Water-quality assessment of the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland; design and implementation of water-quality studies, 1992-95

[摘要] From 1992 through 1995, nearly 1,200 water-quality samples from about 500 sites werecollected, processed, and analyzed for the U.S. Geological Survey?s (USGS) NationalWater-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin inPennsylvania and Maryland. Sites were selected and samples were collected for 28integrated water-quality studies designed to provide a comprehensive and nationallyconsistent description of current water-quality conditions, to begin to identify trends inwater quality, and to determine the major factors that affect observed water quality. Toachieve this, stream-water, ground-water, streambed-sediment, and biota samples werecollected, and habitat assessments were conducted at selected data-collection sites.This report discusses the water-quality study design, site-selection strategy, andimplementation steps used to obtain water-quality and related data. Methods employedto collect, process, and analyze samples, characterize sites, and assess habitat aredescribed. A comprehensive list of all sites employed in these studies and theircharacteristics is provided. Sample analyses conducted for the water-quality studiesdescribed in this report, including nutrients, pesticides, major ions, volatile organiccompounds (VOC?s), and trace elements, as well as measured or observed physicalproperties and habitat characteristics, also are listed.

[发布机构] U.S. Geological Survey

[学科分类] 地球科学(综合)