USGS: Science Topics: surface water quality

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Surface water quality

Chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water in lakes, rivers, or streams related to its fitness for use.

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Results 1 - 62 of 66 listed alphabetically [list by similarity]

A Whole-System Approach to Understanding Agricultural Chemicals in the Environment [More info]: Explains the effects of the interaction of hydrologic and biological processes on agricultural chemicals in various environments.
A science strategy to support management decisions related to hypoxia in the northern Gulf Of Mexico and excess nutrients in the Mississippi River Basin [More info]: The report describes a strategy for monitoring, modeling, and research activities to support management decisions to improve water-quality conditions in the Mississippi River Basin, reduce hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and improve conditions for
Acid rain effects on Adirondack streams - results from the 2003-05 western Adirondack stream survey (the WASS Project) [More info]: Acidified soils caused toxic aluminum in 66 percent of 565 assessed streams. Diatoms and aquatic macroinvertebrates were moderately to severely affected. These effects have not improved in areas surveyed in the early 1980s
Characterization of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004-08 [More info]: Preliminary results of hydrologic and biological sampling confirm anecdotal reports that this stream shows unusually high algal growth due to elevated nutrients, probably from groundwater.
Chloride control and monitoring program in the Wichita River Basin, Texas, 1996-2009 [More info]: Chloride concentrations in this river have historically been high due to natural saltwater springs and seeps from geologic formations. We monitor the water to help assess the progress of human efforts designed to mitigate this problematic salinity.
Condition of streams in Independence, Missouri: What is being done to protect stream health and how citizens can help [More info]: Stream water quality is affected by amount of impermeable surface in the basin; construction; reservoirs; sanitary sewer systems; land use and population density; road salt; animal waste; lawn and agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Dissolved solids in basin-fill aquifers and streams in the southwestern United States [More info]
Endocrine Disruption Found in Fish Exposed to Municipal Wastewater [More info]: Research findings and examples of application to real problems--cause and potential effects of wastewater on fish in streams is explored.
Evaluation of Structural Best Management Practices for Highway Runoff in Beaufort and Colleton Counties, South Carolina, 2005-2006 [More info]: Summarizes the ability of four devices to remove suspended sediment, metals, nutrients, and organics compounds in stormwater runoff.
Evaluation of fecal contamination by human and ruminant sources in upper Fountain Creek, Colorado, 2007-2008, by using multiple lines of evidence: [More info]: Microbial source tracking analysis of water sampled supports the argument that birds are the primary source of fecal contamination during the warm season.
Hydrology of Johnson Creek Basin, a Mixed-Use Drainage Basin in the Portland, Oregon, Metropolitan Area [More info]: Study of a small stream that has had a history of persistent flooding and water-quality problems.
Identifying sources of fecal coliform bacteria in selected streams on Virginia's Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) priority list [More info]: Describes project to identify sources of fecal coliform bacteria by ribotyping to develop the use of Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) values for contaminated stream segments in Virginia.
Johnson Creek basin hydrologic monitoring [More info]: Hydrologic data and analyses of surface-water, water quality, and ground water in the Johnson Creek basin in Oregon.
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (Upper Mississippi River area): sampling data [More info]: Downloadable data and other information about the sampling programs used in long-term monitoring of the upper Mississippi River area.
Methods for estimating concentrations and loads of selected constituents in tributaries to Lake Houston near Houston, Texas [More info]: Water from this reservoir will be used more extensively by the city, so we are developing methods of assessing the water quality in real time by measuring characteristics of stream flow that correlate with important water quality data.
Missouri River InfoLink: a clearinghouse of Missouri River information [More info]: Portal for Missouri River Infolinks, a clearinghouse to multiple links giving Missouri information, photo gallery, river weather forecast, projects and features, maps, meetings, history, and science research.
Monitoring for Pesticides in Groundwater and Surface Water in Nevada, 2008 [More info]: Study of pesticides in shallow groundwater and surface water to help decision makers evaluate and manage pesticide application practices to protect drinking water resources, especially deeper, potable groundwater as well as aquatic species.
National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) [More info]: Homepage for description of the National Stream Quality Network (NASQAN), a long-term program monitoring the concentrations and flux of sediment and chemicals in the Nation's largest rivers (Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, and Yukon).
National highway runoff water quality data and methodology synthesis [More info]: Cooperative national project with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to evaluate FHWA's guidelines for highway-runoff quality. Links to searchable online bibliography of related publications by the USGS, EPA, FHWA, and state agencies.
Nevada Water Science Center Projects [More info]: Links to detailed descriptions of USGS water-related research projects in Nevada with project information, location maps, and bibliographies including online reports.
New Jersey District - surface water information [More info]: Links to water data for New Jersey including streamflow, sampling stations, and water-quality data with links to reports on stream gages, hydrology, networks, and floods.
Nitrate concentrations and potential sources in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer and its contributing zone, Central Texas [More info]: The area contributing recharge to this aquifer is undergoing rapid growth, generating more wastewater. We found that nitrate, a major component of wastewater and a nutrient that can degrade water quality, has increased in the creeks in this area.
Nutrients in the Nation's streams and groundwater: National findings and implications [More info]: Despite public sector efforts to reduce nonpoint-source nutrients in streams and rivers, concentrations have remained the same or increased, continuing to pose risks to aquatic life and human health.
Occurrence of Emerging Contaminants in Water and Bed Material in the Missouri River, North Dakota, 2007 [More info]: Water monitoring results, focused on wastewater compounds, human-health pharmaceutical compounds, hormones, and antibiotics in water, and waste indicators, hormones, and antibiotics in solids.
Organic Compounds in Clackamas River Water Used for Public Supply near Portland, Oregon, 2003-05 [More info]: In all, 56 compounds were detected in samples collected approximately monthly during 2003-05 at the intake for the Clackamas River Water plant. On the basis of this screening-level assessment, adverse effects to human health are assumed to be negligible.
Organic compounds assessed in Neuse River water used for public supply near Smithfield, North Carolina, 2002-2005 [More info]: Reports concentration of organic compounds here, to serve as a baseline against which future measurements can be compared and to provide a general assessment of the quality of local water treatment efforts.
Organic compounds in Elm Fork Trinity river water used for public supply near Carrollton, Texas, 2002-05 [More info]: We identified six compounds at concentrations less than human-health benchmarks, but within a factor of 10 of those limits. Those compounds might warrant further study to understand their transport and fate within the watershed.
Organic compounds in Running Gutter Brook water used for public supply near Hatfield, Massachusetts, 2003-05 [More info]: The 258 organic compounds in this assessment are man-made: pesticides, solvents, gasoline hydrocarbons, personal-care and domestic-use products, pavement and combustion-derived compounds. None were found in concentrations deemed dangerous at this time.
Organic compounds in Truckee River water used for public supply near Reno, Nevada, 2002-05 [More info]: A preliminary indication of the potential importance of compounds detected in source water to the quality of finished water prior to distribution.
Organic compounds in White River water used for public supply near Indianapolis, Indiana, 2002-05 [More info]: Measured concentrations of many compounds in water people use. Some compounds are regulated as health hazards; a few of these were over the benchmark limits. Others may become issues of concern, so studies such as this give us helpful background levels.
Parking-lot sealcoat: A major source of PAHs in urban and suburban environments [More info]: Explanation of chemical contaminants released into aquatic environments by popular sealcoating compounds used in parking lots, with frequently-asked questions, links, and contact information.
Pesticides in Wyoming's rivers, 2006-10 [More info]: Sampling for pesticide contamination in four major rivers in in the Bighorn and North Platte River Basins, begun in 2006 and resampled in 2009 and 2010 revealed concentration at levels below the standards for drinking water.
Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams [More info]: Describes and illustrates that a broad range of chemicals found in residential, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters commonly occur in mixtures at low concentrations downstream from areas of intense urbanization and animal production.
Real-time water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient and bacteria concentration in Kansas streams. [More info]: Report on the use of regression equations from measurements made by water quality monitors and analytical results of manually collected samples estimating nutrient, bacteria, and other constituent concentrations to study streams in Kansas.
Recent changes in the food web of Lake Erie - the role of phosphorus and zebra mussels [More info]: Brief overview of the proliferation of zebra mussels and the role of phosphorus in Lake Erie with links to publications related to Lake Erie water quality.
Regional assessments of the Nation's water quality--Improved understanding of stream nutrient sources through enhanced modeling capabilities [More info]: Studies of the sources, transport, and fate of nutrients in the streams of six major regions of the conterminous United States.
Relations among land cover, streamflow, and water quality in the North Canadian River Basin near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 1968-2009 [More info]: Data explains spatial differences and temporal trends in water quality, specifically dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.
Response of lake chemistry to atmospheric deposition and climate in selected Class I wilderness areas in the western United States, 1993-2009 [More info]: Sulfate deposition to high-elevation areas has decreased here as a result of reductions in SO2 emissions. Nitrate deposition did not change, whereas ammonium deposition increased, particularly at sites near urban and agricultural areas.
SPARROW Modeling of Surface-Water Quality [More info]: A software model for regional interpretation of water-quality monitoring data, estimating origin and fate of contaminants in streams, with documentation, publications and data for the applications.
Science to support the understanding of south Texas surface-water and groundwater resources in a changing landscape [More info]: Short descriptions of the research and monitoring activities we are carrying out to assist state, local, and Federal agencies dealing with water resource issues in the southern part of the state.
Standard reference samples for water quality analysis [More info]: Standard reference samples for laboratory quality assurance testing and are available to purchase for internal quality control. The majority of samples are prepared with water from Colorado streams.
Surface-water data and statistics from U.S. Geological Survey data-collection networks in New Jersey on the world wide web [More info]: Streamflow-gaging and water quality sampling sites with real-time and historical surface-water data for many of the sites in New Jersey.
Surface-water data for the Nation [More info]: Homepage for USGS national surface-water data with more than 850,000 station years of time-series data for stream levels, streamflow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall plus real-time data and tutorial.
Taste and odor occurrence in Lake William C. Bowen and Municipal Reservoir #1, Spartanburg County, South Carolina [More info]: Explains why and how water from this reservoir, and others like it, sometimes acquire undesirable taste or odor, yet are not dangerous to drink.
The Midwest Stream Quality Assessment [More info]: Upcoming interagency study to assess status of ecological conditions, their relationships with contaminants and nutrients, anthropogenic factors affecting these, and develop models that may predict these ecological conditions.
The USGS role in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments [More info]: Detailed information on Total Maximum Daily Load, the total quantity of a pollutant that a stream can carry and still conform to water quality standards, used as a measurement in the monitoring, assessment, and remediation of polluted waters.
Transport of water, carbon, and sediment through the Yukon River basin [More info]: Summarizes a water-quality study of one of the last great uncontrolled rivers in the world, which supplies runoff, sediment, and nutrients to the eastern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.
Twelve Years of Monitoring Phosphorus and Suspended-Solids Concentrations and Yields in the North Fork Ninnescah River above Cheney Reservoir, South-Central Kansas 1997-2008 [More info]: Water quality is important here because this reservoir is the primary supply for Wichita, Kansas. Due to low streamflow during the monitoring period, we expect suspended sediment and phosphorus to be more variable in the future.
USGS mine drainage activities [More info]: Listing of USGS research and monitoring projects on mine drainage, in order to promote cooperation and collaboration among scientists working on problems related to mining and the environment.
Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes -- Continuing research [More info]: Outlines tactical problems that make it difficult for beach managers to use scientific information to make beach closure and advisory decisions. Explains methodologies we are using to address those problems and better prepare local decision makers.
Understanding pesticides in California's Delta [More info]: The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the hub of California's water system and an important habitat for fish and wildlife. USGS research has provided resource managers and other stakeholders with a good understanding of how pesticides enter the Delta.
Upper Mississippi River basin: water quality, water elevation, and discharge [More info]: Information on flood potential and water quality in the upper Mississipi River, including downloadable data and map images.
Wastewater Indicators Shown to Degrade in Streams [More info]: Research findings and examples of application to real problems--the stability of contaminants that indicate human wastewater needs to be considered.
Water Resources of Beauregard Parish [More info]: In 2005, about 30.6 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water was withdrawn here, including about 30.4 Mgal/d from groundwater and 0.1 Mgal/d from surface water. Industrial use, primarily for wood products, accounted for about 72 percent (22 Mgal/d).
Water Resources of Caddo Parish, Louisiana [More info]: In 2005, about 72.9 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water were withdrawn here, including about 7.70 Mgal/d from groundwater sources and 65.2 Mgal/d from surface-water sources. Public-supply use accounted for about 71%, and power generation 19%.
Water Resources of Lafayette Parish [More info]: Summarizes information on the water resources of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. Information on groundwater and surface-water availability, quality, development, use, and trends is based on previously published reports.
Water quality information pages [More info]: Homepage of the Office of Water Quality programs on the quality of the Nation's surface water and ground water resources, with links to general information, quality assurance, software, data, publications, USGS facilities, techniques, and programs.
Water quality studied in areas of unconventional oil and gas development, including areas where hydraulic fracturing techniques are used, in the United States [More info]: Maps showing number of water quality samples in areas underlain by unconventional oil and gas resources, broken out by surface water and groundwater.
Water resources of Allen Parish [More info]: In 2005, about 29.2 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water were withdrawn here, including about 26.8 Mgal/d from groundwater sources and 2.45 Mgal/d from surface-water sources. Rice irrigation accounted for 74 percent (21.7 Mgal/d) of the total.
Water resources of Bossier Parish [More info]: In 2005, about 15.8 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water were withdrawn, including 4.12 Mgal/d from groundwater and about 11.7 Mgal/d from surface-water sources.Public supply use accounted for about 78 percent (12.4 Mgal/d) of the total water withdra
Water resources of Vernon Parish [More info]: In 2005, about 6.67 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water were withdrawn here, including about 6.46 Mgal/d from groundwater sources and 0.21 Mgal/d from surface-water sources. Public-supply use accounted for about 76 percent (5.06 Mgal/d) of the total
Water resources of Virginia - Total Maximum Daily Load [More info]: Description of a project to develop watershed models that can be used to track sources of fecal coliform bacteria by assigning Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) to three stream segments in Virginia.

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