More details are avaialble on each of the 20 study units that began in 1991 at: http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/nawqasum/
Concentrations, seasonal variation, and annual loads. Data included streamflow, nutrients, major ions, organic carbon, suspended sediment, water temperature, specific conductance, alkalinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen. |
Basic Fixed Sites: representative of common land uses, as well as basin outflow sites |
about 10 per study unit |
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Concentrations and seasonal variations in pesticides. |
Subset of basic sites: where land use was most homogeneous and some mixed outflow sites in some study units |
about 2 per study unit |
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Spatial distribution of pesticides and nutrients. Data included 85 dissolved pesticides plus same constituents as basic sites. |
10-30 per SU |
in a season |
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Occurrence and distribution of contaminants in bed sediment. Data included total PCBs, 32 organochlorine pesticides, 63 semivolatile organic compounds, and 44 trace elements. |
Depositional zones of most stream sites sampled in other components of study |
about 20 per study unit |
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Occurrence and distribution of contaminants in biota. Data included total PCBs, 30 organochlorine pesticides and 24 trace elements in targeted bottom fish or other aquatic life. |
Most stream sites sampled in other components of study where tissue could be collected |
about 20 per study unit |
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Aquifer survey--domestic, public supply, or monitoring wells |
Occurrence and distribution of chemicals in randomly selected wells in an area. Data included major ions, nutrients, 85 pesticides, 60 volatile organic compounds, dissolved organic carbon, and radon. |
Varied depth wells across a Study Unit or a homogeneous part of the study unit |
30 per area: 1 or 2 areas per study unit |
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Describe the effects of a particular pattern of agricultural land use on shallow ground water. Data included major ions, nutrients, 85 pesticides, 60 volatile organic compounds, dissolved organic carbon, and radon. |
Shallow domestic or monitoring wells
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about 30 wells for each of 1-4 land users in a study unit |