Studying Water Quality for Better Watershed Management

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

In more than half of Chesapeake Bay’s non-tidal rivers and creeks, levels of polluting nitrogen and phosphorus are falling, but the Bay’s recovery will take more work and time. To better inform watershed management, the USGS studied four small areas where intensive pollution-fighting steps have been taken: Smith Creek and Difficult Run, VA; the Upper Chester River, MD; and Conewago Creek, PA. 

The sites range from mountainous to coastal, from pasture and crop land to suburban. In the first phase of a planned long term study, the USGS described patterns in nitrogen sources and nutrient concentrations, existing conservation practices, and the relationships between land use, geology, water flows, and water quality. The researchers plan to continue examining links between conservation practices and changes in water quality in these watersheds. Because of factors ranging from slow groundwater flows to changing land use, it will likely take years or decades before the Bay reaps the full pollution-cutting benefits of the conservation work. Find the report at http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/sciencesummary-smallwatershedreport.html Photo: Smith Creek, VA, USGS


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