A stream's flashiness is determined by how quickly water levels peak after a rain event, and how quickly water levels fall after the peak. The figure above shows and urban canal (left) that is very flashy, compared to a less flashy natural stream (right).
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Flashiness
A stream's flashiness is determined by how quickly water levels peak after a rain event, and how quickly water levels fall after the peak. The figure above shows and urban canal (left) that is very flashy, compared to a less flashy natural stream (right).
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Nutrient Pollution
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
Drainage Density
When rainwater falls over a watershed, its fate is determined by multiple factors, such as the relief of the watershed, the permeability of the surface it falls on, the presence and density of plant life, and the drainage density of the watershed.
When rainwater falls over a watershed, its fate is determined by multiple factors, such as the relief of the watershed, the permeability of the surface it falls on, the presence and density of plant life, and the drainage density of the watershed.
USGS Precipitation Gage Fairfax County
Photograph of a USGS precipitation gage in Fairfax County. These standalone gages consist of a weighing type precipitation gage, datalogger and satellite telemetry unit.
Photograph of a USGS precipitation gage in Fairfax County. These standalone gages consist of a weighing type precipitation gage, datalogger and satellite telemetry unit.
Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive, Hampton Roads
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Stormwater drain at Coliseum, Hampton Roads, Virginia
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meter in a Hampton Roads stormwater pipe
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meters use a laser to measure water velocity throughout a channel's cross-section, while another part of the device is measuring the depth of water. Together the two datasets are used to compute streamflow.
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meters use a laser to measure water velocity throughout a channel's cross-section, while another part of the device is measuring the depth of water. Together the two datasets are used to compute streamflow.
The stormwater monitoring site at Rivers Ridge, Hampton Roads, Virginia
The Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA. This site is a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Network.
The Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA. This site is a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Network.
Sonde Cleaning at Rivers Ridge Storm Drain, Hampton Roads
Water quality sondes collect continuous data from stormwater monitoring sites, but can often become fouled with algae, which interferes with the sonde's ability to collect accurate data. To keep these sondes clean between field visits, remote-activated bilge pumps are used to blast the algae from the sondes.
Water quality sondes collect continuous data from stormwater monitoring sites, but can often become fouled with algae, which interferes with the sonde's ability to collect accurate data. To keep these sondes clean between field visits, remote-activated bilge pumps are used to blast the algae from the sondes.
Checking water depth in stormwater drains, Hampton Roads
Quality assurance is an important aspect of data collection. This means periodically checking the stage measurements for accuracy and making streamflow measurements manually at stormwater monitoring sites across Hampton Roads to compare to those computed from streamflow models.
Quality assurance is an important aspect of data collection. This means periodically checking the stage measurements for accuracy and making streamflow measurements manually at stormwater monitoring sites across Hampton Roads to compare to those computed from streamflow models.
Rivers Ridge Storm Drain
USGS researcher Aaron Porter at the Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA monitoring site. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
USGS researcher Aaron Porter at the Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA monitoring site. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
Stromdrain at Coliseum, Hampton Roads
The interior of the Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive at Hampton, VA. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
The interior of the Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive at Hampton, VA. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Measuring streamflow in storm drains in Hampton Roads, Virginia
USGS researchers Aaron Porter and Chelsea Vande Pol use a handheld acoustic doppler velocimeter to measure streamflow in a stormwater drain as a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
USGS researchers Aaron Porter and Chelsea Vande Pol use a handheld acoustic doppler velocimeter to measure streamflow in a stormwater drain as a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Methods of subsidence and sea level rise monitoring
When it comes to measuring land subsidence, sea level rise, and shoreline retreat, the USGS uses a variety of methods, each with their own strengths and drawbacks.
When it comes to measuring land subsidence, sea level rise, and shoreline retreat, the USGS uses a variety of methods, each with their own strengths and drawbacks.
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
The Virginia Coastal Plain is the relatively flat region east of the fall line characterized by a wedge of coarse permeable sediments with interbedded layers of less-permeable silts and clays that thickens towards the east. The region has multiple layered aquifers, including the Potomac aquifer system.
The Virginia Coastal Plain is the relatively flat region east of the fall line characterized by a wedge of coarse permeable sediments with interbedded layers of less-permeable silts and clays that thickens towards the east. The region has multiple layered aquifers, including the Potomac aquifer system.
USGS Gage Box
A USGS gage box by the bridge over the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Virginia Extensometers Depth Comparison
How Deep Do We Drill?
Groundwater Monitoring Well - Franklin, Virginia
The USGS well at Franklin, Virginia (USGS 364059076544901 55B 16) constantly monitors water levels in the Potomac Aquifer and provides scientists with a record of water levels going as far back as 1960.
The USGS well at Franklin, Virginia (USGS 364059076544901 55B 16) constantly monitors water levels in the Potomac Aquifer and provides scientists with a record of water levels going as far back as 1960.
Hydrologic Unit and National Hydrography Dataset Plus Medium Resolution Spatial Scales Example
Hydrologic Unit and National Hydrography Dataset Plus Medium Resolution Spatial Scales Example
Hydrologic Unit and National Hydrography Dataset Plus Medium Resolution Spatial Scales Example
Measuring sediment deposition in a floodplain using soil cores
USGS scientists measure the amount of sediment deposition occurring in the floodplains along the Long Branch stream using soil cores. This site is monitored as a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.
USGS scientists measure the amount of sediment deposition occurring in the floodplains along the Long Branch stream using soil cores. This site is monitored as a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.