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Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Welcome to the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center. We deliver timely and reliable data, advanced interpretive science, and tools needed to understand the water resources of Virginia and West Virginia in support of effective decision making.

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News

In West Point, Virginia, a New 'Subsidence Superstation' Measures Changing Land Surface

In West Point, Virginia, a New 'Subsidence Superstation' Measures Changing Land Surface

USGS Hydrology Technicians measure peak flows after a recent storm in West Virginia

USGS Hydrology Technicians measure peak flows after a recent storm in West Virginia

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

Publications

Estimated hydrogeologic, spatial, and temporal distribution of self-supplied domestic groundwater withdrawals for aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain Estimated hydrogeologic, spatial, and temporal distribution of self-supplied domestic groundwater withdrawals for aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain

Water use from private-domestic wells accounts for nearly 40 percent of total groundwater withdrawals in the Virginia Coastal Plain Physiographic Province (henceforth called the Virginia Coastal Plain). However, because self-supplied domestic water use generally falls below the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) reporting and management threshold of 300,000 gallons per...
Authors
Matthew R. Kearns, Jason P. Pope

Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant effluent contributions to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Potomac River: A basin-scale measuring and modeling approach Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant effluent contributions to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Potomac River: A basin-scale measuring and modeling approach

Managing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water resources requires a basin-scale approach. Predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) and stream-vulnerability scores for PFAS were determined for the Potomac River watershed in the eastern United States. Approximately 15% of stream reaches contained municipal and/or industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, Samuel Adam Miller, Lee Blaney, Paul M. Bradley, Kaycee E. Faunce, Jacob Fleck, Malinda Frick, Ke He, Ryan D. Hollins, Conor J. Lewellyn, Emily Majcher, Mitchell A. McAdoo, Kelly Smalling

Evaluation of alternative coatings for U.S. Geological Survey water-quality samplers Evaluation of alternative coatings for U.S. Geological Survey water-quality samplers

Each year, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel collect approximately 52,000 water-quality samples from rivers and streams across the United States. Several samplers are used by the USGS for water-quality sample collection in riverine environments. These samplers are coated with Plasti Dip to protect the exterior of the sampler; however, Plasti Dip is susceptible to fraying and wear...
Authors
Alyssa M. Thornton

Science

Applying Multiple Tools to Inform Management of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Potomac River Watershed

The reuse of municipal wastewater provides multiple benefits, including maintaining stream flow, recharging aquifers, and providing public water supply. However, along with the benefits are concerns related to the presence of ‘forever’ chemicals, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater discharge. Managing PFAS in waterways is challenging because there are many potential PFAS...
Applying Multiple Tools to Inform Management of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Potomac River Watershed

Applying Multiple Tools to Inform Management of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Potomac River Watershed

The reuse of municipal wastewater provides multiple benefits, including maintaining stream flow, recharging aquifers, and providing public water supply. However, along with the benefits are concerns related to the presence of ‘forever’ chemicals, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater discharge. Managing PFAS in waterways is challenging because there are many potential PFAS...
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Informing Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management by Monitoring Trends in River Nutrient and Sediment Loads

The USGS has computed nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and trends through water year 2023 in Chesapeake Bay rivers. These monitoring-based estimates help federal, state, and local managers evaluate and plan water-quality restoration strategies.
Informing Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management by Monitoring Trends in River Nutrient and Sediment Loads

Informing Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management by Monitoring Trends in River Nutrient and Sediment Loads

The USGS has computed nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and trends through water year 2023 in Chesapeake Bay rivers. These monitoring-based estimates help federal, state, and local managers evaluate and plan water-quality restoration strategies.
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Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study

Lake Accotink is a 55-acre lake in Fairfax County which is highly valued by the local community. Much like a living organism, lakes go through many changes. Several factors affect their health and well-being such as sediment buildup. As the lake fills with sediment, it loses surface area and volume. Lake Accotink has been dredged in the past to remove excess sediment, but this process is costly...
Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study

Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study

Lake Accotink is a 55-acre lake in Fairfax County which is highly valued by the local community. Much like a living organism, lakes go through many changes. Several factors affect their health and well-being such as sediment buildup. As the lake fills with sediment, it loses surface area and volume. Lake Accotink has been dredged in the past to remove excess sediment, but this process is costly...
Learn More

Multimedia

A scientist measures a piece of rebar protruding from a streambank.
Measuring Streambank Erosion and Deposition
Measuring Streambank Erosion and Deposition
A sledgehammer leaning against a geomorphic transect pin, which is a length of rebar driven into the ground of a floodplain.
Geomorphic Transect Pin
Geomorphic Transect Pin
A scientist measures a piece of rebar protruding from a streambank.
Measuring a Geomorphic Transect Pin
Measuring a Geomorphic Transect Pin
A creek with slightly eroded banks visible.
Accotink Creek
Accotink Creek
A scientist measures a piece of rebar protruding from a streambank.
Geomorphic Transect Measurements Along a Streambank
Geomorphic Transect Measurements Along a Streambank
A scientist measures a piece of rebar protruding from a streambank.
Taking Erosion and Deposition Measurements along a Streambank
Taking Erosion and Deposition Measurements along a Streambank
A scientist measures a piece of rebar protruding from a streambank.
Taking Erosion and Deposition Measurements
Taking Erosion and Deposition Measurements
Two USGS hydrologic technicians taking GPS levels in a stormwater conveyance channel while the water level is low.
Taking Levels at a Stormwater Conveyance Channel
Taking Levels at a Stormwater Conveyance Channel
Two USGS hydrologic technicians taking GPS levels in a stormwater conveyance channel while the water level is low.
Taking Levels at a Stormwater Conveyance Channel
Taking Levels at a Stormwater Conveyance Channel
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