in loads, in rivers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed have been calculated using monitoring data from the Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network (NTN) stations for the period 1985 through 2018. Nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and changes in loads were determined by applying a weighted regression approach called WRTDS (Weighted RegresSusquehanna River Basin freshwater mussel surveys: 2008-2015
Data are included for two types of field surveys conducted for freshwater mussels throughout the Susquehanna River Basin (and one site in the Potomac River Basin) in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from 2008-2010. Timed search (qualitative) surveys were conducted in consecutive ~200 meter sections of river (at least 8 in each stream). The number of mussels of each species and associatAnnual winter-spring nitrogen loads for the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers, 1985 to 2018
Winter-spring nitrogen loads as measured at the Susquehanna River at Conowingo Maryland and Potomac River at Washington, D.C. have been determined to be an effective indicator of summer anoxic and hypoxic volume in Chesapeake Bay. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides an estimate of winter-spring nitrogen loadings to support an annual forecast of summer Chesapeake Bay conditions. The specificHydrograph-separation results for 225 streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed derived by using PART, HYSEP (Fixed, Local minimum, Slide), BFI, and a Recursive Digital Filter with streamflow data ranging from 1913 through 2016
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains daily-mean streamflow and estimated-daily base flow for 225 stream gages in the Chesapeake Bay watershed ranging from 1913 to 2016 (beginning and end dates may vary). There is a table containing hydrograph-separation results by six methods for 225 sites (Hydrograph_separation_results_for_225_streams_in_the_Chesapeake_Bay_watershed) and a sum - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
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Filter Total Items: 62
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 eAuthorsJohn W. Clune, Paul D. Capel, Matthew P. Miller, Douglas A. Burns, Andrew J. Sekellick, Peter R. Claggett, Richard H. Coupe, Rosemary M. Fanelli, Ana Maria Garcia, Jeff Raffensperger, Silvia Terziotti, Gopal Bhatt, Joel D. Blomquist, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jennifer L. Keisman, Lewis C. Linker, Gary W. Shenk, Richard A. Smith, Alex Soroka, James S. Webber, David M. Wolock, Qian ZhangAn assessment of the thiamine status of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Susquehanna River watershed
Unpredictable recruitment and physical abnormalities (sores and lesions) have been observed in populations of Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) throughout the Susquehanna River basin. Malnutrition has been proposed as one of among several potential stressors, yet little to no information was available to critically assess its feasibility as a causal factor. We measured thiamine profiles of SmAuthorsDaniel E. Spooner, Dale C. Honeyfield, Kristin Laura Boggs, Dustin R. Shull, Timothy Wertz, Stephanie SweetSpatial 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% mean daily sAuthorsBrandon J. Fleming, Stacey A. Archfield, Robert M. Hirsch, Julie E. Kiang, David M. WolockEstimating streamflow and base flow within the nontidal Chesapeake Bay riverine system
Daily mean streamflow was estimated for all the nontidal parts of the Chesapeake Bay riverine system with the Unit Flows in Networks of Channels computer application using measured streamflow at the most downstream gage of selected rivers. The streamflows estimated by the Unit Flows in Networks of Channels computer application were aggregated at the 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code level, after whichAuthorsPatrick C. Buffington, Paul D. CapelThe mighty Susquehanna—extreme floods in Eastern North America during the past two millennia
The hazards posed by infrequent major floods to communities along the Susquehanna River and the ecological health of Chesapeake Bay remain largely unconstrained due to the short length of streamgage records. Here we develop a history of high‐flow events on the Susquehanna River during the late Holocene from flood deposits contained in MD99‐2209, a sediment core recovered in 26 m of water from ChesAuthorsMichael Toomey, Meagan Cantwell, Steven Colman, Thomas M. Cronin, Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Liviu Giosan, Clifford Heil, Robert L. Korty, Marci E. Marot, Debra A. WillardSurface-water quality in the Lycoming Creek watershed, north-central Pennsylvania, August 1–3, 2011
This report presents the methodology and results for a study of surface-water quality of the Lycoming Creek watershed in north-central Pennsylvania during August 1–3, 2011. The study was done in cooperation with the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Samples of stream water were collected from 31 sites in an area of exploration and pAuthorsDennis W. Risser, Matthew D. ConlonA detailed risk assessment of shale gas development on headwater streams in the Pennsylvania portion of the Upper Susquehanna River Basin, U.S.A.
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) involves infrastructure development (well pads, roads and pipelines), well drilling and stimulation (hydraulic fracturing), and production; all of which have the potential to affect stream ecosystems. Here, we developed a fine-scaled (1:24,000) catchment-level disturbance intensity index (DII) that included 17 measures of UOG capturing all stepsAuthorsKelly O. Maloney, John A. Young, Stephen Faulkner, Atesmachew Hailegiorgis, E. Terrence Slonecker, Lesley MilheimOptimal hydrograph separation using a recursive digital filter constrained by chemical mass balance, with application to selected Chesapeake Bay watersheds
Quantitative estimates of base flow are necessary to address questions concerning the vulnerability and response of the Nation’s water supply to natural and human-induced change in environmental conditions. An objective of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Project is to determine how hydrologic systems are affected by watershed characteristics, including land use, land cAuthorsJeff P. Raffensperger, Anna C. Baker, Joel D. Blomquist, Jessica A. HoppleEvaluation of the streamgage network for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged sites in Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania and New York
The current (2015) streamgage network in Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania and New York was evaluated in order to design a network that would meet the hydrologic needs of many partners and serve a variety of purposes and interests, including estimation of streamflow statistics at ungaged sites. This study was done by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the PeAuthorsRonald A. Sloto, Marla H. Stuckey, Scott A. HoffmanWater-quality trends in the nation’s rivers and streams, 1972–2012—Data preparation, statistical methods, and trend results
Since passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, Federal, State, and local governments have invested billions of dollars to reduce pollution entering rivers and streams. To understand the return on these investments and to effectively manage and protect the Nation’s water resources in the future, we need to know how and why water quality has been changing over time. As part of the National Water-QualAuthorsGretchen P. Oelsner, Lori A. Sprague, Jennifer C. Murphy, Robert E. Zuellig, Henry M. Johnson, Karen R. Ryberg, James A. Falcone, Edward G. Stets, Aldo V. Vecchia, Melissa L. Riskin, Laura A. De Cicco, Taylor J. Mills, William H. FarmerDecadal-scale export of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from the Susquehanna River basin, USA: Analysis and synthesis of temporal and spatial patterns
The export of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and suspended sediment (SS) is a long-standing management concern for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA. Here we present a comprehensive evaluation of nutrient and sediment loads over the last three decades at multiple locations in the Susquehanna River basin (SRB), Chesapeake's largest tributary watershed. Sediment and nutrient riverine loadings, includAuthorsQian Zhang, William P. Ball, Doug L. MoyerPhysical, chemical, and biological characteristics of selected headwater streams along the Allegheny Front, Blair County, Pennsylvania, July 2011–September 2013
The Altoona Water Authority (AWA) obtains all of its water supply from headwater streams that drain western Blair County, an area underlain in part by black shale of the Marcellus Formation. Development of the shale-gas reservoirs will require new access roads, stream crossing, drill-pad construction, and pipeline installation, activities that have the potential to alter existing stream channel moAuthorsDennis J. Low, Robin A. Brightbill, Heather L. Eggleston, Jeffrey J. Chaplin - Web Tools
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