On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
Jonathan Dillow
Jon Dillow is a Supervisory Hydrologist that oversees parts of the Studies Section in the Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center and serves (half time) as the acting Data Chief for the Washington Water Science Center.
Select Publications
Magnitude and Frequency of Floods on Nontidal Streams in Delaware: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5146, by Ries, K.G. III and Dillow, J.J.A., 2006, 59 p.
Adjustments to U.S. Geological Survey Peak-Flow Magnitude-Frequency Relations in Delaware and Maryland Following Hurricane Floyd, September, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-152-02, by Doheny, E.J. and Dillow, J.J.A., 2002, 8 p.
Groundwater quality and discharge to Chincoteague and Sinepuxent Bays adjacent to Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4029, by Dillow, J.J.A., Banks, W.S.L., and Smigaj, M.J., 2002, 42 p.
Optimization of Groundwater Withdrawal at the Old O-Field Area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4283 by Banks, W.S.L. and J.J.A. Dillow, 2001, 18 p.
Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Loadings to the Coastal Bays of Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4167 by Dillow, J.J.A. and E.A. Greene, 1999, 8 p.
Science and Products
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
The Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) supports water availability assessments, management, and prediction by enhancing water observations in basins that represent major U.S. hydrologic regions. The Delaware River Basin was the first Integrated Water Science basin selected, providing an opportunity to implement the NGWOS program in a nationally important, complex interstate river...
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
The broad goal of the study is to significantly expand data collection at the Northeast Branch Anacostia and Northwest Branch Anacostia to include water-quality sampling and analysis for a wide suite of natural and anthropogenic constituents (nutrients, sediment, metals, bacteria, and organics such as PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).
Water Use & Water Supply Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The MD-DE-DC WSC works with state and local agencies to collect, estimate, review, and compile water use information. Data are used in USGS groundwater and watershed models, and other USGS studies. The data are also compiled and incorporated into the USGS national estimates of water-use. WSC staff currently participate in various national water use projects focused on improving water use estimates...
Contaminant Fate and Transport Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The Contaminant Fate and Transport team conducts research on the transport and fate of contaminants in groundwater through the unsaturated and saturated zones using innovative and proven USGS methods. The team's research focuses on the often complex processes that affect contaminant fate and transport, and includes expertise in wetland environments. Performing both field and laboratory studies to...
GIS & Dataset Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Spatial analysts at the MD-DE-DC WSC use Geographic Information Systems to interpret data collected through field reconnaissance and downloaded from internal USGS, other federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, industry, and other professional contracting organizations. GIS is used to analyze the data using shapefiles and geodatabased information to help prove or disprove...
Geomorphology and Sediment Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Geomorphology is classified as the study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near the Earth's surface. Adding water creates a whole new dynamic known as Fluvial Morphology. Rivers and streams act as conduits of water along with sediment. As water flows over the channel bed, it is able to mobilize...
Laboratory Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff. The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab. Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and...
Water Quality Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Water quality is a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Water-quality monitoring is used to help water-resource managers understand and avert potential negative effects of man-made and natural stresses on water resources, evaluate trends, and compare to water-quality criteria. One of our primary functions at...
Coastal Monitoring Tide Gage Sites in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
Vital coastal storm-tide information needed to help guide storm response efforts following major storms affecting Maryland will be more accessible than ever due to a new monitoring network the U.S. Geological Survey is currently building. A team from the USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center is surveying 63 locations in the state, determining their elevations and installing receiving brackets at...
USGS Remembers the Ellicott City Floods
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
USGS Remembers the Ellicott City Floods (AD)
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
Science and Products
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
The Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) supports water availability assessments, management, and prediction by enhancing water observations in basins that represent major U.S. hydrologic regions. The Delaware River Basin was the first Integrated Water Science basin selected, providing an opportunity to implement the NGWOS program in a nationally important, complex interstate river...
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
The broad goal of the study is to significantly expand data collection at the Northeast Branch Anacostia and Northwest Branch Anacostia to include water-quality sampling and analysis for a wide suite of natural and anthropogenic constituents (nutrients, sediment, metals, bacteria, and organics such as PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).
Water Use & Water Supply Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The MD-DE-DC WSC works with state and local agencies to collect, estimate, review, and compile water use information. Data are used in USGS groundwater and watershed models, and other USGS studies. The data are also compiled and incorporated into the USGS national estimates of water-use. WSC staff currently participate in various national water use projects focused on improving water use estimates...
Contaminant Fate and Transport Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The Contaminant Fate and Transport team conducts research on the transport and fate of contaminants in groundwater through the unsaturated and saturated zones using innovative and proven USGS methods. The team's research focuses on the often complex processes that affect contaminant fate and transport, and includes expertise in wetland environments. Performing both field and laboratory studies to...
GIS & Dataset Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Spatial analysts at the MD-DE-DC WSC use Geographic Information Systems to interpret data collected through field reconnaissance and downloaded from internal USGS, other federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, industry, and other professional contracting organizations. GIS is used to analyze the data using shapefiles and geodatabased information to help prove or disprove...
Geomorphology and Sediment Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Geomorphology is classified as the study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near the Earth's surface. Adding water creates a whole new dynamic known as Fluvial Morphology. Rivers and streams act as conduits of water along with sediment. As water flows over the channel bed, it is able to mobilize...
Laboratory Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
The labs at the MD-DE-DC WSC are clean, well-stocked, and appointed with modern equipment and a highly talented staff. The three labs analyze samples, conduct controlled-environment chemical tests with GCMS in the Water Qualty lab. Scientists and technicians work with core samples and analyze soils in the Sediment Lab. Our labs assure reliability, reproducibility, and high quality of its data and...
Water Quality Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Water quality is a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Water-quality monitoring is used to help water-resource managers understand and avert potential negative effects of man-made and natural stresses on water resources, evaluate trends, and compare to water-quality criteria. One of our primary functions at...
Coastal Monitoring Tide Gage Sites in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
Vital coastal storm-tide information needed to help guide storm response efforts following major storms affecting Maryland will be more accessible than ever due to a new monitoring network the U.S. Geological Survey is currently building. A team from the USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center is surveying 63 locations in the state, determining their elevations and installing receiving brackets at...
USGS Remembers the Ellicott City Floods
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
USGS Remembers the Ellicott City Floods (AD)
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.
On May 27, 2018, the second devastating flash flood in two years swept through historic Ellicott City. Brief but intense rainfall caused the flood which tragically claimed the life of one person and damaged buildings, vehicles, and property.