The Rabbit Branch stream in Fairfax County before the stream was restored. The effects of this stream restoration is monitored as a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.
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Rabbit Branch Stream (pre-restoration), Fairfax County
The Rabbit Branch stream in Fairfax County before the stream was restored. The effects of this stream restoration is monitored as a part of the Fairfax County Water Resources Monitoring Network.
Survey of Lake Anna, Virginia
Photo of: Blake Dudding, USGS; Photographer: Taylor Camper, USGS
Lake Anna, Virginia
Photo of: Blake Dudding, USGS; Photographer: Taylor Camper, USGS
Lake Anna, Virginia
Collecting water samples from the James River
A USGS hydrologist conducts horizontally-integrated synoptic water sampling of the James River at Cartersville as part of the USGS's nontidal network monitoring efforts.
A USGS hydrologist conducts horizontally-integrated synoptic water sampling of the James River at Cartersville as part of the USGS's nontidal network monitoring efforts.
USGS hydrologic technician preparing a sonde for deployment
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic technician prepares a sonde for deployment for collecting continuous water-quality data.
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic technician prepares a sonde for deployment for collecting continuous water-quality data.
Turbidity
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. High amounts of suspended solids increase turbidity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate. In turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability.
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. High amounts of suspended solids increase turbidity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate. In turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability.
Nutrient Pollution
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
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
Turbidity
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. High amounts of suspended solids increase turbidity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate. In turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability.
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. High amounts of suspended solids increase turbidity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate. In turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability.
Flashiness
A stream's flashiness is determined by how quickly water levels peak after a rain event, and how quickly water levels fall after the peak. The figure above shows and urban canal (left) that is very flashy, compared to a less flashy natural stream (right).
A stream's flashiness is determined by how quickly water levels peak after a rain event, and how quickly water levels fall after the peak. The figure above shows and urban canal (left) that is very flashy, compared to a less flashy natural stream (right).
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Stormwater Runoff in Urban Watersheds
Nutrient Pollution
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
Nutrient pollution is caused when excess nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus are introduced into aquatic ecosystems, often due to leaching or surface water runoff. These excess nutrients can contribute to the degradation of downstream ecosystems.
Drainage Density
When rainwater falls over a watershed, its fate is determined by multiple factors, such as the relief of the watershed, the permeability of the surface it falls on, the presence and density of plant life, and the drainage density of the watershed.
When rainwater falls over a watershed, its fate is determined by multiple factors, such as the relief of the watershed, the permeability of the surface it falls on, the presence and density of plant life, and the drainage density of the watershed.
USGS Precipitation Gage Fairfax County
Photograph of a USGS precipitation gage in Fairfax County. These standalone gages consist of a weighing type precipitation gage, datalogger and satellite telemetry unit.
Photograph of a USGS precipitation gage in Fairfax County. These standalone gages consist of a weighing type precipitation gage, datalogger and satellite telemetry unit.
Stormwater drain at Coliseum, Hampton Roads, Virginia
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meter in a Hampton Roads stormwater pipe
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meters use a laser to measure water velocity throughout a channel's cross-section, while another part of the device is measuring the depth of water. Together the two datasets are used to compute streamflow.
Non-contact laser doppler velocity meters use a laser to measure water velocity throughout a channel's cross-section, while another part of the device is measuring the depth of water. Together the two datasets are used to compute streamflow.
The stormwater monitoring site at Rivers Ridge, Hampton Roads, Virginia
The Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA. This site is a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Network.
The Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA. This site is a part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Network.
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.
Checking water depth in stormwater drains, Hampton Roads
Quality assurance is an important aspect of data collection. This means periodically checking the stage measurements for accuracy and making streamflow measurements manually at stormwater monitoring sites across Hampton Roads to compare to those computed from streamflow models.
Quality assurance is an important aspect of data collection. This means periodically checking the stage measurements for accuracy and making streamflow measurements manually at stormwater monitoring sites across Hampton Roads to compare to those computed from streamflow models.
Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive, Hampton Roads
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
This storm drain a Coliseum Drive is part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Rivers Ridge Storm Drain
USGS researcher Aaron Porter at the Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA monitoring site. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
USGS researcher Aaron Porter at the Storm Drain at Rivers Ridge Circle near Newport News, VA monitoring site. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
Stromdrain at Coliseum, Hampton Roads
The interior of the Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive at Hampton, VA. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.
The interior of the Storm Drain at Coliseum Drive at Hampton, VA. Part of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program.