Using monitoring data to measure conditions over time in Chesapeake Bay streams
Using monitoring data to measure conditions over time in Chesapeake Bay streams
Prioritizing Marsh Restoration Needs Throughout Chesapeake Bay
Prioritizing Marsh Restoration Needs Throughout Chesapeake Bay
Evaluating the Risks of Tire-Derived Compounds to Fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Evaluating the Risks of Tire-Derived Compounds to Fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Regional Assessment of Fish Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Regional Assessment of Fish Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Informing Freshwater Management Strategies in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by Using Observational Data and Expert Knowledge to Identify Influential Stressors
Informing Freshwater Management Strategies in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by Using Observational Data and Expert Knowledge to Identify Influential Stressors
The Nonpoint Source Challenge:
Obstacles and Opportunities for Meeting Nutrient Reduction Goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Obstacles and Opportunities for Meeting Nutrient Reduction Goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Informing Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management by Monitoring Trends in River Nutrient and Sediment Loads
Discovering Connections Across America's Lands and Waters
Publications
Discover Chesapeake related science in reports and journal articles authored by USGS scientists
Discover Chesapeake related science in reports and journal articles authored by USGS scientists
Chesapeake Bay Activities
The Chesapeake Bay is our Nation’s largest estuary and provides over $100 billion in annual economic value. The USGS works with Federal, State, local, and academic partners to provide research and monitoring and to communicate results to inform management for the Chesapeake and other important landscapes across the Nation.
Accomplishments in 2025
Accomplishments in 2025
Central to our mission is communicating decision-ready science to help partners better manage lands, water, and wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Read more about our accomplishments that were used to inform management decisions and advance Department of the Interior priorities.
500 Years of Extreme Potomac Floods at Washington D.C.
500 Years of Extreme Potomac Floods at Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. faces one of the highest 100‐year flood risks of any major city along the U.S. East Coast. In addition to sea-level rise and storm‐surge inundation during hurricanes and nor'easters, extreme water‐levels at Washington are strongly skewed by major floods on the Potomac River.
Quick Links
Quick Links
Learn more about USGS science activities in the Bay from our Science Strategy. Additional summaries of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities are available in the science topics section.
News
Research shows Chesapeake Bay streams are getting saltier
Research shows Chesapeake Bay streams are getting saltier
Maryland Mainstem Tributary Summary
Maryland Mainstem Tributary Summary
Study offers best picture yet of sinking land in the Chesapeake Bay region
Study offers best picture yet of sinking land in the Chesapeake Bay region
Publications
Stream macroinvertebrate responses vary with region, land use and management practice type Stream macroinvertebrate responses vary with region, land use and management practice type
Intensive land use alters hydrology and water quality, threatening freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates. Over 200,000 management practices (MPs) have been implemented across the Chesapeake Bay watershed since the 1980s, yet biological responses remain inconsistent. We synthesized 29 studies from 4 physiographic provinces covering 8 MP categories and evaluated macroinvertebrate responses...
Extreme Potomac floods at Washington D.C. during the past 500 years Extreme Potomac floods at Washington D.C. during the past 500 years
Washington D.C. faces one of the highest 100-year flood risks of any major city along the U.S. East Coast. In addition to storm-surge inundation during hurricanes and nor'easters, water-level observations for Washington are strongly skewed by major floods on the Potomac River. Using geologic and historic records we find new evidence for ice-jam flooding at Georgetown during the Little...
Assessing streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to guide conservation and restoration activities Assessing streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to guide conservation and restoration activities
Freshwater streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are home to numerous aquatic organisms (like fish, amphibians, mussels, and insects) and provide drinking water and recreational opportunities to people living in or visiting the watershed. Land-use changes, such as urban development and increased activities in certain agricultural sectors, have degraded water quality and altered...
Science
500 Years of Extreme Potomac Floods at Washington D.C.
Large floods on the Potomac River in Washington D.C. can be documented as early as 1784, and based on historical data and recent measurements, have occurred with increasing frequency since the mid-19th century. Human modifications to the Potomac estuary since Washington D.C. was established as the Federal capital, as well as increasingly heavy rainfall and land clearance in the watershed, likely...
USGS Chesapeake Bay Science Accomplishments for 2025
The Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to 18 million people and some of America’s most treasured natural resources – lands, waters, and wildlife that support a strong economy and cherished outdoor traditions, such as hunting and fishing. From local organizations to federal agencies, partners throughout the watershed are working to protect these resources. These partners rely on our unbiased, gold...
Remotely mapping stormwater facility footprints and storage volumes
Stormwater management practices are being used throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed to reduce flood risks and pollutant loads, but consistent and comprehensive maps of these practices are often lacking. Stormwater managers often have incomplete information about the location and storage volume of stormwater facilities within their jurisdiction. Therefore, the USGS is working to develop...