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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

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

RIce-Net: Integrating ground-based cameras and machine learning for automated river ice detection

River ice plays a critical role in controlling streamflow in cold regions. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) qualifies affected water-level measurements and inferred streamflow by ice conditions at a date later than the day of the actual measurements. This study introduces a novel computer vision-based framework, River Ice-Network (RIce-Net), that uses the USGS nationwide network of...
Authors
Mahmoud Ayyad, Marouane Temini, Mohamed Abdelkader, Moheb Henein, Frank Engel, R. Russell Lotspeich, Jack R. Eggleston

Spatiotemporal patterns in urban nutrient and suspended sediment loads and stream response to watershed management implementation

In recent years, local governments have invested heavily in management practices to reduce nutrient and sediment loads. These practices provide localities with nutrient and sediment regulatory reduction credits; however, their effects on water quality are poorly understood at the watershed scale. Long-term watershed-scale monitoring is essential for assessing progress toward water...
Authors
Aaron J. Porter

Science

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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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...
link

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

New study highlights the role of wastewater and landscape sources contributing to pesticide contamination in the Potomac River watershed

Wastewater treatment plant discharges can be a source of organic contaminants, including pesticides, to rivers. Pesticide concentrations were predicted based on wastewater percentages in stream water using a modeling tool, and verified with measured concentrations to identify other potential landscape sources.
link

New study highlights the role of wastewater and landscape sources contributing to pesticide contamination in the Potomac River watershed

Wastewater treatment plant discharges can be a source of organic contaminants, including pesticides, to rivers. Pesticide concentrations were predicted based on wastewater percentages in stream water using a modeling tool, and verified with measured concentrations to identify other potential landscape sources.
Learn More

Multimedia

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
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
Fairfax County Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study Video Thumbnail Fairfax County Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study
Fairfax County Lake Accotink Sedimentation Study
Animation of water moving sediment. Larger rocks roll along the stream bottom while lighter particles are suspended.
Sediment Movement During High Flow
Sediment Movement During High Flow
Total sediment load is defined as suspended sediment + Bedload
Total Sediment Load
Total Sediment Load
Map of the Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network showing Total Nitrogen trends and changes in flow-normalized yield, 2014-2023
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network: 2014-2023 Total Nitrogen 10-year Trends and Change in Flow-normalized Per Acre Loads
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network: 2014-2023 Total Nitrogen 10-year Trends and Change in Flow-normalized Per Acre Loads
Map of the Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network showing suspended sediment trends and changes in flow-normalized yield, 2014-2023
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network: 2014-2023 Suspended Sediment 10-year Trends and Change in Flow-normalized Per Acre Loads
Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Network: 2014-2023 Suspended Sediment 10-year Trends and Change in Flow-normalized Per Acre Loads
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