“The Bay Connects us, the Bay reflects us” writes Tom Horton in the book “Turning the Tide—Saving the Chesapeake Bay”. The Chesapeake Bay watershed contains the largest estuary in the United States. The watershed stretches north to Cooperstown, New York, south to Lynchburg and Virginia Beach, Virginia, west to Pendleton County, West Virginia, and east to Seaford, Delaware, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. The watershed is more than 64,000 square miles that contain 150 major rivers and streams, hereafter referred to collectively as streams, that total more than 100,000 miles in length. The watershed contains thousands of smaller creeks and tributaries, large numbers of plants and animals, and, in 2020, more than 18.4 million people. As changes occur in population, land use, and climate within the watershed, so too do the diversity and health of the Bay's ecosystems.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Title | Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs20233003 |
| Authors | Samuel H. Austin, Matt J. Cashman, John Clune, James E. Colgin, Rosemary M. Fanelli, Kevin P. Krause, Emily H. Majcher, Kelly O. Maloney, Chris A. Mason, Doug L. Moyer, Tammy M. Zimmerman |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Fact Sheet |
| Series Number | 2023-3003 |
| Index ID | fs20233003 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Leetown Science Center; Pennsylvania Water Science Center; South Atlantic Water Science Center; Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center ; Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center |
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Compilation of multi-agency water temperature observations for streams within the Chesapeake Bay watershed
This data release collates stream water temperature observations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), Water Quality Portal (WQP) and the USGS Aquarius (AQ) Time-Series database. Data retrieved from NWIS consists of aggregate (minimum, maximum and mean) daily values and continuous data from USGS monitoring stations. Values from the WQP contain - Connect
Samuel H. Austin
HydrologistEmailPhoneMatthew J Cashman, Ph.D.
Supervisory HydrologistEmailPhoneChristopher Allen Mason
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneDouglas L. Moyer
Associate Director for StudiesEmailPhoneTammy Zimmerman
Chief, New Cumberland Hydrologic StudiesChesapeake Bay Associate Coordinator (Acting)EmailPhone