The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project was established by Congress in 1992 to answer the following question:
What is the status of the Nation’s water quality and is it getting better or worse?
Since 1992, NAWQA has been a primary source of nationally consistent data and information on the quality of the Nation’s streams and groundwater. Data and information obtained from objective and nationally consistent water-quality monitoring and modeling activities provide answers to where, when, and why the Nation’s water quality is degraded and what can be done to improve and protect it for human and ecosystem needs. For NAWQA’s third decade (2013–23), a new strategic Science Plan has been developed that describes a strategy for building upon and enhancing the USGS’s ongoing assessment of the Nation’s freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystems.
At the Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC), NAWQA activities focus on two main areas: surface water and groundwater.
SURFACE-WATER ACTIVITIES
NAWQA will characterize the status and trends of surface-water quality and aquatic ecosystems by monitoring ambient water-quality and ecological conditions through a National Fixed Site Network (NFSN). NFSN data, as well as data collected by State and other agencies, including various agencies in Texas, support the development and refinement of USGS regional water-quality models such as ones that can be used to estimate nutrient loads in Texas’ river systems delivered to the Gulf of Mexico by Texas’ rivers and streams.
Five NFSN monitoring sites are planned for Texas:
- three large river sites (Brazos, Rio Grande, and Trinity Rivers), and
- two wadeable streams,
- one draining a small watershed that is minimally disturbed by development (Frio River) and
- one that drains the heavily urbanized Dallas metropolitan area (White Rock Creek).
Each of these sites will be sampled between 6 and 24 times per year, every year for
- basic water-quality properties (pH, conductance, dissolved oxygen, and temperature),
- major ions,
- nutrients,
- organic carbon, and
- suspended sediment, and
- at four of the five sites, a comprehensive suite of pesticides and their breakdown products.
At the two wadeable stream sites, ecological sampling of algal, macroinvertebrate, and fish communities will be sampled annually.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Current Water-Quality Conditions in Texas
Real-time water-quality conditions from more than 80 sites across Texas.
Below are publications associated with this project.
The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program planned monitoring and modeling activities for Texas, 2013–23
PAH concentrations in lake sediment decline following ban on coal-tar-based pavement sealants in Austin, Texas
Century-scale perspective on water quality in selected river basins of the conterminous United States
Cancer risk from incidental ingestion exposures to PAHs associated with coal-tar-sealed pavement
Occurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas
Volatilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal-tar-sealed pavement
Representation of regional urban development conditions using a watershed-based gradient study design
Contaminants in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas: Data summary of a National Pilot Study
Coal-tar-based pavement sealcoat, polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and environmental health
Sources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico from Streams in the South-Central United States
A generalized watershed disturbance-invertebrate relation applicable in a range of environmental settings across the continental United States
Relation of urbanization to stream habitat and geomorphic characteristics in nine metropolitan areas of the United States
Multilevel Hierarchical Modeling of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Responses to Urbanization in Nine Metropolitan Regions across the Conterminous United States
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Tracking Water Quality of the Nation's Streams and Rivers
An online graphical data tool provides annual summaries of nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads and streamflow information for 106 sites monitored as part of the USGS National Water-Quality Network for Streams and Rivers.
- Overview
The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project was established by Congress in 1992 to answer the following question:
What is the status of the Nation’s water quality and is it getting better or worse?
Since 1992, NAWQA has been a primary source of nationally consistent data and information on the quality of the Nation’s streams and groundwater. Data and information obtained from objective and nationally consistent water-quality monitoring and modeling activities provide answers to where, when, and why the Nation’s water quality is degraded and what can be done to improve and protect it for human and ecosystem needs. For NAWQA’s third decade (2013–23), a new strategic Science Plan has been developed that describes a strategy for building upon and enhancing the USGS’s ongoing assessment of the Nation’s freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystems.
At the Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC), NAWQA activities focus on two main areas: surface water and groundwater.
SURFACE-WATER ACTIVITIES
NAWQA will characterize the status and trends of surface-water quality and aquatic ecosystems by monitoring ambient water-quality and ecological conditions through a National Fixed Site Network (NFSN). NFSN data, as well as data collected by State and other agencies, including various agencies in Texas, support the development and refinement of USGS regional water-quality models such as ones that can be used to estimate nutrient loads in Texas’ river systems delivered to the Gulf of Mexico by Texas’ rivers and streams.
Five NFSN monitoring sites are planned for Texas:
- three large river sites (Brazos, Rio Grande, and Trinity Rivers), and
- two wadeable streams,
- one draining a small watershed that is minimally disturbed by development (Frio River) and
- one that drains the heavily urbanized Dallas metropolitan area (White Rock Creek).
Each of these sites will be sampled between 6 and 24 times per year, every year for
- basic water-quality properties (pH, conductance, dissolved oxygen, and temperature),
- major ions,
- nutrients,
- organic carbon, and
- suspended sediment, and
- at four of the five sites, a comprehensive suite of pesticides and their breakdown products.
At the two wadeable stream sites, ecological sampling of algal, macroinvertebrate, and fish communities will be sampled annually.
Texas streams and rivers selected for monitoring by NAWQA, 2013-2023. - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Current Water-Quality Conditions in Texas
Real-time water-quality conditions from more than 80 sites across Texas.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program planned monitoring and modeling activities for Texas, 2013–23
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program was established by Congress in 1992 to answer the following question: What is the status of the Nation’s water quality and is it getting better or worse? Since 1992, NAWQA has been a primary source of nationally consistent data and information on the quality of the Nation’s streams and groundwater. Data and inforAuthorsPatricia GingFilter Total Items: 14PAH concentrations in lake sediment decline following ban on coal-tar-based pavement sealants in Austin, Texas
Recent studies have concluded that coal-tar-based pavement sealants are a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban settings in large parts of the United States. In 2006, Austin, TX, became the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to ban the use of coal-tar sealants. We evaluated the effect of Austin’s ban by analyzing PAHs in sediment cores and bottom-sediment samples collected iAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Barbara MahlerCentury-scale perspective on water quality in selected river basins of the conterminous United States
Nutrient pollution in the form of excess nitrogen and phosphorus inputs is a well-known cause of water-quality degradation that has affected water bodies across the Nation throughout the 20th century. The recognition of excess nutrients as pollution developed later than the recognition of other water-quality problems, such as waterborne illness, industrial pollution, and organic wastes. NevertheleAuthorsEdward G. Stets, Valerie J. Kelly, Whitney P. Broussard, Thor E. Smith, Charles G. CrawfordCancer risk from incidental ingestion exposures to PAHs associated with coal-tar-sealed pavement
Recent (2009–10) studies documented significantly higher concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in settled house dust in living spaces and soil adjacent to parking lots sealed with coal-tar-based products. To date, no studies have examined the potential human health effects of PAHs from these products in dust and soil. Here we present the results of an analysis of potential cancAuthorsE. Spencer Williams, Barbara Mahler, Peter C. Van MetreOccurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas
A nationally consistent approach was used to assess the occurrence and potential sources of pyrethroid insecticides in stream bed sediments from seven metropolitan areas across the United States. One or more pyrethroids were detected in almost half of the samples, with bifenthrin detected the most frequently (41%) and in each metropolitan area. Cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, and resmethrinAuthorsKathryn Kuivila, Michelle Hladik, Christopher G. Ingersoll, Nile E. Kemble, Patrick W. Moran, Daniel L. Calhoun, Lisa H. Nowell, Robert J. GilliomVolatilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal-tar-sealed pavement
Coal-tar-based pavement sealants, a major source of PAHs to urban water bodies, are a potential source of volatile PAHs to the atmosphere. An initial assessment of volatilization of PAHs from coal-tar-sealed pavement is presented here in which we measured summertime gas-phase PAH concentrations 0.03 m and 1.28 m above the pavement surface of seven sealed (six with coal-tar-based sealant and one wiAuthorsPeter C. Van Metre, Michael S. Majewski, Barbara Mahler, William T. Foreman, Christopher L. Braun, Jennifer T. Wilson, Teresa L. BurbankRepresentation of regional urban development conditions using a watershed-based gradient study design
As part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program, the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems (EUSE) have been intensively investigated in nine metropolitan areas in the United States, including Boston, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Raleigh, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas; Portland, OregonAuthorsSilvia Terziotti, Gerard McMahon, Amanda H. BellContaminants in stream sediments from seven U.S. metropolitan areas: Data summary of a National Pilot Study
This report presents data collected as a part of a synoptic survey of stream sediment contaminants, associated watershed characteristics and invertebrate responses in laboratory sediment toxicity tests from 98 streams (sites) in seven metropolitan study areas across the continental United States. The report presents methods, data, and sediment-quality guidelines, including the derivation of a newAuthorsPatrick W. Moran, Dan L. Calhoun, Lisa H. Nowell, Nile E. Kemble, Chris G. Ingersoll, Michelle Hladik, Kathryn Kuivila, James A. Falcone, Robert J. GilliomCoal-tar-based pavement sealcoat, polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and environmental health
Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified coal-tar-based sealcoat-the black, viscous liquid sprayed or painted on asphalt pavement such as parking lots-as a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in urban areas for large parts of the Nation. Several PAHs are suspected human carcinogens and are toxic to aquatic life.AuthorsB.J. Mahler, P. C. Van MetreSources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico from Streams in the South-Central United States
SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models were developed to estimate nutrient inputs [total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP)] to the northwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico from streams in the South‐Central United States (U.S.). This area included drainages of the Lower Mississippi, Arkansas‐White‐Red, and Texas‐Gulf hydrologic regions. The models were standaAuthorsRichard A. Rebich, Natalie A. Houston, Scott V. Mize, Daniel Pearson, Patricia B. Ging, Hornig C. EvanA generalized watershed disturbance-invertebrate relation applicable in a range of environmental settings across the continental United States
It is widely recognized that urbanization can affect ecological conditions in aquatic systems; numerous studies have identified impervious surface cover as an indicator of urban intensity and as an index of development at the watershed, regional, and national scale. Watershed percent imperviousness, a commonly understood urban metric was used as the basis for a generalized watershed disturbance meAuthorsJeffrey J. SteuerRelation of urbanization to stream habitat and geomorphic characteristics in nine metropolitan areas of the United States
The relation of urbanization to stream habitat and geomorphic characteristics was examined collectively and individually for nine metropolitan areas of the United States?Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Dallas?Forth Worth, Texas; Milwaukee?Green Bay, Wisconsin; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Boston, Massachusetts. The study was part ofAuthorsFaith A. Fitzpatrick, Marie C. PepplerMultilevel Hierarchical Modeling of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Responses to Urbanization in Nine Metropolitan Regions across the Conterminous United States
Multilevel hierarchical modeling methodology has been developed for use in ecological data analysis. The effect of urbanization on stream macroinvertebrate communities was measured across a gradient of basins in each of nine metropolitan regions across the conterminous United States. The hierarchical nature of this dataset was harnessed in a multi-tiered model structure, predicting both invertebraAuthorsRoxolana Kashuba, YoonKyung Cha, Ibrahim Alameddine, Boknam Lee, Thomas F. Cuffney - Web Tools
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Tracking Water Quality of the Nation's Streams and Rivers
An online graphical data tool provides annual summaries of nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads and streamflow information for 106 sites monitored as part of the USGS National Water-Quality Network for Streams and Rivers.