Wastewater reuse may be detrimental to smallmouth bass abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed
Chesapeake Publication Receives National Award for Outstanding Technology Paper
Geospatial Analyses and Applications Core Technology Team
Newsletter: October 2023-March 2024
Fostering Diversity in Science
Scientists ponder: How well are ag practices helping the Chesapeake Bay?
Publications
Discover Chesapeake related science in reports and journal articles authored by USGS scientists
Discover Chesapeake related science in reports and journal articles authored by USGS scientists
Chesapeake Bay Activities
The Chesapeake Bay is our Nation’s largest estuary and provides over $100 billion in annual economic value. The USGS works with Federal, State, local, and academic partners to provide research and monitoring and to communicate results to inform management for the Chesapeake and other important landscapes across the Nation.
Reducing nutrient and sediment loads in agricultural watersheds
Reducing nutrient and sediment loads in agricultural watersheds
Agricultural activities and natural factors may offset nutrient and sediment reductions from management activities.
Phosphorus in the Susquehanna River may be tied to legacy sediment and changing pH
Phosphorus in the Susquehanna River may be tied to legacy sediment and changing pH
In addition to nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban areas, this river has historically had a slightly acidic pH (<7) due to acid drainage from widespread coal mining and atmospheric deposition.
Quick Links
Quick Links
Learn more about USGS science activities in the Bay from our Science Strategy. Additional summaries of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities are available in the science topics section.
News
EPA sets limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
EPA sets limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
Chesapeake Quarterly‘s Complicated Contaminants: Finding PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Quarterly‘s Complicated Contaminants: Finding PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Activities Newsletter October 2023-March 2024
Chesapeake Bay Activities Newsletter October 2023-March 2024
Publications
Evaluating the effectiveness of joint species distribution modeling for fresh water fish communities within large watersheds
Accurately predicting species’ distributions is critical for the management and conservation of fish and wildlife populations. Joint Species Distribution Models (JSDMs) account for dependencies between species often ignored by traditional species distribution models. We evaluated how a JSDM approach could improve predictive strength for stream fish communities within large watersheds (the Chesapea
Integrated science for the study of microplastics in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey
Executive SummaryEvidence of the widespread occurrence of microplastics throughout our environment and exposure to humans and other organisms over the past decade has led to questions about the possibility of health hazards and mitigation of exposures. This document discusses nanoplastics as well as microplastics (referred to solely as microplastics); the microplastics have a range from 1 micromet
Evaluating an improved systems approach to wetland crediting: Consideration of wetland ecosystem services
The Chesapeake Bay Agreement (CBA) has numerous direct goals for improving habitat, living resources, and water quality, conserving lands, engaging communities and addressing a changing climate. To date, the progress toward the wetlands outcome (creation/ restoration of 85,000 acres and enhancement of 150,000 acres) has been very slow and the outcome is projected to be off course for 2025. Two spe
Science
New study highlights impact of current and historic land use on stream incision in Maryland Piedmont headwaters
A new method was developed to remotely identify small, eroding streams and measure change over time.
Understanding wild waterfowl use of retention ponds at commercial poultry farms – a potential route for avian influenza virus transmission
Retention ponds on commercial poultry farms are used by wild waterfowl, representing a potential pathway for the transmission of avian influenza viruses between waterfowl and farmed poultry. Managing vegetation conditions surrounding ponds may be one way to reduce their use by waterfowl.
New insights for reducing nutrient and sediment loads in agricultural watersheds prioritized for management activities
Agricultural activities and natural factors may offset nutrient and sediment reductions from management activities.