Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Study Unit Active
The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
The ALBE drainage basin encompasses about 28,000 square miles in central and eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia and includes four major river basins—the Chowan, Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse. The study area extends through parts of four physiographic provinces—Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
Assessment of the Albemarle-Pamlico study area (ALBE) began in 1991 (Cycle I) with an intense 3-year period of surface-water, ground-water, and ecological data collection. Data collection from 1993 to 2000 included ground-water flow path sampling and monthly surface-water sampling at two sites selected for long-term trend evaluation. Intensive sampling began again in 2001 (Cycle II), with a focus on evaluating the effects of urban development on ecology and water quality (Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems (EUSE)), nutrient source and delivery modeling (Spatially Referenced Regressions on Watershed Attributes (SPARROW) modeling), and studying water quality of the Castle Hayne aquifer.
Currently the ALBE project is in Cycle III, which consists of the following science goals:
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Assess the current quality of the Nation’s freshwater resources and how water quality is changing over time (Status and Trends)
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Continuing: Evaluate how human activities and natural factors, such as land use and climate change, are affecting the quality of surface water and groundwater (Understanding Causes)
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Determine the effects of contaminants, excess nutrients, sediment, and streamflow alteration on aquatic ecosystems (Understanding Effects)
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Predict the effects of human activities, climate change, and management strategies on water quality and ecosystem condition (Forecasting)
Related Information:
- National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
- New Water-Quality Directions
- National Water Quality Network (includes stakeholder feedback form)
Below are publications associated with this project.
Response of Stream Chemistry During Base Flow to Gradients of Urbanization in Selected Locations Across the Conterminous United States, 2002-04
A Comparison of Natural and Urban Characteristics and the Development of Urban Intensity Indices Across Six Geographic Settings
Methods for Estimating Annual Wastewater Nutrient Loads in the Southeastern United States
Continuous resistivity profiling data from the upper Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, 2004-2005
Factors affecting occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants in ground water from selected areas in the Piedmont Aquifer System, Eastern United States, 1993-2003
Geography for a Changing World - A science strategy for the geographic research of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2005-2015
Geochemistry and characteristics of nitrogen transport at a confined animal feeding operation in a coastal plain agricultural watershed, and implications for nutrient loading in the Neuse River basin, North Carolina, 1999-2002
The effects of urbanization on the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of coastal New England streams
Water quality in the New England coastal basins, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1999-2001
The effects of urbanization on the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of coastal New England streams
User's Manual for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program Invertebrate Data Analysis System (IDAS) Software: Version 3
Water-quality and physical characteristics of streams in the Treyburn development area of Falls Lake watershed, North Carolina, 1994–98
- Overview
The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
The ALBE drainage basin encompasses about 28,000 square miles in central and eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia and includes four major river basins—the Chowan, Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse. The study area extends through parts of four physiographic provinces—Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
Assessment of the Albemarle-Pamlico study area (ALBE) began in 1991 (Cycle I) with an intense 3-year period of surface-water, ground-water, and ecological data collection. Data collection from 1993 to 2000 included ground-water flow path sampling and monthly surface-water sampling at two sites selected for long-term trend evaluation. Intensive sampling began again in 2001 (Cycle II), with a focus on evaluating the effects of urban development on ecology and water quality (Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems (EUSE)), nutrient source and delivery modeling (Spatially Referenced Regressions on Watershed Attributes (SPARROW) modeling), and studying water quality of the Castle Hayne aquifer.
Currently the ALBE project is in Cycle III, which consists of the following science goals:
-
Assess the current quality of the Nation’s freshwater resources and how water quality is changing over time (Status and Trends)
-
Continuing: Evaluate how human activities and natural factors, such as land use and climate change, are affecting the quality of surface water and groundwater (Understanding Causes)
-
Determine the effects of contaminants, excess nutrients, sediment, and streamflow alteration on aquatic ecosystems (Understanding Effects)
-
Predict the effects of human activities, climate change, and management strategies on water quality and ecosystem condition (Forecasting)
Related Information:
- National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
- New Water-Quality Directions
- National Water Quality Network (includes stakeholder feedback form)
-
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 53Response of Stream Chemistry During Base Flow to Gradients of Urbanization in Selected Locations Across the Conterminous United States, 2002-04
During 2002-2004, the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program conducted a study to determine the effects of urbanization on stream water quality and aquatic communities in six environmentally heterogeneous areas of the conterminous United States--Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Milwaukee-Green Bay, Wisconsin; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colorado;AuthorsLori A. Sprague, Douglas A. Harned, David W. Hall, Lisa H. Nowell, Nancy J. Bauch, Kevin D. RichardsA Comparison of Natural and Urban Characteristics and the Development of Urban Intensity Indices Across Six Geographic Settings
As part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program, the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems have been intensively investigated in six metropolitan areas in the United States. Approximately 30 watersheds in each area, ranging in size from 4 to 560 square kilometers (median is 50 square kilometers), and spanning a development gradient from very low to very highAuthorsJames A. Falcone, Jana Stewart, Steven Sobieszczyk, Jean Dupree, Gerard McMahon, Gary BuellMethods for Estimating Annual Wastewater Nutrient Loads in the Southeastern United States
This report describes an approach for estimating annual total nitrogen and total phosphorus loads from point-source dischargers in the southeastern United States. Nutrient load estimates for 2002 were used in the calibration and application of a regional nutrient model, referred to as the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) watershed model. Loads from dischargers permAuthorsGerard McMahon, Larinda Tervelt, William DonehooContinuous resistivity profiling data from the upper Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, 2004-2005
The Neuse River Estuary in North Carolina has suffered impacts of eutrophication in recent years. As part of a larger project to better constrain nutrient budgets in the estuary, field investigations were performed to study occurrence and discharge of fresh and brackish ground water and nutrients beneath the estuary itself (fig. 1). A Continuous Resistivity Profiling (CRP) system (Manheim and otheAuthorsVeeAnn A. Cross, John F. Bratton, Emile M. Bergeron, Jeff K. Meunier, John Crusius, Dirk KoopmansFactors affecting occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants in ground water from selected areas in the Piedmont Aquifer System, Eastern United States, 1993-2003
Results of ground-water sampling from 255 wells and 19 springs in 11 studies done by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program within the Piedmont Aquifer System (PAS) were analyzed to determine the factors affecting occurrence and distribution of selected contaminants. The contaminants, which were selected on the basis of potential human-health effects, includedAuthorsBruce D. Lindsey, W. Fred Falls, Matthew J. Ferrari, Tammy M. Zimmerman, Douglas A. Harned, Eric M. Sadorf, Melinda J. ChapmanGeography for a Changing World - A science strategy for the geographic research of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2005-2015
This report presents a science strategy for the geographic research of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the years 2005-2015. The common thread running through the vision, mission, and science goals presented in the plan is that USGS geographers will provide national leadership to understand coupled human-environmental systems in the face of land change and will deliver pertinent information tAuthorsGerard McMahon, Susan P. Benjamin, Keith Clarke, John E. Findley, Robert N. Fisher, William L. Graf, Linda C. Gundersen, John Jones, Thomas R. Loveland, Keven S. Roth, E. Lynn Usery, Nathan J. WoodGeochemistry and characteristics of nitrogen transport at a confined animal feeding operation in a coastal plain agricultural watershed, and implications for nutrient loading in the Neuse River basin, North Carolina, 1999-2002
Chemical, geologic, hydrologic, and age-dating information collected between 1999 and 2002 were used to examine the transport of contaminants, primarily nitrogen, in ground water and the pathways to surface water in a coastal plain setting in North Carolina. Data were collected from more than 35 wells and 4 surface-water sampling sites located in a 0.59 square-mile basin to examine detailed hydrogAuthorsT. B. Spruill, A. J. Tesoriero, H.E. Mew, K.M. Farrell, S.L. Harden, A.B. Colosimo, S.R. KraemerThe effects of urbanization on the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of coastal New England streams
During August 2000, responses of biological communities (invertebrates, fish, and algae), physical habitat, and water chemistry to urban intensity were compared among 30 streams within 80 miles of Boston, Massachusetts. Sites chosen for sampling represented a gradient of the intensity of urban development (urban intensity) among drainage basins that had minimal natural variability. In this study,AuthorsJames F. Coles, Thomas F. Cuffney, Gerard McMahon, Karen M. BeaulieuWater quality in the New England coastal basins, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1999-2001
This report contains the major findings of a 1999-2001 assessment of water quality in the New England Coastal Basins. It is one of a series of reports by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program that present major findings in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems across the Nation. In these reports, water quality is discussed in terms of local, State, and regional issues. ConditioAuthorsKeith W. Robinson, Sarah M. Flanagan, Joseph D. Ayotte, Kimberly W. Campo, Ann Chalmers, James F. Coles, Thomas F. CuffneyThe effects of urbanization on the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of coastal New England streams
During August 2000, responses of biological communities (invertebrates, fish, and algae), physical habitat, and water chemistry to urban intensity were compared among 30 streams within 80 miles of Boston, Massachusetts. Sites chosen for sampling represented a gradient of the intensity of urban development (urban intensity) among drainage basins that had minimal natural variability. In this studyAuthorsJ.F. Coles, T. F. Cuffney, G. McMahon, K.M. BeaulieuUser's Manual for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program Invertebrate Data Analysis System (IDAS) Software: Version 3
The Invertebrate Data Analysis System (IDAS) software provides an accurate, consistent, and efficient mechanism for analyzing invertebrate data collected as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program and stored in the Biological Transactional Database (Bio-TDB). The IDAS software is a stand-alone program for personal computers that run Microsoft (MS) Windows?. It allows users to read daAuthorsThomas F. CuffneyWater-quality and physical characteristics of streams in the Treyburn development area of Falls Lake watershed, North Carolina, 1994–98
Treyburn is a 5,400-acre planned, mixed-use development in the upper Neuse River Basin of North Carolina. The development, which began in 1986, is located in the Falls Lake watershed near three water-supply reservoirs-Lake Michie to the north, Falls Lake to the southeast, and Little River Reservoir to the west. A study began in 1988 to determine the water-quality characteristics of surface watersAuthorsC. J. Oblinger, Thomas F. Cuffney, Michael R. Meador, R. G. Garrett