About Us

For general information, write or call:

U.S Geological Survey
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore MD, 21228
Phone: 443.498.5500
Fax: 443.498.5510

For press information, please contact:

Dan Soeder (dsoeder@usgs.gov)
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore MD, 21228
Phone: 443.498.5513
Fax: 443.498.5510

For data requests, please contact: NWIS Data Inquiries

Who Are We?

The U.S. Geological Survey provides the Nation with reliable, impartial information to describe and understand the Earth. This information is used to:

minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters;
manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources;
enhance and protect the quality of life; and
contribute to wise economic and physical development.

USGS is the Nation's largest natural-science agency and has the principal responsibility within the Federal government for mapping the Nation, assessing its geologic resources and hazards, understanding its natural biological resources, and providing hydrologic information for appraising the Nation's water resources. The Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center is mostly involved with conducting water-resources investigations. However, the Water Science Center Director (Baltimore) represents all of USGS in Maryland and D.C., and the Subdirector (Dover) represents USGS in Delaware.

The water resources of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia consist of numerous streams, springs, lakes, and aquifer systems. Streamflow, ground-water levels, and water-quality data are collected at numerous locations, and water-use data are collected throughout the area. These hydrologic data and other data are used in research and hydrologic studies to describe the quantity, quality, and location of the area's water resources. The collection, analysis, and interpretation of these data is done in cooperation with other federal, state and local agencies, universities, and research centers.