Water-Quality Sampling at Five Hydrologic Benchmark Stations in the Western United States Completed
The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) was established in 1963 to provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas of the United States that are minimally affected by human activities.
Historically, the HBN has used a fixed-interval sampling strategy, however other more robust sampling strategies are now available. Trend networks, for example, can take advantage of recent advances in hydrochemical modeling to devise more powerful approaches for detecting trends that may be due to environmental changes, such as atmospheric deposition or climate change.
By creating concentration-discharge models that also incorporate seasonality, it is possible to account for variations in stream chemistry due to changes in flow or season. This makes it possible to isolate trends that may be due to environmental changes, such as atmospheric deposition or climate change.
OBJECTIVES:
To develop improved sampling strategies for detecting surface-water trends in high-elevation, snowmelt dominated basins in the western United States.
Five basins in the study are part of the Hydrologic Benchmark Network:
Below are publications associated with this project.
Evaluation of stream chemistry trends in US Geological Survey reference watersheds, 1970-2010
Environmental characteristics and water quality of hydrologic benchmark network stations in the western United States, 1963-95
Environmental characteristics and water quality of hydrologic benchmark network stations in the west-central United States, 1963-95
Controls on surface water chemistry in the upper Merced River basin, Yosemite National Park, California
- Overview
The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) was established in 1963 to provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas of the United States that are minimally affected by human activities.
Historically, the HBN has used a fixed-interval sampling strategy, however other more robust sampling strategies are now available. Trend networks, for example, can take advantage of recent advances in hydrochemical modeling to devise more powerful approaches for detecting trends that may be due to environmental changes, such as atmospheric deposition or climate change.
By creating concentration-discharge models that also incorporate seasonality, it is possible to account for variations in stream chemistry due to changes in flow or season. This makes it possible to isolate trends that may be due to environmental changes, such as atmospheric deposition or climate change.
OBJECTIVES:
To develop improved sampling strategies for detecting surface-water trends in high-elevation, snowmelt dominated basins in the western United States.
Five basins in the study are part of the Hydrologic Benchmark Network:
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Evaluation of stream chemistry trends in US Geological Survey reference watersheds, 1970-2010
The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) is a long-term monitoring program established by the US Geological Survey in the 1960s to track changes in the streamflow and stream chemistry in undeveloped watersheds across the USA. Trends in stream chemistry were tested at 15 HBN stations over two periods (1970–2010 and 1990–2010) using the parametric Load Estimator (LOADEST) model and the nonparametric sAuthorsAlisa MastEnvironmental characteristics and water quality of hydrologic benchmark network stations in the western United States, 1963-95
This report describes the environmental characteristics and water-quality characteristics of 12 hydrologic benchmark network streams in the Western United States. This information was compiled to aide in the interpretation and application of water-quality data collected as part of the Hydrologic Benchmark Network Program.AuthorsAlisa Mast, David W. ClowEnvironmental characteristics and water quality of hydrologic benchmark network stations in the west-central United States, 1963-95
This report describes the environmental characteristics and water-quality characteristics of 14 benchmark basins in the west-central United States. The information was compiled to aide in the interpretation and application of historical water-quality data collected through the Hydrologic Benchmark Network Program.AuthorsMelanie L. Clark, C. A. Eddy-Miller, Alisa MastControls on surface water chemistry in the upper Merced River basin, Yosemite National Park, California
Surface water draining granitic bedrock in Yosemite National Park exhibits considerable variability in chemical composition, despite the relative homogeneity of bedrock chemistry. Other geological factors, including the jointing and distribution of glacial till, appear to exert strong controls on water composition. Chemical data from three surface water surveys in the upper Merced River basin conAuthorsD. W. Clow, M.A. Mast, K. Campbell