Unified Interior Regions
Maryland
Maryland's water supply comes from streams, rivers, groundwater and reservoirs. Many of these systems flow to the Chesapeake Bay, the Nation's largest estuary. This complex ecosystem has been degraded due to the impact of human-population increase. The MD-DC-DE Water Science Center studies the impacts this has on water quality, habitats and biological communities.
Maryland - Delaware - Washington D.C. Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: 443-498-5500
Fax: 442-498-5510
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708-4039
Phone: 301-497-5000
Patuxent ResearchStates L2 Landing Page Tabs
Ocean Resources for America's Needs
Our scientists conduct research studies focused on geologic mapping, sampling and understanding of mineral and energy resources and studies of the geologic setting and processes to inform renewable energy development offshore.
Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science
We bring together multidisciplinary expertise focused on developing tools and models to improve understanding of how healthy ecosystems function as well as how they respond to environmental changes and human impacts including ecosystem restoration. Research studies address coral reef, coastal wetland, benthic habitat and groundwater resources.
Hurricane Sandy
Over 160 of our scientists, technicians, and specialists responded to Hurricane Sandy by deploying field equipment and capturing information both before and after the storm. Our Sandy Science Plan identifies major research themes that will guide research to continue the support of the recovery activities.
Chesapeake Bay Water-Quality Loads and Trends
Explore resources here describing water-quality load and trend results for nontidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The health of the Chesapeake Bay is largely driven by changes in streamflow and the amount of pollution it contains. Runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed carries pollutants, such as nutrients and sediments, to rivers and streams that...
USGS Enhances Statistical Techniques to Assess Water-Quality Trends
The USGS has completed more enhancements to our innovative technique to assess water-quality trends. The WRTDS (Weighted Regressions on Time Discharge and Season) method was first published in 2010 as an exploratory data analysis technique for understanding trends in surface water. Subsequently, we published the EGRET (Exploration and Graphics for RivEr Trends) software which implements the...
USGS leads STAC report on Land Management Effects on Water-Quality Status and Trends
The Chesapeake Bay is a degraded eutrophic ecosystem with periodic hypoxia and anoxia, algal blooms, diminished submerged aquatic vegetation, and depleted stocks of finfish, crabs, and oysters (Kemp et al. 2005). Since 1983, the seven jurisdictions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) have...
USGS works with USDA and State Jurisdictions to Enhance Reporting of Agricultural Conservation Practices that Reduce Loss of Nutrients and Sediment in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) is working to enhance reporting of agricultural conservation practices being implemented to reduce the loss of nutrients and sediment from the watershed to Chesapeake Bay. Each year, the six State jurisdictions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed are required to report progress in conservation implementation to the CBP partnership at its Annual Progress Review...
USGS Works with Partners to Study and Summarize Health of Yellow Perch
The USGS works with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to summarize the effects of suburban lands and contaminants on the health of yellow perch in the Chesapeake Bay.
EPA, USGS, with USFWS Release New Report on the Extent and Severity of Toxic Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed
Report summarizing existing information on the extent and severity of the occurrence of toxic contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
Determining Nutrient and Sediment Loads and Trends in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by Using An Enhanced Statistical Technique
As the largest and most productive estuary in North America, Chesapeake Bay is a vital ecological and economic resource. In recent decades, however, the bay and its tributaries have been degraded by excessive inputs of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment from contributing watersheds, and in 1998, the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries were listed as “impaired” under the...
USGS summarizes information about the Chesapeake Bay and implications for ecosystem management (USGS Circular 1316)
The USGS released the Circular 1316: “Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Implications for Environmental Management”
Bacteriological quality of groundwater used for household supply
In fractured bedrock aquifers used for domestic supply conditions can exist where contaminants such as bacteria are not filtered out by the soil. Once in the fracture system, little additional filtration takes place.
The results of a synotic sampling of domestic wells in the Lower Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland, showed that bacteria concentrations were higher in...
The "Best Report" for 2014 is "Hydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2009-12"
Hydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areasThe USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md. suffered major damage to its endangered species captive propagation complex due to the weekend rain and snowstorm.
Parking-lot sealants as toxics sources, Delaware River basin and New York harbor studies and what’s this about inter-sexed fish? These are among the topics U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists will discuss at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting at the Baltimore, (Md.) Convention Center on Nov. 13-17. The meeting is expected to attract more than 2,500...
U.S. Geological Survey fisheries biologists in Gainesville, Fla., have confirmed the presence of the voracious non-native northern snakehead fish in Meadow Lake in Queens, N.Y. Five specimens have been collected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from the lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park since early July.
This prestigious award was presented to EROS in recognition of 34 years of continuous and dedicated service of the entire civil service and contractor staff of the Sioux Falls, S.D., National Center for its outstanding leadership and service in enabling access to and use of the Nation’s land remote sensing data.
Dr. Ghassem Asrar, National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Science Deputy Associate Administrator, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director, Dr. Charles "Chip" Groat, representing the Department of the Interior (DOI) made the 31st annual presentation of the William T. Pecora Award to the USGS National Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science...
A whooping crane that was shot earlier this month in Kansas is showing signs of recovery, although Dr. Glenn Olsen, the veterinarian treating the bird at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., says it’s too soon to know whether it will be able to return to the wild.
A whooping crane that was shot earlier this month in Kansas is showing signs of recovery, although Dr. Glenn Olsen, the veterinarian treating the bird at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., says it’s too soon to know whether it will be able to return to the wild.
What happens when a comet or asteroid more than a mile wide slams into the Earth at supersonic speed? U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists, with help from students and professors from Virginia Tech University, are about to find out as they begin a seismic survey of the 35-million-year old Chesapeake Bay impact crater.
The U.S. Geological Survey alerted state and federal agencies today to the increased potential for landslides in the mountainous regions of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland due to anticipated heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ivan.
The U.S. Geological Survey alerted state and federal agencies today to the increased potential for landslides in the mountainous regions of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland due to anticipated heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ivan.
America’s rivers and streams are generally suitable for irrigation, supplying drinking water, and home and recreational uses. However, in areas with significant agricultural and urban development, the quality of our nation’s water resources has been degraded by contaminants such as pesticides, nutrients, and gasoline-related compounds.
America’s rivers and streams are generally suitable for irrigation, supplying drinking water, and home and recreational uses. However, in areas with significant agricultural and urban development, the quality of our nation’s water resources has been degraded by contaminants such as pesticides, nutrients, and gasoline-related compounds.
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Locations
Chesapeake Bay Program
Phone: (800) YOUR-BAY (968-7229)
Fax: (410) 267-5777
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
webmaster@patuxent.usgs.gov
Phone: 301 497-5500
MD-DE-DC Water Science Center
information@usgs.gov
Phone: 443-498-5500
Fax: 442-498-5510
Chesapeake Bay Activities
Phone: 443-498-5552
Fax: 443-498-5510
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center - Beltsville Lab
Office of External Research
Phone: (443) 498-5505
Fax: (703) 648-5002
Contacts
Maryland - Delaware - Washington D.C. Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: 443-498-5500
Fax: 442-498-5510
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708-4039
Phone: 301-497-5000
Patuxent Research