Water quality and ecology of small streams
USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment (RSQA)
Modeling contaminant loads in rivers and streams
SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models
Research by the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project on water quality of rivers and streams covers a broad range of topics, from nonpoint pollution issues to vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems. Dive in and find out more about current water-quality conditions, how and where water quality is changing, and the latest information on pesticides, nutrients, and other contaminants.
The Nation's rivers and streams are a priceless resource—they provide drinking water for a growing population, irrigation for crops, habitat for aquatic life, and countless recreational opportunities.
NAWQA research on surface-water quality is focusing on three areas:
-
current conditions and trends in water quality in the Nation’s rivers and streams;
-
developing models and interactive mappers that estimate the amount of a contaminant transported from inland watersheds to larger water bodies (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes, or SPARROW); and
-
characterizing water quality and ecology in hundreds of small streams across the United States (Regional Stream Quality Assessments; RSQA).
Explore NAWQA science on topics related to water quality in streams and rivers
Relations between land use and surface-water quality
Urban Land Use and Water Quality
Contaminants in surface water
Emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, and more)
Sediment-associated contaminants (metals, pesticides, PAHs, and more)
Coal-Tar-Based Pavement Sealcoat, PAHs, and Environmental Health
Relations to aquatic life
NWQP Research on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Drinking water issues
Drinking Water and Source Water Research
Chloride, Salinity, and Dissolved Solids
Water-Quality Benchmarks for Contaminants
Trends in water quality
Water-Quality Trends from Lake Sediment Cores
How do we do it?
Access USGS publications and manuals on National Water-Quality Project sampling methods.
Looking for information on groundwater quality as well?
Explore these links:
Learn about topics and projects related to surface-water quality.
Access USGS data on surface-water quality and ecology using the links below.
Natural Monthly Flow Estimates for the Conterminous United States, 1950-2015
Datasets and metadata for estimates of nitrate loads and yields from groundwater to streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed based on land use and geology
Code, data, executables, and other information used to run Unit Flows in Networks of Channels (UFINCH) - A method for simulating unit and daily flows in networks of channels described by NHDPlus using continuous flow data at U.S. Geological Survey streamg
U.S. Geological Survey GAGES-II time series data from consistent sources of land use, water use, agriculture, timber activities, dam removals, and other historical anthropogenic influences
Watershed characteristics for study sites of the U.S. Geological Surveys National Water Quality Programs Surface Water Trends project
Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992-2012
Pesticide concentration and streamflow datasets used to evaluate pesticide trends in the Nations rivers and streams, 1992-2012
Real and synthetic data used to test the Two-tracer Ratio-based Mixing Model (TRaMM)
Water Quality and Hydrologic Data (2011-13) for Freshwater Science Paper titled, "Patterns of Diel Variation in Nitrate Concentrations in the Potomac River"
Langelier Saturation Indices Computed for U.S. Groundwater, 1991-2015; Water Well Data and Characteristic Values for States
Below, you’ll find the latest in peer-reviewed journal articles and USGS reports on water-quality issues in streams and rivers.
Agriculture — A river runs through it — The connections between agriculture and water quality
Daily stream samples reveal highly complex pesticide occurrence and potential toxicity to aquatic life
Network controls on mean and variance of nitrate loads from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico
Response of nitrogen loading to the Chesapeake Bay to source reduction and land use change scenarios: A SPARROW‐informed analysis
Projected urban growth in the Southeastern USA puts small streams at risk
Variable impacts of contemporary versus legacy agricultural phosphorus on US river water quality
Historical changes in fish communities in urban streams of the southeastern U.S. and the relative importance of water-quality stressors
Phosphorus and nitrogen transport in the binational Great Lakes Basin estimated using SPARROW watershed models
Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Regional patterns of anthropogenic influences on streams and rivers in the conterminous United States, from the early 1970s to 2012
Assessing water-quality changes in U.S. rivers at multiple geographic scales using results from probabilistic and targeted monitoring
Monitoring the Riverine Pulse: Applying high-frequency nitrate data to advance integrative understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes
Recent trends in nutrient and sediment loading to coastal areas of the conterminous U.S.: Insights and global context
Isotopic tracers in fish in Northeast provide clue to mercury sources
Isotopes of mercury in fish can indicate the source of that mercury, reports a new study from the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment.
Research by the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project on water quality of rivers and streams covers a broad range of topics, from nonpoint pollution issues to vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems. Dive in and find out more about current water-quality conditions, how and where water quality is changing, and the latest information on pesticides, nutrients, and other contaminants.
The Nation's rivers and streams are a priceless resource—they provide drinking water for a growing population, irrigation for crops, habitat for aquatic life, and countless recreational opportunities.
NAWQA research on surface-water quality is focusing on three areas:
-
current conditions and trends in water quality in the Nation’s rivers and streams;
-
developing models and interactive mappers that estimate the amount of a contaminant transported from inland watersheds to larger water bodies (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes, or SPARROW); and
-
characterizing water quality and ecology in hundreds of small streams across the United States (Regional Stream Quality Assessments; RSQA).
Explore NAWQA science on topics related to water quality in streams and rivers
Relations between land use and surface-water quality
Urban Land Use and Water Quality
Contaminants in surface water
Emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, and more)
Sediment-associated contaminants (metals, pesticides, PAHs, and more)
Coal-Tar-Based Pavement Sealcoat, PAHs, and Environmental Health
Relations to aquatic life
NWQP Research on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Drinking water issues
Drinking Water and Source Water Research
Chloride, Salinity, and Dissolved Solids
Water-Quality Benchmarks for Contaminants
Trends in water quality
Water-Quality Trends from Lake Sediment Cores
How do we do it?
Access USGS publications and manuals on National Water-Quality Project sampling methods.
Looking for information on groundwater quality as well?
Explore these links:
Learn about topics and projects related to surface-water quality.
Access USGS data on surface-water quality and ecology using the links below.
Natural Monthly Flow Estimates for the Conterminous United States, 1950-2015
Datasets and metadata for estimates of nitrate loads and yields from groundwater to streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed based on land use and geology
Code, data, executables, and other information used to run Unit Flows in Networks of Channels (UFINCH) - A method for simulating unit and daily flows in networks of channels described by NHDPlus using continuous flow data at U.S. Geological Survey streamg
U.S. Geological Survey GAGES-II time series data from consistent sources of land use, water use, agriculture, timber activities, dam removals, and other historical anthropogenic influences
Watershed characteristics for study sites of the U.S. Geological Surveys National Water Quality Programs Surface Water Trends project
Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992-2012
Pesticide concentration and streamflow datasets used to evaluate pesticide trends in the Nations rivers and streams, 1992-2012
Real and synthetic data used to test the Two-tracer Ratio-based Mixing Model (TRaMM)
Water Quality and Hydrologic Data (2011-13) for Freshwater Science Paper titled, "Patterns of Diel Variation in Nitrate Concentrations in the Potomac River"
Langelier Saturation Indices Computed for U.S. Groundwater, 1991-2015; Water Well Data and Characteristic Values for States
Below, you’ll find the latest in peer-reviewed journal articles and USGS reports on water-quality issues in streams and rivers.
Agriculture — A river runs through it — The connections between agriculture and water quality
Daily stream samples reveal highly complex pesticide occurrence and potential toxicity to aquatic life
Network controls on mean and variance of nitrate loads from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico
Response of nitrogen loading to the Chesapeake Bay to source reduction and land use change scenarios: A SPARROW‐informed analysis
Projected urban growth in the Southeastern USA puts small streams at risk
Variable impacts of contemporary versus legacy agricultural phosphorus on US river water quality
Historical changes in fish communities in urban streams of the southeastern U.S. and the relative importance of water-quality stressors
Phosphorus and nitrogen transport in the binational Great Lakes Basin estimated using SPARROW watershed models
Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Regional patterns of anthropogenic influences on streams and rivers in the conterminous United States, from the early 1970s to 2012
Assessing water-quality changes in U.S. rivers at multiple geographic scales using results from probabilistic and targeted monitoring
Monitoring the Riverine Pulse: Applying high-frequency nitrate data to advance integrative understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes
Recent trends in nutrient and sediment loading to coastal areas of the conterminous U.S.: Insights and global context
Isotopic tracers in fish in Northeast provide clue to mercury sources
Isotopes of mercury in fish can indicate the source of that mercury, reports a new study from the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment.