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Brandon Fleming

Brandon Fleming is the Groundwater Specialist for the Pennsylvania Water Science Center.

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Geosciences (Hydrogeology), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2009

  • B.S. Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2002

     

Science and Products

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Photograph of road cut showing fractured sedimentary rocks

Contaminants in Groundwater near Superfund sites in Pennsylvania

USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of Superfund and other hazardous-waste sites in Pennsylvania, in cooperation with EPA. Additional cooperative support has been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery, and local government...
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Contaminants in Groundwater near Superfund sites in Pennsylvania

USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of Superfund and other hazardous-waste sites in Pennsylvania, in cooperation with EPA. Additional cooperative support has been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery, and local government...
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Groundwater Recorder on a well in New Jersey

Groundwater Monitoring in Pennsylvania

Groundwater Monitoring and Tools for Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Groundwater Monitoring in Pennsylvania

Groundwater Monitoring and Tools for Pennsylvania
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Thermal photograph showing cool blue stream and warm yellow and hot red areas of the stream bank

Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System

USGS characterizes the relationship between a stream's water temperature and the surrounding air temperature to understand the influence groundwater flow into and out of the stream has on that relationship.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Paired Air and Water Temperature Monitoring for Next Generation Water Observing System

USGS characterizes the relationship between a stream's water temperature and the surrounding air temperature to understand the influence groundwater flow into and out of the stream has on that relationship.
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IWAAs CMF project map - Delaware River Basin

Delaware River Basin IWAAs Pilot

The USGS is conducting a pilot study in the Delaware River Basin to support development of National and Regional Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs). The Delaware River Basin Pilot will be conducted with state and local partners with the support of USGS Cooperative Program Matching Funds and will focus on improving the data, tools, and information stakeholders need to make water...
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Delaware River Basin IWAAs Pilot

The USGS is conducting a pilot study in the Delaware River Basin to support development of National and Regional Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs). The Delaware River Basin Pilot will be conducted with state and local partners with the support of USGS Cooperative Program Matching Funds and will focus on improving the data, tools, and information stakeholders need to make water...
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Map of groundwater recharge estimates for Pennsylvania, 1971-2000

Groundwater Recharge - Pennsylvania

Recharge is the process of adding water to the saturated zone. Because it is almost impossible to measure directly, recharge is usually estimated by indirect means. Completed USGS studies provide estimates of groundwater recharge in Pennsylvania and methods for estimating recharge in humid regions.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Groundwater Recharge - Pennsylvania

Recharge is the process of adding water to the saturated zone. Because it is almost impossible to measure directly, recharge is usually estimated by indirect means. Completed USGS studies provide estimates of groundwater recharge in Pennsylvania and methods for estimating recharge in humid regions.
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Groundwater: Child about to get water from a groundwater well.

Groundwater Availability and Use in Pennsylvania

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center helps water providers assess the availability of groundwater for use in homes, on farms, and in industrial activities.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Groundwater Availability and Use in Pennsylvania

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center helps water providers assess the availability of groundwater for use in homes, on farms, and in industrial activities.
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map of pennsylvania with counties and circular symbols colored red, orange, yellow, or green

Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, including precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and Palmer Drought Index, an indicator of soil dryness.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, including precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and Palmer Drought Index, an indicator of soil dryness.
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Groundwater level trends for 110 U.S. Geological Survey observation wells in the Delaware River Basin

This data release contains groundwater level trend results from 110 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) observation wells in and near the Delaware River Basin. Mean annual groundwater level elevations from water years 2000-2020 were computed from mean daily recorded groundwater levels and discretely measured groundwater levels. Both time series were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test for monotonic tre
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Estimates of Baseflow, Runoff, and Groundwater Recharge Based on Streamflow-Hydrograph Methods: Pennsylvania

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Geological Survey, estimated groundwater recharge by automated streamflow-hydrograph methods for watersheds throughout Pennsylvania. These data serve as an update to previous estimates of groundwater recharge described in Risser and others (2005). The current analysis
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

MODFLOW-NWT model with SWI2 used to evaluate the water-table response of sea-level rise and change in recharge, Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia:

A three-dimensional groundwater flow model, MODFLOW-NWT with the SWI2 module, was developed to provide a better understanding of the fresh groundwater system of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia. Groundwater flow on Assateague Island was simulated to evaluate the effects of sea-level rise and changes in recharge on the depth to freshwater below the land surface, changes in freshwater di
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Low-streamflow and precipitation trends for 183 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

This data release contains low-streamflow trend results from 183 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages and precipitation trend results from gaged watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Data include streamgage identification number, trend slopes and significance for several low-streamflow and precipitation metrics.
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Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
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Thirty years of regional groundwater-quality trend studies in the United States: Major findings and lessons learned

Changes in groundwater quality have been evaluated for more than 2,200 wells in 25 Principal Aquifers in the United States based on repeated decadal sampling (once every 10 years) from 1988 to 2021. The purpose of this study is to identify contaminants with changing concentrations, the locations and magnitude of those changes, the factors driving those changes, the obstacles to interpreting the ch
Authors
Bruce D. Lindsey, Brandon J. Fleming, Phillip J. Goodling, Amanda Nicole May
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland

Groundwater in the karst groundwater system at Area B of Fort Detrick in Frederick County, Maryland, is contaminated with chlorinated solvents from the past disposal of laboratory wastes. In cooperation with U.S. Army Environmental Command and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, the U.S. Geological Survey performed a 3-year study to refine the conceptual model of groundwater flow in and around Area B
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Phillip J. Goodling, Brandon J. Fleming, John Solder, Alex Soroka, Jeff P. Raffensperger
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Simulated effects of sea-level rise on the shallow, fresh groundwater system of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, developed a three-dimensional groundwater-flow model for Assateague Island in eastern Maryland and Virginia to assess the effects of sea-level rise on the groundwater system. Sea-level rise is expected to increase the altitude of the water table in barrier island aquifer systems, possibly leading to adverse effects to ecosy
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Brandon J. Fleming, Jeff P. Raffensperger, Phillip J. Goodling, John P. Masterson
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Evaluating low flow patterns, drivers and trends in the Delaware River Basin

In the humid, temperate Delaware River Basin (DRB) where water availability is generally reliable, summer low flows can cause competition between various human and ecological water uses. As temperatures continue to rise, population increases and development expands, it is critical to understand historical low flow variability to anticipate and plan for future flows. Using a sample of 325 U.S. Geol
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John C. Hammond, Brandon J. Fleming
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Spatial and temporal patterns of low streamflow and precipitation changes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Spatial and temporal patterns in low streamflows were investigated for 183 streamgages located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the period 1939–2013. Metrics that represent different aspects of the frequency and magnitude of low streamflows were examined for trends: (1) the annual time series of seven‐day average minimum streamflow, (2) the scaled average deficit at or below the 2% mean daily s
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Brandon J. Fleming, Stacey A. Archfield, Robert M. Hirsch, Julie E. Kiang, David M. Wolock
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Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Groundwater-quality data from the National Water-Quality Assessment Project, January through December 2014 and select quality-control data from May 2012 through December 2014

Groundwater-quality data were collected from 559 wells as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Project of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Program from January through December 2014. The data were collected from four types of well networks: principal aquifer study networks, which are used to assess the quality of groundwater used for public water supply; land-use study ne
Authors
Terri Arnold, Laura M. Bexfield, MaryLynn Musgrove, Bruce D. Lindsey, Paul E. Stackelberg, Jeannie R. B. Barlow, Leslie A. DeSimone, Justin T. Kulongoski, James A. Kingsbury, Joseph D. Ayotte, Brandon J. Fleming, Kenneth Belitz
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Water Resources Mission Area

Water quality in the surficial aquifer near agricultural areas in the Delaware Coastal Plain, 2014

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, developed a network of wells to monitor groundwater quality in the surficial aquifer of the Delaware Coastal Plain. Well-drained soils, a flat landscape, and accessible water in the Delaware Coastal Plain make for a productive agricultural setting. As such, agriculture is one of the largest industries in the St
Authors
Brandon J. Fleming, Laura L. Mensch, Judith M. Denver, Roberto M. Cruz, Mark R. Nardi
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Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Statistical classification of hydrogeologic regions in the fractured rock area of Maryland and parts of the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware

Hydrogeologic regions in the fractured rock area of Maryland were classified using geographic information system tools with principal components and cluster analyses. A study area consisting of the 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) watersheds with rivers that flow through the fractured rock area of Maryland and bounded by the Fall Line was further subdivided into 21,431 catchments from the Nation
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Brandon J. Fleming, Andrew E. LaMotte, Andrew J. Sekellick
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

A science plan for a comprehensive assessment of water supply in the region underlain by fractured rock in Maryland

The fractured rock region of Maryland, which includes land areas north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor, is the source of water supply for approximately 4.4 million Marylanders, or approximately 76 percent of the State's population. Whereas hundreds of thousands of residents rely on wells (both domestic and community), millions rely on surface-water sources. In this region, land use, geology
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Brandon J. Fleming, Patrick A. Hammond, Scott A. Stranko, Mark T. Duigon, Saeid Kasraei
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Geology, Hydrology, and Water Quality of the Little Blackwater River Watershed, Dorchester County, Maryland, 2006-09

The Little Blackwater River watershed is a low-lying tidal watershed in Dorchester County, Maryland. The potential exists for increased residential development in a mostly agricultural watershed that drains into the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Groundwater and surface-water levels were collected along with water-quality samples to document hydrologic and geochemical conditions within the w
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Brandon J. Fleming, Benjamin D. DeJong, Daniel J. Phelan
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Simulation of groundwater flow to assess future withdrawals associated with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

Increased groundwater withdrawals from confined aquifers in the Maryland Coastal Plain to supply anticipated growth at Fort George G. Meade (Fort Meade) and surrounding areas resulting from the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Program may have adverse effects in the outcrop or near-outcrop areas. Specifically, increased pumping from the Potomac Group aquifers (principally the Pat
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Jeff P. Raffensperger, Brandon J. Fleming, William S.L. Banks, Marilee A. Horn, Mark R. Nardi, David C. Andreasen
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Water Resources Mission Area, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Implications of anthropogenic river stage fluctuations on mass transport in a valley fill aquifer

In humid regions a strong coupling between surface water features and groundwater systems may exist. In these environments the exchange of water and solute depends primarily on the hydraulic gradient between the reservoirs. We hypothesize that daily changes in river stage associated with anthropogenic water releases (such as those from a hydroelectric dam) cause anomalous mixing in the near‐stream
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David F. Boutt, Brandon J. Fleming

Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring

The Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring Application shows the current drought status for each county and hydrologic conditions for precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and Palmer Drought-Severity Index used by PaDEP for drought monitoring.

 

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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Groundwater Recharge in Pennsylvania

A map app to get recharge values from streamgage locations in Pennsylvania. Development of this app is described at the Related Science page.

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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Clinton County Moved to, and York County Remains at Drought Warning

USGS groundwater and surface water monitoring data contributed to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PaDEP) December 1, 2023...

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USGS at the Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium

Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, along with numerous other sponsors, hosted the annual Pennsylvania...

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USGS Studies Low-Flow Changes in the Delaware River Basin

USGS scientists published a new study of low flow in streams in the Delaware River Basin. In general, the low flows measured during 1980-2018...

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Drought Watch Removed for 3 Pennsylvania Counties - All Commonwealth Counties now in Normal Status

On February 4, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection removed the three remaining counties under Drought Watch declarations...

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