National Water-Quality Project Sampling Methods Active
USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) studies require analyses of stream and bed-sediment samples for major ions, nutrients, sediments, and organic contaminants that are consistent across time and space. Procedures have been designed specifically to produce information that is comparable among studies in different parts of the Nation.
Find thorough guidance on these and other methods under the Publications tab.
Quality assurance is maintained by strict collecting and processing procedures, replicate sampling, equipment blank samples, and a rigid cleaning procedure using detergent, hydrochloric acid, and methanol.
Field guide for collecting and processing stream-water samples for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Design of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program; occurrence and distribution of water-quality conditions
Ground-Water Data-Collection Protocols and Procedures for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Selection, Installation, and Documentation of Wells, and Collection of Related Data
Ground-Water Data-Collection Protocols and Procedures for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Collection and Documentation of Water-Quality Samples and Related Data
Guidelines for collecting and processing samples of stream bed sediment for analysis of trace elements and organic contaminants for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Methods for sampling fish communities as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Guidelines for studies of contaminants in biological tissues for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Methods for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Guidelines for the processing and quality assurance of benthic invertebrate samples collected as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Methods for characterizing stream habitat as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Methods for collecting algal samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
- Overview
USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) studies require analyses of stream and bed-sediment samples for major ions, nutrients, sediments, and organic contaminants that are consistent across time and space. Procedures have been designed specifically to produce information that is comparable among studies in different parts of the Nation.
Find thorough guidance on these and other methods under the Publications tab.
- Publications
Quality assurance is maintained by strict collecting and processing procedures, replicate sampling, equipment blank samples, and a rigid cleaning procedure using detergent, hydrochloric acid, and methanol.
Field guide for collecting and processing stream-water samples for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program includes extensive data- collection efforts to assess the quality of the Nations's streams. These studies require analyses of stream samples for major ions, nutrients, sediments, and organic contaminants. For the information to be comparable among studies in different parts of the Nation, consistent procedures specifically desiAuthorsLarry R. SheltonFilter Total Items: 22Design of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program; occurrence and distribution of water-quality conditions
The National Water-Quality Assessment Program assesses the status of and trends in the quality of the Nation's ground- and surface-water resources. The occurrence and distribution assessment component characterizes broad-scale water-quality conditions in relation to major contaminant sources and background conditions in each study area. The surface-water design focuses on streams. The ground-waterAuthorsRobert J. Gilliom, William M. Alley, Martin E. GurtzGround-Water Data-Collection Protocols and Procedures for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Selection, Installation, and Documentation of Wells, and Collection of Related Data
Protocols for well installation and documentation are included in a 1989 report written for the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Pilot Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These protocols were reviewed and revised to address the needs of the full-scale implementation of the NAWQA Program that began in 1991. This report, which is a collaborative effort between the National Water-QAuthorsWayne W. Lapham, Franceska D. Wilde, Michael T. KoterbaGround-Water Data-Collection Protocols and Procedures for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Collection and Documentation of Water-Quality Samples and Related Data
Protocols for ground-water sampling are described in a report written in 1989 as part of the pilot program for the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These protocols have been reviewed and revised to address the needs of the full-scale implementation of the NAWQA Program that began in 1991. This report, which is a collaborative effort between thAuthorsMichael T. Koterba, Franceska D. Wilde, Wayne W. LaphamGuidelines for collecting and processing samples of stream bed sediment for analysis of trace elements and organic contaminants for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
A major component of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program is to assess the occurrence and distribution of trace elements and organic contaminants in streams. The first phase of the strategy for the assessment is to analyze samples of bed sediments from depositional zones. Fine-grained particles deposited in these zones are natural accumulators of trace elements anAuthorsLarry R. Shelton, Paul D. CapelMethods for sampling fish communities as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Fish community structure is characterized in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program as part of an integrated physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the Nation's water quality. The objective of the National Water-Quality Assessment characterization of fish community structure is to relate fish community characteristics to physical, chemical, and other bioloAuthorsM. R. Meador, T. F. Cuffney, M. E. GurtzGuidelines for studies of contaminants in biological tissues for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
No abstract available.AuthorsJ. K. Crawford, S. N. LuomaMethods for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Benthic invertebrate communities are evaluated as part of the ecological survey component of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program. These biological data are collected along with physical and chemical data to assess water-quality conditions and to develop an understanding of the factors that affect water-quality conditions locally, regionally, and nationally. The oAuthorsThomas F. Cuffney, Martin E. Gurtz, Michael R. MeadorGuidelines for the processing and quality assurance of benthic invertebrate samples collected as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Benthic invertebrate samples are collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program. This is a perennial, multidisciplinary program that integrates biological, physical, and chemical indicators of water quality to evaluate status and trends and to develop an understanding of the factors controlling observed water quality. The Program examines water qualityAuthorsT. F. Cuffney, M. E. Gurtz, M. R. MeadorMethods for characterizing stream habitat as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Stream habitat is characterized in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program as part of an integrated physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the Nation's water quality. The goal of stream habitat characterization is to relate habitat to other physical, chemical, and biological factors to describe water-quality conditions. To accomplish this goal, environmentaAuthorsMichael R. Meador, Cliff R. Hupp, Thomas F. Cuffney, Martin E. GurtzMethods for collecting algal samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Benthic algae (periphyton) and phytoplankton communities are characterized in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program as part of an integrated physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the Nation's water quality. This multidisciplinary approach provides multiple lines of evidence for evaluating water-quality status and trends, and for refining an understandingAuthorsStephen D. Porter, Thomas F. Cuffney, Martin E. Gurtz, Michael R. Meador