Surface Water-Quality Trend Sites
Map of Study Location
- Objectives:
Determine long-term changes in water quality and
the condition of stream ecosystems in urban, agricultural, mixed urban/agricultural,
and reference (minimally impacted by humans) areas.
Determine how water quality and stream ecosystems
have changed in response to urbanization.
Determine how water quality and stream ecosystems have changed in
response to changes in agricultural management practices.
- Approach:
Sample 4 sites representative of each of the four
targeted land uses continuously for flow and monthly for targeted
chemical data. Additional samples will be collected during critical
periods of the year (for example, after fertilizer or pesticide application
or during snowmelt). Sample each site annually for biological communities.
- Timing:
Initial sampling occurred from 1993 through 1995.
The second round of sampling occurred from 2001 through 2004.
Physical, chemical, and biological data:
- Targeted Constituents:
Flow, water temperature, specific conductance nutrients,
pesticides, organic carbon, volatile organic compounds (at the urban
site), suspended sediment, sulfate, chloride, alkalinity, dissolved
oxygen, pH, invertebrates, algae, chlorophyll, and fish communities.
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