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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.

Map of the US shaded by principal aquifer.  Wells that were sampled are symbolized with circles
Principal aquifers and wells assessed in nationwide NAWQA/GAMA groundwater quality study
Principal aquifers and wells assessed in nationwide NAWQA/GAMA groundwater quality study
Principal aquifers and wells assessed in nationwide NAWQA/GAMA groundwater quality study

Map showing principal aquifers (PAs) and wells that were sampled as part of a Nationwide assessment of the quality of groundwater used for public supply.  

Measuring groundwater levels in a USGS well using a metal tape.
Groundwater Monitoring Well - Franklin, Virginia
Groundwater Monitoring Well - Franklin, Virginia
Groundwater Monitoring Well - Franklin, Virginia

The USGS well at Franklin, Virginia (USGS 364059076544901 55B 16) constantly monitors water levels in the Potomac Aquifer and provides scientists with a record of water levels going as far

The USGS well at Franklin, Virginia (USGS 364059076544901 55B 16) constantly monitors water levels in the Potomac Aquifer and provides scientists with a record of water levels going as far

USGS scientist sets up a GPS tripod in a field
GPS tripod used in geodedic surveys of eastern Virginia
GPS tripod used in geodedic surveys of eastern Virginia
GPS tripod used in geodedic surveys of eastern Virginia

USGS scientist Jim Duda sets up a GPS tripod in preparation for a geodetic survey on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

View of a sandy beach with vegetation and a blue sky and ocean in the background.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore

sUAS coastal Imagery collected by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM) at Assateague Island National Seashore October 10-14th 2022.

sUAS coastal Imagery collected by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM) at Assateague Island National Seashore October 10-14th 2022.

Side-by-side panels to show forest harvested for timber for the development of solar fields in southwest Cumberland County, V
Side-by-side panels to show forest harvested for timber for the development of solar fields in southwest Cumberland County, Virginia from 2014-2018
Side-by-side panels to show forest harvested for timber for the development of solar fields in southwest Cumberland County, Virginia from 2014-2018
Map of the Virginia coastal plain with the locations of USGS extensometers and the severity of groundwater drawdown
Virginia Extensometer Network
Virginia Extensometer Network
Virginia Extensometer Network

This map shows the locations of the four existing extensometers (red) in the USGS' Virginia Extensometer Network with the location of a fifth future extensometer (green). The basemap is of the Virginia Coastal Plain and shows the severity of groundwater depletion, with darker blue indicating greater groundwater depletion. 

This map shows the locations of the four existing extensometers (red) in the USGS' Virginia Extensometer Network with the location of a fifth future extensometer (green). The basemap is of the Virginia Coastal Plain and shows the severity of groundwater depletion, with darker blue indicating greater groundwater depletion. 

Close up photo of the nansemond extensometer, showing the counter-weight, fulcrum arm, and pressure gauge.
The USGS Nansemond Extensometer
The USGS Nansemond Extensometer
The USGS Nansemond Extensometer

The USGS Nansemond pipe extensometer (59D 39) with a total depth of 1,960 feet. Data for this site can be found on USGS Water Data for the Nation.

The USGS Nansemond pipe extensometer (59D 39) with a total depth of 1,960 feet. Data for this site can be found on USGS Water Data for the Nation.

A USGS scientists stands in a stream, measuring stream discharge.
Measuring discharge - The Glade, Reston, VA
Measuring discharge - The Glade, Reston, VA
Measuring discharge - The Glade, Reston, VA

A USGS scientist measures stream discharge at The Glade, an urban stream in Reston, Virginia.

A USGS Scientist with a net samples for macroinvertibrates in a stream.
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling – The Glade, Reston, VA
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling – The Glade, Reston, VA
A USGS scientist holds out a larval dragonfly caught during ecological sampling.
Larval Dragonfly
Larval Dragonfly
Larval Dragonfly

A USGS researcher shows off a dragonfly larva found during benthic macroinvertibrate sampling in Reston, Virginia.

A USGS researcher shows off a dragonfly larva found during benthic macroinvertibrate sampling in Reston, Virginia.

Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

An eroded urban streambank
Streambank Erosion at Little Difficult Run
Streambank Erosion at Little Difficult Run
Streambank Erosion at Little Difficult Run

The water quality monitoring site at Little Difficult Run in Fairfax County, Virginia. The banks of this urban stream are eroding, contributing to elevated loads of suspended sediment to downstream water bodies. Little Difficult Run is a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network. 

The water quality monitoring site at Little Difficult Run in Fairfax County, Virginia. The banks of this urban stream are eroding, contributing to elevated loads of suspended sediment to downstream water bodies. Little Difficult Run is a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network. 

Monitoring site at an urban stream with an eroding streambank
Monitoring Site at Little Difficult Run
Monitoring Site at Little Difficult Run
Monitoring Site at Little Difficult Run

The water quality monitoring site at Little Difficult Run in Fairfax County, Virginia. A staff gage, which is used to measure water depth, is installed on the far bank, and a submerged water quality monitoring sonde is affixed to the streambed. Little Difficult Run is a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network. 

The water quality monitoring site at Little Difficult Run in Fairfax County, Virginia. A staff gage, which is used to measure water depth, is installed on the far bank, and a submerged water quality monitoring sonde is affixed to the streambed. Little Difficult Run is a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network. 

Creek flowing through rocky terrain with small rapids
Cedar Creek, tributary of the James River, Virginia
Cedar Creek, tributary of the James River, Virginia
Cedar Creek, tributary of the James River, Virginia

Cedar Creek, tributary of the James River, Virginia flows through the Natural Bridge rock formation in Gilmore Mills, Rockbridge County Virginia. 

Cedar Creek, tributary of the James River, Virginia flows through the Natural Bridge rock formation in Gilmore Mills, Rockbridge County Virginia. 

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