MD-DE-DC Hydrologic Networks
Project Start Date: 01-October-1888
Project End Date: Ongoing
Partners
Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection & Resource Management
Frederick County, Maryland, Board of Co. Commissioners
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Noblis, Inc.
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Department of Public Works
Calvert County, Maryland, Department of Public Works
Carroll County, Maryland, Bureau of Resource Management
Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education
City of Aberdeen, Maryland, Department of Public Works
City of Baltimore, Maryland, Department of Public Works
City of Frederick, Maryland, Engineering Department
Delaware Geological Survey
District of Columbia, Watershed Protection Division
Geosyntec Consultants
Harford County, Maryland, Department of Public Works
Howard County, Maryland, Department of Public Works
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Resource Assessment Section
Maryland Department of the Environment, Water Supply Program
Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration
Maryland Geological Survey
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Environmental Protection
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Pennsylvania Department of Wastewater Management
Prince Georges County, Maryland, Department of Environmental Resources
Town of Ocean City, Maryland, Water Department
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
U.S. Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Directorate of Safety, Health, and Environment
National Park Service, Assateague Island National Seashore
Chiefs/Leaders:
Doheny, Edward J.
Objectives
a. To collect surface-water data sufficient to satisfy needs for current-purpose uses, such as 1) assessment of water resources, 2) operation of reservoirs or industries, 3) forecasting, 4) disposal of wastes and pollution controls, 5) discharge data to accompany water-quality measurements, 6) compact and legal requirements, 7) stream restoration, and 8) research or special studies.
b. To collect data necessary for analytical studies to define for any location the statistical properties of, and trends in, the occurrence of water in streams, lakes, estuaries, etc., for use in planning and design.
c. Monitor ground-water levels through the Maryland Observation Well Network for historical, scientific, and management uses.
d. Provide ground-water information for government and public concerns.
Statement of Problem
The MD-DE-DC Water Science Center, in cooperation with State agencies, obtains a large amount of data pertaining to the water resources of Maryland and Delaware. This work involves measuring stage, compute discharge, and collect water quality data of streams, rivers, and other waterways.
Monitor ground-water levels for long-term trends in order to identify areas of natural and stressed conditions, and to provide historical water-level records for ground-water management. Observation wells have been selected to provide both geographic and geologic coverage.
Water-resource planning and water-quality assessment need basic information on the chemical and physical quality of the water in Maryland's streams.
Strategy and Approach
In order to scientifically monitor surface-water resources, standard methods of data collection will be used as described in the series, "Techniques of Water Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey." Partial-record gaging will be used instead of complete record gaging where it serves the required purpose.
In order to scientifically monitor the ground-water resources in the State by a water-level observation well network:
(1) Regional aquifer systems must be considered especially those subject to municipal ground-water withdrawals
(2) establish a network which areally covers the geographic setting defined by the physiographic provinces, and monitor
water-table levels in order to determine periods of reduced ground-water recharge.
(3) evaluate the ground-water network yearly so that steps can be taken to monitor those areas of the ground-water
systems under stress.
