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Water and Drought

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By National Land Imaging Program March 9, 2026

Water and Drought

Tracking water availability and drought impacts across scales

Water sustains communities, agriculture, and ecosystems — and when drought strikes, the effects ripple across all of them. The USGS monitors water availability, surface water extent, and quality at regional, national, and global scales using remote sensing, watershed modeling, and evapotranspiration data. We track vegetation stress, water use, and drought impacts on wildfire risk, invasive species, land cover change, and ecosystem function. Our work also includes mapping coastal and inland wetlands, giving people, businesses, and agencies the information they need to protect vital resources.

Stormwater Impacts on Water Quality and Flow

Stormwater Impacts on Water Quality and Flow

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Sand filter and dry detention pond located in Clarksburg, Maryland

Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Urban development can have detrimental impacts on streams including altering hydrology, increasing nutrient, sediment, and pollutant loadings, and degrading biological integrity. Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be used to mitigate the effects of urban development by retaining large volumes of stormwater runoff and treating runoff to remove pollutants. This project focuses on...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Washington Water Science Center
Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Urban development can have detrimental impacts on streams including altering hydrology, increasing nutrient, sediment, and pollutant loadings, and degrading biological integrity. Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be used to mitigate the effects of urban development by retaining large volumes of stormwater runoff and treating runoff to remove pollutants. This project focuses on...
Learn More
Land Cover Point of Pines

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Western Geographic Science Center
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.
Learn More
Kona Coast and Hualalai volcano

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
Learn More
Photograph of gabion dam in Nogales, Sonora

Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this...
Learn More

Channel incision characteristics in Clarksburg, MD Channel incision characteristics in Clarksburg, MD

This dataset describes field-measured qualitative stream channel characteristics indicative of incision and remotely-measured predictions of channel incision from lidar in three headwater streams in the Piedmont physiographic region of Maryland. The files within the field-measured channel incision folder include 1) a point file of original survey locations with a description of channel
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021) Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)

We apply a research approach that can inform riparian restoration planning by developing products that show recent trends in vegetation conditions identifying areas potentially more at risk for degradation and the associated relationship between riparian vegetation dynamics and climate conditions. The vegetation is characterized using a series of remote sensing vegetation indices...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Geomorphic metrics across four catchments in Clarksburg, Maryland, 2002-19 Geomorphic metrics across four catchments in Clarksburg, Maryland, 2002-19

This dataset contains geomorphic metrics across 32 cross-sections at four catchments within the Clarksburg Special Protection Area in Montgomery County, Maryland. These data were derived from raw cross-sectional data collected by the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection. Geomorphic metrics include channel area, bed location, channel depth, channel width, and...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Stream cross-section, benthic macroinvertebrate and fish taxa counts and abundance, and water chemistry data for the Clarksburg study area in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1992 - 2020 Stream cross-section, benthic macroinvertebrate and fish taxa counts and abundance, and water chemistry data for the Clarksburg study area in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1992 - 2020

Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection has collected datasets to assess the health of streams since the early 1990s. Datasets include geomorphic stream cross-sectional surveys, fish and benthic macroinvertebrate counts and taxa abundance, and water chemistry data collected at the time of benthic and fish sampling (dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center

Lidar-derived digital elevation models in Clarksburg, MD representing the years 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018 Lidar-derived digital elevation models in Clarksburg, MD representing the years 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018

This is a collection of 3 ft resolution digital elevation model derived from light detection and ranging (lidar). Lidar was collected in 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018. Coverage includes a portion of Clarksburg, Maryland, focused around the Clarksburg Special Protection Area (CSPA). Overall extent varies between each dataset, but all digital elevation models are aligned together with...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Ephemeral channel heads and digital elevation models used to extract stream networks in Clarksburg, MD (ver. 2.0, October 2021) Ephemeral channel heads and digital elevation models used to extract stream networks in Clarksburg, MD (ver. 2.0, October 2021)

This dataset describes the location of channel heads survyed in two headwater watersheds in Clarksburg, Montgomery County, Maryland, and the digital elevation models derived from light detection and ranging (lidar) covering the two watersheds. The digital elevation models were used to derive topographic attributes used to delineate drainage networks that were then assessed for accuracy...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Soil characteristics and microbial taxonomy in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD, 2015 Soil characteristics and microbial taxonomy in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD, 2015

The data were gathered as a preliminary assessment of soil microbiology and conditions in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD. Four bioretention facilities (BF), four dry ponds (DP), and four surface sand filters (SSF) were selected. Three samples were taken from each BMP (a single sample from one dry swale (DS) was also collected). BMPs were...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
Filter Total Items: 23

Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas

Headwater streams are diverse ecosystems and important sources of water and dissolved and particulate resources to the downstream river network. However, across the world, they are rapidly being degraded or lost through human activities, particularly urban development. This degradation and loss have negative consequences for the structure and function of headwater streams, as well as...
Authors
Belinda Hatt, Chamantha Athapaththu, Jonathan Behrens, Sally Boer, Matthew J. Burns, Ryan Burrows, Riley de Jong, Caroline Elsner, Vaughn Grey, Moss Imberger, Brianna Williams, Rhys Coleman
By
New Jersey Water Science Center

Quantifying the success of stormwater control measure networks using effective imperviousness Quantifying the success of stormwater control measure networks using effective imperviousness

The deleterious effects of directly-connected impervious surfaces on urban streams have been widely recognized. To deal with these effects, the use of stormwater control measures that aim to disconnect impervious surfaces and prevent stormwater from reaching the stream has surged. However, we lack widespread use of consistent metrics that describe how effective these stormwater control...
Authors
Aditi S. Bhaskar, Charles C. Stillwell, Matthew J. Burns, Kristina G. Hopkins, Christopher J. Walsh
By
Washington Water Science Center

Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar

Headwater streams can contribute significant amounts of fine sediment to downstream waterways, especially when severely eroded and incised. Potential upstream sediment source identification is crucial for effective management of water quality, aquatic habitat, and sediment loads in a watershed. This study explored topographic openness (TO) derived from 1-m lidar for its ability to...
Authors
Marina J. Metes, Andrew J. Miller, Matthew E. Baker, Kristina G. Hopkins, Daniel K. Jones
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: informing Tribal restoration priorities Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: informing Tribal restoration priorities

Restoring degraded river systems is an enormous challenge, especially given the uncertainty in a time of climate change. Here, Roy Petrakis explains how restoration approaches informed by remote sensing and a climate adaptation framework increase the potential for overall success. He discusses research being done on the Gila River as a case study of how it might work.
Authors
Roy E. Petrakis
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Assessing stormwater control measure inventories from 23 cities in the United States Assessing stormwater control measure inventories from 23 cities in the United States

Since the 1987 Clean Water Act Section 319 amendment, the United States Government has required and funded the development of nonpoint source pollution programs with about $5 billion dollars. Despite these expenditures, nonpoint source pollution from urban watersheds is still a significant cause of impaired waters in the United States. Urban stormwater management has rapidly evolved over...
Authors
Benjamin Choat, Amber Pulido, Aditi S. Bhaskar, Rebecca Hale, Harry X. Zhang, Thomas Meixner, Lauren McPhillips, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jennifer Cherrier, Chingwen Cheng
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Integrating urban water fluxes and moving beyond impervious surface cover: A review Integrating urban water fluxes and moving beyond impervious surface cover: A review

Though urban areas represent a small fraction of global land cover, they have an outsized impact on hydrological processes. Within these areas, the pathways that water follows are fundamentally transformed by the disturbance of soils, land cover, vegetation, topography, and built infrastructure. While progress has been made across many cities to quantify interactions between hydrological...
Authors
Claire Oswald, Christa Kelleher, Sarah Ledford, Kristina G. Hopkins, Anneliese Sytsma, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Laura Toran, Carolyn Voter
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Urbanization of grasslands in the Denver area affects streamflow responses to rainfall events Urbanization of grasslands in the Denver area affects streamflow responses to rainfall events

A thorough understanding of how urbanization affects stream hydrology is crucial for effective and sustainable water management, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of changes in streamflow response to rainfall events across a rural to urban gradient in the semi-arid area of Denver, Colorado. We used 8 years of April to October...
Authors
Stacy Wilson, Aditi S. Bhaskar, Benjamin Choat, Stephanie K. Kampf, Timothy Green, Kristina G. Hopkins
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Urbanization and stream ecology: Moving the bar on multidisciplinary solutions to wicked urban stream problems Urbanization and stream ecology: Moving the bar on multidisciplinary solutions to wicked urban stream problems

Decades of research on the effects of urbanization on stream ecology have shown that urban stream problems are inherently wicked. These problems are wicked in the sense that they are difficult to solve because information is incomplete, changing, or conflicting and because finding potential solutions often requires input from stakeholders who can have conflicting and competing values...
Authors
Megan L. Fork, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jessica Chappell, Robert J. Hawley, Sujay S. Kaushal, Brian M. Murphy, Blanca Rios-Touma, Allison H. Roy
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Tracking geomorphic changes after suburban development with a high density of green stormwater infrastructure practices in Montgomery County, Maryland Tracking geomorphic changes after suburban development with a high density of green stormwater infrastructure practices in Montgomery County, Maryland

Stream morphology is affected by changes on the surrounding landscape. Understanding the effects of urbanization on stream morphology is a critical factor for land managers to maintain and improve vulnerable stream corridors in urbanizing landscapes. Stormwater practices are used in urban landscapes to manage runoff volumes and peak flows, potentially mitigating alterations to the flow...
Authors
Brianna Williams, Kristina G. Hopkins, Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Stephanie E. Gordon, William B. Hamilton
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Utah Water Science Center

Closing the gap on wicked urban stream restoration problems: A framework to integrate science and community values Closing the gap on wicked urban stream restoration problems: A framework to integrate science and community values

Restoring the health of urban streams has many of the characteristics of a wicked problem. Addressing a wicked problem requires managers, academics, practitioners, and community members to make negotiated tradeoffs and compromises to satisfy the values and perspectives of diverse stakeholders involved in setting restoration project goals and objectives. We conducted a gap analysis on 11...
Authors
Brian M. Murphy, Kathryn L Russell, Charles C. Stillwell, Robert J. Hawley, Mateo Scoggins, Kristina G. Hopkins, Matthew J. Burns, Kristine T. Taniguchi-Quan, Kate H Macneale, Robert F. Smith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Ephemeral stream network extraction from lidar-derived elevation and topographic attributes in urban and forested landscapes Ephemeral stream network extraction from lidar-derived elevation and topographic attributes in urban and forested landscapes

Under-representations of headwater channels in digital stream networks can result in uncertainty in the magnitude of headwater habitat loss, stream burial, and watershed function. Increased availability of high-resolution (
Authors
Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Matthew E. Baker, Andrew J. Miller, Dianna M. Hogan, J.V. Loperfido, Kristina G. Hopkins
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Utah Water Science Center

Lessons learned from 20 y of monitoring suburban development with distributed stormwater management in Clarksburg, Maryland, USA Lessons learned from 20 y of monitoring suburban development with distributed stormwater management in Clarksburg, Maryland, USA

Urban development is a well-known stressor for stream ecosystems, presenting a challenge to managers tasked with mitigating its effects. For the past 20 y, streamflow, water quality, geomorphology, and benthic communities were monitored in 5 watersheds in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. This study presents a synthesis of multiple studies of monitoring efforts in the study area and new...
Authors
Kristina G. Hopkins, Sean Woznicki, Brianna Williams, Charles C. Stillwell, Eric Naibert, Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Dianna M. Hogan, Natalie Celeste Hall, Rosemary M. Fanelli, Aditi S. Bhaskar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Water sustains communities, agriculture, and ecosystems — and when drought strikes, the effects ripple across all of them. The USGS monitors water availability, surface water extent, and quality at regional, national, and global scales using remote sensing, watershed modeling, and evapotranspiration data. We track vegetation stress, water use, and drought impacts on wildfire risk, invasive species, land cover change, and ecosystem function. Our work also includes mapping coastal and inland wetlands, giving people, businesses, and agencies the information they need to protect vital resources.

Stormwater Impacts on Water Quality and Flow

Stormwater Impacts on Water Quality and Flow

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Sand filter and dry detention pond located in Clarksburg, Maryland

Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Urban development can have detrimental impacts on streams including altering hydrology, increasing nutrient, sediment, and pollutant loadings, and degrading biological integrity. Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be used to mitigate the effects of urban development by retaining large volumes of stormwater runoff and treating runoff to remove pollutants. This project focuses on...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Washington Water Science Center
Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Understanding the Effects of Stormwater Management Practices on Water Quality and Flow

Urban development can have detrimental impacts on streams including altering hydrology, increasing nutrient, sediment, and pollutant loadings, and degrading biological integrity. Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be used to mitigate the effects of urban development by retaining large volumes of stormwater runoff and treating runoff to remove pollutants. This project focuses on...
Learn More
Land Cover Point of Pines

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Western Geographic Science Center
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling

San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.
Learn More
Kona Coast and Hualalai volcano

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing

We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
Learn More
Photograph of gabion dam in Nogales, Sonora

Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Aridland Water Harvesting Study

Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this...
Learn More

Channel incision characteristics in Clarksburg, MD Channel incision characteristics in Clarksburg, MD

This dataset describes field-measured qualitative stream channel characteristics indicative of incision and remotely-measured predictions of channel incision from lidar in three headwater streams in the Piedmont physiographic region of Maryland. The files within the field-measured channel incision folder include 1) a point file of original survey locations with a description of channel
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021) Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)

We apply a research approach that can inform riparian restoration planning by developing products that show recent trends in vegetation conditions identifying areas potentially more at risk for degradation and the associated relationship between riparian vegetation dynamics and climate conditions. The vegetation is characterized using a series of remote sensing vegetation indices...
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Geomorphic metrics across four catchments in Clarksburg, Maryland, 2002-19 Geomorphic metrics across four catchments in Clarksburg, Maryland, 2002-19

This dataset contains geomorphic metrics across 32 cross-sections at four catchments within the Clarksburg Special Protection Area in Montgomery County, Maryland. These data were derived from raw cross-sectional data collected by the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection. Geomorphic metrics include channel area, bed location, channel depth, channel width, and...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Stream cross-section, benthic macroinvertebrate and fish taxa counts and abundance, and water chemistry data for the Clarksburg study area in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1992 - 2020 Stream cross-section, benthic macroinvertebrate and fish taxa counts and abundance, and water chemistry data for the Clarksburg study area in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1992 - 2020

Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection has collected datasets to assess the health of streams since the early 1990s. Datasets include geomorphic stream cross-sectional surveys, fish and benthic macroinvertebrate counts and taxa abundance, and water chemistry data collected at the time of benthic and fish sampling (dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center

Lidar-derived digital elevation models in Clarksburg, MD representing the years 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018 Lidar-derived digital elevation models in Clarksburg, MD representing the years 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018

This is a collection of 3 ft resolution digital elevation model derived from light detection and ranging (lidar). Lidar was collected in 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018. Coverage includes a portion of Clarksburg, Maryland, focused around the Clarksburg Special Protection Area (CSPA). Overall extent varies between each dataset, but all digital elevation models are aligned together with...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Ephemeral channel heads and digital elevation models used to extract stream networks in Clarksburg, MD (ver. 2.0, October 2021) Ephemeral channel heads and digital elevation models used to extract stream networks in Clarksburg, MD (ver. 2.0, October 2021)

This dataset describes the location of channel heads survyed in two headwater watersheds in Clarksburg, Montgomery County, Maryland, and the digital elevation models derived from light detection and ranging (lidar) covering the two watersheds. The digital elevation models were used to derive topographic attributes used to delineate drainage networks that were then assessed for accuracy...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Soil characteristics and microbial taxonomy in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD, 2015 Soil characteristics and microbial taxonomy in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD, 2015

The data were gathered as a preliminary assessment of soil microbiology and conditions in selected urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in Clarksburg, MD. Four bioretention facilities (BF), four dry ponds (DP), and four surface sand filters (SSF) were selected. Three samples were taken from each BMP (a single sample from one dry swale (DS) was also collected). BMPs were...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
Filter Total Items: 23

Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas Practical pathways for protecting headwater streams in urbanizing areas

Headwater streams are diverse ecosystems and important sources of water and dissolved and particulate resources to the downstream river network. However, across the world, they are rapidly being degraded or lost through human activities, particularly urban development. This degradation and loss have negative consequences for the structure and function of headwater streams, as well as...
Authors
Belinda Hatt, Chamantha Athapaththu, Jonathan Behrens, Sally Boer, Matthew J. Burns, Ryan Burrows, Riley de Jong, Caroline Elsner, Vaughn Grey, Moss Imberger, Brianna Williams, Rhys Coleman
By
New Jersey Water Science Center

Quantifying the success of stormwater control measure networks using effective imperviousness Quantifying the success of stormwater control measure networks using effective imperviousness

The deleterious effects of directly-connected impervious surfaces on urban streams have been widely recognized. To deal with these effects, the use of stormwater control measures that aim to disconnect impervious surfaces and prevent stormwater from reaching the stream has surged. However, we lack widespread use of consistent metrics that describe how effective these stormwater control...
Authors
Aditi S. Bhaskar, Charles C. Stillwell, Matthew J. Burns, Kristina G. Hopkins, Christopher J. Walsh
By
Washington Water Science Center

Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar

Headwater streams can contribute significant amounts of fine sediment to downstream waterways, especially when severely eroded and incised. Potential upstream sediment source identification is crucial for effective management of water quality, aquatic habitat, and sediment loads in a watershed. This study explored topographic openness (TO) derived from 1-m lidar for its ability to...
Authors
Marina J. Metes, Andrew J. Miller, Matthew E. Baker, Kristina G. Hopkins, Daniel K. Jones
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: informing Tribal restoration priorities Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: informing Tribal restoration priorities

Restoring degraded river systems is an enormous challenge, especially given the uncertainty in a time of climate change. Here, Roy Petrakis explains how restoration approaches informed by remote sensing and a climate adaptation framework increase the potential for overall success. He discusses research being done on the Gila River as a case study of how it might work.
Authors
Roy E. Petrakis
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Assessing stormwater control measure inventories from 23 cities in the United States Assessing stormwater control measure inventories from 23 cities in the United States

Since the 1987 Clean Water Act Section 319 amendment, the United States Government has required and funded the development of nonpoint source pollution programs with about $5 billion dollars. Despite these expenditures, nonpoint source pollution from urban watersheds is still a significant cause of impaired waters in the United States. Urban stormwater management has rapidly evolved over...
Authors
Benjamin Choat, Amber Pulido, Aditi S. Bhaskar, Rebecca Hale, Harry X. Zhang, Thomas Meixner, Lauren McPhillips, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jennifer Cherrier, Chingwen Cheng
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Integrating urban water fluxes and moving beyond impervious surface cover: A review Integrating urban water fluxes and moving beyond impervious surface cover: A review

Though urban areas represent a small fraction of global land cover, they have an outsized impact on hydrological processes. Within these areas, the pathways that water follows are fundamentally transformed by the disturbance of soils, land cover, vegetation, topography, and built infrastructure. While progress has been made across many cities to quantify interactions between hydrological...
Authors
Claire Oswald, Christa Kelleher, Sarah Ledford, Kristina G. Hopkins, Anneliese Sytsma, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Laura Toran, Carolyn Voter
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Urbanization of grasslands in the Denver area affects streamflow responses to rainfall events Urbanization of grasslands in the Denver area affects streamflow responses to rainfall events

A thorough understanding of how urbanization affects stream hydrology is crucial for effective and sustainable water management, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of changes in streamflow response to rainfall events across a rural to urban gradient in the semi-arid area of Denver, Colorado. We used 8 years of April to October...
Authors
Stacy Wilson, Aditi S. Bhaskar, Benjamin Choat, Stephanie K. Kampf, Timothy Green, Kristina G. Hopkins
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Urbanization and stream ecology: Moving the bar on multidisciplinary solutions to wicked urban stream problems Urbanization and stream ecology: Moving the bar on multidisciplinary solutions to wicked urban stream problems

Decades of research on the effects of urbanization on stream ecology have shown that urban stream problems are inherently wicked. These problems are wicked in the sense that they are difficult to solve because information is incomplete, changing, or conflicting and because finding potential solutions often requires input from stakeholders who can have conflicting and competing values...
Authors
Megan L. Fork, Kristina G. Hopkins, Jessica Chappell, Robert J. Hawley, Sujay S. Kaushal, Brian M. Murphy, Blanca Rios-Touma, Allison H. Roy
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Tracking geomorphic changes after suburban development with a high density of green stormwater infrastructure practices in Montgomery County, Maryland Tracking geomorphic changes after suburban development with a high density of green stormwater infrastructure practices in Montgomery County, Maryland

Stream morphology is affected by changes on the surrounding landscape. Understanding the effects of urbanization on stream morphology is a critical factor for land managers to maintain and improve vulnerable stream corridors in urbanizing landscapes. Stormwater practices are used in urban landscapes to manage runoff volumes and peak flows, potentially mitigating alterations to the flow...
Authors
Brianna Williams, Kristina G. Hopkins, Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Stephanie E. Gordon, William B. Hamilton
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Utah Water Science Center

Closing the gap on wicked urban stream restoration problems: A framework to integrate science and community values Closing the gap on wicked urban stream restoration problems: A framework to integrate science and community values

Restoring the health of urban streams has many of the characteristics of a wicked problem. Addressing a wicked problem requires managers, academics, practitioners, and community members to make negotiated tradeoffs and compromises to satisfy the values and perspectives of diverse stakeholders involved in setting restoration project goals and objectives. We conducted a gap analysis on 11...
Authors
Brian M. Murphy, Kathryn L Russell, Charles C. Stillwell, Robert J. Hawley, Mateo Scoggins, Kristina G. Hopkins, Matthew J. Burns, Kristine T. Taniguchi-Quan, Kate H Macneale, Robert F. Smith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Ephemeral stream network extraction from lidar-derived elevation and topographic attributes in urban and forested landscapes Ephemeral stream network extraction from lidar-derived elevation and topographic attributes in urban and forested landscapes

Under-representations of headwater channels in digital stream networks can result in uncertainty in the magnitude of headwater habitat loss, stream burial, and watershed function. Increased availability of high-resolution (
Authors
Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Matthew E. Baker, Andrew J. Miller, Dianna M. Hogan, J.V. Loperfido, Kristina G. Hopkins
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Utah Water Science Center

Lessons learned from 20 y of monitoring suburban development with distributed stormwater management in Clarksburg, Maryland, USA Lessons learned from 20 y of monitoring suburban development with distributed stormwater management in Clarksburg, Maryland, USA

Urban development is a well-known stressor for stream ecosystems, presenting a challenge to managers tasked with mitigating its effects. For the past 20 y, streamflow, water quality, geomorphology, and benthic communities were monitored in 5 watersheds in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. This study presents a synthesis of multiple studies of monitoring efforts in the study area and new...
Authors
Kristina G. Hopkins, Sean Woznicki, Brianna Williams, Charles C. Stillwell, Eric Naibert, Marina J. Metes, Daniel K. Jones, Dianna M. Hogan, Natalie Celeste Hall, Rosemary M. Fanelli, Aditi S. Bhaskar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
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