Land-use change is the primary factor causing water-quality and habitat degradation in the Bay and its watershed. Human populations, and associated urban areas, are expected to grow to 18 million people by 2020 in the Bay watershed

There is a need for enhanced land-use and watershed data to explain changes in water quality, habitat, and living resources and improve associated CBP models and decision-support systems.

The USGS is producing land-cover, land-use, and watershed data needed to understand changes in water quality and living resources. Efforts are focused on documenting the sediment, nutrient, and toxic sources associated with urban, suburban, and agricultural lands.

• USGS Scientist Peter Claggett has helped to analyze land use change in the Bay watershed...It's a hard road ahead for meeting new sprawl goal: States will try to control growth of impervious surfaces...read more



• Learn more about USGS effects to address the affect of land cover change on sediment at http://erg.usgs.gov/rit/ and http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/ROMA

Landuse spotlight is on the Satellite Map of the Chesapeake Bay.

Please visit the Programs and Projects page to find links to the USGSprograms focused on the land use and watershed characteristics of the Bay. The Data page gives information and links on various USGS data and spatial information sites concerned with the Bay area and its associated land use. Many reports and publications are available visit the Publications page to find them.

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

Visit the Spotlight Archive page for a listing of sites that have been featured on the USGS Chesapeake Bay Web.

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