Cheryl is a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center. Her current work is focussed on water-use data and research in the United States. She is currently working on projects to identify gaps in water-use data throughout the U.S., national water-use models, and water use in MD, DE, and DC.
Professional Experience
Hydrologist, USGS Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center (1999-present)
Water-Use Specialist, USGS Maryland-Delaware- District of Columbia Water Science Center (2014-present)
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Geology (Concentration: Hydrogeology), Wright State University
B.S. in Geology, Bowling Green State University
Science and Products
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
Water Use & Water Supply Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
MD-DE-DC WSC Seminar Series
In the pursuit of serving the public world-class science and data through a culture of excellence, our center seminar series is intended to showcase the best of our region's research into our water resources and to promote inter-disciplinary collaborations between federal, state, local governments, academia, and the general public.
Questions? Contact Zach Clifton at zclifton@usgs.gov.
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality of the Anacostia River Watershed
Data Tables Associated with an Analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey's Historical Water-use Data, 1985–2015
Estimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015
Simulation of groundwater flow in the aquifer system of the Anacostia River and surrounding watersheds, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Prioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
Hydrogeology and shallow groundwater quality in the tidal Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Public supply and domestic water use in the United States, 2015
Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and water quality in the Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Area and vicinity, Cecil County, Maryland, 2010-11
Groundwater quality and occurrence and distribution of selected constituents in the Aquia and Upper Patapsco aquifers, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, St. Mary's County, Maryland, July 2008
Pesticides in groundwater in the Anacostia River and Rock Creek watersheds in Washington, D.C., 2005 and 2008
Simulation of Ground-Water Flow and Optimization of Withdrawals from Aquifers at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, St. Mary's County, Maryland
Hydrogeology of the Piney Point-Nanjemoy, Aquia, and Upper Patapsco aquifers, Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Webster Outlying Field, St. Marys County, Maryland, 2000–06
Summary of ground-water-quality data in the Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C., September-December 2005
Summary of water- and sediment-quality data for Anacostia River well sites sampled in July-August 2002
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
The broad goal of the study is to significantly expand data collection at the Northeast Branch Anacostia and Northwest Branch Anacostia to include water-quality sampling and analysis for a wide suite of natural and anthropogenic constituents (nutrients, sediment, metals, bacteria, and organics such as PCBs and PAHs). MD-DE-DC WSC Project #LF00BK4Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
The broad goal of the study is to significantly expand data collection at the Northeast Branch Anacostia and Northwest Branch Anacostia to include water-quality sampling and analysis for a wide suite of natural and anthropogenic constituents (nutrients, sediment, metals, bacteria, and organics such as PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).Water Use & Water Supply Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The MD-DE-DC WSC works with state and local agencies to collect, estimate, review, and compile water use information. Data are used in USGS groundwater and watershed models, and other USGS studies. The data are also compiled and incorporated into the USGS national estimates of water-use. WSC staff currently participate in various national water use projects focused on improving water use estimates...MD-DE-DC WSC Seminar Series
In the pursuit of serving the public world-class science and data through a culture of excellence, our center seminar series is intended to showcase the best of our region's research into our water resources and to promote inter-disciplinary collaborations between federal, state, local governments, academia, and the general public.
Questions? Contact Zach Clifton at zclifton@usgs.gov.
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality of the Anacostia River Watershed
The Anacostia River has been subjected to dredging, filling, contamination, and other human influences for over 200 years. The result of these activities is that the river has been seriously degraded from its natural state. Many groups have been working to reduce the effects of environmental degradation on the water quality and living resources of the Anacostia River, primarily by focusing on... - Data
Data Tables Associated with an Analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey's Historical Water-use Data, 1985–2015
The datasets in this data release contain the results of an analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey's historical water-use data from 1985 to 2015. Data were assessed to determine the top category of water-use by volume. Data from groundwater, surface water, and total water (groundwater plus surface water) use were parsed by water type, and the top category of use by county or the geographic regionEstimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015
This dataset contains water-use estimates for 2015 that are aggregated to the county level in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) National Water Use Science Project is responsible for compiling and disseminating the Nation's water-use data. Working in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies, the USGS has published an estimate of water use in the United States every - Publications
Filter Total Items: 13
Simulation of groundwater flow in the aquifer system of the Anacostia River and surrounding watersheds, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the District Department of Energy & Environment, Water Quality Division, is investigating the hydrogeology of the tidal Anacostia River watershed within Washington, D.C., with the goal of improving understanding of the groundwater-flow system and the interaction of groundwater and surface water in the watershed. To help meet this goal, a three-dimensAuthorsJeff P. Raffensperger, Lois M. Voronin, Cheryl A. DieterPrioritizing river basins for intensive monitoring and assessment by the US Geological Survey
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is currently (2020) integrating its water science programs to better address the nation’s greatest water resource challenges now and into the future. This integration will rely, in part, on data from 10 or more intensively monitored river basins from across the USA. A team of USGS scientists was convened to develop a systematic, quantitative approach to prioritize cAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Sharon Qi, Jeffrey R. Deacon, Cheryl A. Dieter, Jessica M. Driscoll, Michael N. Fienen, Terry A. Kenney, Patrick M. Lambert, David P. Lesmes, Christopher Allen Mason, Anke Mueller-Solger, MaryLynn Musgrove, Jaime A. Painter, Donald O. Rosenberry, Lori A. Sprague, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, David M. WolockHydrogeology and shallow groundwater quality in the tidal Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C.
Groundwater hydrology and geochemistry within the tidal Anacostia River watershed of Washington, D.C. are related to natural and human influences. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the District Department of Energy & Environment, began investigating the hydrogeology and groundwater quality of the watershed in 2002. Lithologic coring, groundwater-level and tidal monitoring, and water-AuthorsScott W. Ator, Judith M. Denver, Cheryl A. DieterEstimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Water use in the United States in 2015 was estimated to be about 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 9 percent less than in 2010. The 2015 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970, following the same overall trend of decreasing total withdrawals observed from 2005 to 2010. Freshwater withdrawals were 281 Bgal/d, or 87 percent of total withdrawals, and salinAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. Maupin, Rodney R. Caldwell, Melissa A. Harris, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyPublic supply and domestic water use in the United States, 2015
IntroductionThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Use Science Project (NWUSP), part of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP), has estimated water use in the United States every 5 years since 1950. This report provides an overview of total population, public-supply use, including the population that is served by public-supply systems and the domestic deliveries to tAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. MaupinHydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and water quality in the Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Area and vicinity, Cecil County, Maryland, 2010-11
In 2009, to support an evaluation of the feasibility of reopening the Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Area (DMCA) in Cecil County, Maryland, for dredge-spoil disposal, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began to implement a comprehensive study designed to improve the understanding of the hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and water quality of shallow aquifers underlying the DMCA and adjacAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Michael T. Koterba, Otto S. Zapecza, Charles W. Walker, Donald E. RiceGroundwater quality and occurrence and distribution of selected constituents in the Aquia and Upper Patapsco aquifers, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, St. Mary's County, Maryland, July 2008
The Naval Air Station Patuxent River in southern Maryland has continued to expand in the first decade of the 21st century, contributing to rapid population growth in the surrounding area. The increase in population has caused State and County water managers and others to be concerned about the impact of population growth on the quantity and quality of groundwater supplies. The U.S. Geological SurvAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Kimberly W. Campo, Anna C. BakerPesticides in groundwater in the Anacostia River and Rock Creek watersheds in Washington, D.C., 2005 and 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the District Department of the Environment, conducted a groundwater-quality investigation to (a) determine the presence, concentrations, and distribution of selected pesticides in groundwater, and (b) assess the presence of pesticides in groundwater in relation to selected landscape, hydrogeologic, and groundwater-quality characteristics in thAuthorsMichael T. Koterba, Cheryl A. Dieter, Cherie V. MillerSimulation of Ground-Water Flow and Optimization of Withdrawals from Aquifers at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, St. Mary's County, Maryland
Potentiometric surfaces in the Piney Point-Nanjemoy, Aquia, and Upper Patapsco aquifers have declined from 1950 through 2000 throughout southern Maryland. In the vicinity of Lexington Park, Maryland, the potentiometric surface in the Aquia aquifer in 2000 was as much as 170 feet below sea level, approximately 150 feet lower than estimated pre-pumping levels before 1940. At the present rate, the waAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, William B. FleckHydrogeology of the Piney Point-Nanjemoy, Aquia, and Upper Patapsco aquifers, Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Webster Outlying Field, St. Marys County, Maryland, 2000–06
Recent and projected population growth in southern Maryland continues to bring ground-water-quality and quantity issues to the forefront. Lithologic, borehole geophysical, water-level, and water-use data were compiled and interpreted to revise understanding of the hydrogeologic framework of the Piney Point-Nanjemoy, Aquia, and Upper Patapsco aquifers in southern Maryland, with emphasis on the NavaAuthorsCheryl A. Klohe, Robert T. KaySummary of ground-water-quality data in the Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C., September-December 2005
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the District Department of the Environment (formerly the District of Columbia, Department of Health, Environmental Health Administration), conducted a ground-water-quality investigation in the Anacostia River watershed within Washington, D.C. Samples were collected and analyzed from 17 ground-water monitoring wells located within the study area fromAuthorsCheryl A. Klohe, Linda M. DebrewerSummary of water- and sediment-quality data for Anacostia River well sites sampled in July-August 2002
This data report is a summary of chemical analyses conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey on ground water and sediment in the tidal Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C. during July-August 2002. Cores were drilled and wells were established at three shoreline sites: two wells at the New York Avenue overpass, two wells at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and one well at Anacostia Park. AdditiAuthorsCherie V. Miller, Cheryl A. KloheNon-USGS Publications**
Ritzi Jr., R. W., D. F. Dominic, A. J. Slesers, C. B. Greer, E. C. Reboulet, J. A. Telford, R. W. Masters, C. A. Klohe, J. L. Bogle, and B. P. Means (2000), Comparing statistical models of physical heterogeneity in buried-valley aquifers, Water Resour. Res., 36(11), 3179–3192, doi:10.1029/2000WR900143.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- News