The USGS Chesapeake Science Program depends on the coordination of multiple USGS Programs that have a scientific interest in the Bay restoration. Over forty USGS scientists located in offices throughout the Bay watershed and at the CBP, are involved in scientific studies and information dissemination.

Where possible, the USGS is planning and executing integrated efforts among USGS National Programs to enhance interdisciplinary approaches to technical issues. View some recent accomplishments of USGS Chesapeake Bay Science Studies.

Some of the participating USGS National Programs and their roles include:

• Biology Program area missions related to fisheries and aquatic resources, contaminants, wildlife, invasive species, and ecosystems are met through investigations carried out at the Leetown and Patuxent Science Centers addressing submerged aquatic vegetation, wetlands, fisheries and water birds.
• Coastal and Marine Geology Program mission is met through research on sediment sources and dynamics affecting water clarity and submerged aquatic vegetation. Visit the home page for the Coastal and Marine Geology Program
• Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program mission is met through creation of maps of geologic and geomorphic characteristics of sediment transport and deposition history in watersheds and adjacent tidal. The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program site contains more information.
• Cooperative Topographic Mapping Program program mission is met through information management, access, and retrieval of GIS- based data through the WWW. Visit the Data page for sources of data and spatial information and The National Map Web site.
• Earth Surface Dynamics Program mission is met through research on effects of land-cover change and climate variability on sediment deposition and subsequent effects on water clarity and SAV. For more detailed information visit the Earth Surface Dynamics site.
• Eastern Region Place-Based Studies goal of coordinating and integrating science of the USGS National Programs and to meeting customer needs in the Mid-Atlantic Focus area is carried out through investigations in Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Visit the Place-based Studies Program site or factsheet for more information.
• Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program (GAM) mission is met through research and application to document the land-cover characterizations, land-cover and land-use changes, and relate to water quality and habitat changes through process models. For more information visit the GAM page.

• Hydrology National Research Program mission is met through research of sediment sources, transport, and delivery in the selected watersheds and adjacent tidal systems and their relation to shallow-water habitats for SAV. Research on nutrient cycling in surface-water and ground-water systems. Research characterizing abundance and extent of SAV coverage in relation to sediment, seasonal water quality, and hydroclimatology. The National Research Program conducts basic and problem oriented hydrologic research.
• Hydrology State-Federal Cooperative Program mission is met through enhanced surface-water monitoring and modeling efforts to document sediment and nutrient loads, trend analysis, and factors affecting loads and trends. Visit the Cooperative Water Program and the ACWI sites for more information.
• National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program mission is met through work under Delmarva/Potomac study to understand nutrient and contaminant relation to land use and processes affecting geochemical cycling. Visit the NAWQA site for the latest information.
• Toxic Substances Hydrology Program the mission of this program is met through research on the influence of nutrients, sediments, and contaminants on the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Visit the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program Web site for more information.

We welcome suggestions or comments that would make this Web site more useful.

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