Since 1995, I have served as coordinator for USGS science activities for the Chesapeake Bay Program, which is one of the largest ecosystem restoration efforts in the Nation. The activities includes development of multi-disciplinary science plans; and working with teams to summarize complex technical information into key findings to inform decision makers.
Professional Experience
United States Geological Survey, Chesapeake Bay Coordinator (October 1995 to present)
- Serves as coordinator and liaison for USGS activities involved with management and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Primary duty is coordination of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Studies, which involves about 30 USGS projects. Acts as the primary USGS liaison to the Chesapeake Bay Program by serving on several the Subcommittees (Implementation, Monitoring, and Scientific and Technical Advisory) and workgroups (Nontidal Tributaries, Chair; Sediment, and Water Quality Technical workgroup). Integrates the USGS findings with other Federal and State agencies and academic institutions involved in the Bay restoration.
United States Geological Survey, Water-Quality Specialist (January 1991 to October 1995)
- Served as technical specialist in all matters pertaining to quality of water conducted by USGS with the Mid-Atlantic area. Provided direct technical support to approximately 45 interpretive projects including project planning, formulating monitoring and data collection approach, data interpretation, and report review. Participant in the Chesapeake Bay Program through membership on monitoring subcommittee and associated workgroups. Provided communication and exchange of technical information between USGS and other agencies.
Geraghty and Miller, Inc, Senior Scientist (November 1989 to December 1990)
- Served as Groundwater group leader, project manager, and principle investigator for a variety of Groundwater and hazardous-waste projects. The projects included CERCLA Hazardous Waste Remedial Investigations, RCRA Post-Closure Permit studies; water-supply and well-field design studies, characterization of Groundwater flow and quality underlying landfill sites, and environmental assessments.
United States Geological Survey, Hydrologist (December 1983 to November 1989)
- Principle investigator for hazardous-waste characterizations, Groundwater flow modeling, and Groundwater supply and quality projects in Maryland and Delaware. Projects included study of Groundwater/surface-water interactions, contaminant transport, and low-temperature aqueous geochemistry.
Select Publications
Philips, S.W. and Blomquist, J.D. editors, 2015 U.S. Geological Survey Chesapeake science strategy, 2015-2025—Informing ecosystem management of America’s largest estuary, Open-File Report 2015-1162, 43 p.
Lyerly CM, Hernandez Cordero AL, Foreman KL, Phillips SW, Dennison WC (editors), 2014, New Insights: Science-based evidence of water quality improvements, challenges, and opportunities in the Chesapeake, 48p.,
US Environmental Protection Agency, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2012, Toxic Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed: Extent and Severity of Occurrence and Potential Biological Effects, USEP
Education and Certifications
M.S. Hydrogeology, George Washington University
B.S. Geology, James Madison University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 41
A Science-Based Approach for Targeting Resources to Achieve Multiple Chesapeake Outcomes
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) needs to accelerate progress on multiple outcomes to meet deadlines in the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. The CBP partnership spends about $1.2B annually on activities toward achieving the Watershed Agreement, with a focus on water-quality improvement. Recent funding increases, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide additional opportunities to...
USGS Part of New Federal Effort to Address Climate Change in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: The federal government will work together to implement the Chesapeake Executive Council Directive No. 21-1 Collective Action for Climate Change, recognizing that urgent attention is needed to confront the challenges that a changing climate poses to the Chesapeake Bay region. The Directive emphasizes the importance of the “…resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including its living...
USGS Integrates Findings about Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: Studies in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have documented the exposure of fish to toxic contaminants including endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) - compounds which can alter normal hormonal function in organisms. Given the importance of fisheries to the economic and environmental health of the Watershed, observed endocrine disruption and fish kills in the Watershed have raised public and...
USGS Updates Chesapeake Science Strategy
Issue: For decades the USGS has provided critical science used to understand and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. As the ecosystem is faced with new and evolving pressures from climate change, human development and changes in land use, the USGS has updated its science priorities to help address these growing threats. Tourism, fishing, boating, agricultural production, shipping...
USGS Contributes to New Chesapeake Bay Barometer
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) released the 2019-2020 Bay Barometer, an annual report on progress made toward the goals and selected outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014, has 10 and 31 outcomes, most with a target date of 2025. This year’s Bay Barometer has highlights for all 10 goals and reported progress on 12 outcomes.
USGS Contributes to Revised Plans for Chesapeake Water-Quality and Toxic Contaminant Goal
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), through the Strategic Review System (SRS), reviews progress toward the 10 goals and associated outcomes of the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. Each outcome is managed by a specific CBP Goal Implementation Team and their associated workgroups. During review of each outcome every two years, a workgroup is responsible to prepare materials for (1) summarizing...
Fact Sheet Summarizes Nutrient Trends and Drivers in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: Trends in nitrogen and phosphorus, and the complex factors affecting their change, provide important insights into the effectiveness of efforts to reduce nutrients from reaching the tidal waters of the Bay. The nutrient reductions are needed to improve water-quality conditions in the tidal waters for fisheries and submerged aquatic vegetation.
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2007
The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, the Nation's largest estuary, is continually challenged by the population increase in its 64,000 square mile watershed. Since the mid-1980s, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), a multi-agency partnership has worked to improve water quality, increase habitat, and restore living resources in the Bay. However, the lack of significant improvement in the Bay...
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2012
In its expanded role under the President’s Chesapeake Bay Executive Order (EO), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals. The USGS Chesapeake Bay studies depend on collaboration among Priority...
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2011
In its expanded role under the President's Chesapeake Bay Executive Order, the U.S. Geological Survey has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals.
Science and Products
- Publications
- Science
Filter Total Items: 41
A Science-Based Approach for Targeting Resources to Achieve Multiple Chesapeake Outcomes
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) needs to accelerate progress on multiple outcomes to meet deadlines in the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. The CBP partnership spends about $1.2B annually on activities toward achieving the Watershed Agreement, with a focus on water-quality improvement. Recent funding increases, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide additional opportunities to...USGS Part of New Federal Effort to Address Climate Change in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: The federal government will work together to implement the Chesapeake Executive Council Directive No. 21-1 Collective Action for Climate Change, recognizing that urgent attention is needed to confront the challenges that a changing climate poses to the Chesapeake Bay region. The Directive emphasizes the importance of the “…resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including its living...USGS Integrates Findings about Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: Studies in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have documented the exposure of fish to toxic contaminants including endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) - compounds which can alter normal hormonal function in organisms. Given the importance of fisheries to the economic and environmental health of the Watershed, observed endocrine disruption and fish kills in the Watershed have raised public and...USGS Updates Chesapeake Science Strategy
Issue: For decades the USGS has provided critical science used to understand and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. As the ecosystem is faced with new and evolving pressures from climate change, human development and changes in land use, the USGS has updated its science priorities to help address these growing threats. Tourism, fishing, boating, agricultural production, shipping...USGS Contributes to New Chesapeake Bay Barometer
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) released the 2019-2020 Bay Barometer, an annual report on progress made toward the goals and selected outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014, has 10 and 31 outcomes, most with a target date of 2025. This year’s Bay Barometer has highlights for all 10 goals and reported progress on 12 outcomes.USGS Contributes to Revised Plans for Chesapeake Water-Quality and Toxic Contaminant Goal
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), through the Strategic Review System (SRS), reviews progress toward the 10 goals and associated outcomes of the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. Each outcome is managed by a specific CBP Goal Implementation Team and their associated workgroups. During review of each outcome every two years, a workgroup is responsible to prepare materials for (1) summarizing...Fact Sheet Summarizes Nutrient Trends and Drivers in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: Trends in nitrogen and phosphorus, and the complex factors affecting their change, provide important insights into the effectiveness of efforts to reduce nutrients from reaching the tidal waters of the Bay. The nutrient reductions are needed to improve water-quality conditions in the tidal waters for fisheries and submerged aquatic vegetation.USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2007
The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, the Nation's largest estuary, is continually challenged by the population increase in its 64,000 square mile watershed. Since the mid-1980s, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), a multi-agency partnership has worked to improve water quality, increase habitat, and restore living resources in the Bay. However, the lack of significant improvement in the Bay...USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2012
In its expanded role under the President’s Chesapeake Bay Executive Order (EO), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals. The USGS Chesapeake Bay studies depend on collaboration among Priority...USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2011
In its expanded role under the President's Chesapeake Bay Executive Order, the U.S. Geological Survey has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals. - News
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