Pennsylvania Waters - Fall 2023 - Issue 11
Our Fall newsletter looks back at the effects of Hurricane Ida in southeastern Pennsylvania in September, 2021, including how we determined those effects. We also provide updates on state-wide detection of PFAS chemicals in rivers and streams, filling data gaps related to 'orphaned' oil and gas wells, and water quality in the Delaware River basin and Chesapeake Bay watershed.
USGS Releases Products Documenting Effects of Hurricane Ida
The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center released three new products documenting the catastrophic flooding which resulted from Hurricane Ida on September 1-2, 2021.
PFAS chemicals detected in many rivers and streams across Pennsylvania
Water samples from 161 Pennsylvania rivers and streams were tested for 33 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and 76% of the studied streams contained at least one of these chemicals, also knowns as PFAS.
USGS and Partners Examine Causes of Increasing Salinity in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams
Villanova University's Department of Geography and the Environment, in partnership with USGS and Aqua Pennsylvania*, examined the effects of land development and road-deicing salt on streamwater quality in suburban and exurban watersheds in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Plugging the Gaps: How the USGS is working to fill in data gaps for Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells
Ever wonder what happens to an oil and gas well when it runs dry? Believe it or not, that is a multi-billion-dollar question that occupies the attention of thousands of people, from industry to government, NGOs to private citizens.
How "Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water" has been identified in Pennsylvania
USGS, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, compiled and evaluated data used to identify groundwater sources that are under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI) in Pennsylvania.
New study evaluates effects of agricultural conservation practices on nitrogen in streams of the Chesapeake Bay
Issue: Adaptive management in support of Chesapeake Bay restoration is complicated by uncertainty about the effects of agricultural management practices on water quality. Despite increasing investment, effects of agricultural conservation practices on regional water quality remain difficult to quantify due to factors such as groundwater travel times, varying modes-of-action, and the general lack of high-quality spatial datasets representing practice implementation. Given the major role that agriculture plays in the nitrogen budget of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, achieving planned load reductions depends on effective implementation of agricultural conservation practices. Although the net effects of such conservation actions suggest substantial expected declines in nitrogen fluxes in the watershed, observed nitrogen trends in bay tributaries have been mixed.
Tracking Status and Trends in Seven Key Indicators of River and Stream Condition in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Identifying and tracking the status of, and trends in, stream health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed is essential to understanding the past, present, and future trajectory of the watershed’s resources and ecological condition. A team of USGS ecosystem scientists is meeting this need with an initiative to track the status of, and trends in, key indicators of the health of non-tidal freshwater streams within the Chesapeake Bay watershed across seven science domains:
(1) Freshwater stream flows within the watershed,
(2) Nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment loads in stream waters of the watershed,
(3) Hydromorphology of non-tidal stream channels in the watershed,
(4) Temperatures of stream waters in the watershed,
(5) Freshwater salinization of stream waters in the watershed,
(6) Toxic contaminants in stream waters in the watershed, and
(7) Biological aquatic communities in stream waters of the watershed.
River water quality in the Delaware River Basin—Concentrations and trends through 2018
IntroductionThe Delaware River Basin provides drinking water to 13.3 million people and supports endangered species, provides recreational opportunities, and is an essential resource to regional industries. The efforts of Federal and State governments have substantially improved overall water quality in the basin, which had been severely degraded prior to the mid-20th century. Recent trend analyse
Floodplains provide millions of dollars in benefits every year to people in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds
Issue: Floodplains provide important services to people by retaining sediments, nutrients, and floodwaters, thereby improving water quality and reducing flooding impacts. Having information on how the monetary benefit that floodplains provide varies across the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds helps resource managers describe the benefits that floodplains provide in their current state and assess tradeoffs associated with development pressures and conservation priorities.