Mary Kay Foley is the Center Director of the US Geological Survey Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center (WSC).
The WSC includes approximately 80 scientists and technicians engaged in collecting and interpreting water data including surface water, groundwater, water use, and water quality including site remediation.
Mary Kay joined the USGS in 2015 after twenty three years with the US Army. As Director for the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center, high profile projects include Chesapeake Bay water quality trend analysis, National Water Quality Assessments and data collection and analysis for multiple Federal, State, County, local governments and research partners.
Professional Experience
Mary Kay spent eleven years with the US Army Corps of Engineers (Buffalo District) working as hydrologist, project engineer, and project manager for water resource and hazardous waste cleanup projects. She spent four years as Environmental Division Chief at the Department of Public Works US Army Garrison Mannheim Germany.
Before joining the USGS, Mary Kay ran the US Army European Region Cleanup program, including 119 sites with a $160M cost to complete.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from SUNY Buffalo, and is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional.
Science and Products
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
Water Use & Water Supply Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Geomorphology and Sediment 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.
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 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...Geomorphology and Sediment Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Geomorphology is classified as the study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near the Earth's surface. Adding water creates a whole new dynamic known as Fluvial Morphology. Rivers and streams act as conduits of water along with sediment. As water flows over the channel bed, it is able to mobilize...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.
- News