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The Shenandoah river during a harmful algal bloom event. The water is green and thick mats of algae coat the riverbed.
Harmful Algal Bloom in the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Harmful Algal Bloom in the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Harmful Algal Bloom in the North Fork of the Shenandoah River

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) event in the Shenandoah River's North Fork. Note the greenish color of the water and the thick mats of stringy algae coating the riverbed.

Photograph of Clay Pad with debris on top.
Clay Pad After One Year of Deposition
Clay Pad After One Year of Deposition
Clay Pad After One Year of Deposition

Clay pads are used to monitor sediment deposition in the Long Branch watershed in Fairfax, Virginia. Once installed, the amount of sediment deposited atop the clay pad can be periodically measured. This clay pad is obscured by one year's worth of sediment deposition.

Clay pads are used to monitor sediment deposition in the Long Branch watershed in Fairfax, Virginia. Once installed, the amount of sediment deposited atop the clay pad can be periodically measured. This clay pad is obscured by one year's worth of sediment deposition.

An urban creek with heavily eroded edges and a fallen tree.
Accotink Creek near Annandale
Accotink Creek near Annandale
Accotink Creek near Annandale

Accotink Creek is an urban creek in the Potomac watershed. Like many urban streams, it suffers from bank erosion, leading to high suspended sediment loads, steep banks, and fallen trees.

Accotink Creek is an urban creek in the Potomac watershed. Like many urban streams, it suffers from bank erosion, leading to high suspended sediment loads, steep banks, and fallen trees.

A hydrotech takes readings in a shallow urban stream using a water quality sonde.
Measuring water quality parameters at Accotink Creek
Measuring water quality parameters at Accotink Creek
Measuring water quality parameters at Accotink Creek

A USGS hydrotech uses a water quality sonde to measure conditions at Accotink Creek Near Annandale, VA. This monitoring station is part of the USGS nontidal network.

USGS Surveyor works by bank of Lake Anna
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia

Photo of Blake Dudding, USGS, performing a survey on the banks of Lake Anna, Virginia 

USGS monitoring station next to Roadside signpost stating entering Louisa, leaving Orange
Tributaries upstream of Lake Anna are monitored to evaluate their effects on HABs
Tributaries upstream of Lake Anna are monitored to evaluate their effects on HABs
View of Lake Anna from shore, Springtime
Continuous monitoring of Lake Anna
Continuous monitoring of Lake Anna
Continuous monitoring of Lake Anna

Lake Anna is a lake in Virginia impacted by Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs. Note the greenish color of the water. This is caused by an excess of algae, some species of which could be toxic.

Lake Anna is a lake in Virginia impacted by Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs. Note the greenish color of the water. This is caused by an excess of algae, some species of which could be toxic.

 USGS scientist on Lake Anna dock.
Monitoring the Lake in All Conditions
Monitoring the Lake in All Conditions
Monitoring the Lake in All Conditions

Brendan Foster, a USGS scientist, collects a water quality sample from a Lake Anna dock. 

USGS scientists are exploring factors driving Harmful Algal Blooms. Learn more here.

Brendan Foster, a USGS scientist, collects a water quality sample from a Lake Anna dock. 

USGS scientists are exploring factors driving Harmful Algal Blooms. Learn more here.

USGS Scientist taking and sealing algal samples on dock, Lake Anna, Virginia.
USGS Scientist Taking Algal Samples, Lake Anna
USGS Scientist Taking Algal Samples, Lake Anna
USGS Scientist Taking Algal Samples, Lake Anna

USGS Scientist Brendan Foster taking and sealing an algal sample on a dock at Lake Anna, Virginia.

Six scientists in life vests gather and set up water quality monitoring equipment on a dock.
Scientists Monitoring HABS on Lake Anna
Scientists Monitoring HABS on Lake Anna
Scientists Monitoring HABS on Lake Anna

Scientists from the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center setting up a water quality monitoring station on Lake Anna

Scientists from the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center setting up a water quality monitoring station on Lake Anna

Cableway training session conducted during annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia
Cableway training session conducted during annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia
Cableway training session conducted during annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia
Cableway training session conducted during annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia

A cableway training session conducted during the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center's annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia. Photo is taken at a streamgage at Maury River near Buena Vista, Virginia.

Spring 2023 Photo Contest Winner: Carson Wright, People category

A cableway training session conducted during the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center's annual data summit in Lexington, Virginia. Photo is taken at a streamgage at Maury River near Buena Vista, Virginia.

Spring 2023 Photo Contest Winner: Carson Wright, People category

A USGS geologist monitors the sediments coming up out of a drill rig
Geologists Monitoring Sediment during West Point Extensometer Drilling
Geologists Monitoring Sediment during West Point Extensometer Drilling
Geologists Monitoring Sediment during West Point Extensometer Drilling

While drilling the 1420-foot-deep borehole for the West Point Extensometer, USGS geologists take the opportunity to learn all they can about the underlying geology. As they drill deeper, sediments are pumped out of the borehole. Geologists take samples of the sediments every 20 feet and note their composition.

While drilling the 1420-foot-deep borehole for the West Point Extensometer, USGS geologists take the opportunity to learn all they can about the underlying geology. As they drill deeper, sediments are pumped out of the borehole. Geologists take samples of the sediments every 20 feet and note their composition.

Crest stage gage, which resembles a capped pipe set into the streambank.
Crest state gage
Crest state gage
Crest state gage

A USGS crest stage gage used for measuring peak flow. Part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.

A USGS crest stage gage used for measuring peak flow. Part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.

Gage house containing water quality monitoring equipment
Gage House at Dead Run
Gage House at Dead Run
Gage House at Dead Run

The water quality monitoring station at Dead Run. The gage house contains water quality monitoring equipment inside. Part of the Fairfax Water Resources Monitoring Network.

The water quality monitoring station at Dead Run. The gage house contains water quality monitoring equipment inside. Part of the Fairfax Water Resources Monitoring Network.

In a stormwater drain, a bilge pump sprays water at a sonde to rid it of algae.
Sonde Cleaning at Rivers Ridge Storm Drain, Hampton Roads
Sonde Cleaning at Rivers Ridge Storm Drain, Hampton Roads
Sonde Cleaning at Rivers Ridge Storm Drain, Hampton Roads

Water quality sondes collect continuous data from stormwater monitoring sites, but can often become fouled with algae, which interferes with the sonde's ability to collect accurate data. To keep these sondes clean between field visits, remote-activated bilge pumps are used to blast the algae from the sondes.

Water quality sondes collect continuous data from stormwater monitoring sites, but can often become fouled with algae, which interferes with the sonde's ability to collect accurate data. To keep these sondes clean between field visits, remote-activated bilge pumps are used to blast the algae from the sondes.

2d and 3d representations of the aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems

The Virginia Coastal Plain is the relatively flat region east of the fall line characterized by a wedge of coarse permeable sediments with interbedded layers of less-permeable silts and clays that thickens towards the east. The region has multiple layered aquifers, including the Potomac aquifer system.

The Virginia Coastal Plain is the relatively flat region east of the fall line characterized by a wedge of coarse permeable sediments with interbedded layers of less-permeable silts and clays that thickens towards the east. The region has multiple layered aquifers, including the Potomac aquifer system.

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