Tools and Guides
Spotlights
USDA Watershed Research
USDA. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
See a listing and descriptions of recent USDA-funded watershed research projects from throughout the country generated from the Current Research Information System (CRIS). [Note: Since this is a dynamically generated list, some off-topic projects may be included.]
NIFA National Water Program
USDA. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
A cooperative national program to improve the quality of the nation's water resources. The program is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and land grant colleges and universities.
Collaboration Toolkit: Protecting Drinking Water Sources through Agricultural Conservation PracticesSource Water Collaborative.
"Are you interested in getting more agricultural conservation practices on the ground to help protect sources of drinking water? If you’re working at the state level, a natural ally is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist’s office (part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
This toolkit, developed as a result of extensive collaboration between members of the Source Water Collaborative and the NRCS, offers a step-by-step approach."
EPA Publications and NewslettersEnvironmental Protection Agency.
Provides access to EPA publications.
Surf Your Watershed
Environmental Protection Agency.
Find various information about your (or any United States) watershed.
Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST)DEC, Inc., and J7 LLC (with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
CAST "is a web-based nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment load estimator tool that streamlines environmental planning. Users specify the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and their location. CAST builds the scenario and provides estimates of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment load reductions."
Office of WaterEnvironmental Protection Agency.
Software, publications, and program descriptions from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Environmental Protection Agency.
Provides access to information about Safe Drinking Water Act violations and enforcement history for public water supplies since 1993; see also Safe Drinking Water Overview for more information.
EPA Microbiology
Environmental Protection Agency.
Provides access to Manual of Methods for Virology, Information Collection Requirements Rule - Protozoa and Enteric Virus Sample Collection Procedures, a bibliography of EPA supported research in environmental microbiology (1990-1995), and images of water-borne microorganisms.
United States Geological SurveyDepartment of the Interior.
Offers an extensive array of water information.
Nutrient Scientific Technical Exchange Partnership & Support (N-STEPS)TetraTech; Environmental Protection Agency.
A one-stop-shop for national, regional, and local nutrient criteria developments.
Inter-American Water Resources NetworkOrganization of American States. Department of Sustainable Development.
"Builds and strengthens water resources partnerships among nations, organizations, and individuals; promotes education and the open exchange of information and technical expertise; and enhances communication, cooperation, collaboration and financial commitment to integrated water and land resources management within the context of environmental and economic sustainability in the Americas."
National Institutes for Water ResourcesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Provides information from the 54 U.S. Water Resources Research Institutes.
National Environmental Services CenterWest Virginia University.
Focus areas include:
- National Drinking Water Clearinghouse provides low-cost technical assistance, products, and information services about small community drinking water systems and related issues.
- National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities offers toll-free training assistance and referral information, along with training curricula and related information services.
- SMART About Water helps "America's small communities protect their source water."
- National Small Flows Clearinghouse helps "America's small communities and individuals solve their wastewater problems through objective information about onsite wastewater collection and treatment systems."
Nonpoint Education for Municipal OfficialsUniversity of Connecticut. Cooperative Extension System.
Project using innovative techniques to teach local officials about the sources and impacts of nonpoint source pollution, how different land uses affect water quality, and what towns can do to protect water quality. Many NEMO publications are available.
Interim Economic Guidance - WorkbookEnvironmental Protection Agency.
"This guidance is for use by states and EPA regional offices in
considering economics at various points in the process of setting or
revising water quality standards."
Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR)Universities Council on Water Resources.
"Disseminates information of interest to the water resources community and all concerned with our water resources."