Water-quality data for selected small tributaries to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, Pennsylvania and New York, 2012-2015

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected stream samples at 19 sites in tributaries to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River during 2012-15 in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) through the USGS-NPS Water-Quality Partnership to provide data on existing water-quality in small watersheds not previously characterized and where there was potential for unconventional gas development. USGS discrete data consist of water-quality and discharge values for stream samples collected monthly from November 2012 to June 2015 at one site on each of 6 tributaries under a range of hydrologic conditions and twice in 2014 (April and September) at one site on each of 13 other tributaries in New York and Pennsylvania. Two of the 6 sites sampled monthly were also sampled in September 2015. Drainage areas above sampling sites ranged from 2.19 to 67.6 square miles. Water-quality data includes USGS field measurements (water temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen) and results of USGS laboratory analysis for major ions and selected minor ions and trace elements, including constituents present in high concentrations in brines and unconventional gas well flow-back such as barium, chloride, lithium, and strontium. Other trace elements. including arsenic, cobalt, and molybdenum were analyzed in 4 to 5 samples at each of 6 sites sampled monthly and in both samples at the 13 sites sampled twice in 2014. One sample at each of 6 sites sampled monthly also was analyzed for uranium, radium-226, and gross alpha and beta radioactivity. Other data collected for the study includes selected continuous water-quality (water temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen) measured using in-situ sondes operated by the NPS for periods of 3 to 8 months during 2013-2015 at the 6 stream sites sampled monthly and one of the 13 stream sites sampled twice in 2014.