USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia

09/08/2026

Rising Seas, Shifting Ground: What 442 Monitoring Stations Tell Us About the Future of Coastal Wetlands.

Coastal wetlands are some of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, and they're facing a serious challenge from accelerating sea-level rise. These systems have historically been able to build up elevation and keep pace with rising seas, but recent rates of sea-level rise are faster than anything seen in recent geologic history.

A new study from the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) looked at data from 442 monitoring stations across coastal wetlands in the continental United States to see how they are responding. The findings show a mixed picture. About 11 percent of sites are losing the race against sea-level rise and heading toward submergence. Another 73 percent are currently lagging behind sea-level rise but may still be able to adapt by migrating upslope to higher ground. The remaining 16 percent are gaining elevation faster than the seas are rising, meaning they are not just persisting but potentially able to expand further into the water.

Vulnerability differs significantly across the East, West, and Gulf coasts, reflecting the very different geological and environmental conditions in each region.

This research represents one of the first national-scale assessments of coastal wetland elevation trends and can help guide where conservation and restoration efforts are needed most as our coastlines continue to change.

Read more https://ow.ly/sX6B50ZAByh

📸: Dr. Glenn Guntenspergen measuring marsh surface elevation to determine if marshes are keeping up with sea level rise. Credit: USGS Public Domain.

09/02/2026

Check out USGS water science and data that help us understand the water cycle in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia at our Center's website - https://www.usgs.gov/centers/md-de-dc-water

08/24/2026

Can YOU recognize important Delaware landforms and places from space?
Check out images of the First State from the USGS Landsat program.

08/18/2026

The Maryland landscape may look different than in western States, but we face similar water quality issues and use many of the same tools for monitoring and assessing water clarity.

08/03/2026

Lock in, chat. 🎮💧

These ranked hydrotechs are farming water quality samples and monitoring the health bar of the Susquehanna River (no camping).

All USGS water data is free and accessible to the public, no micro transactions required.

Explore USGS water data - https://waterdata.usgs.gov

📽️ A video of USGS hydrologic technicians collecting water samples and measuring water-quality along the Susquehanna River in Maryland. The video is styled to be a first-person point of view with video game graphics.

07/10/2026

07/06/2026

Great American Waterway Day 5: The Chesapeake Bay! 🇺🇸

The nation’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay is shaped by a vast watershed and supports one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Its wetlands, tidal marshes, and oyster reefs filter water, protect coastlines, and sustain major fisheries like the iconic blue crab.

The Bay has been central to American history, from early port cities to centuries of agriculture and timber harvesting that transformed the landscape.

Today, science and long‑term stewardship remain key to protecting this dynamic system.

💧 The USGS has 102 gages within 1km of the Chesapeake Bay. Check back later today to learn more about USGS science happening in and around the Chesapeake!

Then, celebrate with us tomorrow as we wrap up this Great American Waterway campaign for the 4th of July! ✨ (Hint: Tomorrow’s waterway opens up to a bay that holds the world’s largest horseshoe crab population!)

📷 Vintage-style poster of Chesapeake Bay with a USGS gage and blue crab on the shoreline in the foreground and estuaries feeding the bay the background. Illustration by Althea A. Archer, USGS

07/02/2026

Can you feel the heat?

With summer just starting, it's time to recap a spring full of water science in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.

Read our Spring newsletter: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/md-de-dc-water/news/spring-2026-newsletter-flow

📸 Jeremy Malen services a water-quality sensor along the Susquehanna River near Darlington, MD (USGS-01579550). Photo credit: Kelly McVicker, USGS.

06/29/2026

We are celebrating a major milestone at one of our Delaware streams: The 1000th streamflow measurement of White Clay Creek near Newark, Delaware (USGS-01479000)!

The USGS first began monitoring the creek here in 1931, and continuous records have been maintained since 1959.

A huge thank‑you to the dedicated hydrologic technicians, field crews, and partners, including the Delaware Geological Survey, who’ve made this long‑term record possible. For nearly a century, these measurements have supported water-resource management and a more resilient future for Delaware and beyond.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-01479000

📸 A clear White Clay Creek on a sunny day as seen on the day of the 1000th measurement. Photo credit: Sam Woomer, USGS.

06/17/2026

Blink, and you’ll miss it. 👀🌊

A stream in Baltimore, called Moores Run, shows just how quickly small streams can crest and recede after rain.

Moores Run at Radecke Ave at Baltimore, MD (USGS- 01585230) is the 5th flashiest watershed monitored by the USGS in the country. It also has over 25 years of record, making it a great dataset for scientists who study the water dynamics of urban watersheds.

After a four-year hiatus, we restarted monitoring gage height every minute at Moores Run, which is much more frequent than usual but is needed because of how flashy the stream is. The site is now also equipped with a HIVIS camera that takes photos every 5 minutes.

🔗 https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-01585230

📽️: A timelapse of Moores Run showing the stream’s flashiness. Images from the HIVIS camera.