USGS Newsroom

AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS: USGS Economic Analysis of Anacostia River Shows Potential Value of Restoring Urban Streams Nationwide

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 2 May 2013 9:44:14 EDT

Case Study Demonstrates How Restoring a Stream Can Help Restore a Community

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The U.S. Geological Survey today released an analysis of the Watts Branch of the Anacostia River in Prince Georges County, Md. and Washington, D.C. that documents how restoration work on this urban tributary has had a substantial impact on the local economy, directly or indirectly accounting for 45 jobs, $2.6 million in local labor income and $3.4 million in value added to the local D.C. metropolitan area in 2011.

"The USGS study confirms the value of re-greening our urban landscapes around the nation," said David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior. "Restoring one of the most degraded urban streams in the Anacostia watershed while also addressing sewage infrastructure benefited a struggling local economy, provided an improved park and green space for residents, and enhanced wildlife habitat. Restoring a stream is helping restore a community and demonstrates the power of partnerships."

The Anacostia watershed is one of the priority areas for interagency cooperation in both President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

D.C. and federal agencies formed the Watts Branch restoration partnership in 2010 to restore a segment of one of the most urbanized watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. Completed in 2011, the restoration project was funded largely by the District of Columbia's Department of Environment and also carried out by the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Water and Sewer and several local organizations.

The partnership has addressed both environmental degradation and sewage infrastructure needs of the Watts Branch, which originates in the Capitol Heights area of Prince George's County, flowing almost 5 miles to the Anacostia, which drains to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

The analysis, conducted by USGS economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Elizabeth Myrick, found that restoring Watts Branch had a substantial impact on the local economy. The restoration directly accounted for 26 jobs and more than $1.5 million in local labor income including salaries, wages and benefits and $1.5 million in local value added (the contribution of expenditures to Gross Domestic Product). Moreover, the restoration indirectly supported an additional 19 jobs, providing an additional $1.1 million in labor income and $1.9 in value added to the local economy. Restoring Watts Branch contributed more than $3 million to a struggling local economy.

"This restoration project shows the fiscal and transformative power of re-greening urban areas—supporting local jobs, upgrading infrastructure, and helping improve the local economy," said Hayes, noting that the Watts study is one of a number of case studies on the impact of restoration projects in other parts of the country. "With a roughly $2 trillion backlog in infrastructure needs nationwide, our country has a tremendous opportunity to advance both economic and environmental goals through other restoration projects."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners not only restored the eroded stream channel, which was depositing nearly 1,500 tons of sediment into the Anacostia watershed each year, but also relocated and improved sewer lines to address and prevent future sewage leaks. Infrastructure and environmental restoration improved water quality, increased floodplain storage, reduced erosion and improved in-stream habitat to support fish like American eel, alewife and American shad. Local residents regained a beautiful urban stream, and habitat along the stream also improved for birds such as warblers, barred owls and great blue herons, to name just a few.

Moreover, local communities have seen utility and street upgrades. A local nonprofit, Washington Parks and People, has begun using Watts Branch as an outdoor classroom to prepare an emerging workforce for jobs in urban and community forestry.

"The Watt's Branch restoration turned a degraded stream into an urban sanctuary within an underserved community," the analysis concluded.

President Obama's America’s Great Outdoors Initiative is a conservation agenda for the 21^st century. It underscores how urban parks and community green spaces can contribute to the social, physical, economic and emotional health of America's communities. The Anacostia is one of the priority areas chosen under America’s Great Outdoors.

The Anacostia River Watershed also is one of the original pilot project areas of the interagency Urban Waters Federal Partnership led by EPA. Through this partnership, the Interior Department and 10 other federal departments work to reconnect urban areas—particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed—with their waterways through improved collaboration.

Crowd-Sourcing the Nation: Using Volunteers for Enhanced Data Collection

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:41:01 EDT

The USGS is expanding the involvement of volunteers to enhance data collection about structures for The National Map.

This program, known as The National Map Corps, focuses on encouraging citizens to collect data relating to structures by both adding new features and/or correcting existing data within The National Map database. These structures can include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public places.

Collaborative pilot projects in Colorado were recently used to test the concept of crowd-sourcing. While the project is on-going, early indications point to positive results and show the success of using TNMC volunteers to enhance data sets.

Over a trial period of ten months, 143 volunteers collected, improved, or deleted data on more than 6,400 structures in Colorado. The volunteers’ actions were accurate and exceeded USGS quality standards. In the Colorado pilot project the volunteer-collected data showed an improvement of approximately 25 percent in both location and attribute accuracy for existing data points. Completeness, or the extent to which all appropriate features were identified and recorded, was nearly perfect.

The significant results of the Colorado pilot have led to a phased, nation-wide expansion of the crowd-sourcing /volunteer project. The states in the first expansion of TNMC are: Arkansas, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

After an evaluation of the quality and procedures of the first group of states, the second set will be made available. Ultimately, by the end of 2013, the third batch of states will complete the expansion of the program.

"The response by volunteers in Colorado exceeded our expectations both in terms of the number of volunteers and the quality of the data they collected”, said Kari Craun, the Director of the USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. “The Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) community represents a fantastic, untapped resource to assist USGS in maintaining data that are part of The National Map.”

While some familiarity with the area that a volunteer chooses is helpful, one doesn’t have to live near a particular place to contribute. The tools on TNMC website, along with ancillary information available on the Internet, are generally sufficient to edit a distant area.

There have been several instances of crowd-sourced geographic information making significant contributions to research and databases in government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. The goal of the TNMC is to provide data for the nation’s primary federal mapping agency in its effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial data via the web-based National Map.

The citizen geographers/cartographers who participate in this program will make a significant addition to the USGS’s ability to provide accurate information to the public. Data collected by volunteers become part of TNM Structures dataset which is available to users free of charge.

Without a network of volunteers, the desired information would not be collected this year and the existing data would not be updated. TNMC volunteers perform important work that otherwise will not be accomplished in the foreseeable future.

Becoming a volunteer for TNMC is easy; go to the National Map Corps website to learn more and to sign up as a volunteer. If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time to editing map data, we hope you will consider participating!

Groundwater Impacted by Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Facility

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:44:19 EDT

BALTIMORE — The construction and subsequent use of the Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Area – combined with pre-existing natural conditions – has degraded the quality of groundwater close to the facility, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.

USGS scientists collected field data at the site in Cecil County, Maryland over a two-year period during 2010 and 2011, sampling 50 wells -- including 15 domestic wells -- and two surface water sites in the area. As part of the study, untreated groundwater samples were compared to Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards.

They found that 15 percent of the samples tested exceeded the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Levels for beryllium, and 2 percent exceeded the MCL for arsenic, cadmium, or thallium. MCL's are enforceable standards in public drinking water supplies, and are the highest level of a contaminant allowed in public drinking water. Seventy-one percent of the samples exceeded health advisory levels of manganese, nickel, sodium, sulfate, strontium, or zinc. Nearly all of the water sampled, 96 percent, exceeded the EPA’s secondary drinking water regulations for at least one constituent such as sulfate, iron, aluminum, or pH. These secondary standards address water taste, color or odor. Owners of 15 domestic wells sampled as part of the study were notified of the results for their wells.

Many local residents in this area already treat their water due to known high concentrations of iron, manganese, and aluminum. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets Federal requirements, there are no such requirements for private supplies in Maryland. The findings of this study highlight the importance of private well owners testing and possibly treating their water.

While comparing the groundwater to EPA standards and determining whether or not the groundwater was degraded was an important first step of the study, the study was also designed to determine whether or not the containment area was the source of the degraded water-quality. The researchers found that the construction of the site and pumping water and sediment into it changed the groundwater flow system.

Before the site was used to contain dredge sediment, it was a wetland, and water was flowing from the ground into a low-lying area. As berms were built on the site and dredged sediment and water were put into the containment area, the flow reversed and water seeped into the ground.

"The water seeping into the ground contained dissolved oxygen and other chemicals. This started a chain of chemical reactions that resulted in degraded water quality in parts of the aquifer system," said hydrologist and lead author Cheryl Dieter. "Water quality was not degraded in the deepest of the three aquifers. The primary effect of the chemical reactions was to increase the amount of total dissolved solids, sulfate, iron, aluminum, and other trace metals to levels higher than normally found in the two shallow aquifers."

The containment area was built in the mid-1930s and used from 1937 to 1992 as a location to deposit dredged materials, mostly from the Elk River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested USGS conduct the study of the site to evaluate the possible effects of past site operations on groundwater quality in the area. The Corps is looking into reopening the facility.

The report titled "Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and water quality in the Pearce Creek Dredge Material Containment Area and vicinity, Cecil County, Maryland, 2010-11" by Cheryl A. Dieter, Michael T. Koterba, Otto S. Zapecza, Charles W. Walker, and Donald E. Rice is available online.

Birds at Sea and Offshore Wind Energy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 11:59:28 EDT

Topic of Free Lecture Wednesday

Reston, Va. – Offshore wind energy development and migratory birds is the topic of a free public lecture Wednesday, December 5, at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Geological Survey National Center in Reston, Va.

Titled, "Birds at Sea and Offshore Wind Energy," the lecture takes place in a federal facility and a valid photo ID is required for entry by attendees 18 years of age and older. Attendees should plan to arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes early to process through security.

For this lecture, USGS scientists Alicia Berlin and Allan O'Connell will discuss efforts to determine the potential effects of offshore wind energy development on more than 60 different sea-bird species along the Atlantic coast. USGS collaborative research on the migratory routes and patterns of sea birds is being used to help inform decisions on potential locations of wind farms in Atlantic waters.

For more information and directions visit the Public Lecture Series website.

Those unable to attend the lecture in person can follow it live on Twitter @USGSLive

These evening events are free to the public and intended to familiarize a general audience with science issues that are meaningful to their daily lives. USGS speakers are selected for their ability and enthusiasm to share their expertise with an audience that may be unfamiliar with the topic.

The series provides the public an opportunity to interact with USGS scientists and ask questions about recent developments in Natural Hazards; Water; Energy Minerals and Environmental Health; Climate and Land Use Change; Ecosystems; and Core Science Systems. Ultimately, the goal is to create a better understanding of the importance and value of USGS science in action.

North Carolina, Delmarva Coastlines Changed by Hurricane Sandy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:10:57 EDT

USGS releases new before-and-after photos

Updated

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The USGS has released a series of aerial photographs showing before-and-after images of Hurricane Sandy's impacts on the Atlantic Coast. Among the latest photo pairs to be published are images showing the extent of coastal change in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

The photos, part of a USGS assessment of coastal change from as far south as the Outer Banks of North Carolina to as far north as Massachusetts, show that the storm caused dramatic changes to portions of shoreline extending hundreds of miles. Pre- and post-storm images of the New Jersey and New York shoreline in particular tell a story of a coastal landscape that was considerably altered by the historic storm. Meanwhile, images from hundreds of miles south of the storm’s landfall demonstrate that the storm’s breadth caused significant coastal change as far south as the Carolinas.

"Sandy taught us yet again that not all Cat-1 hurricanes are created equal: the superstorm's enormous fetch over the Atlantic produced storm surge and wave erosion of historic proportions," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We have seized this opportunity to gather unique data on a major coastline-altering event."

As major storms approach, the USGS conducts pre-storm and post-storm flights to gather aerial images along the length of the coastline expected to experience impacts from the storm’s landfall. Identifying sites of such impacts helps scientists understand which areas are likely to undergo the most severe impacts from future storms, and improves future coastal impact forecasting.

Photo pairs from North Carolina to Massachusetts are now available online.

"This storm’s impact on sandy beaches included disruption of infrastructure in the south, such as overwash of roads near Pea Island, Buxton, and Rodanthe in N.C., and some dune erosion near Duck, N.C.," said St. Petersburg-based USGS oceanographer Nathaniel Plant. Such storm-induced changes to the coastal profile can jeopardize the resilience of impacted coastal communities in the path of subsequent storms.

"Houses and infrastructure may be more vulnerable to future storms because beaches are narrower and dunes are lower," Plant said.

The configuration of a coastline's physical features determine how it will respond to storm forces, and whether it will experience erosion, overwash, or inundation.

In South Bethany, Delaware, the storm appears to have eroded a low dune that had stood between the Atlantic and a row of beachfront homes. Like overwash, beach and dune erosion can compromise a coastline's natural defenses against future storms.

The Hurricanes and Extreme Storms team aims to quantify the degree to which such these defenses have weakened in all areas Hurricane Sandy impacted.

Data collected from these surveys are also used to improve predictive models of potential impacts from future severe storms. Before a storm makes landfall, USGS makes these predictions to help coastal communities identify areas particularly vulnerable to severe coastal change, such as beach and dune erosion, overwash, and inundation.

For instance, in the days before Sandy approached the eastern seaboard, the USGS ran models forecasting that 91 percent of the Delmarva coastline would experience beach and dune erosion, while 98 percent and 93 percent of beaches and dunes in New Jersey and New York, respectively, were likely to erode. Preliminary analysis suggests that Hurricane Sandy rapidly displaced massive quantities of sand in a capacity that visibly changed the landscape.

The USGS assessment also includes pre- and post-landfall airborne lidar data, which offers a more quantitative look at the extent of coastal change caused by Sandy. Lidar, or light detection and ranging, is an aircraft-based remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to collect highly detailed ground elevation data.

Photos Reveal Severity of Hurricane Sandy's Coastal Impacts

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 9 Nov 2012 15:20:00 EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The USGS has released a series of aerial photographs showing before-and-after images of Hurricane Sandy’s impacts on the Atlantic Coast.

Photo pairs from North Carolina to Massachusetts will be made available online as the coastal change assessment continues.

"This storm's impact on sandy beaches included significant beach and dune erosion and minor disruption of infrastructure in the south," said USGS oceanographer Nathaniel Plant, "to extreme and often catastrophic erosion, overwash and sediment deposition, and inundation on northern beaches like Mantoloking, New Jersey."

Overwash occurs when storm surge and waves exceed the elevation of protective sand dunes, thereby transporting sand inland. In addition to threatening infrastructure like roadways, it can bury portions of buildings and cause extensive property damage. Since beaches and dunes serve as a first line of defense against extreme storms, this could further compromise the safety of coastal populations.

The USGS worked closely with the National Park Service to gather field data on pre- and post- storm conditions at Fire Island National Seashore on Long Island. The field team went to Fire Island in advance of the storm to capture the morphology of the beach and dunes. The team re-surveyed the beach to capture its state immediately after the storm, and they found drastic changes.

"We found that there was widespread dune erosion and overwash," said St. Petersburg-based USGS coastal geologist Cheryl Hapke. "On average the dunes eroded back 70 feet - the equivalent of 30-years of change, which had previously been measured. Our data also showed that dunes lost as much as 10 feet of elevation."

This rapid response data was used to help the National Park Service assess the areas of the coast that were most vulnerable to a nor'easter that impacted the coast a week after Sandy.

The USGS is also processing pre- and post-landfall airborne lidar data to gather information on the extent of coastal change caused by Sandy. Lidar, or light detection and ranging, is an aircraft-based remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to collect highly detailed ground elevation data.

New Evidence Shows Power of East Coast Earthquakes

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 6 Nov 2012 8:30:00 EDT

Virginia Earthquake Triggered Landslides at Great Distances

Earthquake shaking in the eastern United States can travel much farther and cause damage over larger areas than previously thought.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists found that last year's magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia triggered landslides at distances four times farther—and over an area 20 times larger—than previous research has shown.

"We used landslides as an example and direct physical evidence to see how far-reaching shaking from east coast earthquakes could be," said Randall Jibson, USGS scientist and lead author of this study. "Not every earthquake will trigger landslides, but we can use landslide distributions to estimate characteristics of earthquake energy and how far regional ground shaking could occur."

"Scientists are confirming with empirical data what more than 50 million people in the eastern U.S. experienced firsthand: this was one powerful earthquake," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Calibrating the distance over which landslides occur may also help us reach back into the geologic record to look for evidence of past history of major earthquakes from the Virginia seismic zone."

This study will help inform earthquake hazard and risk assessments as well as emergency preparedness, whether for landslides or other earthquake effects.

This study also supports existing research showing that although earthquakes are less frequent in the East, their damaging effects can extend over a much larger area as compared to the western United States.

The research is being presented today at the Geological Society of America conference, and will be published in the December 2012 issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

The USGS found that the farthest landslide from the 2011 Virginia earthquake was 245 km (150 miles) from the epicenter. This is by far the greatest landslide distance recorded from any other earthquake of similar magnitude. Previous studies of worldwide earthquakes indicated that landslides occurred no farther than 60 km (36 miles) from the epicenter of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake.

"What makes this new study so unique is that it provides direct observational evidence from the largest earthquake to occur in more than 100 years in the eastern U.S," said Jibson. "Now that we know more about the power of East Coast earthquakes, equations that predict ground shaking might need to be revised."

It is estimated that approximately one-third of the U.S. population could have felt last year's earthquake in Virginia, more than any earthquake in U.S. history. About 148,000 people reported their ground-shaking experiences caused by the earthquake on the USGS "Did You Feel It?" website. Shaking reports came from southeastern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas.

In addition to the great landslide distances recorded, the landslides from the 2011 Virginia earthquake occurred in an area 20 times larger than expected from studies of worldwide earthquakes. Scientists plotted the landslide locations that were farthest out and then calculated the area enclosed by those landslides. The observed landslides from last year's Virginia earthquake enclose an area of about 33,400 km², while previous studies indicated an expected area of about 1,500 km² from an earthquake of similar magnitude.

"The landslide distances from last year's Virginia earthquake are remarkable compared to historical landslides across the world and represent the largest distance limit ever recorded," said Edwin Harp, USGS scientist and co-author of this study. "There are limitations to our research, but the bottom line is that we now have a better understanding of the power of East Coast earthquakes and potential damage scenarios."

The difference between seismic shaking in the East versus the West is due in part to the geologic structure and rock properties that allow seismic waves to travel farther without weakening.

Learn more about the 2011 central Virginia earthquake.

Landslides triggered from the 2011 magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia occurred at far greater distances than expected. The farthest landslide was 245 km from the epicenter; based on previous studies of worldwide earthquakes, landsliding would have been expected to occur no farther than 60 km from the epicenter. ((High resolution image)

Did You Feel It? East vs West: This image illustrates how earthquakes are felt over much larger areas in the eastern U.S. than those west of the Rocky Mountains. The map compares USGS "Did You Feel It?" data from the magnitude 5.8 earthquake on August 23, 2011 in central Virginia (green) to data from an earthquake of similar magnitude and depth in California (red). ((High resolution image)

USGS Sampling Water for Nutrients, Sediment, and Pesticides in Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 1 Nov 2012 13:17:01 EDT

As recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy continue, U.S. Geological Survey crews are sampling water for nutrients, sediment, and pesticides to document water quality in areas affected by the hurricane. This sampling effort is part of the federal government’s broad efforts to ensure public health and to support the state, tribal, and local response to the storm.

"We tend to think of events like Sandy in terms of the ephemeral effect of the wind, rain, waves, and even snow as it swept through our communities, but in fact this superstorm can have a longer-term effect in the large pulse of sediment and associated pollutants swept into our waterways," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "It is particularly important to quantify the input of this one unusual event before concluding that certain efforts to reduce pollutant run-off from year to year have or have not been effective."

Sampling is taking place at various locations. In New Jersey, crews will collect water quality samples along the Delaware River near Trenton and along the Raritan River near Queens Bridge. Pennsylvania crews will be sampling near the Chesapeake Bay. In Maryland, water quality samples will be collected from the Potomac River, various sites in Washington, D.C., several locations along the Eastern Shore, and from the Susquehanna River at the Conowingo Dam. In addition, Virginia crews will be sampling throughout Northern Virginia. USGS crews will be sampling in these and other areas for contaminants like pesticides, E. coli, nutrients, and sediment to document water quality in areas affected by the hurricane.

"Significant high water events are important to document, because a storm event like this can flush large quantities of nutrients, pesticides, and sediment into rivers," said Charles Crawford, coordinator of the sampling effort. "When looking at long-term water quality trends and year-to-year variation, this hurricane could be a defining event for the past few decades, and it’s important that USGS captures a complete picture of what happens."

Excessive nutrients in the Nation's rivers, streams and coastal areas are a major issue for water managers, because they cause algal blooms that increase costs to treat drinking water, limit recreational activities, and threaten valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. Increased sediment can cause costly changes in shipping channels, where new sediment can require additional dredging.

"The USGS creates models that relate nutrient, pesticide and sediment concentrations to how much water is flowing," said Crawford. "In order to have the most accurate model, it’s important to document concentrations during a high flow event such as this one."

The USGS collects water-quality samples in cooperation with States as part of several water-quality monitoring programs and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

River Flow into Chesapeake Bay Following Hurricane Sandy Lower than Expected

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:11:32 EDT

The higher river flows following Hurricane Sandy will bring an increased amount of nutrient and sediment to the Chesapeake Bay; however these amounts will not approach the nutrient and sediment loads seen in 2011 from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Flows in the Susquehanna River, the largest river entering the Chesapeake Bay, are expected to reach 155,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). This is much lower than last year’s flow of more than 775,000 cfs following Irene and Lee. The flow in the Susquehanna River due to Sandy is not expected to produce significant scour of sediments from the Conowingo Reservoir. The record was 1.1 million cfs during Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

Hurricane Sandy had a larger effect on the Potomac River watershed and Eastern Shore. Current flow at Little Falls in Washington, DC is 137,000 cfs and is near its expected peak. Current flow from the Potomac River is comparable to the Susquehanna River, even though the Potomac watershed is only half the size. The record for the Potomac is 484,000 cfs, set in 1936.

The Choptank River reached a peak of 4480 cfs, which was half of the flow seen during Irene or Lee.

Tracking river flow into the Chesapeake is important for the health of the bay. Too many nutrients rob the bay of oxygen needed for fish and, along with sediment, cloud the waters, disturbing the habitat of underwater plants crucial for aquatic life and waterfowl. However, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program, the impacts are not as great during this time of year compared to the summer months.

"Maximum river flows and associated sediment and pollutant loads from extreme storms are complicated functions of the amount and duration of the rainfall, the prior degree of ground saturation, the percentage of the total drainage basin affected, and the state of ground cover, among other factors," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We are simply grateful for the health of the Chesapeake that Sandy didn't follow Irene's example!"

The USGS and partners are collecting samples of nutrients and sediment at the Chesapeake Bay Program Nontidal Water-Quality Network, which includes 125 sites. The results will be used to assess effects on the Bay and its watershed.

River	Current Flow (Oct 31, morning) (cfs)	Peak flow (or projected) (cfs)	Record Flow (cfs) and year
Susquehanna River at Conowingo	93,000	155,000 (projected to be on Thursday)	1,130,000 (1972)
Potomac River at DC	137,000	140,000 (projected to be Wednesday)	484,000 (1936)
James River at Cartersville	5,380	5,470 (Wed)	250,000 (1969)
Choptank	2,290	4,480 (Tuesday)	8,880 (2011)
Patuxent	6790	10,800 (Tuesday)	31,100 (1972)

For more information visit:

Update: Sandy to Erode Many Atlantic Beaches

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:36:16 EDT

Oct. 29 Update: USGS Revises Coastal Change Forecasts

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – On Oct. 29, 2012, USGS revised its forecasts for coastal change due to Hurricane Sandy. Now, the forecasts are as follows:

Delmarva Peninsula: 91 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 55 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 22 percent are expected to experience inundation.

Coastal New Jersey: 98 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 54 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 9 percent are expected to experience inundation.

South Coast of Long Island: 93 percent of the beaches are expected to experience erosion; 12 percent of the beaches are expected to experience overwash, and 4 percent are expected to experience inundation.

The new forecasts, along with maps showing the extent of the impacts, can be found online.

End Update

(Original post from Oct. 27, 2012)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Nearly three quarters of the coast along the Delmarva Peninsula is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, while overwash is expected along nearly half of the shoreline.

The predictions of coastal change for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia peninsula is part of a larger assessment of probable coastal change released by the U.S. Geological Survey Friday.

"Model forecasts are run anew for each hurricane, as each case has unique factors in terms of storm intensity, timing with respect to tides, angle of approach, and must account for ever-changing details of coastal dune configuration," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "These models help us understand where emergency management resources might be most needed."

Overwash, the landward movement of large volumes of sand from overtopped dunes, is forecasted for portions of the east coast with the projected landfall of the storm. The severity of overwash depends on the strength of the storm, the height of the dunes, and how direct a hit the coast takes.

"On the Delmarva Peninsula, near the storm's expected landfall, close to three quarters of the sandy coast is expected to see beach and dune erosion. Fifteen percent of the coast is very likely to be inundated by waves and storm surge," said USGS Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon from the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

In these areas, waves and storm surge would transport large amounts of sand across coastal environments, depositing sand both inland and offshore and causing significant changes to the landscape, Stockdon noted.

The models show that along the New Jersey shore, 81 percent of the coast is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion, while 7 percent is very likely to experience overwash. It also indicates that on the south shore of Long Island, N.Y., including Fire Island National Seashore, 43 percent of the coast is very likely to experience beach and dune erosion. Overwash and inundation are not expected in these areas because of the relative high dune elevations.

According to USGS geologist Cheryl Hapke, many of the sandy beaches along the mid-Atlantic Coast have become increasingly vulnerable to significant impacts such as erosion because of past storms, including Hurricanes Ida (2009) and Irene (2011), as well as large northeastern storms in 2005 and 2007.

"Beaches and dunes often serve as the first line of defense for coastal communities against flooding and other hazards associated with extreme storm" said Hapke, "Any compromise to these features means that storm-related hazards are more likely to threaten coastal property, infrastructure, and public safety during a future extreme storm event."

Beach and dune erosion occurs when storm surge and waves collide with the base of a dune, termed collision in the model, and wash away significant amounts of sand. Overwash happens when these forces exceed dune height and move sand inland. Inundation is a process by which an entire beach system is submerged and, in extreme cases, can result in island breaching.

The USGS coastal change model forecasting likely dune erosion and overwash from the storm can be viewed online.

For the latest forecasts on the storm, listen to NOAA radio. For information on preparing for the storm, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov

USGS Storm-Surge Sensors Deployed Ahead of Tropical Storm Sandy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:01:41 EDT

RESTON, Va. -- Storm response crews from the U.S. Geological Survey are installing more than 150 storm-tide sensors at key locations along the Atlantic Coast -- from the Chesapeake Bay to Massachusetts -- in advance of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sandy.

Working with various partner agencies such as NOAA, FEMA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USGS is securing the storm-tide sensors, frequently called storm-surge sensors, to piers and poles in areas where the storm is expected to make landfall. The instruments being installed will record the precise time the storm-tide arrived, how ocean and inland water levels changed during the storm, the depth of the storm-tide throughout the event, and how long it took for the water to recede.

"In the hours and days before Irene made its epic sweep up the eastern seaboard last year, USGS deployed a record number of storm-surge sensors that yielded important new information on storm tides along some of the most populated coastline in the United States," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now with Sandy we have the opportunity to test and improve predictive models of coastal zone impact based on what we previously learned."

Storm-tides are increases in ocean water levels generated at sea by extreme storms and can have devastating coastal impacts. In locations where tidal forecasts are known, the sensors being installed can also help determine storm surge. For differences between storm-surge and tidal-surge, visit the National Hurricane Center's website.

This information will be used to assess storm damage, discern between wind and flood damage, and improve computer models used to forecast future coastal inundation.

In addition, rapid deployment gauges will be installed at critical locations to provide real-time information to forecast floods and coordinate flood-response activities in the affected areas. The sensors augment a network of existing U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, which are part of the permanent network of more than 7,500 streamgages nationwide.

Of the sensors deployed specifically for Sandy, eight have real-time capability that will allow viewing of the storm-tide as the storm approaches and makes landfall. Besides water level, some of these real-time gauges include precipitation and wind sensors that will transmit all data hourly. All data collected by these sensors and the existing USGS streamgage network will be available on the USGS Storm-Tide Mapper link at www.usgs.gov/hurricanes.

Providing information to support future forecasts could ultimately save lives during future storms. These sensors were deployed for the first time during Hurricane Rita in 2005. Before then, scientists had limited data available to study the effects of storm surge.

"Forecasters at the National Weather Service rely on USGS real-time and long-term data to improve storm surge models and prepare storm-tide warnings," said Brian McCallum, assistant director of the USGS Georgia Water Science Center, who is helping coordinate the sensor installation effort. "Floodplain managers, federal, state and local emergency preparedness officials, emergency responders, scientists and researchers all benefit from the storm-tide and associated flood data. It’s useful for flood damage prevention and public safety."

The USGS studies the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms to better understand potential impacts on coastal areas. Information provided through the sensor networks provides critical data for more accurate modeling and prediction capabilities and allows for improved structure designs and response for public safety.

The USGS also continuously monitors water levels and flows at thousands of the nation's streams on a real-time basis. The public can access this information for their area at the USGS Current Streamflow Conditions web page. Also, USGS WaterAlert allows users to receive a text or email from the USGS when waters are rising in rivers and streams near them.

For the latest forecasts on the storm, listen to NOAA radio. For information on preparing for the storm, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov

Sandy to Erode Many Atlantic Beaches

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:56:16 EDT

The predictions of coastal change for the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia peninsula is part of a larger assessment of probable coastal change released by the U.S. Geological Survey Friday.

“On the Delmarva Peninsula, near the storm's expected landfall, close to three quarters of the sandy coast is expected to see beach and dune erosion. Fifteen percent of the coast is very likely to be inundated by waves and storm surge,” said USGS Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon from the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

“Beaches and dunes often serve as the first line of defense for coastal communities against flooding and other hazards associated with extreme storm” said Hapke, “Any compromise to these features means that storm-related hazards are more likely to threaten coastal property, infrastructure, and public safety during a future extreme storm event.”

The USGS coastal change model forecasting likely dune erosion and overwash from the storm can be viewed online.

For the latest forecasts on the storm, listen to NOAA radio. For information on preparing for the storm, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov

Media Advisory: Preparing for Future Earthquakes

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 8:00:00 EDT

Reston, Va.—Are you prepared for future earthquakes? Earthquake experts from the USGS and FEMA will be with students at Langston Hughes Middle School as they participate in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill on October 18, 2012.

During the drill, participants will "drop, cover, and hold on" to practice how to protect themselves during an earthquake. Millions of people have participated in ShakeOut drills since 2008, and this will be the first year a drill is officially held in the southeast. Earthquakes pose a risk to more than 165 million people in 37 states. Last year's earthquake in Virginia was a recent reminder that we all need to be prepared.

What:	Media are invited to join students at Langston Hughes Middle School as they participate in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. Presentations will follow from the USGS and FEMA on earthquake hazards and preparedness.
When:	Thursday, October 18, 2012, 10:18 a.m. Media should arrive by 9:30 a.m., with the event lasting until 11:00 a.m.
Where:	Langston Hughes Middle School 11401 Ridge Heights Road Reston, VA 20191
Who:	Marcia McNutt, USGS Director Michael Mahoney, FEMA Geophysicist Bill Leith, USGS Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards
RSVP:	Media must RSVP by October 17 to Jessica Robertson at jrobertson@usgs.gov or 703-648-6624.

Additional information—drill manuals, tips on earthquake preparedness, news media resources—are available on the Great ShakeOut website.

Learn about the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

Read a USGS feature story on ShakeOut.

USGS Releases First Assessment of Shale Gas Resources in the Utica Shale: 38 trillion cubic feet

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 4 Oct 2012 17:24:04 EDT

The Utica Shale contains about 38 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas (at the mean estimate) according to the first assessment of this continuous (unconventional) natural gas accumulation by the U. S. Geological Survey. The Utica Shale has a mean of 940 million barrels of unconventional oil resources and a mean of 208 million barrels of unconventional natural gas liquids.

The Utica Shale lies beneath the Marcellus Shale, and both are part of the Appalachian Basin, which is the longest-producing petroleum province in the United States. The Marcellus Shale, at 84 TCF of natural gas, is the largest unconventional gas basin USGS has assessed. This is followed closely by the Greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming, which has 84 TCF of undiscovered natural gas, of which 82 TCF is continuous (tight gas).

"Understanding our domestic oil and gas resource potential is important, which is why we assess emerging plays like the Utica, as well as areas that have been in production for some time" said Brenda Pierce, USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator. "Publicly available information about undiscovered oil and gas resources can aid policy makers and resource managers, and inform the debate about resource development."

The Utica Shale assessment covered areas in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Some shale rock formations, like the Utica and Marcellus, can be source rocks – those formations from which hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, originate. Conventional oil and gas resources gradually migrate away from the source rock into other formations and traps, whereas continuous resources, such as shale oil and shale gas, remain trapped within the original source rock.

These new estimates are for technically recoverable oil and gas resources, which are those quantities of oil and gas producible using currently available technology and industry practices, regardless of economic or accessibility considerations.

This USGS assessment is an estimate of continuous oil, gas, and natural gas liquid accumulations in the Upper Ordovician Utica Shale of the Appalachian Basin. The estimate of undiscovered oil ranges from 590 million barrels to 1.39 billion barrels (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively), natural gas ranges from 21 to 61 TCF (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively), and the estimate of natural gas liquids ranges from 4 to 16 million barrels (95 percent to 5 percent probability, respectively).

USGS is the only provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources of onshore lands and offshore state waters. The USGS Utica Shale assessment was undertaken as part of a nationwide project assessing domestic petroleum basins using standardized methodology and protocol.

The new assessment of the Utica Shale may be found online. To find out more about USGS energy assessments and other energy research, please visit the USGS Energy Resources Program website, sign up for our Newsletter, and follow us on Twitter.

The Utica Shale is a formation in the Appalachian Basin that lies beneath the Marcellus Shale. It was recently assessed for the first time by the USGS, and is estimated to contain 38 TCF of natural gas, 940 MMB of oil, and 9 MMB of natural gas liquids.

Media Advisory: USGS Hosts Congressional Briefing: Earthquake Early Warning

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EDT

Note: We will be tweeting live from this event through the @USGSLive account.

You are invited to join the USGS for a congressional briefing titled, “Earthquake Early Warning: Every Second Counts.”

Imagine if doctors had time to stop delicate procedures before an earthquake. And if emergency responders had a few extra moments to gear up, airplane landings could be postponed, trains slowed, and people could move to safer locations. Come learn how the USGS and its partners are helping provide critical seconds of notification through an earthquake early warning system in the United States.

When:	Friday, September 28, 2012
Where:	This briefing will be held twice in Washington, DC. 10:00 a.m. in 1334 Longworth House Office Building 2:00 p.m. in 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Speakers:	Richard Allen Director, Berkeley Seismological Laboratory Professor, Dept. Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley Bill Leith Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey Chris Terzich Chair, Regional Consortium Coordinating Council
Host:	Seismological Society of America

Learn more about the Earthquake Early Warning System.

Learn more information about the USGS Congressional Briefing Series.