Day in the Life of a USGS Physical Scientist

The USGS is home to many kinds of scientists studying the earth’s hydrology, topography, geography, geology, seismology, volcanology, and more. 

In this video, we show you what a day is like for scientists studying a stream’s habitability. 

On a seasonal spring day in suburban Baltimore County, a group of scientists waded through Red Run in search of clues about the stream’s habitability. This stream is part of a larger study looking at overall watershed conservation practices within the Chesapeake Bay. 

“This study is all about looking at best management practices upstream and how they affect stream health downstream,” says Tristan Mohs, a physical scientist with the USGS. The team is looking at stormwater retention pools, or buffer zones and asking questions such as: how do they actually affect stream health? Are they working as intended? 

Some species are more vulnerable to pollution and changes in water conditions. On this site visit, the scientists are focused on observing the stream’s physical habitat. They will make detailed observations on metrics such as the clarity of the water, vegetation cover, sediment, pebble size, stream depth, water flow, and habitat for fish and other organisms. By observing conditions in multiple streams with an array of best management practices, scientists can narrow down how well they are working! 

It’s important to not only examine the correlation between conservation practices and watershed health, but also which practices impact this relationship in a positive way. That way local, state, and federal managers can stay informed on how to efficiently manage their watersheds. 

Since conservation practices have the potential to be expensive or time consuming for landowners and taxpayers, it is important to examine the impact they have on the watershed. 

In this video: 

Tristan Mohs, a physical scientist at the Maryland Water Science Center, takes us along on a Day in the Life of a USGS scientist where he and his team conduct habitat assessments of Red Run, an urban stream in Maryland. Tristan explains the importance of collecting these data and shows us what they look like once he gets back to the office.