| Abstract: | The National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) was established by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide a nationally uniform basis for continuously assessing the quality of U.S. rivers. Stations generally are at the downstream end of hydrologic accounting units in order to measure the quantity and quality of water flowing from the units. Data are available on a large number of water-quality constituents measured at 345 stations during the 1975 water year. Temperature data (usually continuous or daily measurements) from NASQAN stations were fitted to a first order harmonic equation and the parameters for the harmonic function are reported for each station. Considering chemical and biological characteristics of U.S. streams as described by NASQAN data, water quality is best (by many standards) in the Northeast, Southeast, and Northwest. Many of these waters show the effects of pollution and carry moderate or high levels of major nutrients. High counts of indicator bacteria also show signs of local pollution. In the Northeast, some heavy metals are at moderate levels, but not above most water-quality criteria. Rivers of most of the Mid-Continent and Southwest reflect the arid or semi-arid climate, erodible soils, and agricultural activities. A special analysis was made to study the patterns of dissolved solids, major nutrients, phytoplankton, and zinc in the Mississippi River above Memphis, Tennessee. (Kosco-USGS) |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 18258 |
| Citation Author: | Briggs, John C.; Ficke, John F. |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | viii, 474 p. :col. ill., maps (some col.) ;26 cm. |
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| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Citation Series: | Open-File Report |
| Citation Series Code: | OFR |
| Citation Series Number: | 78-200 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Quality of rivers of the United States, 1975 water year; based on the National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN); 1977; OFR; 78-200; Briggs, John C.; Ficke, John F. |
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| Citation Year: | 1977 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Quality of rivers of the United States, 1975 water year; based on the National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN); 1977; OFR; 78-200; Briggs, John C.; Ficke, John F. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/usgs_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015010098476?urlappend=%3Bseq=5 |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
