John D. Jastram
John Jastram is a Hydrologist who serves as the Chief of the Watershed Studies Section and the Program Development Specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey's Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center in Richmond, VA.
John has been involved with a wide variety of USGS water-resources investigations since 2002, mostly focused on utilizing continuous water-quality monitoring to improve nutrient and sediment load estimation, and application of these methods in small urban watersheds. John became the Chief of the Watershed Studies Section in 2020. In this role he provides leadership for a team of scientists conducting monitoring- and modeling-based studies of surface water quality. John is also responsible for providing program development leadership within the Center.
Science and Products
Harmful Algal Blooms Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Excessive accumulations of algae that impair waterbodies, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant risks to human and animal health. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with state, regional, and local partners to evaluate the drivers and distribution of harmful algal...
PFAS Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Exposure to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with local and regional partners to determine the drivers and distribution of PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water supplies across Virginia and West Virginia.
Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network
In recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into the implementation of Best Management Practices in Fairfax County, Virginia, with the goal of improving water quality. Research has demonstrated that best management practices are effective at smaller scales, but less information is available to document the effectiveness of these best management practices at the watershed...
Stream temperature rising throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
Roanoke River Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District and the City of Roanoke, Virginia began construction of a congressionally authorized Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project (RRFRP) in 2005. RRFRP implementation activities include: construction activities, stream bank vegetation changes, and floodplain geometry changes which are occurring in a complicated urban river system. These...
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in Indian Creek
The primary objective of the USGS monitoring effort will be to identify whether the construction of the Indian Creek pipeline crossings will adversely impact the sediment water quality in Indian Creek. To accomplish this goal, continuous real-time water-quality monitoring will be the primary focus of the effort.
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring for the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project
This project: (1) initiates a continuous water-quality monitoring study for the Roanoke River in the area upstream and downstream of the RRFRP project area; (2) provides a mechanism for detecting short- and long-term changes in Roanoke River suspended sediment water quality during and after the RRFRP implementation; and (3) assesses trends in suspended sediment water quality in this section of the...
Science and Products
Harmful Algal Blooms Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Excessive accumulations of algae that impair waterbodies, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant risks to human and animal health. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with state, regional, and local partners to evaluate the drivers and distribution of harmful algal...
PFAS Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Exposure to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with local and regional partners to determine the drivers and distribution of PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water supplies across Virginia and West Virginia.
Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network
In recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into the implementation of Best Management Practices in Fairfax County, Virginia, with the goal of improving water quality. Research has demonstrated that best management practices are effective at smaller scales, but less information is available to document the effectiveness of these best management practices at the watershed...
Stream temperature rising throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
Roanoke River Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District and the City of Roanoke, Virginia began construction of a congressionally authorized Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project (RRFRP) in 2005. RRFRP implementation activities include: construction activities, stream bank vegetation changes, and floodplain geometry changes which are occurring in a complicated urban river system. These...
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in Indian Creek
The primary objective of the USGS monitoring effort will be to identify whether the construction of the Indian Creek pipeline crossings will adversely impact the sediment water quality in Indian Creek. To accomplish this goal, continuous real-time water-quality monitoring will be the primary focus of the effort.
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring for the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project
This project: (1) initiates a continuous water-quality monitoring study for the Roanoke River in the area upstream and downstream of the RRFRP project area; (2) provides a mechanism for detecting short- and long-term changes in Roanoke River suspended sediment water quality during and after the RRFRP implementation; and (3) assesses trends in suspended sediment water quality in this section of the...