Grab Our Data (and See Where We Work)
We operate and maintain extensive monitoring networks and conduct hydrologic investigations to quantify each component of the hydrologic cycle.
We operate and maintain extensive monitoring networks and conduct hydrologic investigations to quantify each component of the hydrologic cycle.
Virginia and West Virginia Groundwater Levels and Trends
See current groundwater levels and trends at continuous groundwater wells across Virginia and West Virginia.
See current groundwater levels and trends at continuous groundwater wells across Virginia and West Virginia.
PFAS Investigations Across Virginia and West Virginia
The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with local and regional partners to determine the drivers and distribution of PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water supplies across Virginia and West Virginia.
The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with local and regional partners to determine the drivers and distribution of PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water supplies across Virginia and West Virginia.
Explore Essential Tools and Products
Explore our scientific and data-driven web tools that include data visualizations, digital repositories, and interactive maps with data access and data analysis capabilities.
Explore our scientific and data-driven web tools that include data visualizations, digital repositories, and interactive maps with data access and data analysis capabilities.
Northeast Region Drought Streamflow Probabilities
Explore drought probabilities for select streams estimated using maximum likelihood regression. Winter streamflows are used to estimate the chance of hydrologic drought during summer months 5 to 11 months in advance.
Explore drought probabilities for select streams estimated using maximum likelihood regression. Winter streamflows are used to estimate the chance of hydrologic drought during summer months 5 to 11 months in advance.
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Welcome to the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center. We deliver timely and reliable data, advanced interpretive science, and tools needed to understand the water resources of Virginia and West Virginia in support of effective decision making.
Need assistance? Contact us through our Connect page.
Virginia Current Water Conditions
Virginia Current Water Conditions
Explore real-time Virginia streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data with our interactive map application.
West Virginia Current Water Conditions
West Virginia Current Water Conditions
Explore real-time West Virginia streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions and access data with our interactive map application.
News
Scientists ponder: How well are ag practices helping the Chesapeake Bay?
Scientists ponder: How well are ag practices helping the Chesapeake Bay?
USGS post-Ian science continues
USGS post-Ian science continues
Response and recovery, preparation and prediction
Response and recovery, preparation and prediction
Publications
The effects of wastewater reuse on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Municipal and industrial wastewater effluent is an important source of water for lotic systems, especially during periods of low flow. The accumulated wastewater effluent flows—expressed as a percentage of total streamflow (ACCWW%)—contain chemical mixtures that pose a risk to aquatic life; fish may be particularly vulnerable when chronically exposed. Although there has been considerable focus on
Evaluating water-quality trends in agricultural watersheds prioritized for management-practice implementation
Many agricultural watersheds rely on the voluntary use of management practices (MPs) to reduce nonpoint source nutrient and sediment loads; however, the water-quality effects of MPs are uncertain. We interpreted water-quality responses from as early as 1985 through 2020 in three agricultural Chesapeake Bay watersheds that were prioritized for MP implementation, namely, the Smith Creek (Virginia),
Small forested watershed weathers effects of climate change better than a nearby urban watershed in Northern Virginia, USA
South Fork Quantico Creek (SFQ; 19.8 square kilometre (km2), forested) and Fourmile Run (4MR; 32.4-km2, urban) are small watersheds in northern Virginia, United States. Precipitation and streamflow data for both watersheds were examined from water year (WY) 1952 through 2022. Temporal changes in hydrologic metrics were identified by calculating trends in annual precipitation, annual peak flow, mea
Science
USGS Publications Summarize Water-Quality Trends and Drivers in Urban Streams After 10 Years of Monitoring in Fairfax County, Virginia
Issue : Degraded water quality and ecology in urban streams has been widely documented, but explanations of changing conditions over time are often unavailable. A 15-year collaborative urban stream monitoring effort between the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is ongoing and has begun to shed light on this complex issue. In a new USGS report by...
Source Water Monitoring on the Roanoke River in Salem, Virginia
The Roanoke River is the primary source of the City of Salem's drinking water. Threats to water quality in rivers like the Roanoke have increased in recent years, and water authorities as well as residents are concerned about preventing source water contamination. Realtime water quality monitoring is a valuable tool in alerting water authorities such as Salem Water when there are anomalous...
Investigation of Drivers of Harmful Algal Blooms on Lake Anna, Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Viriginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Lake Anna in Virginia. The hydrology, water-quality, and weather conditions are evaluated both continuously and discretely to analyze the causes, persistence, and decline of HABs in two tributaries and along Lake Anna. Synoptic monitoring of...