Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Jason P. Pope

Jason Pope is a hydrologist at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center.

Jason has been an employee of the USGS since 2001. He has investigated a variety of topics related to groundwater in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, including aquifer-system compaction and land subsidence, regional groundwater flow and availability, interpretation and mapping of hydrostratigraphy, estimation of water withdrawal and use, groundwater residence time, and water quality. His technical interests include the management and analysis of geospatial data, computer modeling of groundwater flow, techniques for estimating various components of water withdrawal and use, and measurement of aquifer-system compaction.

 

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Hydrogeosciences, Geosciences, Virginia Tech. Thesis: Characterization and modeling of land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawals from the confined aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain.

  • B.S. Environmental Studies, Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina at Asheville. Undergraduate Research: Phosphorus retention in a high-elevation southeastern reservoir system.

     

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 19

Machine-learning models to map pH and redox conditions in groundwater in a layered aquifer system, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, eastern USA

Study regionThe study was conducted in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, in the eastern USA.Study focusGroundwater pH and redox conditions are fundamental chemical characteristics controlling the distribution of many contaminants of concern for drinking water or the ecological health of receiving waters. In this study, pH and redox conditions were modeled and mapped in a complex,
Authors
Leslie A. DeSimone, Jason P. Pope, Katherine Marie Ransom
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Documentation of a groundwater flow model developed to assess groundwater availability in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system from Long Island, New York, to North Carolina

The U.S. Geological Survey developed a groundwater flow model for the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system from Long Island, New York, to northeastern North Carolina as part of a detailed assessment of the groundwater availability of the area and included an evaluation of how these resources have changed over time from stresses related to human uses and climate trends. The assessment was
Authors
John P. Masterson, Jason P. Pope, Michael N. Fienen, Jack Monti, Jr., Mark R. Nardi, Jason S. Finkelstein
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), New England Water Science Center

Sustainability of groundwater supplies in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system

Groundwater is the Nation’s principal reserve of freshwater. It provides about half our drinking water, is essential to food production, and facilitates business and industry in developing economic well-being. Groundwater is also an important source of water for sustaining the ecosystem health of rivers, wetlands, and estuaries throughout the country. The decreases in groundwater levels and other
Authors
John P. Masterson, Jason P. Pope
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Assessment of groundwater availability in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system From Long Island, New York, to North Carolina

Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey began a multiyear regional assessment of groundwater availability in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain (NACP) aquifer system in 2010 as part of its ongoing regional assessments of groundwater availability of the principal aquifers of the Nation. The goals of this national assessment are to document effects of human activities on water levels and ground
Authors
John P. Masterson, Jason P. Pope, Michael N. Fienen, Jack Monti, Jr., Mark R. Nardi, Jason S. Finkelstein
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), New England Water Science Center

Digital elevations and extents of regional hydrogeologic units in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system from Long Island, New York, to North Carolina

Digital geospatial datasets of the extents and top elevations of the regional hydrogeologic units of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system from Long Island, New York, to northeastern North Carolina were developed to provide an updated hydrogeologic framework to support analysis of groundwater resources. The 19 regional hydrogeologic units were delineated by elevation grids and extent
Authors
Jason P. Pope, David C. Andreasen, E. Randolph Mcfarland, Martha K. Watt
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Estimating mean long-term hydrologic budget components for watersheds and counties: An application to the commonwealth of Virginia, USA

Mean long-term hydrologic budget components, such as recharge and base flow, are often difficult to estimate because they can vary substantially in space and time. Mean long-term fluxes were calculated in this study for precipitation, surface runoff, infiltration, total evapotranspiration (ET), riparian ET, recharge, base flow (or groundwater discharge) and net total outflow using long-term estima
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, David L. Nelms, Jason P. Pope, David L. Selnick
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Land subsidence and relative sea-level rise in the southern Chesapeake Bay region

The southern Chesapeake Bay region is experiencing land subsidence and rising water levels due to global sea-level rise; land subsidence and rising water levels combine to cause relative sea-level rise. Land subsidence has been observed since the 1940s in the southern Chesapeake Bay region at rates of 1.1 to 4.8 millimeters per year (mm/yr), and subsidence continues today. This land subsidence he
Authors
Jack Eggleston, Jason Pope
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center, Water Science School

Hydrogeology and hydrologic conditions of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer System from Long Island, New York, to North Carolina

The seaward-dipping sedimentary wedge that underlies the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain forms a complex groundwater system. This major source of water provides for public and domestic supply and serves as a vital source of freshwater for industrial and agricultural uses throughout the region. Population increases and land-use and climate changes, however, have led to competing demands for water.
Authors
John P. Masterson, Jason P. Pope, Jack Monti, Mark R. Nardi, Jason S. Finkelstein, Kurt J. McCoy
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Quantifying groundwater’s role in delaying improvements to Chesapeake Bay water quality

A study has been undertaken to determine the time required for the effects of nitrogen-reducing best management practices (BMPs) implemented at the land surface to reach the Chesapeake Bay via groundwater transport to streams. To accomplish this, a nitrogen mass-balance regression (NMBR) model was developed and applied to seven watersheds on the Delmarva Peninsula. The model included the distribut
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, Jason P. Pope
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Simulation of groundwater flow in the shallow aquifer system of the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland and Delaware

Estimating future loadings of nitrogen to the Chesapeake Bay requires knowledge about the groundwater flow system and the traveltime of water and chemicals between recharge at the water table and the discharge to streams and directly to the bay. The Delmarva Peninsula has a relatively large proportion of its land devoted to agriculture and a large associated nitrogen load in groundwater that has t
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, Jason P. Pope, David L. Selnick, Ryan F. Stumvoll
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Quantifying components of the hydrologic cycle in Virginia using chemical hydrograph separation and multiple regression analysis

This study by the U.S. Geological Survey, prepared in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, quantifies the components of the hydrologic cycle across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Long-term, mean fluxes were calculated for precipitation, surface runoff, infiltration, total evapotranspiration (ET), riparian ET, recharge, base flow (or groundwater discharge) and net total
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, David L. Nelms, Jason P. Pope, David L. Selnick
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Characterization of major-ion chemistry and nutrients in headwater streams along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and within adjacent watersheds, Maine to Georgia

An inventory of water-quality data on field parameters, major ions, and nutrients provided a summary of water quality in headwater (first- and second-order) streams within watersheds along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Appalachian Trail). Data from 1,817 sampling sites in 831 catchments were used for the water-quality summary. Catchment delineations from NHDPlus were used as the fundament
Authors
Denise M. Argue, Jason P. Pope, Fred Dieffenbach
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
link
Map of the Virginia coastal plain with the locations of USGS extensometers and the severity of groundwater drawdown

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
link

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
Learn More
link
Virginia Eastern Shore Groundwater Project

Virginia Eastern Shore Groundwater Resources

Informed management of groundwater resources for the Eastern Shore of Virginia depends on the availability of detailed and up-to-date scientific information. The USGS and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are conducting a long-term cooperative study to enhance the understanding of groundwater resources in the sole-source aquifer system beneath Accomack and Northampton counties...
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
link

Virginia Eastern Shore Groundwater Resources

Informed management of groundwater resources for the Eastern Shore of Virginia depends on the availability of detailed and up-to-date scientific information. The USGS and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are conducting a long-term cooperative study to enhance the understanding of groundwater resources in the sole-source aquifer system beneath Accomack and Northampton counties...
Learn More
link
A Map of the Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer

Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Analysis

Groundwater is a heavily used source of water in the Virginia Coastal Plain. Long term and widespread groundwater withdrawals have resulted in regional water-level declines, and created the potential for saltwater intrusion. Sound management of this vital resource relies on continual improvement of the scientific understanding of the aquifer system.
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
link

Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Analysis

Groundwater is a heavily used source of water in the Virginia Coastal Plain. Long term and widespread groundwater withdrawals have resulted in regional water-level declines, and created the potential for saltwater intrusion. Sound management of this vital resource relies on continual improvement of the scientific understanding of the aquifer system.
Learn More

Data used to model and map pH and redox conditions in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, eastern USA

Data used to model and map pH and redox conditions in groundwater in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system, eastern USA, are documented in this data release. The models use as input data measurements of pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations at about 3000 to 5000 wells, which were compiled primarily from U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency databases. The bo
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Photo of the franklin extensometer before it was damaged by aquifer recovery. The fulcrum arm is level with the ground.
link
A photo of the Franklin Extensometer after it had been damaged by aquifer recovery
link
The original Franklin extensometer after it was damaged by aquifer rebound. The pipe is bent and the fulcrum is crooked.
link
Five USGS scientists inspect equipment at the land subsidence research site in Franklin, Virginia.
link
Photo of the franklin extensometer before it was damaged by aquifer recovery. The fulcrum arm is level with the ground.
link
A photograph of the original Franklin extensometer.
link

Interactive Map: Monitoring Virginia Eastern Shore Groundwater Conditions

Groundwater levels in layered aquifer systems like the Virginia Eastern Shore are often monitored using wells in multiple aquifers at the same location. Colors in the simplified cross-section illustration below correspond to the circles representing wells on the map. The list of monitoring-well layers can be used to control the map display of wells for individual aquifers. 

By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Interactive Map: Virginia and West Virginia Groundwater Levels and Trends

The Virginia and West Virginia Groundwater Levels and Trends web application provides access to groundwater level data from continuous groundwater wells across Virginia and West Virginia. Continuous wells include real time and non-real time wells. Data update daily and are compared to long-term monthly statistics.

By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Geonarrative: Land Motion and Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Along the coast of Virginia, the USGS and our partners are constantly monitoring our land and waters in new and innovative ways. In Virginia, scientists at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Sciences Center are drilling deep into the Earth to assess the impacts of groundwater use. By studying the impacts of groundwater use, scientists can determine associated risks, such as land subsidence.

By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

Science and Products