The USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) researches nutrients by analyzing water samples and habitats across the State. Information about the occurrence and abundance of nutrients is critical for understanding and maintaining water resources across Texas. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.
Nutrients, including nitrate, nitrite, organic nitrogen, orthophosphate, and phosphorus, are essential for healthy plant and animal populations. Too many nutrients can have adverse effects on water quality, drinking-water sources, recreation, and aquatic life. Elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in streams, lakes, and estuaries can cause excessive growth of algae and other nuisance plants (a condition known as eutrophication). These plants can clog pipes and interfere with recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Subsequent decay of algae can result in foul odors and a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in water, known as hypoxia. Hypoxic conditions, such as those found in the Gulf of Mexico, can harm fish and shellfish that are economically and ecologically important to the Nation.
Nutrients occur naturally in water, but elevated concentrations may originate from manmade sources, such as artificial fertilizers, manure, and septic-system effluent. Nutrients can occur in both surface water and groundwater.
NUTRIENT SCIENCE CAPABILITIES
TXWSC has expertise in nutrient science applications, including, but not limited to:
- Evaluating the variability of nutrient concentrations and loads
- Evaluating the potential for developing continuous regression models based on surrogate parameters, such as acoustic backscatter and water-quality properties, to estimate nutrient concentrations
- Assessing nutrient occurrence, distribution, and concentration in waters
- Integrating nutrient monitoring networks including automated sampling, real-time data logging, and discrete sample collection
- Characterizing the water-quality connection between surface water and groundwater
- Low-level chemical analysis
Find out more about TXWSC water-quality science expertise in this printable information sheet.
LOOKING FOR NUTRIENT DATA?
USGS WaterQuality Watch: Real-Time Texas Nitrate Map
USGS National Water Information System: Water Quality Samples for Texas
Download data: Water Quality Portal
Water Quality Tracking: Coastal Rivers Nitrate Loads and Yields Interactive Map
CURRENT NUTRIENT SCIENCE
Coastal Inflow Sediment and Nutrient Monitoring
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Surface-water and Groundwater Interaction
National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Surface Water Activities
National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Groundwater Activities
Nutrient and Sediment Variability in the Lower San Jacinto River
Salado Creek Bacteria Source Tracking
Water-Quality Monitoring of the Lake Houston Watershed
Zebra Mussel Monitoring in North Texas
Projects related to nutrients are listed below.
Water-Quality Monitoring of the Lake Houston Watershed
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Surface-water and Groundwater Interaction
Nutrient and Sediment Variability in the Lower San Jacinto River
National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Surface Water Activities
Nutrient and Sediment Monitoring in Inflows to Texas Bays and Estuaries
Cyanobacteria Methods
Dallas Lake Nutrients Study
Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network
Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program (ZMMP)
- Overview
The USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) researches nutrients by analyzing water samples and habitats across the State. Information about the occurrence and abundance of nutrients is critical for understanding and maintaining water resources across Texas. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.
Nutrients, including nitrate, nitrite, organic nitrogen, orthophosphate, and phosphorus, are essential for healthy plant and animal populations. Too many nutrients can have adverse effects on water quality, drinking-water sources, recreation, and aquatic life. Elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in streams, lakes, and estuaries can cause excessive growth of algae and other nuisance plants (a condition known as eutrophication). These plants can clog pipes and interfere with recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Subsequent decay of algae can result in foul odors and a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in water, known as hypoxia. Hypoxic conditions, such as those found in the Gulf of Mexico, can harm fish and shellfish that are economically and ecologically important to the Nation.
Nutrients occur naturally in water, but elevated concentrations may originate from manmade sources, such as artificial fertilizers, manure, and septic-system effluent. Nutrients can occur in both surface water and groundwater.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.NUTRIENT SCIENCE CAPABILITIES
TXWSC has expertise in nutrient science applications, including, but not limited to:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Water-quality sampling on Lake Livingston, Texas. (Public domain.) - Evaluating the variability of nutrient concentrations and loads
- Evaluating the potential for developing continuous regression models based on surrogate parameters, such as acoustic backscatter and water-quality properties, to estimate nutrient concentrations
- Assessing nutrient occurrence, distribution, and concentration in waters
- Integrating nutrient monitoring networks including automated sampling, real-time data logging, and discrete sample collection
- Characterizing the water-quality connection between surface water and groundwater
- Low-level chemical analysis
Find out more about TXWSC water-quality science expertise in this printable information sheet.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.LOOKING FOR NUTRIENT DATA?
USGS WaterQuality Watch: Real-Time Texas Nitrate Map
USGS National Water Information System: Water Quality Samples for Texas
Download data: Water Quality Portal
Water Quality Tracking: Coastal Rivers Nitrate Loads and Yields Interactive Map
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Collecting water-quality samples at Benedict Spring, Texas. (Public domain.) CURRENT NUTRIENT SCIENCE
Coastal Inflow Sediment and Nutrient Monitoring
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Surface-water and Groundwater Interaction
National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Surface Water Activities
National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Groundwater Activities
Nutrient and Sediment Variability in the Lower San Jacinto River
Salado Creek Bacteria Source Tracking
Water-Quality Monitoring of the Lake Houston Watershed
Zebra Mussel Monitoring in North Texas
- Science
Projects related to nutrients are listed below.
Water-Quality Monitoring of the Lake Houston Watershed
Real-time water-quality, streamflow and water height information for Lake Houston and the surrounding San Jacinto watershed are now available from a new web application from the U.S. Geological Survey, done in cooperation with the City of Houston.Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Surface-water and Groundwater Interaction
The effects of urbanization across the recharge zone in Bexar County and potential impact on the water quality in the Edwards aquifer is a topic of specific concern for the City of San Antonio. The USGS Texas Water Science Center is simultaneously collecting water-quality data from surface-water runoff sites and paired shallow groundwater wells within the recharge zone of the Edwards aquifer to...Nutrient and Sediment Variability in the Lower San Jacinto River
The San Jacinto River is the second largest inflow into Galveston Bay. The USGS Texas Water Science Center collects water-quality samples in the lower reaches of the San Jacinto River over a range of hydrologic conditions to improve our understanding of the variability of nutrient and sediment concentrations in freshwater inflows from the San Jacinto River into Galveston Bay.National Water-Quality Assessment Project in Texas - Surface Water Activities
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...Nutrient and Sediment Monitoring in Inflows to Texas Bays and Estuaries
The USGS Texas Water Science Center is evaluating the variability of nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads entering Texas bays and estuaries across a range of hydrologic conditions in Galveston Bay (inflow from the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers), Matagordo Bay (inflow from the Colorado River), San Antonio Bay (inflow from the Guadalupe River), and Nueces Bay (inflow from Nueces River).Cyanobacteria Methods
Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) scientists are testing different methods of detecting and quantifying cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Texas reservoirs. The results of these tests could be used to develop a cost-effective monitoring plan to evaluate the presence and concentration of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Texas reservoirs.Dallas Lake Nutrients Study
The USGS Texas Water Science Center Nutrients Study for Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) provides discrete-depth data for nutrients, major ions, and other water-quality parameters in multiple source-water reservoirs used by DWU. The program is designed to assess nutrient and major ion occurrence, distribution, and concentration in waters by using established field and laboratory methods.Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network
The USGS Texas Water Science Center is implementing a more complete and integrated monitoring network for the Edwards aquifer to improve the understanding of aquifer water quality and establish a baseline for measuring future water-quality changes.Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program (ZMMP)
The zebra mussel is an invasive species that has spread rapidly in the United States. The first confirmed detection of zebra mussels in Texas occurred in 2009 at Lake Texoma along the Texas–Oklahoma border. The USGS Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program for Texas (ZMMP) began in April 2010 and has expanded over time in response to the continued spread of zebra mussels in Texas. - Publications